While the many players big and small go dark or dim online in an expression of dissent, I'm merely skipping the facebook - it eats up plenty of our time and energy; there's a behavioral science PhD thesis born every week in honour of such distractions. But the real news is, as is so often the case in Canada, the weather.
You can't really black out the weather. You can ignore the media, the latest city budget (a mix of good and bad news, but mostly a sign the mayor is losing "friends" faster than pounds) and you can get tired of a luxury liner that's being treated like a soap opera, but you can't ignore the weather - not when Winter shows up. It's that family member you miss until their arrival. Oh yeah... mean drunk, bitter humour, and tells you off when you're not dressed suitably.
So, have you been riding your bike, all the same?
I have - and I've found a few things of note to share with anyone else who is questioning the sanity of the enterprise. As Mark Twain once put it: Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live. Bearing in mind he lived in an era before such vehicles were equipped with brakes - think Flintstone feet - and that the traffic may be slightly worse ;) now, I want to remind you to keep your brakes in tip top working condition.
#1 liability in winter for brakes - water in the brakelines freezing
#2 - your stopping time changes with the climate - so does wear on the braking surfaces
#3 - tyre inflation factor into stopping just as with accelerating and steering
Solutions to 1, fairly straightforward - Oh, and this problem often affects your shifting cables too - more on that later - get them pre-treated or maintained with a synthetic lubricant. This isn't something you can rely on figuring out immediately, so count on your trusty bike mechanic (they exist!) to cover this - it is simple but easy to screw up. The lube should prevent any water from building up too fast and won't allow cold snaps to freeze the brake and housing into a solid unit. If you have no parking option other than out in the open - in the rain/snow etc. - this basic bit of maintenance, along with lubing your chain on a weekly basis, is KEY. Stainless steel is a better material for control cables versus most OE (original equipment) bike setups retailing below $500. But lube is key no matter the kind of metal strand composition - I keep finding myself explaining to customers that ALL gear needs love and maintenance, no matter the price point. Some components will cost more and tolerate rough treatment, but there's always a limit, and winter riding will introduce you to 'new' ones. I'll talk about this more when I cover the needs of multi-speed bikes.
#2 - Unless you own a more expensive commuter-specific model with hub-based brakes, you can expect stopping time to take longer - especially with the rear wheel. With either rim or disc, this means the pads will wear down in less time than you might think - just like lots of wet-weather rides - so check their wear lines - most pads have indicator marks - or ask a qualified bike shop to assess for safety or replacement. These are small expenses to prevent larger problems - don't skimp, please don't ignore this. I'll cover this in further detail, including caring for your wheels.
#3 - keep the air in the tyres within the indicated pressure on the sidewall. If you can't read the pressure, use more light, ask for help or - because this part starts crumbling sooner than others - replace them with new ones!
I had too many (3) customers this year alone complain that no-one told them they need to keep putting air in (to the tyres). I've recovered from my initial shock, and now I am telling you. A lot of flats - those annoying and often expensive issues - and accidents - where the tyres flex or unseat from the wheel rim as you steer! - are easily prevented with the right air pressure. Who wants an extra trip to the bike shop, or emerge?
Right now the cold will be convincing most of you to stay off your steeds. Those of us who choose to persist owe ourselves and our fellow commuters the consideration of mutual safety. If your bike has a problem - or you aren't sure it doesn't, if you aren't asking how to make your ride safer in changing conditions, that's an opportunity to pay attention, learn, or visit a qualified mechanic.
Enjoy whatever weather we get next - keeping the rubber on the road.
Next time - winter myths, and myth-killing - about tyres!
You can't really black out the weather. You can ignore the media, the latest city budget (a mix of good and bad news, but mostly a sign the mayor is losing "friends" faster than pounds) and you can get tired of a luxury liner that's being treated like a soap opera, but you can't ignore the weather - not when Winter shows up. It's that family member you miss until their arrival. Oh yeah... mean drunk, bitter humour, and tells you off when you're not dressed suitably.
So, have you been riding your bike, all the same?
I have - and I've found a few things of note to share with anyone else who is questioning the sanity of the enterprise. As Mark Twain once put it: Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live. Bearing in mind he lived in an era before such vehicles were equipped with brakes - think Flintstone feet - and that the traffic may be slightly worse ;) now, I want to remind you to keep your brakes in tip top working condition.
#1 liability in winter for brakes - water in the brakelines freezing
#2 - your stopping time changes with the climate - so does wear on the braking surfaces
#3 - tyre inflation factor into stopping just as with accelerating and steering
Solutions to 1, fairly straightforward - Oh, and this problem often affects your shifting cables too - more on that later - get them pre-treated or maintained with a synthetic lubricant. This isn't something you can rely on figuring out immediately, so count on your trusty bike mechanic (they exist!) to cover this - it is simple but easy to screw up. The lube should prevent any water from building up too fast and won't allow cold snaps to freeze the brake and housing into a solid unit. If you have no parking option other than out in the open - in the rain/snow etc. - this basic bit of maintenance, along with lubing your chain on a weekly basis, is KEY. Stainless steel is a better material for control cables versus most OE (original equipment) bike setups retailing below $500. But lube is key no matter the kind of metal strand composition - I keep finding myself explaining to customers that ALL gear needs love and maintenance, no matter the price point. Some components will cost more and tolerate rough treatment, but there's always a limit, and winter riding will introduce you to 'new' ones. I'll talk about this more when I cover the needs of multi-speed bikes.
#2 - Unless you own a more expensive commuter-specific model with hub-based brakes, you can expect stopping time to take longer - especially with the rear wheel. With either rim or disc, this means the pads will wear down in less time than you might think - just like lots of wet-weather rides - so check their wear lines - most pads have indicator marks - or ask a qualified bike shop to assess for safety or replacement. These are small expenses to prevent larger problems - don't skimp, please don't ignore this. I'll cover this in further detail, including caring for your wheels.
#3 - keep the air in the tyres within the indicated pressure on the sidewall. If you can't read the pressure, use more light, ask for help or - because this part starts crumbling sooner than others - replace them with new ones!
I had too many (3) customers this year alone complain that no-one told them they need to keep putting air in (to the tyres). I've recovered from my initial shock, and now I am telling you. A lot of flats - those annoying and often expensive issues - and accidents - where the tyres flex or unseat from the wheel rim as you steer! - are easily prevented with the right air pressure. Who wants an extra trip to the bike shop, or emerge?
Right now the cold will be convincing most of you to stay off your steeds. Those of us who choose to persist owe ourselves and our fellow commuters the consideration of mutual safety. If your bike has a problem - or you aren't sure it doesn't, if you aren't asking how to make your ride safer in changing conditions, that's an opportunity to pay attention, learn, or visit a qualified mechanic.
Enjoy whatever weather we get next - keeping the rubber on the road.
Next time - winter myths, and myth-killing - about tyres!
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