JUST LIKE RIDING A BIKE

By Miles Patrick Yohnke

© 2023 All Rights Reserved.

Broadway Bridge, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Do you ever find yourself with something between your legs and you say to yourself this is the most beautiful feeling? And with that, you keep riding it and riding it and you can't believe the feelings coursing through you. You ride it and ride it even harder. You push it, then you push it ever harder and you're thinking to yourself: "Oh my god, oh my god this is amazing, I don't want this feeling to ever end."

That is the feeling I get cycling and having a bicycle between my legs in all four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall.

The adage, "just like riding a bike" is often used to describe something that becomes second nature and should be easy to do. It implies that we know everything about an activity and can take off from where we left off.

To me, riding a bike is a great privilege, and something I don't take for granted. Each day I get into the saddle, I think of a little child in a wheelchair who is unable to ride; to turn over the crank with their legs. It starts there. I do it for them. And then I do it for my own health, not to take it for granted. And then for the planet, not to take it for granted.

In Saskatoon, our winters bring lots of snow and cold temperatures, sometimes extreme, that can plumet to -50 degrees Celsius with a wind chill. I cycle in these conditions and am always told I'm brave. People tell me they couldn't do it. They ask how I manage.

I manage quite well. I wish I could say that I escaped death or that it was a near death experience, and I'm grateful to be alive, but in reality, winter cycling isn't much different to any other season. Winter cycling requires studded tires. I wouldn't suggest riding without them as you'd be putting yourself at great risk.

There is an old Scandinavian expression: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices."

Winter cycling requires proper layering. For myself, I start with compression pants and a compression top. The benefits of compression pants can be attributed to their ability to provide the user with a better fit, better support, and improved circulation. Compression garments are designed to help you recover more quickly after exercise because they help reduce swelling in your muscles by increasing blood flow leading to faster recovery times. I basically live in them for these benefits.

From there, I wear a thicker form-fitting sport pant. These two garments keep me warm in most winter conditions. In extreme temperatures a ski pant goes over them and I don't feel the cold in any regard, even at -50.

Over my compression top is a thick turtleneck with a form-fitting winter jacket. Mine is in orange. I suggest wearing a bright color to be visible on the road, plus orange is the colour for compassion, and subconsciously it makes you feel better about yourself. With these layers, I find I don't overheat, nor do I ever get cold, even in extreme conditions.

I use oversized mittens that are lined and very warm on their own, but I also wear another winter glove inside them and rarely do my hands get cold. On extreme days when I need to ride longer than an hour, I use hand warmers. A tip with hand warmers is that they last on average around six hours. I carry a zip-lock bag to store my hand warmers in when I get to my destination. When I leave, I take them out of the zip-lock bag, and they reactivate. In doing so I'm able to get the full use out of the hand warmers.

On my feet, I wear boots with form-fitting socks and a pair of thick, heavy wool socks over top. Occasionally in extreme conditions and for durations of over an hour, I use warmers in my boots. I purchase my hand warmers from Dollar Store outlets.

On my head I wear a balaclava ski mask with a winter toque. For extremely cold days I have a thicker balaclava that goes on top of the toque and over the balaclava ski mask. I'd strongly suggest a ski helmet and ski goggles as well.

Often, I hear that winter cycling is hard on bikes and that it causes them to rust. After each winter cycle, I bring my bike inside to dry, and I use Pledge furniture spray with a cloth to clean the bike. Pledge furniture spray is one of my little tricks as it helps repel the snow in mucky/mild conditions, plus, it fills in scratches, and it adds a deep sheen to the paint. It also adds to the overall appearance of the bike, providing a show room quality to it.

Along with Pledge, once a year I use a product by Mother's called "Mother's California Gold Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax Liquid" that will protect your bike's finish from the harsh winter conditions. I also use "Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish" on all the chrome parts on my bike. I have even used this on friends' bikes to remove rust buildup. It is a phenomenal product. For those who can't bring their bike indoors and must leave it in a cold garage, I'd suggest turning on a space heater next to the bike for approximately 30 minutes and cleaning the bike as outlined above.

What kind of bike should I ride for winter?

