Commuting through the winter does not have to be a wet, squeaky, slip and slide affair. Here are a couple of tips that will keep your bike riding safely and smooth all year long.

People commute on a wide range of bikes, there is no on right bike for commuting but there are a few considerations to keep in mind when picking out a bike or out fitting your current bike.

FIT:  A bike that puts you in a comfortable upright  position is good goal to aim for when setting up your bike.  An upright position has the added benefit of allowing you a good field of view as you ride. There are several types of handlebars to choose from, drop style bars, swept back bars, flat bars or bars with a slight rise to them.  The simplest to use are the flat bars. they provide a wide stable position and place your hands in a comfortable orientation.

FENDERS:  You will need fenders.  That wet stripe up your backside is not what you want to be wearing when you walk into work or into class.  Wet weather can happen any time of year so even if you only ride in the summer months you will want to cover your tires.  Full coverage fenders will (obviously) work best but there are clip-on options that are handy if you do not want to have fenders on your bike permanently.  Far many folks a rear fender will be sufficient but if you are a regular commuter having fenders on both the front and rear will help keep water and grime coming off the front tire from spraying your shirt and shoes.

PEDALS:  Speaking of shoes, you may find yourself riding in a nice pair of shoes that you do not want to scuff.  I am a fan of flat platform pedals that provide some grip.  Straps and clips that go over the pedals and secure your shoes to the pedals can scuff up your nice shoes so I tend to avoid them.

LIGHTS:  If you commute regularly you will inevitably find yourself on the road after dark so making your bike visible is key.  Lights are the probably the first place to start.  There are more lights options out there than I care to write about but there are some key features to consider when choosing lights.  Without question you should have both a front and rear light but how bright do your lights have to be?

There are some lights out there that rival what you see on the SUV that is stopped next to you at the intersection.  There are also some single LED headlight that are barely visible from 30 feet away.  I like a light that will make me visible for cars, pedestrians and other cyclist at about 150 feet away.  This is usually accomplished with a light that has three to four LED's.  These lights will make you very visible but they will not necessarily light up the road in front of you.  If you are looking to light up the road in front of you then a larger 150 lumen (or greater) light is what you are looking for.  There was a time when lights with that kind of power would cost far more than your bike but these days those lights have become very affordable usually costing less than $90.  They are also small enough that they do not have to be permanently attached to your handlebars.  They can be un-clipped so that you can take it inside to recharge overnight or while you are at work or in class.

DRIVE TRAIN:  If you bike year round or even most of the year your bike is definitely going to get grimy.  That is an unavoidable fact of travel.  It is difficult to keep you bike looking clean if you ride every day and it is not feasible to really try, but if you do ride regularly it is very important that you keep your drive train clean.

If you can keep your chain clean and lubed your drive train will run smooth and quiet far longer than if it is neglected.  Our "Lube you Chain" tip will help guide you through this process.

STUDDED TIRES? If you commute year round and you expect to ride through snow or over icy roads then I would definitely recommend studded tires.  They work and they work well. They may be a bit heavier and a bit slower but they will keep you upright.

Nothing like a few studs to keep you safe.

Studded tires do a great job of biting into the ice and giving you grip when you need it. But just like studded tires for you car you will want to take them off when the ice melts. 

Ride safe and we will see yo on the road.