If you aren’t familiar with the term “Frost Bike”, no one would blame you.
But here at London Bicycle Cafe we have quite a few folks who bike through the winter, taking advantage of the tire storage program we offer for your off-seasons if you buy your winter tires from us.
And I’m no exception! I have purchased winter tires for both my Pure Cycles city bikes, my Tern HSD and my Tern GSD, and even had a set for my cargo e-trike back in 2020.
This winter though, I have been thoroughly defeated by the sheer quantity and lasting nature of the snow, something I think we haven’t had for at least 5 years (maybe even 10!)
London typically experiences a lot of freeze and thaw, so usually the bite of the metal studs of my Schwalbe Winter Marathon tires is plenty to feel confident in staying upright.
My household vehicle was declared dead at the start of November which provided the perfect launching point – I could no longer lazily rely on a vehicle when I didn’t like the look of the clouds.
I’m not a super confident rider when it comes to battling uneven slush and the bumpy snow mounds that often form at intersections as snow started to fall as early as November this year. I say there’s no shame in admitting your limits!
So let’s say that you’re like me and want to reduce your emissions and environmental impact via your transportation options, but your bike is out of the question, what do you do? I walked.
Walking is not an option for everyone, I’ll admit.
But if I lived further from work, I would take the bus, and my kids likely would be grabbing a school bus too. It’s a big time commitment in London, but it’s one I think we should all consider making from time to time, even if it isn’t practical every day.
The habit that started when we lost our car stuck around, and despite choosing to purchase a replacement vehicle, I am still walking on average an extra couple of kilometres a day, or anywhere from ten- to twelve-thousand steps a day in total!
Would you consider walking or the bus to get around on your daily commute?
Have you thought about what it might look like if you walked or bussed one or two days a week?
You might be surprised how good it feels to start your day with active transportation!
– Nadia P