Bundle up (but not too much) and do a loop for winter bike to work day

Friday is winter bike to work day and even though many people continue to work from home, that shouldn't stop them from going for a ride around their neighbourhood, Darren Kropf says.

Kropf, Kitchener's active transportation planning project manager, says people are being encouraged to do a loop as part of the international Winter Bikealoopza event organized by the e-Global Winter Cycling Congress. And, people can  log their bike ride on the Winter Bike to Work Day website.

"In your own neighbourhood, stay where you are, but find a trail, a bike route, a quiet street, somewhere you're comfortable biking and get a little bit of exercise and have some fun riding your bike in the winter," he said.

Kropf says it can be a lot of fun to see your neighbourhood in winter from a bicycle, because you're going slowly enough that you can look around, but fast enough that you can go farther than you might on a walk.

"I often enjoy finding places where people are hanging out and playing. I love just going by and, 'Oh, there's a new toboggan hill,' and maybe I wouldn't have noticed it by myself," he said.

"It's just seeing where kids find their own spot and dig out a hole and a tunnel and that kind of thing. So there's a lot of really neat places to explore and find where people are making the best of the pandemic and just getting outside and trying to get some of that essential exercise."

Tips for winter cycling

The Environment Canada forecast is calling for a high around -9 C on Friday, but Kropf says people shouldn't bundle up too much with snow pants and multiple layers.

"You only get cold when you stop moving," he said. "You don't need to bundle up anymore than you would if you were going skating or you're going tobogganing. So don't worry about getting your long underwear or your snowpants on or anything because you'll actually start sweating if you do that."

For a 30 minute bike ride, he says wear warm boots, mittens, a headband or thin tuque under the helmet and "that will be enough because once you get moving, you're going to generate heat and you actually don't want to overheat on a cold day because when you're sweaty and cold, that's when it actually gets a little bit worse."

It's also a good idea to give the bike a wipedown after going for a ride to remove any salt, advises the city on its website.