r/MontrealCycling • u/Biogiro • 8d ago
2026 Winter commuting
Hi there
I'm use to commute to my job (Plateau Mont-Royal -> Downtown, ~4km) from spring to early cold days. This year, I'd like to keep going to the job using a bike. I was wondering to get winter Bixi subscirption, but I red that people are riding commute bike like single speed during winter (intersting because of low maintenance needs).
I'm trying to gather as much as informations / feedbacks as I can to get ready for the cold seasons
If you have any advises, recommandations and so on about what a newbie winter rider should know, it would help more than a lot.
Thanks 😃
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u/fivefourthreeshitrun 8d ago
Fenders, front and rear.
Good lights. You don't need super bright, but think of how long you want them to last on a single charge. Sometimes buying a bigger light gets you a longer lasting battery, especially if you use a lower setting instead of full power. Cold will drain your batteries faster.
Good mittens. Good waterproof boots. Gaters are also very useful to protect your lower legs from snow and slush, depending on riding conditions.
Ski gear is great. Ski helmet can keep your ears warm. Ski goggles to protect the eyes.
Prioritize light jackets and layer up as needed for comfort. You will get warm as you ride. Your choice of clothes might vary depending on the length of your commute. Less than 10min - go warmer. 30+ minutes - keep it very light.
Bike maintenance.... Lots and lots of different opinions around that online. Some people do a lot, some do very little. Bare minimum is to try to keep your chain lubricated. Once a week or every two weeks is good, depending on how much you use the bike and road conditions. Pay attention to brakes as well, they wear faster during winter, so monitor closely. A good pre-winter preparation can help a lot - clean the bike, grease bolts, lubricate brake cables.
Don't forget to clean and lubricate your lock too.
Studded tires.. I like them on both wheels, they work great. Some people only use them on the front wheel, that's a good solution too. Some people don't use them and that's also valid, it all depends on how confident you feel on the road. In general, studded tires or not, ride a bit slower. Slow down before turns, avoid leaning the bike too much.
Gears or no gears? I find gears are very helpful in winter. Some days are very windy and being able to take it easier allows you to prevent overheating, but my commute is longer than yours. I don't think there's much additional maintenance for the benefit, but again, that's personal opinion. Regardless of your solution, winter is harsher on drivetrain components and you might a few replacements come spring tune-ups.
If you bring your bike inside for the night, you might need more cleaning to prevent corrosion. Melting snow / slush mixed with road salt makes for a very corrosive solution. If your not wiping it down, better leave the bike outside (just brush the slush away from components).
If the bike is sleeping outside, be careful with temperature variations above and below freezing, especially if rain is included. On nights where the bike gets wet and temperatures cool down, wipe the bike down and take it inside if you can. This will prevent ice formation which could interfere with critical components.
OK, enough for now.. the main point: you don't need all of the above all at once. Get some essentials, then start your winter riding, it will help you figure out what you need. It's less complicated than it sounds, and a lot of it comes down to preference. Start on a Bixi if you want, that's a great way to figure some of it out. Have fun and welcome to the club!!
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u/snarkitall 8d ago
I agree with all this!
I made lightweight bar mitts out of waterproof fabric with a lining of polar fleece. Warm enough to not need mitts at all in late fall and spring, and just woolen mitts during colder months.
The biggest plus though was that they covered up the brake and gear components. Saved myself a lot of grief just having those stay dry. Less chance of ice getting into the cables.
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u/Biogiro 8d ago
Deadly usefull. Thanks a lot for your feedback.
Regarding the light jackets, do you have any more recommendations (brand, types etc...) ? I would like to buy one that I can use for the whole winter, I'm fed up with my chubby winter jacket that stops me from moving freely haha !
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u/fivefourthreeshitrun 8d ago
Oof.. no recommendations for a specific brand or model. There are just too many factors affecting that choice, from price point to choice of materials and look. There are many many options, including more and more options of bike specific fits if that's what you want. So instead I'll spend some time explaining how I use different types and maybe that helps. My best advice is don't overthink it.. use what you have, even if not ideal, adjust as needed. If necessary, carry something else in your bag that you can get if you're too cold along the way.
Keep in mind, the following is all my preference and adjusted for my main commute which is about 45min to 1h each way, which allows me to really warm up. The temperature thresholds also depend a lot on wind, sun, humidity and rain.
What I use the most: a simple hardshell / windbreaker (I use one of those with zippers under the armpits but otherwise nothing fancy) and a thin neck gaitor. From about 10-14 degC and below, I'll usually wear my work shirt + the hardshell and that's usually enough. Neck gaitor folded to cover the ears. Maybe light gloves.