Those who have fixed gear bikes often switch over to studded tires and manage to enjoy the winter months. Others buy Fat tire bikes for the winter months. I ride a mountain bike fitted with 2 1/4" wide studded tires. During the winter months I recommend running your tire pressure more towards the minimum pressure rather than maximum pressure to give yourself a little more bounce and grip. The reason I prefer this form of bike is because of the crank size and gear size ratio. It is easier and faster and takes far less energy than a Fat tire bike. Fat tire bikes use a much smaller crank and because they do you must spin or turn the crank over far more. The wide width of the tire creates far more resistance to the road. Imagine turning the tension wheel up on a stationary bike. It would be a similar feeling. Now, the only time I'm caught out is after a heavier snowfall when the snow is very deep. On average there are about 8 days in the winter like this where if I had a Fat tire bike I could manage. On those rare days, I walk or use the transit system. Many people who have Fat tire bikes use them for off-groomed pathways to create their own paths and adventure. Like the fixed gear bike owners, they're into their own form of winter cycling expression.

Whatever your expression is, do it lit-up. I'm not talking "high." Winter cycling brings its own natural high. Make sure you have a good lighting system including a headlight. I'd strongly suggest one of the more expensive ones. This is not an area to cheap out on. There are lights that allow others to see you, and lights that able you to see. Affordable lighting systems don't create much light and normally run-on disposable batteries. The more expensive ones are much like car lights which cast a great distance. They're also rechargeable which, in the end costs less and is far better for the planet. A rear light is a must as well. One can never have enough lights.

Winter routes are like any other season; you should always try to ride in low traffic zones, one street off the main road to avoid cars and heavier traffic.

Saskatoon's infrastructure is much like that of other cities around the world where there are an ever-increasing number of pedestrian and cycling pathways. In the wintertime these pathways are well-groomed and often cleaned within 24 hours allowing riders the comfort and freedom to cycle to work and/or for leisure.

Winter cycling brings its own form of pleasure that is different and exhilarating in its own right. Imagine tobogganing, downhill skiing or snowboarding. It's a similar feeling, but without the cost of the ski lift, etc. You feel like a wide-eyed child, completely immersed in what you're doing. Winter months bring a different energy and sound that is extremely peaceful. Riding at night is even better for this aspect. The city of Saskatoon is often referred to as Paris of the Prairies. Cycling around the pathways of our river which extends for many, many kilometers, and seeing the lights of the city on my ride, I catch myself saying: "oh my god, oh my god, each and every time I venture out." Who wouldn't want to experience that feeling? It's an all-encompassing way to feel alive.

One must drink a lot of water prior to cycling. If you go out for a long adventure, perhaps at night to get lost in the glory of the lights of your city and the infrastructure created for your pleasure, your water bottle might freeze. You'll require a lot of water on your return for proper recovery. Drinking sufficient water will enable you to have a high-quality day. Being properly hydrated might even allow you to repeat and surpass your last day's performance. In conjunction with your water intake, you'll want to consume a lot of protein. Carbohydrates just don't work for recovery. If you don't consume protein, your body will be fatigued the next day, and you may think you over did it, but often, it is just improper nutrition and hydration.

When you bike, you get a spike in neurochemicals such as serotonin and dopamine which relieves pain and improves mood. You also get a hit of endorphins, which triggers the same receptors in your brain as many pain medications. Bicycling doesn't just build blood vessels in your leg muscles; it also builds them in your brain.

A bicycle ride increases cardiovascular fitness, increases muscle strength and flexibility, improves posture and coordination, and improves joint mobility.

A bicycle ride decreases body fat and stress levels, strengthens bones and helps to prevent and/or manage disease.

And with these rotating spokes: less rage and sadness.

If you start winter cycling as an activity it will soon become second nature.

"Just like riding a bike" implies that we know everything about an activity and can take off where we left off. This phrase is incorrect if you winter cycle because in winter cycling you remove where you left off, and you lift off each day. Herein lies the spirit and will in a choice to live a life of great expression.

Life is to be enjoyed not endured.

Ride a bike year-round.

Miles Patrick Yohnke by Michelle Berg for The Saskatoon StarPhoenix newspaper

Please note that you'll find in the article I mention wearing an orange jacket. You don't really notice in the photo, but I have my Banjo Brothers backpack on and I've come to notice it dirties the back of my orange jacket thus I wear my black one now when I'm using my backpack.

Miles Patrick Yohnke on the front page of The Saskatoon StarPhoenix newspaper, Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Photo by Michelle Berg

To read the full story, please click here:

https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/winter-has-finally-arrived-in-saskatchewan