Monday, May 20, 2013

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Primer: Alaska Winter Biking
This sport is guaranteed to keep you moving year-round, and all it takes is a few tweaks to gear you may already own
By Janessa Webb
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The seasons are definitely changing and so are Alaskans’ athletics.

Once that first snowfall hits, we say goodbye to summer sports like soccer and football, and trade them in for skis and snowboards. But one sport is guaranteed to keep you moving year-round, and all it takes is a few tweaks to gear you may already own--winter biking.

Trading in her 6-inch stilettos for a pair of clip-in shoes was just the beginning of Janessa Webb’s transformation from glamazon to winter warrior.

REI employee, and bike commuter, Bob Voris says the most important thing for a cyclist to wear is a helmet. It’s an invaluable piece of equipment regardless of the season, but is especially important during the winter when your risk of falling is a little bit greater.

Voris says that interest in winter biking has increased twenty fold in the last five years, largely sparked by the advent of studded tires and wider rims.

So, for tough winter riding on Anchorage’s streets, be sure to wear a helmet, and have studded tires as well as great lights on your bike. With these tools, you can transform from an average summer rider into a year-round cyclist.