There is a thriving bicycling community at the University of Oregon, but every winter it happens: people quit riding.
“We have so much ridership but when this time of year hits, people stop riding their bikes,” said Logan Devack, manager of the Outdoor Program’s DIY bike shop in the Erb Memorial Union. “It gets darker and wetter and they stop because they don’t want to get wet and they’re worried about not being seen by cars. Commuting in the winter is easy as long as you’re well equipped. We have the solutions.”
In the bike program’s never-ending quest to get more UO staff, faculty and students on two wheels, the latest enticement is discounts on lights, fenders and fender installations to “winterize” bikes for the cold months.
There is a 10 percent discount on all three during weeks 2 and 3 of winter term (the weeks of Jan. 12 and 19). The bike shop’s lights range from $14 to $35, and fenders range from $10 to $55 for a pair that fully cover the front and back wheels.
At night or when visibility is poor, Oregon law requires a white headlight on the front and a red light or reflector on the back. Fenders keep puddles and rain-drenched roads from drenching you and they come in models that can be easily clipped on and off or, alternatively, bolted to the frame, Devack said.
The bike shop is closed for winter break but will reopen Jan. 5 and operate from noon to 5 p.m. in the EMU, near the information desk. Walk-ins are welcome and the typical turnaround time for fender installation is a working day or less. Riders are encouraged to bring their bikes to the shop to help staff set them up with the best fenders, Devack said.
Senior Kalliope Kyriazis, a staff member of the Outdoor Program, called fenders a “game changer” for cyclists — “Without them, my entire back, my bag, even my hair gets soaked,” she said.
Bike lights can be a target for theft, but senior Phoenix Lester noted the bike shop carries models that can be quickly detached from the bike and placed in a pocket or backpack.
“Some of our lights are rechargeable with a USB cable, which is really nice so you don’t have to waste the battery,” she added.
“I understand why people can be deterred from winter riding but biking in the rain and the cold can be just as comfortable as in the warm months if you have the resources,” Kyriazis said. “It’s easy to be comfortable even when it seems like you shouldn’t be.”
—Matt Cooper, University Communications