Cycling season doesn’t stop when the last leaf falls – you can go cycling at any time of year. Spending your winter in New York City doesn’t mean you need to plan only indoor activities. You can safely go cycling during a bright, crisp NYC winter day.
Many trails and routes are maintained through the winter months, so you don’t need to rely on the subway to explore the City. If this is your first time cycling during the colder months, you’re in luck because our guide has everything you need to know about winter cycling.
The first thing you need is an excellent bike to cycle with – one that fits your frame and has been adjusted for snow and ice. If you don’t already have a cycle, stop by any of Fancy Apple locations, and our friendly team will help you find the bike you need. Once you’re ready with a bike, here are some helpful winter cycling tips:
Top 8 Spots for Winter Cycle Touring Destinations in Manhattan
There is so much to see around NYC, especially during the holidays. The city transforms into a winter wonderland with holiday cheer all around, providing the perfect backdrop when cycling through the winter months. Cycling around New York lets you take in more of these sights than walking (and definitely compared to the subway). If you’re pressed on time, join us on a bike tour, and we’ll show you some of the best parts of wintery Manhattan.
Here are our top winter cycle touring destinations that are a must-see:
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The first stop during your cycling holidays needs to be the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The tree has been an annual tradition since the 1930s and is a beaming beacon of NYC winter in the middle of Rockefeller Center. The Christmas Tree is filled with bright, shining lights and topped with a massive Swarovski crystal star that can be seen from miles away. Since the first lighting, the Tree has been a reflection of the year that passed. The tree can be up to 100 ft tall and is a marvelous sight to see.
Many events around this area will make you want to stay and explore a while. You can go to the Top of the Rock to see Manhattan from a different point of view. You can enjoy the winter weather by spending some time on the ice rink with the Christmas Tree in your background. Maybe even bike around the area to take your time enjoying the holiday décor.
Holiday Windows on Fifth Avenue
New York City enchanting department store windows are a must-see while you’re cycling along Fifth Avenue. The window displays are available just before Thanksgiving until a few days after New Year’s Day. These displays are filled with playful animations and interactive elements that are sure to delight people of all ages stopping by.
These displays are one of the many reasons NYC is one of the top winter cycling destinations. The windows feature iconic New York City holiday scenes, encapsulating the feeling of the season. They’re spread out all along Fifth Avenue, so you can take your time enjoying the views. Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy’s always have displays to cycle by.
Union Square Holiday Market
This Holiday Market is internationally known and for a good reason. Located in the heart of New York City, in Union Square Park, the Holiday Market brings locals and tourists in one vibrant location.
The Park is the perfect place to find unique presents for your loved ones. The Holiday Market is filled with handmade crafts and arts, ensuring your pieces are one of a kind making the holidays the best time to visit. There are hundreds of booths to stop by where you’ll find many affordable, quality items from local craftspeople.
It’s also a great rest stop after cycling around Manhattan. There are warming stations, live music, and lots of delicious food and drink to choose from during the holidays—definitely a space to stop by and check out.
Chinatown (especially around Chinese New Year)
Biking around Chinatown is one of the best cycle routes you can take at any time of the year. The area is filled with beautiful sights and delicious smells, especially around the holiday season in celebration of the Lunar New Year. With many tea shops, markets, and plenty of authentic, homemade food – there’s something exciting to discover at every turn. There’s plenty of green spaces and culinary delights to take a cycling break-in.
NYC goes all out in celebration of Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year) with festive events, parades, and special feasts. The events and parades are always filled with stunning visuals, impressive performances, and vendors along the side to treat visitors to all sorts of delicacies.
Bryant Park (You Can Also Ice Skate There)
Bryant Park also has a wonderful market set up as soon as the weather turns colder. The Park transforms into a little Winter Village fit with an ice rink, Holiday shops, and plenty of eateries. Locals and visitors alike flock to the 17,000 square foot ice rink as soon as it pops up and takes a break from ice skating to grab a quick bite from the hundreds of food vendors.
The Winter Village is usually open from Halloween (late October) up until February/March (for the ice rink) and until early January for the Holiday shops, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy it. Almost every week is a theme, so anytime is a good time to stop by. It’s a beautiful destination, and rest stop depending on where else you’re planning on biking to that day.
Central Park
An iconic NYC destination, no matter the time of year, is Central Park. This expansive park allows you space to practice biking during colder weather without worry about other motorists and still enjoying the lovely winter sights. There’s still plenty of events to attend if you have more time during the day and hidden spots where you can rest and have a picnic overlooking a beautiful landscape.
If you’re short on time and want a guided tour instead, why not join one of Fancy Apple cycle tours? We have them going through any weather and can show you some of Central Park’s best parts. It’s the perfect winter activity for you or a group of friends.
