{"id":11184,"date":"2015-11-25T21:45:55","date_gmt":"2015-11-26T02:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=11184"},"modified":"2015-12-01T10:25:29","modified_gmt":"2015-12-01T15:25:29","slug":"icicles-bicycles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/icicles-bicycles\/","title":{"rendered":"Icicles & Bicycles"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 2015 | view this story as a .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Neither snow nor sleet nor gloom of night stays these stalwart biking commuters.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

By Jeanee Dudley<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Bicycles-Dec15\"<\/a>For most people, the commute to work is a pain\u2013literally and metaphorically. Even driving across town, Portlanders can expect to be on their duffs too long in frustrating traffic, listening to bad news on the radio. What a way to start the day. No wonder many locals are taking a break and leaving the car at home\u2013or not owning one at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nicole Anderson says she converted to two-wheel transportation 10 years ago. \u201cI ride my bike year-round for a bunch of reasons: environmental [benefit], for exercise and to be outside,\u201d she says. \u201cI started because it\u2019s an affordable way to get around. It\u2019s still an affordable and fun thing to do\u2013it\u2019s also an easy way to keep active and not spend so much time in the car.\u201d Her work as a nutrition education coordinator takes her from her Portland home to South Portland and to Westbrook; she averages four to six miles each way.<\/span><\/p>\n

For some, biking in the warmer months makes sense\u2013but the wind, snow, and ice of Maine winters are a turn-off. Most extended-season cyclers, however, say that winter riding is not all that different from riding to work in other seasons. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started commuting by bike in the summer of 2006 after moving back into town from Cape Elizabeth,\u201d says Tracie Reed, an architect. \u201cAs part of that transition, I had scored a bike from a swap shop. The summertime seemed like a beautiful time to ride. Then when fall approached, it was still beautiful. One thing led to another. One more day became one more week. As it got colder, I kept challenging myself. At some point, I had adapted to it and became a year-round bicycle commuter.\u201d<\/p>\n

To The Manner Born<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Becky Wartell and Seth Levy, two more winter warriors, are natural-born cyclists. Neither has ever owned a car and, so far, that hasn\u2019t been a problem. Wartell started biking as a way to get around growing up in Portland. Freelance writer Levy, now in his mid-30s, adopted two-wheeling it as a paperboy in the sixth grade. \u201cIt\u2019s the only mode of transportation I\u2019ve ever had,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve even moved by bike in both Washington, D.C., and Portland.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

All four of these extended-season bicycle commuters share similar enthusiasm for\u00a0 <\/span>the environment, physical activity,\u00a0 <\/span>and affordability. They also offer similar advice to those looking to take up riding in the winter. Levy phrases it in the most simple terms. \u201cIn order of importance, your challenges are staying seen, staying safe, staying warm, and staying rolling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the winter here, we have shorter days so there\u2019s less daylight. That makes cyclists less visible, but you can mitigate challenge number one by wearing bright reflective colors, having good lighting on your back, up front, and on your helmet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wartell concurs, and addresses challenge number two: \u201cDrivers don\u2019t expect to see cyclists out when it\u2019s cold, so you can\u2019t assume they\u2019re looking out for you. The bike lanes aren\u2019t plowed as diligently as the roads, so the space to ride around cars is smaller\u2013that can get scary.\u201d She commutes about five miles each way from South Portland to the Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, where she works as a massage therapist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ice, snow, and slush make it harder for both drivers and cyclists to stop. \u201cI give cars way more latitude to stop, and plan on taking three times more distance for me to stop,\u201d notes Levy. \u201cPart of staying safe is being cognizant of road conditions; just because you can ride year round, doesn\u2019t mean you have to. If conditions are hazardous, I don\u2019t have to prove anything to anyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes that means walking a bike around a bad patch, and sometimes it means ditching two wheels altogether. \u201cUsually if the roads are covered in ice, I won\u2019t ride,\u201d says Anderson. \u201cOften the main roads are fine, but side roads are icy, so I\u2019ll change my route, and I always give myself extra time in case I need to hop on the bus.\u201d Every Portland Metro bus has room for two bicycles on the front rack, making public transit a reliable alternative when the going gets tough.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dress The Part<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Most Mainers have the staying warm bit down to a science. With a few additions, just about any winter wardrobe can be easily adjusted for bicycle commuting. Wartell\u2019s foremost advice for new winter riders: learn how to layer. Her average winter commute starts out with five layers of warmth on the top half and three on the bottom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWear as many layers you need to keep you warm up top, plus something waterproof and windproof on top,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s not just the torso that you need to worry about. Gloves and headwear are important, too. And on my legs, I typically have a base layer, then pants and then rain pants over the top.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe hardest parts to keep warm are your hands,\u201d says Anderson. \u201cGloves are good and I wear mittens when it\u2019s really cold to keep my fingers together. When it\u2019s really cold, I have a neck gaiter and a headband to protect my forehead. You can get a sensation similar to brain freeze if you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as staying upright and rolling, not a single cyclist of the four has ever had a memorable incident on the road in the wintertime. All consider studded tires and fenders optional, but beneficial to ride comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reed and Anderson recommend that potential winter cycling commuters connect with other people who ride via the Portland Maine Bicycle Commuting Facebook group. Reaching out to a local bike shop for help with getting outfitted is another recommendation across the board.<\/span><\/p>\n

For those still hesitant to give winter cycling a try, Reed offers some insight. \u201cAfter five minutes, your core starts to warm up,\u201d she says. \u201cIf you haven\u2019t it done before, it sounds crazy, but with a bike, you don\u2019t have to scrape a windshield or wait for the engine to warm up. As soon as I come out, I\u2019m moving. When I drive, I\u2019m cold either from not being dressed for the weather, or from shoveling off my car. And the car only ever seems to get warm inside when I\u2019ve almost reached my destination.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If getting some extra time outside, saving money, having a legitimate excuse to skip the gym, and helping the environment aren\u2019t reason enough to ditch the car this winter, Levy recommends additional incentive to hop on the two-wheeled beast: warming up with hot cocoa and\/or bourbon after a long ride. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\r\n

<\/div>\n

Comments or questions about this story? Email us now!<\/p>\r\n

\r\n
\r\n\n
\n *<\/span> indicates required field<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\r\n
\n