Ride a bike on winter snow and ice without slipping and falling

[@chriswatson2407]

My tip is to do a lot of brake-checks (apply brakes strongly on different/unfamiliar surfaces) in order to figure out their slippyness.

[@Cambaudio]

Only downside is a self induced crash but at least you know then

[@manoz6194]

My tip is to use the rear brake slowly to guage how slippy it is then you know how much front brake to apply, better to slip out the back than the front

[@etunimi4206]

I always disable the front breaks in the winter, alot safer that way.

[@Luredreier]

@@etunimi4206 I don't here in Norway... I use both breaks, just adjust the relative strength depending on the conditions. Sometimes you may have better grip on the front wheels then back ones, and some reduction in speed from the front wheel may save your life sometimes...

[@jack002tuber]

Rear brake, yes

[@zer0kelvin212]

As a Canadian that's commuted by bike since high school, I like your tips! Themost exciting part is when I swap my normal tires for studded ones around November, when I take out my base layers and thick gloves and get ready for the snow. I feel like a child again each morning on my commute.

[@timmyhackings5181]

For me it's the opposite lol I'm 10 and when I bike to school I feel like a cool adult

[@JeanFrancoisDesrosiers]

@@timmyhackings5181 A cool adult! Lol

[@1003Alfred]

I am visiting Canada soon and it is great to know it is possible to bike even in snow

[@MR-kj7sp]

@@1003Alfred the snow will need to be packed or else it will be nearly impossible (haven’t tried with my fat bike)

[@misterbikerman7888]

@@1003Alfred it's very possible. get mudguards!!

[@newttella1043]

My advice is to break the law and ride on the sidewalk, a sidewalk that virtually no pedestrian uses which is most sidewalks outside of downtown. If you do encounter a pedestrian, completely yield to them and they won't mind that you're there. No cop has ever asked me to quit the sidewalk and ride on the icy road with snow filled shoulders. They know that's an accident waiting to happen and more work for everyone.

[@TheRCcoupleNH]

Agreed 💯

[@SweetSunrising]

100%. I heard our bicycle laws haven’t been updated since cars top speed was 8mph max on the road😅

[@jeffferguson69]

It blows my mind that they want bikers aka pedestrians on the road. Super fucking dangerous, especially with the smart phone generation we in. I do t care what anyone says, bikers are pedestrians in my eyes. I’m also an avid bike rider. You’ll never catch me riding in the road with traffic🤣

[@silverhooligan1256]

Not all cities have sidewalk/path bans. In UK took a while to get used to that national/regional bike routes mix up sidewalks/pathways.

[@KeVIn-pm7pu]

​@@jeffferguson69and i dont care about your feelings. It has wheels its a vehicle. Its fine to use the sidewalks if you are slow in your bike but if you are not it brings its own dangers to travel on the sidewalk as drivers usually dont expect you

[@nictatorxr]

I really feel what you said about winter cycling making you less afraid of winter. Car dependency makes it too easy to shield yourself from the elements. I've known so many people who rarely dress for winter, because they're only stepping outside to run from the parking lot into a store. Some people might say that avoiding the elements is good, but I like appreciating the seasons and learning how best to gear up for the elements. I'm only just now trying to get back into cycling. Winter, albeit a dry one up until the past couple days, has presented some challenges, but so far I've enjoyed learning how to adjust to the terrain and the weather. I did totally eat it on a dirt portion of my nearby urban bike trail today, but it was a good learning experience.

[@uchidaoginome]

@@PAWGmoth I don't own a car anymore but sometimes I miss having one...but not really. Where I grew up we never had one cuz everything was within walking distance. I bought my one car because when my wife was pregnant with our second, I began to feel self-conscious about what other people might think of "the man of the house" not owning a car. I only used it once a week, and only locally. In fact, it was while I was gridlocked on an expressway, alongside an elevated subway track, where I could see other commuters chillin' with a book or their headphones as I sat in my expensive metal box when I decided to get rid of it. That was $175/month in insurance payments once again free to pay for other things and I no longer have to worry about being ticketed or towed. I know not everyone can ditch their car but if you can ride a bike and if there's reasonably accessible transit nearby, you can probably figure out ways to at least reduce how often you use it.

[@Torsan1977]

Nice tips! I would maybe refine "slow down" to "always plan extra time". The times I've fallen on my bike (soo many times) is often the times when I was a little bit short on time and rode to fast. Also, check your weather forecasts and anticipate bad conditions. Heavy snow thats melts and then freezes over-night means you might need a lot of extra time next morning. A pro tip is to lookup the city plan for clearing snow. Some routes will be cleared of snow before others. That can save you some problems if you have multiple routes to where you're going.

[@24speedcheetah]

One tip you can take from mountain biking is keeping your center of mass over the contact patch of your tires. This keeps the bike beneath you in the event of traction loss, and makes it possible to recover from a slide, or even ride it out.

