Slush Biking

Given all the snow recently in the Philadelphia area, we're going to be dealing with packed snow and slush for a while. Even though we're in the middle of a 'snowmageddon' right now, as the snow begins to melt it'll be possible to get around by bike again- with a few extra things to pay attention to.

Last time it snowed I didn't even make it to the corner trying to bike on my un-plowed street before falling over and giving up. But with some of these tips, maybe it'll help people like me give it a try:

1. Go slowly, wear lights, and be patient. Plan to take major roads, since they will probably be plowed the best, and don't be worried about taking the lane (no one will be moving very fast anyways). As always, pay extra attention on streets with trolley tracks or avoid them if possible. Get off and walk or carry your bike over treacherous areas.

2. Your breaks won't work as well (it takes a whole rotation of the wheel just for the slush and gunk to wipe off), so break in advance.

3. Lower the air pressure in your tires. Use the lower end of the pressure range found on the side of your tire, or look for them to bulge a teeny bit.

Different people often suggest different types of tires for snow. However, in his slush-biking ariticle, BostonBiker says that "pretty much all of them (save for studded) slide around a bit, and pretty much all of them work just fine."

4. Special advice for slush (from IceBike.com): Things move slower in the snow, including falling... Frequently, the falls that seem inevitable from second to second can be avoided by continuing to apply power and steering as best you can. Your side slipping front wheel often bites when it hits a slightly more solid ridge, and if you can delay the fall for half a second or so you may find that you can recover. Don't be in a hurry to dab, stay on the pedals and apply power.

5. A helpful trick, taken from mountain biking, is 'picking your line'. Look about 15 feet ahead of you and pick a path that avoids obstacles (it doesn't have to be a straight line- but make sure you stay on the right side of the road). If you try to steer around obstacles when they're right in front of you, the big movements can upset your balance.

Anyone else have tips for biking in the snow and slush? (Thanks for the comments I received on twitter!) These articles from IceBike and BostonBiker also have more detailed advice.

Photo by Jenny Ford.