Winter Biking: It's Actually Easy!

[@andrew20146]

TIL Canadians are the ice equivalent of Dune's fremen and their sand walk. It really is true how we intently study the ground as we walk in winter.

[@glennmartin6492]

Particular drivers are snow worms.

[@KManAbout]

I just thought that goes without saying.

[@louis-josephcouturier4999]

I’m shock. I’ve been riding my bike for 12 winters and never seen such a sound opinion on winter biking. Great job.

[@BradleyBondy]

I got studded tires for my bike this winter, and they worked great during Portland's one week of winter weather. They add some extra rolling resistance, but it's worth it to not risk a slip on ice.

[@PaigeMTL]

I think they’re a good buy if you want to go faster, if you want to ride every day, or if your route is ice prone. It’s common sense really.

[@NoorquackerInd]

It's not a snowy day outside if my back tire isn't slipping all over the place ;)

[@Davmm96]

rolling resistance is just another word for grip ;)

[@coocoo3336]

@@PaigeMTL living in a mountainy part of metro vancouver. They are a must. Steep hills completly covered in black ice. It barly works with studded tires. Pretty risky when you fall and just start sliding down the hill. Especially if its a big hill

[@MisdirectedSasha]

I have definitely walked outside after ice storms, had my boots slip around on the sidewalk, and gone back in to get my bike with the studded tires because I felt safer on it than on my feet lol

[@franzzrilich9041]

I bicycled in winter during a period of very snowy and cold winters (1940 to 1985). I dressed in several sets of warm clothes, which included a Korean War-era Fish-tail parka, and was so padded that when I slid and fell, all I had were bruises. Twenty years ago, I turned 50, and was told to stop bicycling.

[@G60syncro]

Underrated comment spotted here!! Did you stop cycling altogether or just in the winter? Just being in shape at that age is just a gift in itself... My dad will turn 85 in March and still clears the snow off the weekend cottage driveways of 65 year old geezers that can't do it anymore!!

[@thoughtsontravelandlife]

I wasn't on board until you described it as "skiing through the city".. now I really want to try lol

[@shadowthesun]

I much prefer to follow advice from these type of low-maintenance practical advice videos than the typical high-tech brand sponsored ones most bike channels do

[@nicholaspeterson2615]

Winter riding for about a decade. Some years more then others but college was where it started. I got my new bike and it was a 7.5 mile one way commute and it was up hill both ways (as my home and college were on the opposite side of a U shaped valley). Bad days I would plop it on my city buses bike rack and cut 4 miles out and ride the rest of the way. about when it hit -30 F or we just had a blizzard was my hard cut off. I just kept adding layers on that first year as it was a graceful temp drop.

[@Flix-f6q]

High vis gloves or mittensmake your hand signals more visible.redundant lights are also a good idea in case one battery goes empty.

[@nickcalcperc]

Great video. This is my second winter biking in southeast Michigan. It is honestly just as serene as summertime. The most common question I get from family/friends/coworkers "BUT DON'T YOU GET COLD??" well, maybe for the first minute, but you just wear the regular hat, gloves, SCARF(not on the neckwarmer game yet), and coat and let the minimal physical activity do the rest. It blows my mind how much car dependent people rely on their car heaters as opposed to proper winter clothing.

[@ZacTBH]

I got some studded tires this year and some good winter boots. I'm ready.

[@agatien]

Merci pour tes vidéos de qualité.

[@TalwinderDhillonTravels]

This is my first winter in Montréal and have been biking the whole time. As you said in the video, a lot of complaining about winters generally comes from lack of physical activity and biking does help me a bunch with that. Also there are not that many active snow days, and love how fast the bike lanes are cleaned.

[@PaigeMTL]

Good for you. I think it's just a matter of getting people to try it out.

[@WheelsonaBike]

I use bikes for transport and I ride my bike year round in Toronto. Very doable. Bike shops in the winter are quite empty, so if anything goes wrong, you'll most likely get it addressed quickly, as the shop won't have a massive wait list for service. I ride a hybrid bike and put studded tires on it. Golden!

[@Brackcycle]

Hey Paige, love the no BS approach! So, I love your channel and came to it largely because I love Montreal and your history/culture/urbanism etc. topics were a pleasant surprise. But....I no longer live Urban. I have lived in rural Ontario for almost 2 decades. I always ride when I can but my commute is about 9km and super hilly. This year I got a cheapish Swytch Bike ebike kit and converted a $150 used bike and have been commuting all winter. Your last comments really spoke to me. I look forward to my rides for the exercise (ebike is only pedal assist) but even more for the quiet outside time I gain. The weather provides me with the adventure I need to keep things fresh. I kinda laugh when people see me as "spartan raised by wolves". It really is so easy. I love winter a lot more than I already did! I appreciate your videos!