[@onebackzach]

I'll give some mountain bike cornering tips that will hopefully be helpful. The way to think about traction is that on a consistent surface, you have a fixed value of traction based on the surface and your tires. Braking, changing directions, and accelerating all take up a certain amount of that traction value depending on the intensity of each maneuver. If you exceed that value, you will slip. When thinking about the corner, you want to divide it into three sections; braking, cornering, and accelerating. You should do your braking, slowly let off the brakes and take a wide entrance, hit the apex of the corner, take a wide exit, and then do your accelerating. It's worth noting that this is ideal in a perfect world, but bumps, ice patches, etc. can upset the bike, so adjust your line to avoid them. In terms of body position, you should have a neutral/slightly shifted back body position when braking. When you enter the corner, drop your outside foot to weight the outside of the bike. When accelerating, assume a neutral position.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

This is fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@emmamemma4162]

On really slippery ice I usually take my inside foot completely off the pedal so that I can put it down on the ground if things start to feel unstable. Of course, this only works at low speeds, but it's quite fun to get around a sharp corner by putting your foot down and letting the bike do the turn around your leg.

[@jarperhones5364]

Yes! Pretty recently this detail totally changed my riding- i had always seen road bikers take descents with their outside foot down, but it wasn't until I learned that I should be moving my body weight off the saddle to my outside foot that i really got it. Totally helps with conering grip.

Does it matter if it's a mountain bike or not?

[@onebackzach]

It really doesn't matter what kind of bike it is, just do your braking early, take a wide entrance, hit the apex of the corner, and take a wide exit for maximum traction

[@brynch9369]

Just did my first ride in the snow, loved it, pretty much entirely your fault. Took watching almost all your videos and reading your book - which I checked out of the library so I have to pay my debt to you back this way :) - and I still hesitated to try it until 3 weeks after snowfall when I missed biking enough that I did it.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

This is an amazing comment, and I'm so pleased that you had a good experience in the winter. I still find it difficult to get out the door to get on a bike on some winter days, but I never regret doing so. Thank you so much for the support!

[@Galdethriel]

Thanks for the tips on studded tyres! I'd been cycling pretty consistently until hitting some black ice a couple days ago and taking a tumble, been itching to get back on the bike. I'll give them a go!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Good luck! But even with studs, try to avoid that black ice.

[@stephenwaters5134]

I am 47 years old. Been riding since I can remember but NEVER in winter. Until this year. Great tips! Wish I had seen this video before my first foyer into winter riding. However, I am a quick learner and adapted almost immediately to the feel. Upright, slower and breaking early. I would add that (depending on your wheels) throwing weight toward the front and back "active riding" has paid off. 700x45c tires + lower gear = great rewards. In Winnipeg with -20c is SO MUCH FUN! Wonderful tips!

[@RCmies]

I used to bike to school and this is exactly what I'd do. Just be patient and understand how friction of the tires works, and you likely won't fall, or if you do you will have your foot on the ground before you fall completely because you anticipated it. But also, there are winter tires for bikes so I'm not sure if you are already using those but they are very useful.

[@Oldschool_Gamer_]

when falling, i found that wearing a backpack is great for cushioning the blow. also, don't think it's weak to walk a dangerous stretch, better safe then sorry. Take glasses with you, in case you find yourself riding in heavy snowfall when driving through uncompacted snow, go for lower gears and yes, staying warm is a piece of cake, i find myself considering removing layers, rather then wishing i had more (if you find some guy in holland driving a bike in the winter in a t-shirt, that's probably me)

[@karlahovde]

This is my first winter biking. Advice I got is to learn how to fall safely. It's better to keep you elbows tucked in and fall on you hip and shoulder than to break you fall with your hands and wrists. And normally I'd say it's a personal choice to wear a helmet, but I think the first few weeks learning how to ride (and fall) on ice and snow, it is really important to wear a helmet.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

This is good advice, and thanks for sharing. I feel like we should all send a note to the politicians in our cities that says we are now reduced to sharing advice on how to fall properly. Perhaps that would motivate them to build some safe routes for cyclists where falling isn't a requirement. Sigh.

[@uchidaoginome]

Unfortunately, the snow plows are only deployed to make roads usable for cars. In fact, in my city, they always push the snow INTO the bike lanes! I can imagine better solutions but they actually take a little more care and nuance than a North American bureaucracy is designed to handle.

[@sebasstein7014]

@@uchidaoginome Same here in Germany. Bike lanes in winter are just for piling snow from the road, therefore totally useless. Only in my current city though, every other city I lived in Germany had a pretty good winter service. In this city on the other hand they are the epitome of incompetence when it comes to winter and road safety.

[@Cornflake81]

First winter cycling and took your advice with the studded tires. It's a world of difference, which was noticable when winter arrived in October here and I wasn't prepared.

[@granthw4993]

Oh yeah, studs aren't needed in every situation but you are always happy to have them when they are needed

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Glad it's working for you!

[@prajapati870]

Always an energetic video, also +1 for studded tire. Great bro!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

What are you tips for staying upright in winter?

[@harkin3684]

Live in Florida

[@granthw4993]

Same like you said, slow down and keep upright on ice

[@queertales]

I'm careful using my front break in winter, especially while turning. If your rear tire skids it's usually fine, but if your front tire skids you're in trouble.

