Winter Riding Part 1

Winter is coming and soon it will be cold, snowy and icy. Staying on your bike through the winter can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be. With the correct preparation and gear, riding through the winter can be fun and a great way to get through the cold and darkness!

This is the first installment of a series of posts that will go through some of the gear that can help you stay on your bike all winter.

The first step to riding in the winter is of course the bike itself. If you're looking for a bike for winter riding, we recommend something simple, comfortable and a bike you don't mind getting a little dirty. Lots of people choose to use a bike that they already have, which is a great way to go. However, if you are looking for a new bike to use as a winter bike, many of the less expensive hybrids and mountain bikes work great. That said, some of our favorite bikes are bikes built specifically for winter riding. You can modify a bike you already own or get an all new rig. If you are interested in building a bike for winter riding (old or new) stop in and have a chat with any of our highly qualified sales people or mechanics and they will be happy to discus some of the options!

Surly Long Haul trucker is a great bike for all year, but it makes a great winter bike with plenty of room for fenders and studded tires, as well as slightly more relaxed geometry to keep you upright over the slick stuff.

The Schwinn Sporterra makes a great winter commuter. And at only $369 its inexpensive enough that you don't mind getting it a little sloppy.

looking for a road bike for when the roads are less then perfect? The Co-Motion Nor Wester looks like a regular road bike but has longer reach brakes to accommodate larger tires and fenders.

Stay tuned for our next installment, I'll go through winter bike accessories including studded tires, lights and how to select the best gear for your winter bike!