Before Thanksgiving, a bicyclist can still pretend it’s fall. Even
after that final October weekend when you set the clocks back and start
riding home from work in the dark, you can tell yourself that cycling
in Cleveland is a three-season activity, and that third season still
has a few days left in it. Maybe you even tell yourself that these are
the best days for cycling to work: the crisp air, the changing
leaves. You just put on a sweatshirt, and you’re plenty warm. You can
push yourself to go faster without sweating.
But by Thanksgiving, there’s no doubt you’re rounding that windy
turn into the fourth season. If you’re still riding a bicycle at this
point, maybe it’s because you’re among the one in four Clevelanders
who, by census reckoning, doesn’t have a car. It’s also possible that
you use your bike for transportation because you have strong
environmental convictions. You don’t want to put any more carbon into
the air. You “care.”
Or maybe you just don’t want to give up your daily dose of balance
and speed. A bicycle is a gyroscope that takes you places.
No matter your reason, make no mistake: Cycling through the
Cleveland winter is a battle against the elements. You head out in the
morning knowing that one day the weather forecasters betting on the
blizzard will get it right. You’ll be halfway downtown in a head wind,
and the snow will start blasting away at your face. Who wants to ride a
bike through that?
Maybe you do. There’s something deeply satisfying in defying the
expectation of what’s possible in a Cleveland winter. If you’re up for
the challenge, the good news is that all you need is willpower, and a
few key pieces of clothing and accessories. We thank the folks at Spin
Bikes in Lakewood (spinbikeshop.com), Century Cycles in
Rocky River (centurycycles.com)
and Eddy’s Bicycles in North Olmsted (eddys.com) for their help.
LIGHTS
Indispensible after the time change. In the city, you need lights to
be seen more than to illuminate your way. Knog “Skink” lights have a
great rubber clasp for your seatpost or handlebar. Available in red or
white, for front or rear, $33.99.
FENDERS
Who needs all that extra weight and clutter? If you ride on wet
pavement, you do, to stop that dirty mix of grit, grease and ice-cold
water from spraying back up at you from the road. Most importantly, you
won’t have a filthy stripe up your backside. The Planet Bike Freddy
Fenders Clip-On back fender is just $14.99. Cascadia full fenders that
mount to your wheel dropouts are $45.
TIGHTS
Sure, you can cuff your pant legs, but tights let you move without
that binding feeling around the crotch and the knees. Plus, these days
you can get them made of miraculous fabrics that can stop the cold,
cold. Pearl Izumi’s makes “Select,” for weather that’s just cold
($59.99), and “Amfib,” for weather that’s very cold
($100-120).
FULL-FINGER GLOVES
Make sure they’re big enough that they don’t squeeze your fingers
and constrict your circulation. I like the Specialized “Sub-Zero”
($49.99), Gore’s “Radiator” three-fingered model ($59.99) and the Pearl
Izumi soft-shell gloves ($45).
BALACLAVA
A little bit of spandex goes a long way, and for my money, the best
place to put it is on your head. Spandex beats a ski mask because it
fits under your helmet, unlike that wooly thing you take when you go
sledding. Gore’s has a breathing hold by your mouth ($39.99). Pearl
Izumi’s “Barrier” goes for $35.
JACKET
Any windbreaker will sort of do the job, but it’s the details that
make your made-for-cycling jacket worth the investment. Like being long
in the back, to cover your butt so you don’t develop a gap when you’re
leaning forward on the handlebars. Try the Specialized “Element”
softshell ($139) or Pearl Izumi “Pro” softshell ($160).
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2009.