Thought I should post some info about biking in the winter. Most people simply stop biking once the temps hit the fifties and below, which is a shame, because winter is a great time for riding.
I'm not the expert on this subject, but I have some suggestions for sub-forties and thirties riding.
1. Have tires appropriate for the conditions. If the roads are clear of snow and ice, your normal tires should do. But if ice is on the road, riding can become very sketchy. During the day in WW, often it's slushy so fenders may be the more immediate consideration. But a day or two after a snow black ice can blanket the streets (especially at night) and the only real precaution there is against a nasty fall are studded tires. Yes, they make studded bicycle tires. Nokian makes studded tires for both road and off-road purposes. This guy sells some:
http://peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp Here is a pic of the off road ones:
When there is just snow on the ground, and ice hasn't formed yet, a skinny road bike tire cuts through very well. I've ridden on knobby fat tires, too, in the snow. If you get the off-road studded tires, it is entirely possible to ride the trails you go on in the summer.
2. Clothes are an equally important issue for winter riding. I've found that protecting your hands, feet, neck, and head from the cold and wind is key. Usually, I generate enough warmth around my torso and legs that a shirt, light sweater, windproof shell, and a pair of thermals under my pants are enough for most of my body. My hands, on the other hand, get very cold unless I wear a thick (and preferably) windproof pair of gloves. This is extremely important, and you will not like your ride if you wear thin or no gloves. For me head, I wear a beanie, and I try to cover my neck with the collar of a jacket or sweater. A neck warmer would be a good idea, I just don't have one.
One idea I had this winter was to buy wool sweaters and long sleeve shirts from thrift stores for my rides. It's very cheap, the wool is warm and doesn't get stinky like the plastics so fashionable right now, and you're recycling. I wear one sweater over and over, it thermostats so nicely I never feel cold or sweaty.
For a significant ride, longer than five miles or so, avoid using cotton, because when you sweat, it will become very very cold on your skin. Goes without saying for hikers, but applies even more so to cyclists, who encounter chilly winds on every winter ride.
3. Don't go too fast when the roads are even a bit icy. I fell last week, no injuries except to my ego, but w/o the studded tires the ice is just too treacherous to play around with.
4. Go ride! Riding in Wrightwood with snow around and the crisp cold air is fantastic. And you will never get stuck, because you can pick up your bike and move it. I don't know about everyone else, but I can't pick up my car.
Here's another picture I found on the icebike.com site. It's in the photo contest, and it nicely illustrates how, with the proper equipment, cycling is definitely a winter time activity.