Times Square
This is another must-see while you’re in Manhattan. This bustling area is a short bike ride from Central Park and other accessible landmarks. There’s much to take in while you’re visiting Times Square, especially when you stop by after the sun has set, and the lights from the ads and billboards transform the streets into a magical destination.
With much to see, you may be interested in taking a guided tour of the space to get the best experience out of your time there.
Wall Street and Downtown
A great addition to your cycling trip is the Downtown area, as it’s filled with plenty of museums, sights, and food. You can ride by Stone Street, a stretch of cobblestone that has restored brick buildings along it housing many charming establishments. If you’re financial and business savvy, biking around the New York Stock Exchange or Museum of American Finance on Wall Street are a must
You can also stop by One World Trade Center and the memorial and museum around the area as a tribute to those affected by the incident. The monument comprises massive reflecting pools surrounded by some of the largest human-made waterfalls in North America. While you’re here, you can easily bike to Battery Park and enjoy nature or hop onto a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty.
Top Tips For Winter Bike Riding
When taking a bike ride in winter, you’ll need to prepare for anything you may face along your journey. Speaking of your face, this is one of the first areas to feel cold, especially as you’re breathing deeper while pedaling along. To ensure it’s kept warm through the cold weather, bring a bandana, balaclava, or face wrap that will stay in place to protect your nose and mouth. You can update your bike with wider tires to help you glide over salt or outfit them with spikes for more traction over ice.
When winter bike riding, you’ll want to start cold, warm up as you start cycling, and stay warm for the rest of your journey. Here are some other important tips to keep in mind:
Hands
Always cover your extremities, especially your hands. Your fingers, nose, and toes are among the first to feel the effects of cold weather, so make sure you protect them whenever you head outdoors. Most people immediately pull thick mittens on as soon the weather drops. These are helpful when your hands get cold easily but can restrict movement.
If you’re looking for a good set of cycling gloves, be sure to look for ones that are lightweight, water-resistant, and allow your hands to move. However, you don’t need to buy the most expensive or thickest pair just for biking; you can layer on gloves you already have. You’ll want to make sure you can move your hands in your gloves, so you have a good range of motion when biking.
Body
It’s all about the layers when dressing for winter cycling. You’ll need to keep yourself nice and warm against the cold weather but not restricted so you can bike for a long time. Our bodies limit blood circulation to our extremities once the temperatures start dropping, and keeping these parts warm becomes vital. If your head and upper body are warm, you can keep your fingers and toes warmer for longer.
For most cold days, have a thin sweat-wicking base layer, a sweatshirt over that, and an additional light but warm jacket or hoodie. Air is the best insulator, so ensuring each layer is loose-fitting. When the wind chill is extremely high, add on the layers, especially for gloves and hats under your helmet – clothing made of wool or deerskin work well for these situations.
Route
It’s a good idea to plan your journey before you begin cycling (you can get a free map with our bike rental). With so much to see and many routes to take, planning will let you know what to bring and when you’ll arrive. Looking at the course just before cycling off can show if you have a roadblock because of construction and highlight available detours, saving your time and energy. Looking at the weather earlier in the day can help you plan for visibility or temperature changes so you can bring only what you need instead of over or under packing.
When planning your routes, decide which paths to take based on your skill and comfort level. If it rained hours earlier, maybe avoid smaller trails that aren’t taken off often. If you haven’t biked along main roads, try taking less busy side roads the first few times until you become more comfortable with other motorists. Knowing and building up your skills ensures you’ll always have an enjoyable bike ride.
Visibility
The weather can change from bright and sunny to cloudy quickly through the winter months, so it’s great to always be visible as you ride. Wearing reflective clothing or placing reflective tape on your cycle frame will help other motorists see you. With fewer people riding about during the winter, it’s important to tell other drivers, bikers, and pedestrians that you’re around.
Having a bike light and a battery-operated flashlight is helpful during low visibility days or as daylight gets shorter. A good pair of lights and ski goggles will help you see clearly through any cycling day. If you don’t have one already, you may want to look into getting some ski goggles to protect part of your face and ensure you can always see the road.
Skills
Biking during colder days is not much different from biking during the other seasons. However, the weather becomes more unpredictable, causing your trails and routes to change more often as they get rained or snowed on. You can still safely bike on these routes as long as they’ve been cared for already, and you see a clear path.
It helps to practice biking a short distance in a safe area before taking longer journeys. These short trips build your skills and stamina and let you know if your bike is in good condition. Don’t forget to check your bike chain’s gears and brakes between and before rides – gravel, salt, and snow can quickly build up during the winter and affect your bike.
Arrival
Now you’re ready for your journey. You pedal off, enjoy the outdoors, and reach your stop. If you’re stopping by many areas along the way, you’ll probably want to leave your road bike somewhere to explore your destination.
