Momentum USA Nov/Dec 2011
winter riding bliss in the PACIFIC northWEST WRITER BENJAMIN VAN LOON ILLUSTRATOR DOUG SCOTT W et unpredictable challenging and a hell of a lot of fun is is how bike commuter Patrick Edgarton of Seattle WA describes an average winter day cycling around the city When asked if these words might also adequately describe a typical winter ride elsewhere in the Paci c Northwest Edgarton replied smiling It depends on the minute Winter cycling in the Paci c Northwest is wet cold and changes by the minute As you plan your rides for this upcoming winter remember to take the hourly forecast with a grain of salt and that there is no such thing as bad weather just bad gear there is no such thing as bad weather just bad gear Before You Ride David Minton of Hutchs Bicycles in Bend OR said Clothing is de nitely the most important part of cycling in the winter Winters in the northwest range from wet on the coast to dry and snowy inland While the past few years have seen an above average amount of snow in the area the snow eventually turns to slush Adequate layers are key While Minton recommends arm and leg warmers for the cold a quality jacket can also be just as e ective Showers Pass which is among the brands Minton recommends is a Portland based gear and clothing company that specializes in multi functional all weather products eir Elite 20 jacket is one of the best on the market It has a patented three layer fabric system that allows for maximum water resistance and high tech breathability to prevent in ride overheating Adequate hand and foot protection is essential because thats where you feel the cold rst I always recommend a pair of DeFeet Woolie Boolie socks which will keep your feet warm and wick away body moisture For an added layer of defense for blocking the wet and cold Sealskinz Chillblockers are a good mid calf length sock that combats this dual aggravation Riders can also bene t best from an outer shoe cover such as the Showers Pass Club shoe covers or the clipless compatible Louis Garneau Neo Protect shoe covers A bad choice of glove can cut your ride short A glove should allow for mobility warmth and de ection of the elements e Specialized Radiant BG De ect and Element WireTap gloves excel in these departments For extreme cold the Pearl Izumi Barrier Lobster glove is the best While You Ride John Abernathy from Wheelsport East bike shop in Spokane WA suggests to all riders that they ride with lights a few tools and a spare tube on all winter rides It can get dark fairly early Abernathy said Make sure to be seen He also suggested out tting your bike with fenders ey wont always keep you dry but theyll save you cleaning time Planet Bike makes a wide selection of di erent sized fenders for all types of bikes and SKS makes the Race Blade fender which can be attached to road bikes that dont have mount points for standard fenders e most important pieces of equipment for your ride itself are your tires For wet weather I recommend the Continental Contact Extralight tire which comes in both 26 inch and 700c It is an ideal water diverting tire e center of the tire stays in contact with the road while guiding water out through the side channels Knobby tires such as the 700c Continental Cyclocross Race tire or the 26 inch Kenda Kinetics add an element of stability to rainy riding though the knobs can work against you if the rain turns to snow After You Ride e purpose of this gear is to keep you safe and dry in bad weather but chances are that no matter what you do youre still going to get wet If youre commuting and you need to bring along a NOV DEC 11 MOMENTUMPLANET COM 28
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