by Brian Sather
Originally published in
Oregon Cycling Magazine,
March 2008, vol. 17, no.1.
This winter in the La Grande area of Oregon, we had lots of snow. There was a seemingly endless cycle of snow and wind. Many of our roads and highways, including I-84, were closed numerous times from heavy snowfall and drifting. People who live in frequent snow areas like ours know the extra work that each storm brings. It really wore down the morale of the locals, but not those of us who were on our bikes.
Needless to say, we did not see much dry pavement or dirt for months. In early November, I got in 2 road rides followed by 5 in December. On January 18, I barely squeezed in a 95 miler between storms for my only road ride that month. I averaged about 5 days of riding per week, so the balance of the rides from Nov-Jan were not on pavement. I managed to accomplish all of my planned base miles for the OBRA road race season without spending any time on a trainer. This was not a one man crusade either, as many of our local and regional riders were also out in the mix having fun.
I am proud to boast that I did not log any miles on my butt thanks to having the right gear. Previously, I wrote about my clothing matrix (Autumn 2007). Aside from proper clothes, there are two important tools that helped me through this winter: cyclocross bike with studs (35c tires) and mountain bike with studs. The cyclocross bike is not necessary unless you prefer the road-bike feel like I do. The cross bike was great for smooth and packed surfaces. It was also great for days that had patches of exposed ground and pavement interrupted by unavoidable ice and snow sections.
My mountain bike was reserved for the rougher conditions. When grooves form on unplowed roads or fresh snow has fallen, the cyclocross tires are less forgiving. Mountain bike tires that have a high stud count mash over and through all kinds of winter debris. You begin to feel shockingly invincible riding these tires. That is, until you experience really deep powder. At that point, you start thinking about opting for show shoes.
As the winter wore on, I found I was becoming increasingly discerning about the nuances various riding conditions. I began migrating to the best snow just like surfer searching out the best waves. I became more diligent at studying weather forecasts, examining the composition of the snow, watching web cams, and studying the sky constantly. I also developed an intimate feel for the snow plows and their operating schedule. I found I had to be very flexible with my rides, going where the conditions took me that day. This kind of riding is called “ice biking” and not “snow biking” because ice is the best surface for studded tires. More often I was looking for colder places rather than warmer. Sometimes I would head to higher elevations to get better conditions, and sometimes lower were better. When I found a good section of road, I took full advantage and rode it to fruition. When all was said and done, I determined that I now have the tools and experience to ride out any winter in La Grande.
There are definitely some advantages to biking in snowy conditions. First, bike commute time is more consistent than auto commute time. To get your vehicle warmed up, driveway shoveled, windshield cleared, there ends up being plenty of preparation time that almost equals the trip by bike. I learned this firsthand when my truck would not start when it was -10 degree Fahrenheit one day. By the time I ended up getting to work I could have ridden there twice. My bike doesn’t have any problems starting when it is that cold out, as demonstrated by the previous day’s ride in. Second, drifts do not paralyze the cyclists like they do a vehicle. On a bike, a drift is merely an opportunity to run for awhile to warm up your feet. The bonus on the other side is a road closed to traffic. Third, drivers (at least ours) are more cautious around you when the weather is bad. I think there is an added freak factor, kind of like drivers who slow down to gawk at mountain goats on a hillside. Quite often I had people stop to offer me a ride or ask if everything was okay. Fourth, snow is much better than rain. The snow usually bounces off of you and when it gets on the ground it stays on the ground, rather than shower up from underneath you.
The only major drawback for winter riding is how slow the studs are. Spinning heavy winter boots adds even more to the slowness. The workout intensity is still solid though and I seem to be just as fast in the spring when I come off the snow onto my road bike. It is more appropriate to call our early training “base hours” instead of “base miles.” If you are feeling the need for speed, then it is best to head south. . . or over to Hermiston in our case.
As the weather warms and the annual “home for sale” signs go up in my town of Summerville, I’ll still be riding and enjoying our perfect summers. Come October, I’ll start looking forward to another winter of good riding.
Brian Sather is an Associate Professor of Physical Activity & Health at Eastern Oregon University. For further information on cycling in Northeast Oregon, visit his website at LaGrandeRide.com
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Bonus Pictures
 Mountain biking the deeper stuff. |
 Cyclocross riding the smoother stuff. |
 An inviting plowed road. |
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 The vehicle I usually drive down my gravel road to begin road biking. |
 The winter view. |
 Drift carnage. |
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posted
March 18, 2008