[@iamsemjaza]

The wide tires are good for people with back issues too. I slipped three completely destroyed discs in my lower back a few years back, had to have spinal surgery, and the added stability of the wide tires really helps.

[@TheNmecod]

From south shore and my town started plowing cycling lanes this winter, pretty sweet might try it out since I usually bike in the summer.

[@bencoolfergus]

Great video! I remember the first time I took my bike out on a bright winter day when I was running too late to walk. I was shocked that it was so... normal. It wasn't this alien sport that required gear and training or anything. Many winters later, I would say that three things have really made the experience a lot better: - Electric assist (for more consistent body temperature and ease) - Hub gears (low maintenance without losing the flexibility of having gears) - Pogies! The integrated handlebar wind blockers that keep my hands from freezing, even with lighter gloves.

[@PSNDonutDude]

One thing nobody ever talks about is legs. Maybe I'm just a badly designed human, but when I bike on really cold days, the worst part for me is my legs. I've worn long underwear before and that helps, but I'm debating buying splash pants or something that can be removed when I get where I'm going (usually work). That and ski goggles for your eyes when it's snowing

[@sangokudbz79]

From north shore (north of laval!). Tried winter biking for the 1st time this winter and I regret nothing. The infra is great here and was practicable for the great majority of the winter. Maybe not juuuust after a snow fall for my liking, but a few hours later they were cleared. Got all out and found a 3 internal-speed dutch bike and put some studded tire on it. It's great! Not as practical as in the summer, but I'm 100% sure it's more fun than the gym! I'm not stopping using my bike for 4-5 months a year anymore, no way!

[@alexseguin5245]

My recommendation for winter cycling: wear an additional layer on your pants when it gets cold, even if it is just a thin breathable fabric. Also, wear a paintball mask. Nice to avoid having cold air in your eyes as well as snow, keeps you warm overall. If you're the type to wear a helmet, you can replace that with a snowmobile helmet.

[@electricbikejesus2857]

i just bought a used bike to do some winter biking. It's really fun, i always thought it would be awful before i actually tried it.

[@cccccc864]

I will, it's gonna be my first winter in Canada. I just need to find a small bike for my height.

[@MatthewHoHiWorld]

Great video! I started winter biking in Toronto 3 years ago and have found that snow clearing for bike lanes (and all roads in general) are horrible in Toronto. Which means there are jagged ice mountains where bike lanes meet road. Either I ride on the road, or stop every half block to lift myself over these ice mountains. I also find that riding in the winter generally takes longer than in warmer weather. For example my normal commute in summer, ETA is 25 min; but in winter is 30-40m. Whereas subway is always 30m. In terms of tires, unless you're biking slowly, it's necessary to have studded/spiked tires. See comparison between ETA in earlier sentence.

[@kevello]

I use Bike Share Toronto throughout the winter and it works perfectly - another option to consider if it's feasible :)

[@MatthewHoHiWorld]

@@kevello I think bikeshareTO is great for frequent riders, but horrible for occasional riders. $3.25 flat fare for a single trip? Might as well transit or walk, given most bike trips are 1 to 5 km. A pricing scheme like montreal's time-based system make more sense. Even though I have my own bike, I would use bikeshareTO if it didn't cost the same as a TTC fare. Toronto has terrible fare integration in general. Even Bixi has opus card discounts!

[@PaigeMTL]

My friend from Montreal spent last winter in Toronto and said that it was a lot harder to ride there. I think the biggest factor on studded tires is your intended routes in your city. For people's first rides (what I'm evangelizing in the video above), just find a plowed bikelane, ride whatever you have carefully down it an "get hooked". After that, it's common sense, if you have no plowed bike lanes and your ride is all on streets, you'll want more gear. If you're 90% bike lanes you don't need that.

[@trekrona]

Biking in Stockholm I broke my wrist when I took a nasty fall back in early December. Funnily enough I was inside in a parking garage but had quite wet tires because of snow. Just had my cast removed and now have to get back in the saddle; so thanks for the video and for some tips! Best to start back up slow and gain back some lost confidence.

[@PaigeMTL]

Ooof. I have wondered about wrist guards just because that is a notoriously annoying injury.

