Here’s your chance to check out the top content on the getDowntown blog from 2011.

Most Read getDowntown Blog Posts of 2011

• getDowntown’s Guide to Bike Commuting in Downtown Ann Arbor
• Apparently lots of folks decided to take up bike commuting in 2011.  This post gives you the rundown of all you need to know to get your downtown bike commute on.
• The Creative Class Bikes to Work: The Economic Case for Bike Commuting
• What did Richard Florida find when he looked at the bike commuting rates and economic indicators such as educational attainment, fitness and more?  Check out this post to see.
• getDowntown’s Guide to Using Transit/Busing in Downtown Ann Arbor
• Want to get downtown on the bus?  This post shows you how.
• getDowntown’s Guide to Winter Bike Commuting
• You can Conquer the Cold and do bike commutes in the winter!
• Downtown Ann Arbor employee ROAMs through the country by Velomobile
• Cool guy doing a cool event.
• Making Riding the Bus Look Sexy
• Yes, it’s possible.  Check out the picture in this post to see how.
• Winter Clothing – Ignoring Fashion In Favor of Practicality
• Downtown employee tells us what you need to wear to walk to work in the winter
• Studded, Skinny or Fat? Winter Bike Commuting Tire Talk
• Apparently lots of people want to know what kind of bike tire to use in the winter
• getDowntown’s Guide to Walking to Work in Downtown Ann Arbor
• Info an resources to make your walk to work more pleasant.

While biking in the snow can be a little dicey, biking on black ice is even worse.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has some great advice to help handle black ice conditions.  Click here to read more.

Here’s a blog post that gives a run down of great gifts for the Cyclist on your list.

Check it out for some great ideas for yourself as well as that year ’round bike commuter on your list.

[another blog post from winter commuter extraordinaire--Jane Allen.  You can Conquer the Cold!]

The plus side:

There is more you can do about cold than hot, so you can stay comfortable. In the summer, your options are limited and at some point, it’s just too hot and there is nothing you can do about it. You can always do something about the cold with another layer of clothing.

No matter how much snow there is, you can get to work. A few years ago during a big storm, I started walking to work when it became clear that the bus would not be arriving. On Summit Street, there are train tracks that cross the road and it is quite steep. A tow truck was spinning its tires and not able to move. Another tow truck with a car on the back attempted to pass the first truck, and also became stuck, and was slowly sliding sideways towards the first truck. Because of this, Summit was entirely blocked by tow trucks. Needless to say, I didn’t wait for the bus, nor could it possibly arrive via its normal route. When you are stuck in the tow truck, who do you call to save you?

It’s fun to walk in the snow, and this is when I see more neighbors than any other time, because they are all out shoveling snow.

The new snow is pretty.

The minus side:

No matter how much snow there is, you can get to work.

When you get home, after talking to your neighbors, you will have to shovel snow.

Only about 60% of residents clear their walks, so there will be ice on the sidewalk, sometimes for weeks, after each storm. This is when you need your Yaktrax.

Check out this great post by Ted Johnson of Commute by Bike on his rocky start to winter bike commuting season.  You know how when you drive and it snows for the first time and it’s like everyone forgot how to drive?  Yeah, winter biking can kind of be like that.

Click here to read this very humbling post and to see a host of great winter biking resources from Commute by Bike.

In our effort to help employees Conquer the Cold this winter and do bus, bike and walk commutes, we’ve been getting great tips and stories from actual winter commuters.  If you’ve got a story to share or a tip to promote, here’s your chance to get your name in lights!

We’re looking for Ann Arbor area bike, walk and bus commuters to tell us about the following:

1. Walking/Biking/Busing when the snow and ice hits: what do you most need to know?
2. Why it’s actually better to bike,bus or walk in the winter
3. Why biking, busing or walking in the winter is better than driving your car
4. Any cold weather commuting stories
5. What’s it like to walk, bike or bus in the dead of winter?  What do you see?  How do you feel?  What do you like about it?

Pick a topic and start writing!  Email us your post to info@getdowntown.org.  Please include at least your first name and where you work.  If we like what we see, we’ll post it to the world via our blog, our info@getdowntown.org.  Please include at least your first name and where you work.  If we like what we see, we’ll post it to the world via our blog, our Twitter feed and our Facebook page.

Here’s a timely post from one of our Winter Commuting bloggers, Dan B.  Now that it’s really nasty outside, this is a great way to help you Conquer the Cold and bike to work.

I should probably begin this post with a disclaimer that the tips and tricks I tend to write about are things that work for me.  I don’t have a huge budget for specialized winter gear so I make do with more mainstream winter accessories and the notion that you have to expect to get a little chilly or wet but planning ahead will minimize discomfort or major disappointment.

While I usually keep  bike riding until there’s just too much snow, I’m pretty sure I could ride all winter and deal with the extreme cold if that’s all there was.

Since I’m commuting to work, I do keep a pair of dry socks and an alternate pair of shoes that I can change into when I arrive if need be. On rainy days, I’ll pack dry pants and a shirt that’ll serve me well. Even if I’m wearing rain gear, it’s not at all unusual to have some part of me get drenched during the ride.