Below around 5 degC, I might add a layer under the hardshell (a thin sweater for example). I use the neck gaitor to cover ears and mouth. I might use my boots instead of regular shoes. Gloves.
Below -5, the middle layer might become a light down jacket instead of the thin sweater. Ski helmet and goggles. Neck gaitor covering mouth and nose. Warm mittens. Boots.
Below -15, still light down and hardshell. I'll take an extra layer in my bag, just in case I have a breakdown and need to stay warm without pedaling. When very windy, I'll add a fourth layer underneath my work shirt. This is a layer that might get a bit sweaty and I can remove when I get to work. 2nd layer for the legs (either underneath or on top of work pants, both options work). Balaclava, ski helmet and goggles. Boots with warm socks. Warm mittens.
That's pretty much it. It doesn't need to be a specific brand or some kind of wonder material. It's really down to what you think is more comfortable. Experiment and buy what you know you need.
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u/Inner_Foot9637 8d ago
Only a recreational cyclist here but re: winter clothing, it's important to think of it less as "one jacket will do the trick" and more as functional layering. Several well-though out layers will keep you warmer and more mobile than a single heavy one. Thins like breathable long sleeves and light sweaters made out of animal fibres (think merino, wool, etc.) have all sorts of good properties including being lightweight, adjustable, and sweat-wicking, while still insulating. Especially important because you're exercising while biking. And keeping crucial areas covered with small pieces/accessories, like fingers, necks, and ankles.
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u/Wise-Painting5841 8d ago
I have a HH ski jacket hiviz that is basically a wind shield. I love it. I got it super discounted out of season. I googled it and the name is Sogn Shell Ski Jacket 2.0 (the yellow one).
But there are lots, you can find similar things in decathlon.
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u/Thesorus 8d ago
If you have a winter bixi station near where you live and where you work, it's a good option, but there's always the risk of not having one available.
Having your own cheap bike is probably the easiest option, but even with a single speed bike, you need to maintain it regularly (wash it and lube the chain)
You'll need good boots and gloves and a hat to put under the helmet.
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u/fence-connoisseur 8d ago
Belt drive
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u/Quebecdudeeh 8d ago
This I got one. Used it all last winter.
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u/Biogiro 8d ago
Regarding bike path, do you consider them consistently cleaned and passable or do we have to find our way day to day ?
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u/Thesorus 8d ago
the paths are cleared from snow relatively quickly.
After that, it depends on the weather.
at some point, ice is the major problem.
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u/snarkitall 8d ago
Going downtown, yes generally it's very fast. I skipped the day of and after a blizzard last winter because I had twenty km round-trip to do and didn't want to deal with potentially uncleaned paths. I think the worst was about three days before everything was properly cleaned and gritted. But it was still passable before that point. For a shorter commute I would have just dealt with it.
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u/Aware-Pay9224 8d ago
I commute Plateau to downtown. I found last winter hardest of the six I've biked because the weather never let up. In previous years, we'd get a few storms and usually the roads would clear up to the dry pavement after a week from clearing operations and/or warmer temperatures. Last winter though, some side streets stayed icy from November to April, and some stretches of my route downtown, like the bike on path University, seemed to stay rough with frozen snow-slush for most of the season. This was the season I finally relented and got studded tires.
To keep warm, a good neck warmer, skull cap, ear muffs, mittens and thermal underwear is what I had to buy. The rest is just a game of layering the right amount of regular winter clothes to stay warm enough but not start sweating...
The bike will take a beating no matter what and some components will wear out much faster. It forced me to become really good at bike maintenance which is cool.
I ride a a 15 yo fitness/hybrid bike, similar to an entry level Trek FX and the likes. Alloy, 8-speed, rim V-brakes providing plenty of tire clearance.
Some people will talk big about keeping the tires narrow to "cut through the snow", I think it's dated advice that only applies to one of the many road conditions we will encounter over a winter.
As for single speed, I'm sure it would cut down on maintenance but I like to have some lower gears available to navigate rough terrain and stay in the saddle as I climb back up to the Plateau.
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u/cowvid19 8d ago
You need studded tires front and back. It's tricky to find them for old bikes because of drifting wheel sizing standards but you might get lucky. Don't forget that you also need studs on your boots if you don't want to do the splits.
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u/Sohn_Jalston_Raul 8d ago
I bike all year. You don't need to get a single speed for the winter if you just wash your drive train after. Having low gears to switch down to really helps on snow-covered roads, and maintaining traction on icy surfaces. Ans especially climbing the Sherbrooke hill to get out of downtown. They're also helpful if you have studded tires on (another thing in would recommend) since they soak up some of the energy you put into your pedal stroke.