[@jackreid8990]

Been binging your channel!! Keep up the great content

[@statelyelms]

This year, having been biking nearly everyday to classes and work, I decided to try winter biking. And you're right, it's literally piss easy. It's cold yeah.. only so much as skiing, which I already did so you'd wonder why I never considered it before. The activity keeps me warm and all I really needed to do that was special was put on a buff to protect my ears and some thicker gloves. My mountain bike tires could deal with the snow and ice pretty well (only slush gives me a problem but let's be real.. slush gives *everyone* problems). Still haven't missed any days, save for a few sick days at home, it's all been biking!

[@0Stella]

just went for my first one today in Edmonton! I cycled across the country this summer for my album tour and thankfully befriended an edmonton local who rides through the winter and hey presto! just needed a buddy to push me over the edge and now I have a nice little commuter bike with studs and discs. boom! ready to go. good call on the gloves though. wore them today and regretted it, it will be mittens tomorrow

[@jamiedeshaies3333]

Been living in Montreal my whole life, started commuting by bike when I was 16, been winter biking for the past 5 years and I love it!

[@curtismah1261]

We love winter biking in Calgary !!

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

I live in Toronto and ride year-round. Very, very doable. Great video!

[@gregarcher7730]

EXCELLENT video!!! Told it like it is and kept it simple. Nice work, great advice.

[@Kevin_geekgineering]

winter cycling is the best, just choose good clothing it's not much different from summer ride

[@peterj.teminski6899]

Making more bike lanes for the under employed snow plow. Priceless. Cheers

[@madelineduffin1352]

i ride my yuba mondo cargo bike all year in Calgary. As you said in the video, dress for the weather, wear a reflective vest, lights, mitts and good foot wear. Give yourself more time to reach your destination because of the conditions changing during the night due to weather, snow plowing or shoveling of sidewalks. The most problematic issue when the temperature is warming up and the mixture of snow, salt and dirt covers the road, aka, snirt. Snirt can take you down very fast. So i am watching for that and either totally get off the road and ride on the pathway or sidewalk to avoid it. Its easier to ride on hard packed snow on the roads and sidewalks in minus 30 temperatures. Mostly after biking all year for twenty years, it usually is a challenge to commute to work for the first day of a snowstorm, then as the roads and sidewalks are cleared then it gets easier. Winter bike riders have to get used to the bike moving around alot more in the snow and to be gentle with the brakes and steering.

[@davorinrusevljan6440]

I like your utilitarian approach. Also there is a quite rewarding feeling of fresh air, some cold that one gets for free.

[@marcdenlinger5282]

Great encouragement as we get into the winter season again! One thing I still need is fenders. My advice is to anyone considering riding bike in the winter is to just get out there and give it a try. Like your friend said, you will start to learn what to wear based on the weather/temperature.

[@aim-at-me]

Me a Kiwi, I like this guy, he sounds so familiar... "My dad, when he visits from New Zealand". Ohhh... Kia Ora brother!

[@Alex_Plante]

Great video! I used to ride my bike everywhere back in the 1990s when I lived in Montreal, but unfortunately back then bike lanes and paths were not maintained in the winter. I would usually stop biking in November when the first black ice appeared. Black ice is the worst thing about winter biking (and the wind).

[@McSlobo]

Haha, I've visited gym regularly, once in 10 years to remind myself why I hate it. Today, again, like any other day, went cycling in winter conditions. Just visited some shops downtown 6km away. Easy breezy, only -4°C and some snowing. Of course the bike paths were plowed, no problem. Like normally in these conditions, I wore chukka boots, wool socks, jeans, denim shirt, a sports coat, a semi-long wool coat, leather gloves, wool mittens, scarf, and a pipo (toque in Canadian). So, 100% regular clothes. My bike is a hybrid with 20 gears and 32mm wide studded winter tyres. Winter cycling is not difficult, I swear you. If it becomes colder, yes, I would change to warmer boots, would use woolen long johns, throw some knit underneath and switch my mittens to more substantial gloves, and in extreme cold I would go to insulated pants and down jacket, but not in my lifetime I have experienced a weather I wouldn't cycle in, and it's been down to -40°C and probably below. Normal clothes, for the weather, perhaps a tiny bit of wind protection if you wish.

[@wodediannao4577]

Great video, but hard disagree on riding without front brakes. It's safer to have the front as a backup in case your chain slips or breaks. I've never had problems using brake levers with mittens. My town may be icier than yours, but I've ridden both regular bikes and winter-specific bikes (29x3.0), and the winter-specific bikes are slower but a lot nicer. It's nice to have more traction when I'm on poorly plowed roads near aggressive drivers.

