Allright so here's another one of those. You want to do the bicycling but it's fucking cold and/or slippery. Here's some tips.
Equipment to protect you
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You want thick gloves and thick shoewear. For the rest of your body, you probably want less isolation than you think. Cycling is sport, it'll warm you up.
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If it is actively snowing (or worse, raining) a jacket that keeps you dry is important. What's also important is your legs. Rain Pants work, but from my experience you just sweat instead of getting rained on. I like rain legs, they only cover the top of your thighs which is where you're getting hit the most.
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A scarf, a bandana, a mask to keep your face from hurting. If it's cold and you're doing ~20kph, windchill will get you otherwise.
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Fenders. You need fenders. The best clothing in the world isn't gonna stop icy water being thrown onto you from being cold.
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Eye Protection. If it gets cold cold, this isn't just unpleasant, your eyes tearing up fuck with your vision. Sunglasses are the obvious choice. If it's too dark for them, use clear or orange coloured ones. I know they're dorky as hell, but they work great. Otherwise you could go slower, but who wants that.
Adjustments to ride on snow and ice
General tips:
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Deflate your tyres a bit so they're grippier. Make sure to not go below the minimum PSI, these are printed on the side of the tyre
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Lower your saddle. This both lowers your center of gravity (good) and also if you slip out you can get your feet on the ground easier. This is not recommended for the big mileage, it can fuck with your knees, but for getting around it's good
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Never do more than one of these things: Turning, Braking, Accelerating. Your tyres only have so much grip, use them for the thing you want one at a time. Brake before the turn. Accelerate after the turn.
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Keep your center of gravity upright. Do not lean into turns, just take them slower but note the above point.
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Do not assume the way is clear. Snow is a deceitful bastard. A light powedering of snow could hide a block of ice, a curb or anything else that'll make you eat shit
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Adding to this, if you can, ride on the snow- and iceless terrain. Use due dilligence to figure out whether this means a car will hit you and local legislature. Seriously, some assholes honking at you is better than eating shit and losing all your teeth.
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Get grippier tyres. For snow, this means off knobbly off road tyres. If there's hardly any snow where you live ever, consider just walking it for the 3 days it happens. Otherweise, look to section "Regular Snow and being dependent on your bike".
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Watch your bike. Roads get salted, this is poison to your bike. You can get rid of light rust with some warm water, steel wool and a good scrubbing. If it keeps happening, you will fuck up your drivetrain, no way around it. Maybe get a winter bike or plan some maintenance.
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Remember. if the roads are slippery, they are for cars. Your worst case exit move is bailing from your biycle and hurting yourself. Their worst case exit move is plowing 1,5T of steel into anything nearby. Ride accordingly.
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Change routes. Sideways often remain unplowed, main roads can be a bit better. I know it sucks to ride along a 4-lane arterial, but it might just be safer.
Regular Snow and being dependent on your bike
So the general tips are for everyone. These are for people who have to deal with the problem a lot or really need to deal with the problem even on a few days, because they're dependent on their bike to get around
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Get spiked tyres (check local legislature). If you don't wann go full in, only get a spiked tyre for your front wheel. The back wheel loosing traction is way easier to counter than the front wheel. Do beware using them on metal though, metal spikes on metal surfaces (sewer grates, tram lines, manhole covers) is slippery.
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You probably actually want to get a winter beater for this. As said, Salt will kill your bike. If you can, get one you don't care about
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If you're at that, get one with internal gearing. It removes a few points of failures that can rust.
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Plan in more time. You're on two relatively narrow wheels. Nobody ever clears the cycle paths. You will have to hoof it sometimes
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Fit some sort of chainguard, if you can. Or a chain fender via zipties and a plastic bottle. Anything to keep some of the salt away from the important bits.
You're the cycleposting king.
Almost anyone who lives within 5 miles of a supermarket/shop/market can do their weekly shopping on a bike.
Don't automatically think of reasons why you can't do it, it's possible for most people to do it. You need the exercise. The whole process is empowering.
Rear rack + panniers + cardboard box. Costs $75 approx. Carries 35 KG.
Front rack + panniers + box. Costs $75 approx. Carries 15KG. (not as sexy as my bike but similar, it's just an old mountain bike frame with nice bars and other parts)
Been doing shopping like this for ever.
There is nothing better for your health than living 45 mins cycle from the nearest civilization. You don't even think about it anymore after the first 20 pounds lost lol.
edit: removed that video, hadn't watched it for years, the memory of it didn't include the cyclist hate.
Gotta point out that this is largely infrastructure dependent. If you're from the US, this might mean some real bullshit of crosssing or riding on Highways and don't do that because your life matters.
Otherwise i'm with you.
Isn't it illegal to cycle on highways? And walk on/cross a highway? Obviously not advocating that. Cycle on roads legally folks.
If you're worried about traffic passing too close attach a 4 foot pole, with a flashing led at the end, perpindicular to the bike. There are commercial solutions available.
I just think there is so much negativity surrounding cycling not based in reality. 95% of people can cycle to a shop and carry something home. Up to 50kg of something. More if you get a kids trailer, approx $100.
Way too many people just jump to reasons why they can't cycle imo.
No idea, which is why I'm putting out there. I got half a grasp on EU cycling laws, I just know the US is even more cycling-antagonistic and that's a thing you might have to do, but shouldn't-
Check local legislature in any case. I ain't an international lawyer.
Good. thought you were being anti cyclist there for a minute :hahaha: