The winter days mean that there isn’t much light out if you do try and ride. Lighting systems are necessary, but some are expensive and do not look that cool.
Check out the tutorial below on setting up ground effects for your bike. Get the import rice-burner street rodder look that would make Vin Deisel in The Fast and The Furious jealous. Seriously, these lights will be sure to grab attention when you ride at night, how can you not be seen.
An easy DIY project to add ground effects lights to your bicycle or other means of conveyance, utilizing inexpensive and commonly available cold-cathode lights. They look cool, and really do increase your visibility at night. Since putting them on my tallbike everone is asking to take my picture.
Check out the instructions
These cold winter months in the Northeastern USA make it tough to consider riding outdoors. Most riding is done inside to a copy of the Tour de France or in a Spinning class with crappy music. Our local club has a few hearty folks that like to ride in the winter. They go by the moniker of RAW (Ride All Winter). These rides consist of impromptu announcements on a listserv for a ride on a “nice” winter day. Usually if it is sunny, dry and not too cold.
The folks at Chicao Bike Winter suggest you ride in winter no matter what the conditions. They host several winter-time riding events and seem to have lots of fun doing it. Check out the pics on the website.
The snow shouldn’t slow you down if you dress smart and take the proper precautions. So what are you waiting for, go outside for a ride anytime.
Chicago Bike Winter — Welcome Page
Here is a good set of tips on how to properly blow snots while riding your bike. The cold weather will make snottage much more prevalent than the summer months (if you are riding in 0 degree weather).
These tips will be filed under Euro-Style. Velochimp will give ocassional tips on riding style, apparel, bike choices, etc. Not just any type of bike stuff mind you.
Here is the tip which comes to Velochimp via local club listserv at: Onondaga Cycling Club
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Blowing your nose while riding is an underrated, yet essential, skill. Within
30 minutes of a good spin, almost all cyclists experience a gooey trickle
because exercise increases blood flow to the nose. Nasal tissues swell and the
cells lining the nose produce extra mucus (which is about 96% water with the
rest made of sugars, protein and bacteria-fighting enzymes). On chilly rides,
everyone drips. “It’s the nose’s way of protecting itself from cold, dry air,”
says James Geraghty, M.D., an otolaryngologist in Peoria, IL.
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