[@patchescantpurr2731]

Bike lanes in Minneapolis suck in the winter. Once snow starts to accumulate, the bike lanes shrink until there is nothing left. We have a lot of lanes adjacent to parking and people will park in the bike lane when the snow mounds block roadside parking. One of my closest calls happened when I was riding in a cleared bike lane marked for left hand turns at an intersection. As I turned, I saw the bike lane on the road ahead blocked with snow piles, and I had to contend with cars adjacent to me. I just take the lane when I can. As this winter marches on, the lengths of usable bike lanes are so short it isn't worth the risk of merging in and out with car traffic. A lot of the trails and paths get cleared off but not with the same priority in all locations. My commute to work only gets good once I leave the city limits. For some reason, the adjacent suburb clears the three trails (Pedestrian, Westbound, and Eastbound bikes) near its business park so well while the city of Minneapolis only clears one poorly of the three for shared use. I ride an E-bike with 700x38 studded tires and it's been very solid for me. It's not a simple bike like you suggest but the distances I cover are fairly large and my destination has a secured bike room. I'll probably get a set of studded tires and anti-theft skewers for my old (90s, zero shocks) Specialized Hard Rock to do grocery runs.

[@boxman888]

another perk is a lot of people choose the buss or car in the snowy months so the bike lanes arent congested like they normally are in sweden. also you don't typically get rain, you get snow instead. much more pleasant to bike through snow than rain, rain is the worst.

[@Antoine893]

Very interesting about the single speed bit, I might try that for my winter bike. Last month I was having trouble shifting because the cables were stuck in the snow my front wheel was throwing behind. Winter is definitely not kind on mechanical parts. For the ice, I use 2 studded tires. The only time I fell in two years of winter biking was because I kept my summer bike too late, black ice is unforgiving. With studded tires I don't even have to worry if there's ice or not, it's like asphalt anyway. Also there's no cycling path in the winter in my part of the city so I have to roll with the cars and risking to fall is not an option when cars are so close.

[@herbivorousexplorer2922]

Not all of Montreal's cycling lanes are ploughed regularly. If you live in downtown, Plateau, Mile End for sure, but if you live in other areas, you may not be so lucky. Also painted lanes are dumping grounds of snow. Studded tires are a great investment. I do use a FAT bike for winter, it is something different to ride on and gives a different riding experience. But again I am someone who did not grow up in the snow and the winter. I prefer riding my bike than walking or waiting for the bus in the winter, the biggest advantage being how quickly warm it gets riding the bicycle.

[@teddymacrae]

In hockey they call it “stopping.” Sorry I had to comment it

[@nordveien]

Parallel stop, parallel slide or hockey stop on inline skates :D

[@TheMusicianTom]

Her in London UK we don’t often get snow or ice but the winter temperatures get to my arms and hands. Lycra arm warmers and double gloves work wonders. I only cycle once or twice a week but I love my ten mile commute and it doesn’t take any longer than public transport.

[@Joe-vm6ds]

I was a bit surprised when you mentioned not needing a fat tire bike, but then you showed footage of my commute down O'Connor Street in Ottawa with all the snow there. Maybe one day Ottawa will get around to maintaining the cycle infrastructure!

[@CorsiHockey]

I've really wanted to give it a shot. I might try it soon

[@atn_holdings]

"I doesn't get much more scientific than the skinny tire camp going "well, skinny tires cut through the slush!" and the mountain bike camp going "well mountain bikes stick better on the corners" absolutely true lmao. But wait til you hear about the metal studded tires vs. normal mud tires flamewar. that one never ends

[@PaigeMTL]

Yeah people who are into things often have those discussions, but it's important to project the overall message "Just wait for a nice day and ride down a cleared bike lane on a bike you don't mind getting rusty". Once people get started, realize they enjoy it, then they can go buy the gear that they need. I think a lot of people are thinking they can't go for a run without the Nikes you know?I'll probably grab some snowboarding goggles soon because that's currently the biggest annoyance for me.

[@atn_holdings]

@@PaigeMTL yes hence why my position is studs are overkill but youre totally right

[@bicycles-as-far-as-im-aliv5725]

Very fun & convincing presentation. I was wishing for more at the end. Lol

[@simoneh4732]

Paige hitting the nail on the head talking about how having a bike that looks crappy means it probably won't get stolen. I've thought about replacing my 22 year old mountain bike, but keep using it because it never gets stolen.

[@siriltd]

Love winter biking. From montreal.

[@een_schildpad]

Loved the video and great advice! This has been my first winter biking for transportation (down in Fishers, Indiana, US). I just kept riding into the fall and figured I'd stop when it wasn't fun anymore; but that point never came 😆. One of the most unexpected things for me was how warm I end up. Even after the ride once I'm back indoors things just don't seem as cold after the physical activity. People will often see me and comment that I'm "braving the cold" when my real problem is that I'm too warm in my winter coat :-p

[@PaigeMTL]

Yeah, it’s actually a lot more comfortable than (say) standing around waiting for a bus.

