Cycling across the snow to beat winter

When the weather gets rough, Missoula's cyclists get tougher. Last week's onslaught of winter weather did little to phase the city's die-hard bikers from wheeling over snowy streets.

Ian Truscott, who spent a portion of Monday afternoon fixing up his bike at Free Cycles, said it just makes sense to ride a bike in Missoula, no matter the season or the weather. Since he lives only about a mile from his job at Buttercup Market and Café, he said it's often more convenient to hop on a bike than it is to catch a ride.

"Being in Missoula, it's not that far to get anywhere," Truscott said. "The bus isn't always reliable, and the car's not always reliable."

For those who don't mind the snow and ice, Missoula's REI offers a class on winter biking. Held in November, the class discusses the gear and know-how cyclists need to stay safe and warm during the winter months. Brandon Salayi, the REI employee who teaches the class, said he is a frequent winter bike commuter himself.

"I just don't want to start my car in the morning," he said. "It's just easier to hop on a bike instead of brushing the snow off the windshield. The exercise is nice, too."

Studded and super-sized tires make navigating snowy roads easier, but they aren't the only way to get around on a bike. The main way to stay upright on a slippery surface, Salayi said, is to change the way you ride.

"Don't weight your front tire," he said. "Put more weight on the back, like you would if you were skiing powder."

It's hard to avoid riding through several inches of snow on a day like Thursday, but clear, well-traveled paths can usually be found in Missoula. Salayi said sidewalks tend to be some of the first places cleared of snow, even if the bike lane has been turned into a snow bank.

However, he said many cyclists are hesitant to ride on sidewalks in lieu of the bike lane, which is often covered in ice, snow and gravel. Except for a few specific areas around town, like downtown and the Higgins and Orange Street bridges, sidewalks are fair game — and a safe alternative — for bikers.

"Know where the plows drive," Salayi said. "Sticking to main roads is your best bet."

Snowy roads can even make the streets safer for cyclists. Bob Giordano, the executive director of the Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation, said the number of bike-car incidents actually decrease when the weather is bad. Poor road conditions slow both bikers and drivers down, he said, so people tend to be more aware of their surroundings and less aggressive on the road.

"There's two sides to winter weather," Giordano said. "It becomes dicier because of road conditions and disappearing lanes, but everyone's sharing the road."

Truscott said his winter riding strategy involves planning his route before hopping on his bike. He also trades his summer tires for larger snow tires in the winter.

"If you have the right parts and gear, it's easy," he said.

Giordano, on the other hand, stays on skinny tires year-round. When the time does come to take a tumble, it's best to just go with it. Giordano said rolling with a fall — rather than putting an arm or leg out as a brace — will help prevent injury.

"I actually visualize going down and how I'm going to roll," he said. "It's much better to visualize it as fun rather than painful."

With the mindset that nasty weather conditions often lead to exciting biking conditions, winter biking can be fun for those that brave the roads.

"I look at biking in the winter as a grand adventure," Giordano said. "You're experiencing the Montana winter in its full glory. People ask me how I can bike in the winter and then they go sit on the chairlift at 10 below."

emily.downing@umontana.edu