[@Gabriel-kz6kb]

Helmet and more speed control

[@gordonlbelyea4409]

Great tips-thanks! Studded front *snow* tire - 4 yrs now on a Schwalbe winter tire for me. As well, sit further back on the saddle to get weight off the front wheel in snirt and other nastiness.

[@TheRickurb]

Also, besides the stud tires, I invested in some low profile elbow and kneepads. Just in case

[@yuko604]

I know you're not a big fan of helmets, but I wiped out 4 weeks ago on some black ice in Vancouver and mine likely saved me from a concussion (but not from 8 broken ribs & collar bone). All of this could have been avoided had I seen your great tips (not leaning and going slower). But we're spoiled on the wet-coast and tend to go too fast in winter. Love your channel. Keep up the great content!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Glad to hear you escaped a serious head injury, but that sounds like a nasty spill! I tend to wear a helmet in winter when the risk of slipping is greater. Here's more on my approach to helmets: shifter.info/most-of-the-time-i-ride-a-bike-i-wear-a-helmet-but-not-always-heres-why/

[@andrew20146]

I'm glad that people who want to wear a helmet can do so. Some might perceive it as necessary because cycling infrastructure in North America is poor and biking culture here is also all about go-fast. But no one should be shamed for normal urban riding without a helmet. And helmet-shaming stops a lot of people from riding, and more people riding means better infrastructure and less reason to wear helmets in the first place. The Dutch prove that helmet wearing is not needed for safety with properly designed infrastructure and a normalized cycling culture.

[@g.r.2985]

Great video! I’ll follow for more. One other benefit of biking in winter wasn’t mentioned. You burn more calories in the cold (that’s if you don’t overdo the hot chocolate and marshmallows afterwards!)

[@bartenveronique]

Some other tips : - Lower your saddle. A high point of gravity makes you more susceptible to fall, and when your saddle is lower you can easily set your foot on the ground to avoid falling. - Lower the pressure in your tyres. That way you have more grip. - Always use both brakes, front and back. If you use only one brake, you risk to lock up and slip away. - Now is the time to wear a helmet. Helmets give little protection against traffic, but are a great way to protect your head in case of a fall.

[@remypascal4872]

And sit more upright, less pressure on the front wheel... Flatbar wins against dropbar here...

[@Razidurgh]

I say no to helmet. Helmet is useful in motorcycles for high speed crashing, but when you hit the ground with a bycicle, you first hit your knee, hip and elbows. It is an instinct to protect your head with your hand. In the case of high speed crashing you don't have the time to react, but when you fall with a bycicle, you have high chance to protect your head with your hands. Wear a warm hat.

[@brighton_dude]

Here in the UK we get snow some years for a week or two. It depends where you live of course but here in the south where I am that is how it is. The problem with this occasional small amount of snow is that nobody is prepared for it or experienced in riding or driving on it. This includes myself of course, so I ride very slowly and nervously on it. I do enjoy it actually but I’m never in a hurry. This was another really enjoyable video than you.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Yes, going slowly is very important, especially if you only ride on snow occasionally. Thanks for watching!

[@LairdDavidson]

Another British cyclist here. We don't get a lot of snow that's true and it's not much of an issue when we do (usually it quickly turns to slush which is another issue). What is really dangerous though is black ice. When you hit a patch of that there's not a lot you can do except pray.

[@evildeed90s]

i hit black ice last year i was going down hill my breaks was none existent they wouldnt work on ice it was only one way i was getting out of this i tilted my bike to purposely come off it at the bottom of that hill was on coming traffic the speed i was doing i would of been dead if i hit them its amazing what your body and mind will do when it knows your at the brink of death you get this super power your minds more alert youre intelligence increases your body in braced for the pain to come i didnt feel a thing until 10 mins after it happened the adrenalin weard off i had road rash going right up my leg and side of my body

[@uchidaoginome]

Stay on your local politicians as you head into the winter months. Maybe there's a volunteer bike lane clean up crew. Maybe you (or I) should start one!

[@Rikarth]

I have semi-slim unstudded tires biking here in Stockholm, i used to have studded but the city started to really clear the bike lanes couple years back. When it's snowing and there's a couple cm snow on the ground i've found slim works better than fat tires because you cut through the soft snow instead of going ontop of it.

[@jadeheleneflores8524]

Another thing worth mentioning is that if you have the equipment for it, consider riding fixed gear as your winter commuter bike. Im currently riding through lots of snow and ice on my daily commute and the extra control and handling you get from riding fixed makes the commute much less scary. Plus on snowy, slippery surfaces I barely have to use my brakes because I’m already riding slow and I can just use my legs to stop.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I've heard this from several people, but have yet to try it. Thanks for sharing.

[@cratormoon10]

How does riding fixie give you more control than a freewheel bike?

[@TANOCA17]

@@cratormoon10by feeling “slipperiness” of surface while braking with your legs I guess

[@chadkline4268]

Studded tires!! 👍 One thing i hate is disc brakes. When it's 0F, the springs in combination with metal contraction and caliper stickiness fail to function, and get stuck in the closed position. I highly recommend against disc brakes for winter biking. Also, if snow or ice gets in the mechanisms or pads, you're screwed. You're not going to use bare hands to disassemble a caliper to remove ice when it is 0F.

[@softserveadventures5791]

Lowering your seat, and your tire pressure, both make it way more secure too.

[@jonaslyreback8387]

As well as the front light.

[@tabula_rosa]

I'm fortunate that my city takes snow plowing seriously. They plow the roads, onto the sidewalks, & then never plow the sidewalks so they freeze into a SERIOUSLY dangerous diagonal ice shelf that will shoot you into the road. Good thing I don't live in a tundra! *cries in Lives In Tundra*

[@barelytrine]

I ordered a fat bike in November with plans to ride through this winter and park my truck. I've fell a couple of times and got hit by a cab ( he took off) but after all that I still don't regret it. The feeling you get from being outside getting exercise is so healing during the winter months. I use to think winter cyclist were crazy lol.

[@bookofdan7916]

how tf did you manage to fall on a fat bike???? LMAO

[@barelytrine]

@bookofdan7916 it's called ice in combination with rear wheel drive.

[@ethanswanson9209]

Just trying winter biking for the first time this year. The studded tires are amazing. I went front and back as it gave me a lot more comfort. Really enjoying it so far.

[@DIY-DaddyO]

When I lived in Holland 🇳🇱 I found riding on compacted snow and ice a breeze with a Dutch bikes relaxed geometry. Also the key points to remember is you only slip when you try to change speed or direction. So when you’re slowing or turning be careful.

[@nottsoserious]

It's so easy biking in Holland though. Even if you fall, you're likely in a dedicated bike path anyway. Here in the US, if I fall, I will either fall onto a raised curb or into a busy car lane.

[@Gnuserup]

You are so right. And, I had both tires on my last bike as studded, but on my new one now it is just the front, too. Got a spare rim recently, so I am more free to swap relating to the weather conditons spontaniously

[@playlist5455]

No studs on big snowfall day. Studs on the front the day after as the ice gets exposed. Calgary winters are interested

[@BikeCommuterHero]

Great tips, Tom! Thanks for the video. Cycling in the winter is a lot of fun, and I agree with you that it’s a victory in itself. Pedal on!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Absolutely!

[@playlist5455]

Made my own studded tires years ago from old mountain bike ties. The trick to making your own studded tires are use super short screws with as flat heabds as possible. Cut off or dull the screw points. You only really need them on the outside treads, not the center ones.

[@Alexander-dn4rw]

Heck, I remember riding an old 27 inch road bike with VERY THIN and bald and old tires through winter. Long as I kept slow and safe, that thing was fun to ride. With the thin tires, cut right through tall snow too

[@manabiker]

Good tips, I ride hundreds of miles in winter yearly on a gravel roads, on my gravel bike, I do get pr's in winter on snowpack gravel roads, there is less friction I guess, I don't fall, I don't have studded tires, I have Specialized Sawtooth 700x42 tires that grip like studded, I think they are made from Octopi, not on ice, but on snowpack. There are a few places to look out for, where cars brake it gets slick, ride to the inside of those spots, when wind blows across the road iI can be slick, especially if cars are stopping to get in side roads or driveways. Wear a helmet, I got a concussion last year on a MTB trail with a helmet on, I got double vision, and I still have it, its improving, but its been 5 months.. I have no trouble gripping on gravel roads in Michigan winters, I have raced gravel races on snow coverd roads, I train on snowpacked gravel roads all winter. Happy Trails

[@pumpkin6529]

I'm watching this because I don't own a car and I ride my bike to work since I work somewhat close to home. But winter is coming up and I would like to ride my bike without having to walk in the cold for to long. And if anyone says "why not just get a ride?" I dont get paid enough to pay someone to drive me somewhere when I can get there on my own. Plus it's good exercise, saves money, and it's better for the environment. I don't see any reason to get a car even though my friends and family think I'm crazy and they believe no one can live forever without owning a vehicle.

[@vereor6304]

Thank you so much for this! I've been having to take my bike in the snow and I got so frustrated with falling and being in pain from it that I started walking my bike the 7 miles to get from work. I did realize that I had most of my problems in "Snirt" and knowing that that is basically the worse place to ride with a bike makes me feel more confident about riding in the snow

[@Sachiel235]

I do a lot of winter mountain biking and a trick I learned is that the shorter the radius of the turn, the more you tilt your bike relative to yourself. This is the case for mtb in general but even more when on a low traction surface.

[@gregorybabbitt2082]

I commuted all winter in a Northern climate for over 40 years...more recently on several class 3 ebike. Studded tires on the ebike lets you ride most places whether its plowed or not. My additional tips are...1. using disc brakes instead of caliper or sidepull brakes can let you build a Summer 700c road tire wheel set and a Winter 650b studded mountain bike tire wheel set that are interchangeable on the same bike frame throughout Spring/Fall. 2. Lower your seat a little bit in winter and when the bike starts slipping out, just imagine you are riding on the back of a big fish instead of a bicycle...I know it sounds strange, but it does keep you upright all the time. 3. Invest in good ski gloves, trail gators, and a bright colored rain jacket designed for trail hiking 4. Use bike lights all day long if it is cloudy. 5. Rubber panniers (Ortleib city brand) and a Danish style rain pancho designed for cyclists are great additions (for all seasons). 6. Two brands of tires almost never have flats even after many hundreds of miles...studded knobby Kenda Klondike tires (winter) and Continental Gator Hardshell tires (summer)

[@charlesjames4194]

Good advice. Beware of wet slippery ice. The local cycling club does not advise cycling in freezing weather, but this is important information for people who rely on a bike for transportation.

[@playlist5455]

Highly recommend trying winter cycling. You get to work warm and happy. Eventually, you learn how to handle any conditions (though when it's -30c preparation time gets really arduous)

[@charlesjames4194]

@@playlist5455 Once you have good outdoor clothing and gear cycling below freezing is passable. This year I am thinking of getting a studded tire because one slip will bruise your ego or break your spirit. Tip #5 get good lights because it gets dark sooner and you want cars to see you and keep their distance when travelling down a slippery slope. Tip #6 BEWARE of slippery slopes if you can't stop your momentum neither can the car behind you. Tip #7 Phone a friend or call a cab in inclement weather. WARNING! DANGER!

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

Thank you for your content. I’ve been binging as I save for an e-bike before I ditch my car. And I live in Wisconsin and haven’t gotten used to the winters just yet. This is helping me feel less daunted

[@granthw4993]

Commenting to tickle the algorithm

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Haha. Much appreciated!

[@aikiwolfie]

My tips. 1. Slow down. 2. Get a studded tyre on each wheel. If that's out of your price range, lower the tyre pressure by 5 to 10 PSI. 3. Get your bike serviced before the bad weather comes in. Brakes, cables and bearings. 4. Make sure you have lights. Get into the habit of using them in the day time. 5. Wear layers instead of one big thick jacket. Think we're pretty much in agreement.

[@jjwixer2398]

A big tip is to stay seated as much as possible! You need your weight at center mass on bicycle. If you stand and peddle you won't last long....

[@lzweitkanal9764]

Nice video to show people who find winter cycling crazy ;) On top of your tips, I change to MTB flat pedals, so I get a good grip with my boots and can just stump off snow caught in the sole profile

[@PerNeander]

I also cycle during the winter. I agree with you. I have another tip and that is pedals without rubber. This will lower the risk of slipping with your shoe from the pedal.

[@cathiek8028]

Very helpful! Many thanks. One thing, though. I find that (with the exception of corners), it's better to not go too slow over semi-packed snow - like on places that haven't been shoveled/plowed. I find that a bit of momentum helps to make it over the bumps of snow (not actually fast, just keeping some momentum, but not slow either). Happy riding!

[@zzubuzz]

I'm 59, and have been riding since age 5, only a dozen times or so have I even rode in the winter (Mich)..and less than that in snow, I was a on a road bike (no wonder:) But now I have new vigor and attitude, the vids here are have great advice. I have a hybrid bike on the way but I think I also need a "beater" for the winter, either hybrid or mountain type with a studded front tire.

[@Greg-zr4wm]

The best investment for winter commuting that i have made is a 27.5 plus bike with studded tires. It's not quite a fat bike so you can make a little better time and still ride threw just about everything

[@thomaslgrice]

These tips give you something to think about to anticipate the problems you'll encounter, but in the end, there is nothing like getting out there and learning from experience. 40 years ago, I would bike to work in Columbus, OH and enjoyed how I could stay in bed until 20 minutes before start time, throw on some clothes and ride (mostly downhill*) to work. I did this in all seasons even with a foot of snow on the ground. The worst winter incident I had was when a car pulled out in front of me from an alley and stopped. I had to lay the bike down and nearly slid into the bumper. Luckily, I was wearing a thick leather coat and had no injuries. *Columbus is very flat.

[@bradwong8743]

#4 soooo true - should be #1 sloooooow doooown! Thanks for the tips, yes studs on the front is a great idea.

[@RidesInforests]

Great tips for flat surfaces. Try getting anywhere on a cambered road though.

[@karlnorgaard6077]

Snert! Haha, I like that. I too have been riding through winters for years. As a kid, I rode my BMX in the snow for the fun of it. This background taught me a lot. By the way, it made me happy to see you wearing mittens, I always tell people to go with mittens instead of gloves. This brings me to my top tips to anyone not as experienced in winter cycling. 1. If you can afford it, and are not intimidated, clipless pedals/shoes with shoe covers make cold weather cycling SO much more enjoyable. You don't feel the pedal at all, just the firm sole of shoe and nice insole. Sneakers on aluminum platforms is very cold, and even with a shoe cover, you experience the loss of heat through your soles to the metallic pedal. Our feet are not doing much while pedaling, and I find even during mild weather ones feet can get cold from just the air flowing over them. Trust me, this changed cycling for me. 2. Don't take a warm bike out into the snow. Instead, try to pre-chill your bike for a bit before riding. Warm tires on fluffy snow especially will instantly pick up snow, a real pain if riding fenders. Yes, your bike will cool off quickly when you start riding, but in that time, snow tossed up by tires will melt, then immediately re-freeze onto your braking surfaces, chain, derailleurs and cogs. I once had to stop on the side of the road and pee on my rear mech and cogs just to finish my ride to work, I was stuck in granny gear. This experience reminded me of my habit as a kid of putting my bike outside for 10 mins before riding. If you practice this, you will be pleased with how much cleaner your bike comes home as well. If it's super cold, and you are riding low volume road tires, the air can shrink enough to leave your tires noticeably under-inflated, so be aware of that. While on this topic, I've been disappointed with running a "dry" or waxed chain in extreme cold, preferring synthetic motor oil or good old WD-40.

[@urbancargobikes4930]

We stud our own tires and it works great! Sweet video!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Then you are better than I am, because my homemade studded tires were only slightly better than terrible.

[@wiscgaloot]

Easy answer, buy a Nokian Hakepellita front tire with carbide studs. You'll never slip. I commuted 8.5 miles each way all winter in Madison WI, 3 times when it was 10 below.

[@tetsuclaw]

I use a fatbike for my main transportation. The big tires really helps in winter (located in Canada). Not the fastest bike but I got a Norco bigfoot 2 2019 model now and I have a back rack with folding baskets attached. I can do my grocery shopping and bike home with over $100 worth of groceries with my bike all year round. This is my second fatbike and I have gone on some rather long trips with it too. I sometimes ride out of my city and to a neighbouring town for a fitness ride. I have not purchased studded tires but just having the massive footprint on the road with large tires helps. You mentioned the soft dirt+snow stuff that is a pain to ride on and is really slippery. I get to deal with that a lot and my fat bike really excels at getting through it.

[@grantrush8823]

Cheers from Prince George BC, Enjoy your channel! Fat biking with studs is the best for me here in PG. I find you can go anywhere anytime and have a blast doing it!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Thanks for watching! Glad you can get out in winter!

[@customer0815]

After a hard fall on thin ice in morning, 10 years ago, I use a studded front tyre. It give me confidence again, so I can ride the bike every day in all seasons.

[@benbraceletspurple9108]

Wider deeper tires make bigger difference than studded tires. Get deep knobs with 2 inch tires if you can get studs if you can't fit those on your bike. In very snowy places there are bikes with skiis in the front; of which some even have tracks for a rear wheel, and yes, it is faster than cross country skiing most of the time.

[@greyseiker6139]

I love that type of videos, i have a 2.60 tires on my ebike, and with really low pressure you can climb even step snowy-icy slopes, its amazing. AND if you want to ride over big packs of snow or 100% icy terrains, i would really recomend using nail tires

[@cyrion7819]

3:30 Studded tires are really great. BUT: - you have less grip than on a dry road on every ground. (Rubber has a better grip than iron on a dry ground.) - especially on hard, closed surfaces like cobblestone the iron has no dents to get grip - deep cut and frozen tracks in refrozen Snow are very often too "hard" and lead your wheels as you don´t want. Drive slowly. - If the snow is that high, that you can not reach the surface of the street, studded tires are no use. - beware of cars out of control, when you drive on clear ice. - If you drive on the normal street, the nails wear off. Very fast. I have two bikes and I can choose in the morning if I use the bike with studded tires or normal ones.

[@Greg_ThymeTraveler]

If you choose to ride while it's raining or snowing, purchase some goggles or else you will struggle to see. I guess that doesn't have anything to do with slipping or falling, though. Just bought a fat tire folding ebike a few months ago. So fun to ride in the snow. I've fallen twice due to snow, though. First one was making a sharp turn to go up hill on a driveway. The other was riding on a snow covered slope next to a frozen hiking/bike trail. The trail had frozen foot prints that made the trail super bumpy so I rode next to it in the snow. Both times I fell because my center of gravity wasn't where it should have been.

[@jedisentinel1499]

That’s winter driving in general. The beginning and the end are the best tip. Slow down and know the road conditions.

[@markmoffett6813]

You said it brother . Thanks again for another great video . Mark from Maryland

[@NAUM1]

That lean one is vital. Just had the bike slide out from under me on Friday. Thought all the ice was gone on the turn from the previous day's 10-12 degree Celsius temps. Apparently not or the melt off refroze. Thankfully only a scraped and bruised knee and some needed repair of bicycle.

[@andyh9030]

Here after a nasty crash last week, time to get back on!!! Thanks for the tips 🤣

[@amfentre]

"Stud Confidence" That was a good one

[@charliekp6534]

Wish I'd seen this earlier! I cycled to and from work all through the winter, and then just as winter was ending at the end of January I came off my bike on the ice and broke my arm, have only just restarted commuting by bike a couple of weeks ago now!