[@saxtremer]

Hey from Edmonton, thanks for making the video. This is my first winter on bike. It's much colder here than in Montreal, but we get much less snow, which makes it easier to rely on bike everyday. When the temperature drops below -25 C, however, your face starts freezing. A (thicker) ski mask and goggles help a lot. Still, I probably wouldn't bike below -30 C as batteries in the lights can die unexpectedly, and I don't have a dynamo. I'd say about 2/3 of winter cyclists here do have studded tires, which in my opinion are a must.

[@PaigeMTL]

I think the studs are more important when you don't have the plowed/salted infrastructure, or if you have a lot of ice. But I'd stills say, average joe should just wait for a nice winter day and ride on a regular bike a few days to test it out. Then if they like it, head to the store and get the gear for the conditions with more ice/snow/vehicles/darkness. Basically start jogging and strategically add gear before buying the nikes, fitbit, special fabrics etc.

[@saxtremer]

@@PaigeMTL I agree 100%

[@MTL.911]

I'm a local, I was actually born at the Royal Victoria Hospital, but I currently live in Pointe-Claire and the city doesn't bother to plow any of their bike lanes in the winter... sooo I'd pretty much be forced to ride in the street. Which sucks, because I've recently been contemplating about biking around in the snow instead of driving everywhere for "short" (short for the suburbs, lol fml) trips. I'll likely still try it out, but knowing that I'll be putting my life on the line is not fun to think about.

[@TD-gc5tq]

Hymus and Donegani will be upgraded to protected 4 season bike paths in future REV phases.

[@MTL.911]

@@TD-gc5tq That's good to know. Wish they'd clear the one on Cartier so I could safely visit the Village, too.

[@LaurentGloaguen]

The problem with people who talk about how easy it is to bike in Montreal in all seasons is that their idea of Montreal is limited to the central arrondissements. In Lasalle, Pierrefonds, Saint-Laurent, Saint-Leonard, Montréal Nord, Anjou, etc. there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of infrastructure and maintenance, and cycling there in winter unfortunately requires courage and boldness. In short, the experience one can have as a cyclist in Ville-Marie or the Plateau is not representative of many Montrealers.

[@juliengagnon-ouellette6381]

Thanks for this video. I am a bike winter enthousiaste and your video is really right. I just want to say that there will be the first winter with bixi. And for people that want to know more about winter cycling there's every year the «forum vélo d'hiver» the winter bike forum to know more about that way of life.

[@lemairel1792]

Great video! It sums it up very well. I would like to add a comment for beginners. Studded tires can be a great asset. Although they are not essential, they are a lot safer. They also allow for tighter turns. I learned the hard way that even a thin layer of snow can be slippery. You only need one on the front wheel though since the rear wheel drifts are manageable.

[@PaigeMTL]

I’d say, go for a ride on a clear day, if you like it and want to leave the bike lanes then figure out a budget.

[@glennmartin6492]

OK. One studded tire on the front and a hub Emotor on the back. What do people think?

[@lemairel1792]

@@glennmartin6492 That seems reasonable, if you lose traction at the rear its not big deal. If ever you later feel like the rear slips too much when using the motor or going uphill you can add one at the back.

[@glennmartin6492]

@@lemairel1792 As somone who hasn't biked in thirty years, remind me again how hard it is to change a tire on a geared wheel? Is it harder on a multispeed rear wheel? (Would that make a single speed bike a better choice?)

[@davidcardinal3654]

I live in alberta canada and I bike 9km each way on the highway and secondary roads. Only did two cold nights so far and it aint bad at all. Got the studded tires and everything. I can foresee that windy snowy days are going to suck ass. But luckily for me -30 days arent very common and only average about 2 weeks a winter. Ski goggles and helmet all the way!

[@brauljo]

Must be nice to have bike lanes

[@G60syncro]

I'm in Sherbrooke and not having gears is NOT an option! Picture the streets in Montreal between Ontario and Sherbrooke streets and that's pretty much every intersection here!! I've found that just bringing the bike inside over the weekend and dousing the geartrain in WD-40 and sometimes with an oiling can fillled with 5w motor oil keeps it in check. Also, I got studded tires this year... I anticipated lots of ice on my way to work along the river, but so far the winter has been so mild I've been running on wet pavement most of the time. I think I'll get a second set of wheels next year and get non studded tires and swap them when I really need to!! Also, french Quebecers have this expression "tchin lé!" (tiens le) which litterally means "hold it" however the meaning is the total opposite of english, it's not to stop but rather to keep the pedal to the metal... It's a concept that comes from car driving but I feel it also fits with biking: be cautious but intentional!! You stay aware of what's in front, you make a decision of where you're pointed at and you keep it floored so as not to lose your momentum otherwise your dead in the middle of the hill!!

