Best snow commute hack? A bicycle

It's easy to assume nobody cycles when it snows, but truth is, a bog standard bicycle can perform better than a car when the going gets tough.

We're not a country that fits winter tyres to our cars so the minute roads are covered in a blanket of snow, drivers can quickly lose traction. However, bicycles can cope well in the kind of conditions that have paralysed many roads this week.

Although riding on ice can prove tricky, snow shouldn't present major difficulties if you keep your weight towards the rear wheel, make most use of the rear brake (gently) and run a slightly lower tyre pressure.

There are accessories available to adapt bikes for snowy conditions - from metal-studded tyres (which work well) to full caterpillar track systems (which don't work very well), but most are little more than gimmicks.

2-wheel drive

Japanese bicycle manufacturer Tretta developed a range of bikes that take power to the front wheel via a long chain that stretches all the way from the rear hub. There are advantages in having both wheels driven, this design surely adds weight and unnecessary complexity.

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Caterpillar tracks

An even more complex answer to the question of how best to cycle in snow is the caterpillar track bike. Although it looks like it means business, when we tested one at the snow dome in Milton Keynes, we found it didn't perform any better than a conventional mountain bike.

The moral of the story is you don't need to invest in gimmicks - conventional bike can tackle winter weather with ease. Just remember to wrap up and ride smoothly.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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