[@zeroexmachina]

I found myself doing alot of these things when riding to the grocery store. I prefer snowy side streets over patchy bike lanes and traffic.

[@justinevalka7644]

I feel like a huge benefit to biking for commuting in winter is if you reach a part of your route that isn't plowed, you can just switch to walking, whereas with a car the only way to move it is to drive it making getting stuck in snow or on ice that much more challenging and dangerous.

[@ryanpiper7327]

Thank you, your tips could save my life

[@migrantfamily]

I ride in northern (kinda) Sweden, year round. My top tip: ride where it glitters, not where it gleams. And don’t go too fast. And if you do lose traction, stay with your bike.

[@migrantfamily]

Also, start braking with your front brake but finish with the rear. It’s so much easier to recover from losing grip on the back than on the front. On snirt shift your weight back, that will keep your front wheel from digging down and sending you, worst case, over the bars.

[@oboewankenobo8675]

Very interesting and informative video. That being said, I take the winter off riding because to me it’s not worth getting injured falling of my bike. I switch to walking for a few months till the weather changes. A few years ago I was riding my road bike and got caught in a rain shower just enough to make the road wet. I came upon a railroad crossing with the tracks on the diagonal across the road and slowed down to cross them. That quick my front tire locked up and before I could do anything I was over on my side kissing the blacktop. So summer riding can be hazardous too.

[@seanparlan]

Going to try the Continental studded tires, always been curious about them. Vancouver black ice keeps me off the bike a couple of weeks early in the year.

[@granthw4993]

Take a look at their Top Contact Winter 2. I used them in my commuter last year in Ottawa and found they gave me as much confidence as my studded tires have in the past. I had no issues on ice (climbed up a steep icy hill no problem) and they have significantly less rolling resistance when on pavement

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Black ice is tough, even with studded tires. Continental (and a few other brands) also has very good winter tires too. They don't offer as much traction as studs, but are much better than regular rubber.

[@stormyprawn]

Slipped twice this winter, gonna try these tips next time it's an icy day

[@Brantastic07]

Did you know that zip ties can act like snow chains for bike tires?

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Yes, I've tried this. It works very well! I had forgotten about it, so thanks for the tip!

[@SipuliSankari]

You did the correct thing using studded tire for front tire only. If you need more grip then studded tire for rear and ice chains for front tire. This way your front never gives way before the rear does and dropping the inside leg to ground in that moment will prevent you falling. After all we don't drive like a maniac on icy roads, right? We don't do that with car so why would one do on a bike? At least I hope so... :D

[@sallymoen7932]

A great advantage to winter bike riding in western Washington is that I get around better than many cars do, because people here are not good drivers in the 🌨️ & ice.

[@dandeangeli9860]

Best part of video 5:02. Biking in the winter has tremendous psychological benefits, like getting air and sun on the face.

[@freedom4454]

These are really helpful tips! Thank God that I came across this video!

[@ThisTimeTheWorld]

I sometimes ride a chopper trike in winter. It has its own hazards but 3 wheels helps, and it doesnt need a stand, and trackstands at lights are automatic.

[@poppetrurazvan3900]

Helmet first. I remember about my first days in Sweden. Wonderfull.

[@juhokaartoaho]

As someone from southern Finland where the winter temperatures can often go couple of degrees over and under 0 Celsius. The worst road condition is when there has been some snow and then it goes 1 or 2 degrees over 0 and gets little wet. Then bikes leave very deep grooves that are not necessarily trouble yet, but once it re freezes for example on the night. You are bit on those grooves mercy, they can suddenly snatch your tire to some random groove especially if there has been little snowfall to hide them more. On those condition it would be unthinkable to ride with one hand even for filming.

[@therealworld9183]

Just move too Colorado and I don't have a car. Loving it.

[@chrism5433]

Riding. In the snow so cool . I've said it before love the channel.happy holidays 🍺🚴

[@mtbboy1993]

you will go do no matter what if it's icy. the surface can be uneven. I live in east Norway, where the temps go up and down rapidly resulting in snow melting and thick ice forming in the shade, and certain areas get bumpy, even with plowing often. so you have no chance. but with proper studded tyres I can still be fast and do sharp turns, and lean bike over. I ride a very stable mountain bike with logn wheelbase, logn chain stays, slack head angle short stem, so direct and stable steering, so the bike is not as twitchy as yours. so my bike is very easy to control when it slips, and drifts. I need two studded tyres, there is no way I won't slip without studded tyres on both wheels. but even with studded tyres you need to be gentle with pedalling, so you don't spin the rear wheel, I can even do wheelies on ice where people skate, just have to be gentle. I have a dropper post on my bike so I can lower the saddle and lower my centre of gravity in the turns and it makes turning safer, with the saddle out of the way when doing sharp turns. I think a dropper post is a good addition to a commuter bike, it's safer and easier to get on and off the bike, and getting saddle away makes it safer to ride when doing sharp turns. but a bike like yours you turn more with the handlebar if you want to do sharpest of turns, instead of leaking the bike. my bike is more like a motorcross bike in terms head angle, steering. but I think more stable commuting bikes should be a thing, I want to see longer wheelbase, slacker head angle, short stem for direct steering. most commuter bikes on the market not stable. the only advantage is they are shorter, take up less room. but for me fit, geometry is important. less fatigue, easier to ride. in winter it makes an even bigger difference.

