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Get Your Bike Ready for the Winter

The weather outside is getting frightful, but riding your bike is so eco-delightful!

Don’t let the rainy days and longer nights prevent you from riding your bike around town. Here are a few tips for biking during the wintertime…. 

1. Layer up! 

Proper layering is key when it comes to outdoor activity in the winter. It’s very important to keep yourself warm, yet ventilated during unfavorable weather conditions. Start with thin layers next to your skin (for wicking away the sweat) and work your way up. On cold days, wearing a thick top, such as wool or fleece, is ideal. A windbreaker or light rain jacket will keep you dry!

2. Deck our your bike with fenders and mudflaps

Save yourself from a soggy bottom by adding fenders to your bike during rainy season. Fenders and mudflaps will protect your and your bike from the dirty puddles on the road.

By adding fenders to your bike, you’ll save yourself and your legs.

Find out more from Sheldon Brown on why fenders are good for you and your bike…

3. Light the night 

It’s important to make sure you’re visible at all times when riding your bike. Short days, and longer nights leave many biking home in the dark. It’s very, very important that make yourself extra visible during the night time. Make sure that you have a front AND rear light on your bike. You can even light up your wheels.  Putting reflective gear on your bike or your bag is always a good idea. San Francisco-based companies offer some great way to say seen:

Timbuk2 has a reflective bag         

Cordarounds make these night-friendly bike pants....

 

B.Y.O.M. -Bring Your Own Mug

 

    

 

Worried that your double-shot-no-foam-skinny-fair-trade latte is expanding your eco footprint?

Popular coffee chains have reported using over 2.3 billions paper cups a year. North America uses 50 million trees for paper cups and 33 million gallons of water to make paper cups. And even though paper is a renewable resource, a large amount of non-renewable resources are used during the production. Travel cups and mugs come in all shapes and sizes! You can fool your barista by getting one these re-useable ceramic mugs.

Green your caffeine fix by bringing your own mug! By ditching this single-use object, you’ll divert over 23 pounds of trash a year from going to the landfill. Plus, by using your own mug, you’ll also save some green -- many coffee shops offer discounts when you bring in your own mug.