Extremities first – you need a decent pair of gloves that meet the following specs. Wind proof, warm and flexible enough to allow safe control of braking and shifting. They have to be essentially impermeable to air – leather is a good bet, especially thin leather. They also have to have some warm lining, like wool or some synthetic polar whatever. I’m presently using a pair of driving gloves that I received as a gift and they meet those requirements and my fingers stay warm – leather provides minimal waterproofing but will dry within a few hours. It’s a fine balance getting leather that’s thin enough to enable control for shifting and braking and still provide wind and cold protection.

Shoes – also need to be mostly impermeable to air and warm. I’ve got a nice pair of trail hiking shoes that breath on the sides but have solid leather on the top and front. Full fledged winter boots would be too clunky for pedaling; but if you’re prone to cold toes – winter boots may be just the ticket.  I’ve used chemical-heat hand warmer pads in my shoes and I’ve also sprinkled cayenne pepper into my shoes.  The chemical hand warmers are perfect for rides of an hour or less but they’re not reusable so they get expensive.  Using cayenne pepper is a novel approach but does seem to work – I’m just always careful not to overdo it.  1/2 teaspoon in each sock, letting it get to the tip of the sock is a good amount to start with.

Keeping your head warm while also wearing a helmet is a bit tricky – I use a really thin polyester cap that covers my ears and still permits a good fit of the helmet.  When it’s really cold (sub 20′s), I’ll wear a polar fleece face mask too but have to make sure it doesn’t limit my peripheral vision.

I can usually expect to be so toasty with all that prep that I’m actually perspiring when I arrive at work – that’s a great sign that a good combination of layers and physical effort was used.

Stay warm and be safe !

Drum roll please…here’s the winning essay from Clara S., who works at Zingerman’s Deli! Congrats, Clara, and enjoy your shopping spree at Moosejaw. Happy Commuting, everyone!

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I was just hired by Zingerman’s Deli a month ago, so I’m in the midst of figuring out my new commute.  With my go!PASS in hand, I can bus easily to and from work, but the buses don’t run early enough when I open.  I’ve been driving at 6am to work, but I’d like to winterize my bike and begin bike commuting, though it’s going to take some mind over matter to accomplish this in the thick of winter.  I’ll need a good bike helmet, commuter clothing, and some new tires and then I should be good to go.  I’m also going to start up yoga again to get myself in better shape.  My bike endurance isn’t that great yet, so this will definitely help.

Here’s the final runner-up in our Conquer the Cold Essay contest! Its from Andy B.

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I bike to work every day. I biked regularly, but not faithfully until the commuter challenge motivated me to bike every day! The bike ride is a beautiful part of my day which provides a greater connection to my spirit, community and seasons. Snootfuls of fresh air and the 20 minutes of exercise have become indispensable.

I conquer the cold with a combination of attitude adjustment (too cold is only a state of mind), dressing right (there is no cold, just inadequate preparation), knobby tires (slicks start to slide when the snow flies) and sound judgement (there are days when it makes more sense to ride the bus or ski!).

Last winter I learned that during a 20 minute bike ride, you start out warm, stay warm (you generate heat). In the equivalent car commute, the car never heats up, so you could end up being colder in the car.

The second runner up is Kristin B., who works for the City of Ann Arbor in Systems Planning. She was super creative and wrote not only an essay, but also a poem. We couldn’t resist her enthusiasm, so read on for her entry!

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Essay 1:

One glove, Two glove, Maize glove, Blue glove

Michigan hat, Blue hat, Old hat, Moosejaw hat

This bike has a little pedal

This bike has a little metal

Say! What a lot of cyclist there are.

Yes. Some wear Maize, and some wear blue.

Some feel really old and some are brand new.

Some wear helmets, and some use lights

And some wear vests that are very very bright.

Why do they use helmets, lights and vests?

Because a combo of all three is certainly best.

Some ride fast, and some ride slow

Some ride all winter, even in the snow!

From there to here,

From here to there,

Ann Arbor cyclists are everywhere.

Here are some who commute in the cold

The ride in the cold makes them very bold.

Oh me! Oh my! Oh me! Oh my!

What a lot of Ann Arbor winter cyclists go by.

Essay 2:

I plan to conquer the cold this winter through fashion.  As I commute around town, passersby may find themselves inspired by mushrooms – not the psychedelic ones; rather, my white helmet paired with a thick fleece hat may leave them craving portabella.   With an Icelandic hoodie covering my face, I flavor fungi with exotic wool.  I will clash mushroom-dark-cave mystique with a subtle sunshine yellow windbreaker.  Some may wonder: Monarch butterfly or biker?  To bring together fire, air, land and water, I will flaunt my lobster claw gloves, which are less appealing when dipped in butter.  Making Gaga jealous, I will complete the outfit with padded bicycle shorts over stunning long underwear and knee-high winter boots.  Bejeweled with flashing bicycle lights, I will conquer warmth in this way – every weekday during the winter months.   When practical fashion meets nature’s beauty – conquering the cold is good for wearers and watchers alike.