Cycling Weather Challenges

I live in Berlin. It’s been raining for a week and cold. Bikes both have a canopy, I have suitable clothing. Granted, it’s less comfortable than sitting in a car, but OTOH I don’t have to go jogging after returning from work. Worst case there’s still Bus and Subway.Cities like Oslo and Copenhagen aren’t exactly known for good weather either, but have substantial policies around clearing bikeways from snow first, before all other roads. It’s more of an infrastructure problem than anything else

Every single biking thread on HN ends up with the same arguments: well, it doesn't get freezing where you live, well, it doesn't get to 45C where you live, well, you don't have hills where you live.People bike in any kind of environment and terrain, it's up to you to understand that ultimate convenience is not the bike's proposal, it's a simple, reliable, and fun tool to use to transport oneself when walking would take too long.I live in a hilly place, with fr

Plainly put: cycling in snow and rain and -10° C is not a big deal, once you are used to it. The trick is to start in summer, do it every day and just never stop for any weather, e.g. for your work or uni commute.Obviously you need something that protects you from occasional rain or at least some dry and clean clothes to change into, but apart from that, the seasonal change will not be harsh. It is usually gradual, and yes, you will at some point want to wear gloves, and long pants, at some p

That is an excuse. There are many people in hilly cities that cycle. Not as many as in the Netherlands or in Denmark, but they exist. And even Norther Europe gets days of 30 °C (~90F), and we do not stop cycling, its rather the other way around. So just start cycling in winter, if you want to try.

There's a problem, though: bike is nice for good weather, but when weather is bad, most of those bicyclists will abandon bike, and you need enough car and public transport capacity to take them to work. So you end up paying for those roads and rail capacity and whatever.I've noticed this because I ride bike to work regardless of weather, and in January in Finland, that means I'm almost alone on those nice bike paths (which are fairly well cleared of snow).Portland etc may be

I see bikes in the summer here. I dont see almost anybody biking in the winter here. Like 100:1. The winters here are not mild (like in vancouver). This is basically artic-like weather. People also tend not to walk. The very poor take the bus. Most drive.

Heh... they say that there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear! With that said, it really depends on where you live and what route you take to work. In my city (one of the colder parts of Canada), I can ride a road bike in the winter since my route takes me into downtown and the streets are usually well-plowed when it snows.Otherwise, a mountain bike with some studded snow tires can get you by - it's pretty invigorating to make tracks in fresh powder in the mornings!Generally, th

I live in Boston, and while it isn't Canada, it can get quite cold in the winter. Plenty of people here, I included, bike in the winter. As long as you wear the right clothes have low-temperature lubricants and winter tires on your bike, winter biking isn't that big of an issue. If anything it's better than summer biking because I don't get as hot or sweat as much. Mud season is far worse for biking, but it last only a month or so if that.

The weather may not permit that option. Although I see people riding bicycles through winter in the city I live in, thats a risk I wouldn't take myself.

Climate and infrastructure is what keeping me from using a bike for non recreational purposes. Continuous bike lanes, driver culture where bicycles are treated as equal on the road and temperatures that don't hit 40c.