How long have you been riding, and when did you start biking in the winter?

I learned how to ride a bike as kind of an older kid I don’t think I would bike around with my friends in high school but I didn’t start riding in the city until like my early 20s. I started riding in the winter in 2012. I just felt like going to the skating rink and I wanted to see if I could make it there by bike so I packed up all my stuff and I put my coat and my scarf on and I went for it and it was great!

What does biking mean to you, especially in the colder months?

Cycling especially in the winter months, but throughout the whole year, means to me the freedom to get around the city at my own pace. To be able to do all of the fun things that the city has to offer without being held back by any barriers of taking transit or having to deal with a car. It just makes every day, especially in the winter, that much brighter, fresher, and fun.

Where is your favorite place to ride in the winter versus in the summer?

In the winter time I like to find someplace that’s close to something hot to drink, so if I can find a cafe that’s got a spot where I can park my bike I will grab a tea or a hot chocolate and just sit outside and get some sun. In the summertime I love going down to the waterfront, Tommy Thompson Park or out to Hamilton to visit with my friends. I also like to go to this strip of beach in Burlington where there’s a little burger joint. You can stop there, have your lunch and sit on the beach and then take a nice leisurely ride back.

Tell us about your bike!

I actually bought my bike it at the bike show. At the time I was riding a steel 26 inch hardtail mountain bike and I was struggling wanted something light an aluminum frame. I found this bike and it was pretty much the only thing in my size that had those features and it was cute, I like the color. I have been riding it around all year round for 10 years, at this point it’s kind of a Frankenbike, most of the parts have been replaced. You know sometimes people look at it and they’re like ‘oh this is kind of weird’ but you know what it really works for me and yeah I just I love my bike

How do you think that biking, and specifically cold weather riding can be more accessible?

This year especially I really noticed that even if you’re trying to walk down the street it can be very inaccessible. In general we kind of have a mindset of hibernating in the winter and I think a lot of that is cultural. Living in the city were kind of conditioned to think that we need to escape as soon as it hits 2 degrees when in reality it can be really lovely to be out there feeling active and just alive in the winter. If more of us are talking about that and inviting our friends out to do things in the winter, it can slowly get more accessible for people who are a little bit put off by it.

Do you have any tips for newcomers to winter cycling?

If you’ve never ridden your bike in the winter before I will say do not be afraid of the cold the cold is something you can totally prepare for. Neck warmers, face covers, and gloves are key. You can just dress like you would dress to go out for a walkor to wait for the bus. In fact, you’re gonna be warmer on the bike than you would be if you’re standing out there so you really don’t have to overthink it, you don’t need a lot of technical gear to ride in the winter. As far as road conditions go, you don’t have to ride every single day – if you feel like it’s too snowy or too icy for you then don’t ride your bike that day but there are going to be plenty of other days in the winter time where it’s completely dry and manageable. Just slowly build up your confidence and you’ll learn what conditions you’re comfortable in. Just see how it is and I’m positive that you’re gonna love it

What’s your favourite piece of cycling gear?

I’ve got a couple of little like pieces of flare and one of them is the Minimum Grid campaign ribbon.Minimum Grid was a campaign put on by Cycle Toronto and the organization 880 cities. They were trying to create momentum to have a grid of connected protected infrastructure that people could use to bike on It really stuck with me because I thought of it as a really practical way to show people the vision of what it could be like if you had a safe route to get wherever you needed to go.
The other piece that I really like riding around with is my little watermelon frame bag. It stops people that aren’t even on a bike.