[@squidcaps4308]

40 years of cycling in Finnish winters: Don't take your beat up junk and go out, at least not before making few checks. Is it oiled or greased? Grease thickens, use proper lubrication. Check tire pressures and pump them up to the max. If it is very cold outside, pump just above max. The air in them will shrink so you have to compensate for the temperature. Check pressures often, tires tend to leak air when you change temperature drastically all the time. Make sure it rolls well, your rolling resistance is higher and you don't need a lot to make it frustrating to keep momentum. The bad side of that is that the conditions actually require the lowest pressures you can afford. You need more surface area and cushioning against small bumps. Luckily i found the solution: electricity. Ebikes in the winter are simply awesome. I have a gravel bike and while the steering seeks more it is quite nice with studded tires. we had a snowstorm and there were snowbanks up to the 700c hubs but i didn't have to stop but once.. and it was like stopping to a wall. No way for human to maintain so much steady torque, and mine is just 350W. I do think a Dutch or MTB are the best winter bikes, but i'm considering a semi-fat e-cruiser, just a bit wider tires for more cushioning on regular rims and let the motor take care of the added resistance, making me more comfortable. Low seating position should work in the winter, you can stabilize with feet on the ground, and cruiser don't seek as much (falling to every groove..). Soft seat with springs and suspension seatpost should further smoothen out the ride (i don't want suspension, i like the contact with the surface that a rigid frame gives). With a throttle, so not really a bicycle but light e-vehicle that fits in ebike legislation. At around 500-750W and grippy tires.. it'll be a snowglider.

[@PaigeMTL]

Or, alternatively, take your beat up junk and go out. People will notice if their tire is flat or their chain is seized. They don’t need to nail it on their first ride.

[@jered2177]

Haha i like your sense of humor

[@nathanricci5765]

A belt drive with internally geared hub can get you low maintenance and also have gears (but at a price). But realistically, a derailleur isn't *that* much maintenance even in Winter.

[@PaigeMTL]

I think people can wait until “bike 2” and see what they want to invest in. I really don’t miss the gears or brakes, might get snow tires when they need replacing.

[@charleyyb3039]

Ur an hidden gem😂😂. Ur videos are actually really good quality keep the good work🙏🏿

[@rhobein32]

Fabulous! Wonderful video, thanks a lot!

[@pete7110]

Great vid mate, first time for me Cycling in Toronto winter, not as scary as I thought originally

[@PaigeMTL]

Right on time Montreal, try out winter biking Free: facebook.com/events/338444084815117/?ti=ls

[@McSlobo]

Scarfs totally rule. Just buy a proper cashmere one. They're not that expensive, at least here.

[@johanwittens7712]

When you look at the statistics, even in cold snowy Canada, there aren't that many days where it actually snows and where snow covers everything. At best that's 3-4 weeks depending on where you live. The rest of the time the snow can be cleared and left to the side, or melts in a matter of hours or days. But the times that snow days actually hinder cycling or traffic are not that many even in Canada, and only occur during a period of 2-3 months per year. And what I also find a bit silly in arguments against cycling in winter is that pretty much all of them apply to driving just as well. "It's too cold". Then why go outside at all even for a walk or to go Ice skating? You manage that fine? Why is it all of a sudden too cold to cycle? "It's too slippery and dangerous." Yeah. Same for cars. In snowy conditions on uncleared roads, cars or other vehicles are just as helpless and get into accidents or get stuck just as easily. The trick is clearing the roads and thus also the bike lanes quickly and efficiently. "It's a pain in a storm." Yup. Same as before, so is driving. Driving in a snowstorm is just as dangerous which is why schools and other public services close, and why life in general shuts down. But that mostly lasts a day, maybe two untill the storm passes and the roads are cleared again. So cycling is hard to do on those rare days, but so is driving if you even manage to dig out your car. I've been biking all my life. Here it's rain, rain, rain and often very stormy high winds that make winter harder to bike in. But even then it's not that dramatic or impossible to do. Great waterproof overpants, a good waterproof winter jacket, and good waterproof boots, and you arrive dryer than people that had to walk from their car in the parking lot to inside. The Dutch have a great saying: "You're not made of sugar. A little bit of rain won't melt you." Maybe Canadians need a similar saying for snow? Maybe it can include maple syrup instead of sugar? ;)

[@loup9003]

4:13 To be honest, when you said "knobbly monster truck fat tire bikes", you really sounded elitist like those people who see Ebikes and just think "CHEATER!!!!" as if it was a race/competition. Fat tires are pretty useful in the snow, that's a fact, (it would probably prevent you from sliding that much, like you showed later in the video when you got into a lot of snow). Since we live in North America, where bikes are considered a summer sports activity, most bike paths and bike lanes are barely plowed, if plowed at all. Outside of all that, good video!

[@PaigeMTL]

Thanks for the notes, I'll make sure future videos are 100% what you want to hear so that they are good videos.

[@ThalassTKynn]

My town in northern Ontario is only just starting to build out bike lanes, I'm hoping to start riding to work this summer on my opafiets if I can make it up the hill that is. I'm hoping that by next winter I can at least try to ride to work, maybe even in winter itself if I can get studded tyres. It'll save me the fuckin $100 it cost to fill up my car yesterday.

[@ThalassTKynn]

Also as a fellow antipodean you're spot on about adjusting to ice. I just realised that I've been doing that checking for ice thing for the last few winters, so I guess I should be granted citizenship lol

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

Im in Northern Ontario as well, I hope you enjoy winter biking. I just hope your city does a better job on bike infrastructure maintenance in the winter than mine does. Sudbury is horrible. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5rWioCgrNSjm5Y

[@rasmusdamgaardnielsen2190]

As a person from Copenhagen, my takeaway from this video is that biking in winter has a bad rep in Canada. Why? To me it is the most normal thing in the world. Are the bike paths not cleared?

[@nettoyageadriance]

Our two Montréal cargo bike-based service businesses keep going all year, even through winter 😮! We don't even notice the cold anymore!

[@PaigeMTL]

Yeah Carl in the video does construction with a bike cargo trailer

[@oplkfdhgk]

9:42 i heard that dynamo hub would be an improvement over this but i havent tried one yet.

[@ex0stasis72]

8:15 Only $50 for bike service? My bike shops in Seattle range from $80 on the cheap end to $300.

[@weatheranddarkness]

So much Carl content!

[@coachcurt7606]

I ride a gravel bike with 30mm studded tires for commuting. I also love my 4.8" tire fatbike, but I don't like to get it all covered in road crap. Mostly just for Groomed Trails.

[@virgilwilliams2378]

It's called skidding.

[@aim__freakz8499]

12:55 bro 💀

[@brauljo]

14:07 For those of us who'd rather not remain ignorant, apparently it's called a hockey stop and in inline skating it's called a power stop.

[@trishsaunders4296]

Yep, that's what I'm here to learn about

[@dukeloo]

Any tips for ebikes? I used to bike in the winter in Denver. 32F was my limit. What is cold to you?

[@PaigeMTL]

I would guess that eBikes and salt don't mix super well. I would just stick to a beater unless you're in a climate where winter doesn't mean salt. Cold to me is -15C.

[@Brackcycle]

My cheap ebike conversion is functioning at -35c no problem. Motor is sealed. All good, get out there.

[@davenrai]

Why doesn't Montreal have bike share bikes in the winter? Is the snow overwhelming? Seems to work fine here in Toronto. Was a life saver for going to uni in the winter and getting there in 10 mins vs 25-30 on the streetcar.

[@TD-gc5tq]

There’s a few issues, such as maintenance, but it mostly comes down to money. I’d expect service to slowly extend into winter months as winter operations become more financially viable.

[@lemairel1792]

Winter biking wears down a bike a lot faster. The snow and the salt cause major corrosion. I suppose the costs of maintenance outweighs the benefits for now. Does the bikeshare in Toronto have studded tires during winter? Although one can get around without them, they help to reduce the chance of injury.

[@paul1993willy]

From what I gathered, the city is looking into keeping them year round but they need to figure out location for the stands to protect them from snow plows.

[@PaigeMTL]

They seem to be edging the season later and later. I’m sure there are a few things to work out like. Do they change the tires? Should they create a winter model? Can the docking stations be plugged in? I’d certainly love to see a pilot program with a few stations around the most bike friendly neighborhoods.

[@glennmartin6492]

@@paul1993willy This might be why folding Ebikes seem to be getting more popular. Easier to take on the metro and more storage options at work. The Jeston Bolt Pro is $400 at costco and reviews seem to say it's a decent basic bike with an unbeatable price. One gear but the levels of pedaling support make up for that. The drawback is that the wheels are tiny and no-one makes studded tires that size yet. I wonder what kind of bike Jetson could sell for 5-600$ that might address the shortcomings.