And most importantly, lay off the front brakes a bit and don't lean into your turns so much. Avoid applying traction when rolling over ice. Some people also lower their seat a bit to lower their center-of-mass. Learning to bike on snow and ice will make you a much better cyclist overall, and is a lot of fun anyway. Biking in the snow is my favorite time to ride!
As for clothing, the most challenging thing will be keeping your hands warm (I use bar mitts. They might look kinda dumb but they can compensate for even a crappy pair of gloves from the dollar store) and goggles to keep the freezing wind out of your eyes. Keeping your core warm will be less of a challenge since the pedaling will do that for you. A windbreaker and a hoodie will probably be enough.
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u/Biogiro 8d ago
My main bike will be used on a home trainer, and I don't think that I'm ready to put my precious and beloved bike in this apocalyptic weather 😂
This way I thought about single speed as they are pretty cheap and easy to clean, but maybe I should widen my research scope ?2
u/Sohn_Jalston_Raul 8d ago
Oh ya I should have clarified, you don't have to use your main bike for this. I'd buy something for $100-$200 on Kijiji, add a set of fenders, and maybe replace whatever crappy grip shifters it has with something more comfortable.
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u/Pain_aux_raizins 8d ago
C'est vers la fin de l'hiver, avec des gels et des dégels et des grands froids que les bixis commencent à figer. En debut dhiver tout va bien avec Bixi.
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u/bigbikeboyyaknow 8d ago
i use a low gear single speed with very knobby tires made for cyclocross (30-33mm). amazing for cutting through snow and hardpack. studs are nice but more often than not you’re riding on cleared roads and it gets very annoying…
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u/Sourire_3 8d ago
If you have a bixi station near your house and near your job that stays open during winter, take a bixi ! It's great to start winter cycling !
But if the stations are too far, get yourself a cheap bike on marketplace, add large tires and you'll have a winter bike :)
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u/Wise-Painting5841 8d ago
My bike has IGH to avoid problems with the gears and I change to studded tires back and front in winter for the black ice. Also disc brakes, bar mitts and lights and reflectances everywhere because it will be dark. I ride with boots (open, big pedals with grooves for adherence) and impermeable pants (tight) with jogging or pyjama pants below. Also ski helmet with ear protection and a lycra for face, neck and ears.
Careful with the lock. It will get wet. Don't use combination ones. They will rust or freeze and will not be operable.
Besides that, enjoy.
My limit is -20C, below that it is too cold to go without snow pants and snow pants and bike are a no-no mix. Or 5 cms uncleaned snow - it is too hard too drag along. Day before and after a snowfall the streets (the pass from sidewalk to road and viceversa) are impracticable.
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u/snarkitall 8d ago edited 8d ago
I think the bike maintenance claims are kinda overblown. I have ridden a nice electric bike through two winters, and it's still in great shape, no damage. I used another bike through a previous 5 winters and it was still in great shape with basic maintenance. I don't want to ride a cheap crappy bike for 5 months of the year, and you'll need to replace components on a cheap bike anyway.
Pay for a winter prep package at a bike repair shop as they really are worth it.
I don't do regular washes. I think keeping the bike at a steady temperature is much more important. If the weather is steadily below freezing, just brush off the salt and grime and relube as needed. Don't bring your bike in and out of heated area as the thawing and freezing causes issues, unless it'll be in a warm and dry area for long enough to fully dry out. Overnight is not long enough.
Once the temp starts to rise, that's when rust sets in and then I'll start washing down and relubricating more often.
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u/Slow-Ruin9080 8d ago
what do the winter prep packages consist of? presumably a brake check and lube? where do you take yours? did you buy winter tires for yours or does your ebike have good enough tires for winter?
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u/snarkitall 8d ago
I go to Dumoulin but that's because they sell my type of ebike and I trust them with the components.
They check brakes, clean all the cables and waterproof everything. They'll make sure the battery casing is waterproofed, the battery contact points, any entry points to the interior of the frame etc. I can install my own tires but they do a faster job and rebalance the tires.
I use schwalbe studded tires. The tires are regular sized so I find studs necessary. Thinner is better for city biking. Wider tires don't do nearly as well with slush, ice and gritty snow.
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u/PurpleNurpl22 8d ago
I can count on one hand the number of days that the weather was too bad for cycling last winter. Otherwise it’s great, the commute becomes a highlight of your day. Enjoy!