In Defense of Winter Biking

By Gracelyn Skilling ’26

Ah, biking. For the average person, “biking” brings to mind a certain species of mental images: bucolic little rail trails lined with buttercups; unlined roads and those quaint wicker baskets; spring afternoons brimming with spandex, etc.

One thing that certainly doesn’t come to mind is winter. Nor does snow, wind, single-digit mornings, or salty roads. In short, nothing about winter stirs that rosy, Arcadian corner of the brain that says, “boy, it sure is nice out, I think I’d like to take a ride on my bike.” 

But, if you’re one of those geeks like me who commutes by bike year-round, rain or shine, no matter how intent New England weather is on stopping you, then those warm days are only a small slice of biking. What’s more, despite its initial lack of appeal, there are actually quite a few unique benefits to winter biking that you’ve probably been missing out on. 

Boost Your Immunity  

The only thing worse than being cold is getting a cold. Fortunately, there’s a general scientific consensus that regular bouts of exercise, such as biking, strengthen the immune system. Relatively recent research suggests this may be due to immune cells mobilized in response to normal muscle inflammation caused by exertion—while they’re at it, these immune cells benefit the rest of the body alongside the muscle inflammation they’re targeting. In a similar fashion to how regular cardio lowers your resting heart rate (i.e. increases the strength of your heart), you can think of exercise-induced inflammation as a kind of immune system “workout.” And seeing as winter has an infamous reputation as the season of illness, what better time to give your body that much-needed boost?

A Better Commute

Presuming you live within a few miles, biking is a fantastic way to circumvent the daily purgatory session known as “commuting”—and don’t be intimidated, because the switch is far more convenient than you might think. For one thing, it’s very likely faster. Next time you’re gradually losing your mind in traffic, lend a thought to how much farther down the road you’d be if you were on a bike. The cost is significantly cheaper as well—bikes are at liberty from gas prices, parking tickets, and toll fees. 

Winter comes with an added bonus: due to the cold, the vast majority of individuals will be driving, thereby increasing the amount of cars on the road, adding time for them, but not for the bikers. Plus, the terrible weather is an easy way to get the bike lane all to yourself.

A Much-Needed Mood Lift

Have you ever noticed that winter, generally, is a much more depressing time than summer? There’s actually a real phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder (or SAD, aptly), a type of depression correlated with certain seasonal patterns, thought to be caused by lack of light and resultant disruptions to one’s circadian rhythm. But it’s also true that almost everyone tends to feel a dip in their energy and motivation during the cool months, even if just by a little.

Getting outside and moving around is an easy fix for this, which a lack thereof tends to be behind seasonal depression in the first place. Winter weather isn’t a reason not to bike; why, it’s all the more reason that you should.

No Sweat

What all those idyllic scenes of summertime biking fail to mention is the sweatiness that comes with exertion in the warm weather. In winter, while you’ll certainly have to deal with the chills in lieu of the heat, you’ll hardly be sweating, a far more comfortable experience if you ask me. 

When it comes down to it, there are precious few outdoor activities you can do in winter without snow. Biking is a great way to get yourself outside, stave off the winter blues, and improve your well-being in the process. Next time you’re feeling lethargic, or you’ve got somewhere to go, why not bust out your bike—you’ll feel better in the end for having done so. 

Image Credits: https://www.rotwild.com/en/magazin/winter-biking-health-and-fitness-benefits