[@shaunhall960]

I would add when your on a bicycle path with an overpass walk your bike through it as most likely there is black ice under the snow as run off accumulates under bridges. I had a big spell when I first started riding in the winter and now I just don't take chances with these death traps.

[@Levenstone132]

Good tips. Watch out for black ice under trees where the sun doesn't get to. I saw it way too late,ouch!

[@RabbitsInBlack]

FAT BIKE with Studs. Winter is never going to stop me from commuting in the Winter. I ignored because I didn't want to change my tires to studded way to long and learned, studs are worth every penny after I fell without studs.

[@cyclingvideoes]

I love winter riding, i don't use studs because I learn from my falls (e: and melts too quick). Brown mush is my least favorite, ARG! e: ooops forgot to mention I also wear pads on my hips, etc when it snows/ice for when I do fall! Haha :)

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Pads is a great idea! Hopefully, you don't have to wear them forever -- they shouldn't be required in a city that offers safe winter routes.

[@DarrenHannah]

Great tips (I assume), though I will probably never need them. Riding in the dead of winter in Sydney, Australia just means that I may need to start my ride with a jumper on. :D

[@ralphcedricbasco278]

I have a Cdntire single speed Cruiser bike and i love it!.... It uses coaste rbrakes and I cycle with it in the winter with no problem! The bike has thicker 26 inch tires so that kinda helps. brakes just work However, I don't own studded tires and this video makes me want to invest on one next winter.

[@GladmanNow]

My mountain bike is great in part due to the wider studded front tire I have for the winter but it’s also good because the low rider seat position lets me put my feet down as dual outriggers when I sense likely slippery spots. Thanks for the video. Experience does help. I have gradually got comfortable with lower and lower temps.

[@TheAverageDutchman]

Bad idea. My advice would be to keep your feet on the pedals at all times. Even as you go down. I tried to catch myself with a foot once once, sliding on some ice. My foot caugt a bump and tried to invert itself on my leg right as my weight came down on top. Ended up with a tri-maleolar fracture of the ankle joint. 4 months of walking with crutches and another 4 to 5 months of physical therapy before I was mostly back to walking normally. And I got lucky with clean breaks.

[@alexandergilmour8451]

A fixed wheel along with the studded tyres is the optimum

[@UPdan]

Love my 20" fat tires plus my Bell helmet with full visor and vented to keep the cold off the face. I may add stabilizer wheels in back( training wheels) just for ice.

[@luislll5842]

I have a tip that works for me but u should practice because it doesn’t always works. When your turning try to push your back wheel so it lines back up with your bike be careful tho. Also if theirs lots of loose snow try jumping your front wheel so u wind dig into the snow

[@kjeldsloot]

I riding a recumbent trike and a velomobile. You don't will fall and it has more grip on the road. That is the safest way for winter cycling in my opinion. Also an E-bike is a faster way to fall down. Because of the motor turning on and makes it slips from under you.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Recumbents are a great option. I plan to test your ebike theory soon ;)

[@kjeldsloot]

@@Shifter_Cycling Be careful, I had the same story of people falling with a ebike three times in one day. And I didn't even slips with my velomobile. I really think it is more dangerous to ride an ebike when it is a little bit slippery.

[@highloughsdrifter1629]

@@kjeldsloot I never noticed that with the e-bike I used for year-round commuting. It was my own build though with the battery mounted over the front wheel. Just made sense to me to put some weight over a driven wheel. I used to run studded tyres in the winter just in case and have a vivid (because it hurt) memory of arriving at work, getting off and falling straight on my backside. The bike had studs but my shoes didn't...

[@pianomad100]

While the confidence boost from studded tires feels good, be careful not to let it cloud your reasoning. One of my commuting paths tends to acquire a mile long stretch of solid ice better suited for ice skating. Even with studded tires, you better not try it. (I seek out the packed snow the plows create on the side of the path.)

[@buffalomind6838]

I’m going to get some studded tires this year. Thanks for the tips.

[@chadmyles-theclevelandcyclist]

“Never beat your personal best.” That depends on how you categorize it.

[@stanblackburn700]

Great advice as always, Tom. I love your work. Blessings, brother.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Thanks for watching! Appreciate it.

[@RafTheDude]

Out of curiosity, how do you guys (anyone reading) deal with downhills? This is my first year committing to commuting with my bike. I started mid spring and am currently enjoying the summer months without much problem, but there is this giant downhill that has what appears to be a 7-10% slop downwards which I fear will be a problem during winter. I assume braking will help, but forcing the brakes too hard has a risk of locking the wheels, yes? What can I do in situations like that? Should I just walk instead?

[@darthmaul216]

Studded tires help with grip and treat down hill the same way you would in a car. Go as slow as you can and no sudden moves