[@bigwheelsturning]

Do you see any E-bikes when you are out and "aboot" in the winter???

[@saxtremer]

I see a lot of them in Edmonton right now. There are insulating covers for the batteries available, if that's your concern. You can also use heavier and wider tires on an e-bike, which really improves handling on unplowed surfaces.

[@Meek2001]

8:05 what kind of bike is that blue guy using

[@ArtemisDianaApollo]

okay so i live in the northern us and everyone where i live says you must have special winter tires to bike in winter. have you found that to be true where you are? (i live in an urban area in a place where it snows regularly, so it's not like they're not plowing)

[@PaigeMTL]

Just take it slow. If your lanes don’t get plowed or salted and you enjoy your first few rides around the neighborhood then sure.

[@vivalaleta]

I've ridden in winter both with or without studded tires. Most days there's no difference as the roads are pretty much clear. I work at a local ski resort and ride to work there. Sometimes the road into the resort is hard packed snow or even ice and the studded tires are certainly better there. They're nice to have but certainly not a requirement.

[@dimitrianagnostaras3055]

I’m Belgian and I’m offended 😂 What did we do to you at 12:55 ?

[@cancer8343]

I find knowing bike maintenance saves me time! I can just fix it myself instead of waiting who knows how long for a snobby bike mechanic to finally take a look at it…

[@EricLight]

I used to bike in winter ❄️ .. the issue I seen was all the rust basically you have to buy a new bike every year

[@PaigeMTL]

I don’t know how that happened to you. I mean Carl must have had his winter bike 15 years and it’s steel. You might need to do end of season maintenance or tolerate rust. I mean mine is rusty but it’s still running well.

[@glennmartin6492]

Oil the chain and gears regularly and spray the lower part of the bike with WD-40 every day or two.

[@Alexosmith.]

You should check dutch bike. They are sturdy but a bit expensive cause there is no company that make them in Canada. You can buy them used tho

[@PaigeMTL]

I think that's unlikely to be the optimum design for snow in Montreal at least. We have very different road conditions to holland. If I was going for inspiration from Europe I'd be interested to walk around helsinki and see what people were on.

[@kookamunga2458]

Dutch bikes are excellent for flat terrain. There are some Chinese knock offs that look like Dutch bikes but they are crap .

[@glennmartin6492]

Keep an eye out for an old "girls" bike. It will have the step through design which is what my arthritic knees need.

[@jholotanbest2688]

I have found that when it is cold first I am freezing for the first two kilometers and then my torso starts to get sweaty but my arms are still freezing. It is just not very pleasant.

[@nataliadziedzic2363]

I live in Stockholm and this winter I tried to cycle in winter to work, but I have lost this game. Over 30 km per day, 2,5h of biking in low temperature just didn't work with my lungs. Anyone has the same problem? I just cough my lungs out after each round of exercise in low temperature.

[@PaigeMTL]

It's cool that you tried that Natalia, but that's a pretty intense commute distance for cycling that most people don't even do in summer. My commute was about 20 minutes. When I run/bike in winter I often wear a face mask to help with that, but I've never biked that long in winter on a regular basis.

[@D.E.E.P.Y.]

Got a fatbike and tried biking on Montreal snow once....now I bike on a fatbike in summer 😁 Found I spent more time cleaning than riding it.

[@PaigeMTL]

Yeah a few years ago I was looking at one but didn't want to spend the money, but I realized I dodged a bullet when my friends one got stolen off his porch. It's sad but if you have to bring a bike inside, holy crap that does a lot to dissuade me from using it.

[@gustotrails]

Biking all year is the best! And by the way, an f150 does not make sense on a city neither 😂🚲

[@proposmontreal]

Still not convinced. but nice try!

[@PROTOPROTOMMXXIV]

you said hose eh huh huh

[@themadsamplist]

For me as someone from the Netherlands this is all just really normal for me. I don't know what's the big fuzz. I always ride my bike

[@PaigeMTL]

Well for one, the average annual snowfall in Montreal is 200cm vs 6cm in Amsterdam, it's also significantly colder in winter and hotter in summer.

[@themadsamplist]

@@PaigeMTL It wasn't meant to be as negative as it looks. I meant just get on your bike and go. I don't live in Amsterdam but close to the German border. It's a little colder and warmer over here than Amsterdam. And we do have some really bad weather here. Rain, cold and wind. It's different but still bad.

[@outrageddeer2101]

Me growing up in the deserts of new mexico and viewing the white that is Canada I think biking during the winter should punished by death.

[@vivalaleta]

Perhaps you could look out the window of your silo once in a while at the real world, hmm?