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Bundle up and strap on that headlight...there's no time like December to hit the streets via bike.

Monday Dec 18, 2006.     By Julia Steinberger

Fitness Feed

I love pedaling past traffic-slowed cars when the weather's nice, but my resolve starts to weaken with the first frost. By the time snow is on the ground, my bike is usually settled in for hibernation. But watching committed bikers rocking the road year-round reminds me that the intimidation is all in my mind. It took a good two years of shying away from the idea before I finally decided to give winter biking a shot.

The cold season poses a number of concerns for cyclists when it comes to safety, comfort and smart maintenance. So I stopped by a free winter biking clinic hosted by Performance Bicycle in Lincoln Park. Because the event took place in a bike shop geared toward ultimate cycleheads and die-hard daily commuters, the list of gear they recommended seemed long, expensive and somewhat intimidating. Since I'm still just starting out and biking mostly short distances, I focused in on a few ideas that seemed truly essential.

The skinny: Winter brings dangerous road conditions, deeper darkness and frigid temperatures, and the key to cycling through the cold months is mostly just being wise to those risks. Make sure you and your bike are equipped with an eye toward safety, and you should be able to handle the streets year-round.

The getup: First and foremost, make sure your bike is well lit, with a blinking taillight and bright headlight (tack on reflective stickers and LEDs if you ride during busier times). And don't even think about going helmetless. Wear layers to trap more warm air near your body. Cotton will hold sweat on your body and make you cold and wet, so stick to wool or synthetics. If you're warm when you first step outside, you'll be overheated once you start to ride; leave a layer or two behind and you'll be much happier.

If your toes and fingers are prone to freezing, you might want to keep some disposable warmers on hand for the coldest days. Two more useful tips: The Performance crew recommends yellow- or orange-tinted ski goggles to keep the biting wind out of your eyes and help you see more clearly in the dark; adding a little salt, sugar or energy-drink powder to your water bottle will help keep the liquid from freezing while you're outside.

The payoff: There's almost no end to the benefits of biking if you do it safely. For starters: save money, stay healthy, boost your eco-karma and look like a total badass.

Wear and tear: Hopefully, the most wear and tear will be to your bike. With the roads at their messiest, it's worth installing a set of fenders to keep you dry and your bike's parts from collecting road gunk; for extra measure, bounce the bike up and down a couple of times as you put it away to shake out salt and slush. Performance recommends using a degreaser (dish soap works) and a wet lube to clean and oil the chain every few weeks, and a dry lube for keeping the cables and housings healthy. A tune-up once a year will help you avoid built-up problems.

The commitment: The beauty of biking is that it's all up to you, but chances are that once you've seen how easy it is to be a warm and happy pedal jockey, you'll be hooked.

The cost: It really depends on how much you want to shell out for your gear. You can get head- and taillights for as little as $20; fenders will run about $30-$40. You can spend unlimited cash on state-of-the-art jackets, cycle tights, footwear, etc., but I scored some wool duds at Village Thrift for just a few dollars. The best protection will require a few investments, but when you think of the amount you're saving on gas (and possibly your gym membership), it'll seem like small potatoes. Do a few test rides to see what you think you need to ride comfortably, and budget from there.

Difficulty level: Snow makes bike lanes narrower and drivers more dangerous, so winter biking absolutely requires you to think on your feet. If you're comfortable biking on the streets in nice weather, you can likely handle yourself year-round as long as you pay attention and accept that you'll need to take things more slowly. If you've never been a bike commuter, you might want to wait until the thaw to start training, and gear up for next year.

The verdict: Conquering this long-held fear was the ultimate ego boost. I don't love biking enough to bike to my office in Skokie every morning, and I think it'll be a while before I tackle heavy snowfall, freezing rain and icy roads. But I feel totally up to the challenge of taking on most winter days, and I love the option of hopping on my bike for trips within the city.