|
|
|  |
Susanna Parker, Bethesda Urban Partnership
|
|
Winter Bike Commuting
Winter biking can be a breeze! With the right gear, there’s no need to quit cycling to work during the colder months.
Dress for Conditions
Susanna Parker with Bethesda Urban Partnership (shown in the photo) is an avid year-round cyclist. She has some clothing tips based on her experience. Wear a wool or silk shirt and pants as the layer closest to your skin. Wool and silk insulate while wicking sweat.
- Wear windproof (and, if necessary, waterproof) pants as your lower outer layer. They don’t need to be heavy, just something that keeps the wind from getting through.
- Scarves can leave wind gaps. Gaiters (tubes, preferably made of merino wool) are better to protect your neck, face, ears, and head.
- Wear wool socks, thicker ones for colder days, thinner for milder weather.
- For gloves, Parker prefers two go-to options: medium weight windproof cycling gloves, or heavyweight lobster gloves. “On colder days, definitely go for the lobster gloves,” she says. “They conserve your own body heat while still allowing for dexterity.”
Parker urges cyclists to always keep an eye on the weather forecast, and be ready to change your gear. What you wear for the morning might not work as well for the ride home. “It’s better to cram something into your bag — or be a little too warm — than to freeze,” she notes. “Remember, you can always take layers off, but you can’t put on what you don’t bring.”
Kevin Strumwasser, owner of Terrapin Bicycles here in Bethesda also recommends wearing clothing that is windproof and waterproof. Dress in layers when the weather turns colder and wetter. Bundling up too much can quickly turn a nice heavy jacket into an uncomfortable wet blanket as you warm up and perspire from pedaling.
Remember to protect your extremities, too, he says.
- Use a balaclava for your face, which fits over your nose and mouth.
- Wear full-coverage gloves, either the five-fingered type or variations such as mittens or lobster-claw gloves. (Choose whichever type gives you the best trade-off between dexterity and warmth.)
- To prevent popsicle ears, Strumwasser says there are simple waterproof and windproof beanies that fit underneath your helmet.
Prepping Your Bike
As for your bike itself, Strumwasser at Terrapin Bicycles suggests installing fenders (also called mud guards) to protect your backside and saddlebags from wheel spray. While they don’t come standard on many bikes, there are lots of aftermarket models.
Speaking of saddlebags (properly referred to as panniers), Strumwasser says they’re available in a variety of quality levels and weather-resistance. But your bike does need a rear rack in order to carry them.
Inclement weather also calls for some tire tweaks. Skinny road-bike tires won’t work well in wet, snowy or otherwise slippery conditions. A wider tire with more tread improves traction and safety. And reducing your tire pressure a bit in those larger tires helps them roll through snow better, says Strumwasser (if we ever get any during this unusually mild winter).
He cautions against storing your bike outdoors, since water and exposure can lead to rust on steel components, as well as require more maintenance. But if indoor storage isn’t an option for you, Strumwasser recommends getting a fitted bike cover or at least using a simple tarp for protection.
Perhaps most importantly, keep safety top of mind. Winter means darker commute hours. So make you and your bike as easy to see as possible. A bright white headlight and red flashing tail lamp will boost visibility for you, other cyclists, and any drivers sharing your road.
While Strumwasser has been an avid cycling enthusiast for years, he didn’t get the entrepreneurial bug until the pandemic inspired him to rethink his accounting and finance career. He opened Terrapin Bicycles in March 2021. The shop will be moving in January 2022 from its temporary location at 7920 Norfolk Ave. to a permanent home at 4933 Auburn Ave. Learn more at terrapinbicycles.com.
| |
|
Cool Commute Contest
Add a little cool to your commute! This winter turn your bike rides into a winner whether you’re on Wisconsin or Woodmont!
To enter the contest, snap a picture of your winter walking or biking around downtown Bethesda and send it to Bethesda Transportation Solutions.
- Send pictures to Brandan Stuckey at BTS, BStuckey@bethesda.org
- Submission deadline is February 21, 2022
- 6 photos will be selected to win $50, $75 and $100 Amazon gift cards or Bethesda Bucks
| |
|
Commuter Connections Calls for Employer Award Nominations
Attention, employers! Commuter Connections’ 25th Annual Employer Recognition Awards offer an opportunity to get well-deserved recognition for outstanding commuter and/or telework programs. Winners will be recognized at its prestigious awards ceremony, to be held in late June 2022 in Washington, D.C. Nominations are due by January 31, 2022. For more information and to apply, click here.
This is a big milestone for Commuter Connections — a program of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments — as it has held this Employer Recognition Awards Ceremony every year for a quarter century.
The awards recognize employers who have initiated programs that facilitate the use of commute modes such as bicycling, ridesharing through carpools and vanpools, and other alternatives to driving alone.
Award applications are evaluated by a selection committee, which chooses winners for their ability to offer measurable commuter benefits that reduce automobile fuel consumption and emissions through fewer vehicle trips and miles traveled. In addition, winners are selected for their policies that improved the lives of their employees and the region.
Past Employer Recognition Award winners located here in Bethesda include The Donohoe Companies, Cadmus Group, Inc., ASHP and United Educators.
| |
|
Bethesda Commuter Updates
Capital Bikeshare Residential Program
Residential buildings can purchase annual bikeshare memberships for their tenants at a reduced price. Check out the details here.
Parking Rate Increase
Montgomery County recently announced new rates for some of its parking facilities throughout the county, including those in downtown Bethesda. These new rates take effect January 3, 2022:
Bethesda Lots: $2.00 per hour
Bethesda Garages Garages 40, 47 and 57: $1.75 per hour
All Other Bethesda Garages: $1.50 per hour
Here are details about the change from the Montgomery County Division of Parking Management.
| |
|
|
|
|