Remember to bring a lock (it’s free with Fancy Apple rentals), one that is water or weather-proof, so you can unlock it as necessary. There’s plenty of lightweight yet sturdy options on the market to keep your bike safe when not in use. You’ll also want to park away from the curb in case snowplows come along to avoid a heap of snow on your bike.
Tips for Riding Bike in Snow and Ice
So far, we covered general tips on winter bike riding: cover exposed skin, plan ahead, have fun. There may be some winter days where your routes have packed snow or areas that have iced over. Let’s talk about a few things to know before riding a bike in snow and ice:
Beware of Black Ice
If you haven’t experienced black ice before, it’s a thin, clear layer of ice that’s indistinguishable from the rest of the road. While the ice is not black, it’s very transparent that you only see the road underneath, thinking that there’s nothing on top of the road. The surface is incredibly smooth and slippery that it’s not advisable to drive over it.
However, you might find yourself in a situation where it’s unavoidable. If that’s the case, bike very slowly, avoid putting too much pressure on your rear wheel and know what to do if you begin skidding.
Turns and Braking
Turning successfully over ice is achieved by keeping the bike upright without leaning too much in one direction. You can do this by leaning your upper body in the opposite direction that you’re turning, allowing the bike to remain balanced. Since the bike is upright, your turns will be slower than normal but will keep you safe in these conditions.
Braking over ice will usually produce a little heat, melting the top layer of ice. Water over ice is more slippery than ice alone. It’s recommended to use your rear brakes to stop to avoid losing traction on your front wheels because of that phenomenon. Lowering your tire pressure helps by placing more of your tire in contact with the ice, creating better traction, and avoiding your bike from slipping.
Traction
It’s best to keep enough traction between your bike and the snow or ice, as indicated above. You can fashion your wheels with studs to provide amazing traction – the more studs, the better. You’ll still need to bike slowly when turning but are kept safer. In addition to studs, your technique can help you from losing traction.
You can test ice conditions when pedaling straight by slowly applying the rear brakes to feel how slippery the surface is. Once the back wheel begins to skid, ease up on the brake. This information will help you plan for the rest of the ride by telling you how long it will take you to stop if you need to.
Stay Cool
We’ve talked a lot about staying warm during your ride but staying cool is just as important. As you’re riding in snow, your body is working hard to keep you pedaling while warming itself. If you have tight or too many layers, your body might begin to overheat. Dressing in loose layers that are easy to take off can help in this situation and remember to take breaks and sip on water to keep cool.
FAQ
Feel free to wear comfortable and warm shoes yet not cumbersome in case you need to stop quickly.
Thick socks made of wool or doubling up on socks
That’s up to your preference and weather conditions, but it’s best to avoid biking when the temperature is below freezing.
It’s ok for a few minutes depending on the weather but is not advisable for longer periods, especially if it’s raining or snowing.
It does because your body is burning more calories trying to keep you warm while burning some calories cycling.
Some Other Things to Do in New York in Winter to Explore the City
NYC celebrates many holidays during the winter; it seems like there’s a different event or theme each week. This makes visiting at any time during the winter quite exciting as the cold weather doesn’t deter people from enjoying the outdoors. There’s plenty of holiday markets between the end of October and the beginning of February, celebrations around Chinese New Year, along with indoor events like watching a Broadway show or visiting a museum.
Some days may be snowier than others, and you may not want to solely bike around. Here are some other options available:
Subway
If the weather conditions are suboptimal for a short part of the day, feel free to take the subway to your next destination. You can take the subway to Bryant Park’s Winter Village and roam the little winter wonderland or to Central Park, that’s a beauty to bike through at any time of year.
Yellow Cab\ Uber
For longer journeys or crowded destinations, you may want to opt for a cab or uber instead. These are helpful when going to Times Square, Union Square, or Fifth Avenue for the holiday lights display as many people flock to these areas
Pedicab
If you haven’t heard of it before, you may be wondering, “what is a pedicab?” Our pedicabs are a pedal-operated bicycle where two people can sit directly behind the driver and enjoy the ride. It’s a charming way to get around busy streets as it’s narrow enough to get by areas that most cars or buses cannot fit through.
It’s the perfect alternative to bike riding with your family or friend as you get to enjoy a closer conversation without worrying about the road in front of you. It’s best to take a pedicab ride during the holiday season where you can be wrapped in a warm blanket, enjoying hot chocolates and the scenery around you.
Enjoy Winter Bike Commuting in NYC
With decades worth of bike riding experience, each member of the Fancy Apple team has seen it all. We want to make your winter bike commuting as enjoyable as possible, so we’re happy to help with any questions. If you have some along the way, feel free to stop by any of our locations or contact us directly. Until then, remember to keep warm, stay hydrated with a water bottle or hot drink, and have an enjoyable winter ride.