The Gear Junkie's Top 10 Winter Bike Commuting Essentials

Even in Minnesota, snow, ice, and frigid temps can't keep hardcore bike commuters off the roads. "We've seen a big increase in winter cycling," says Stephen Cottrell, sales manager at Freewheel Bikes in Minneapolis. "People come to get geared up each fall before the snow arrives." We leaned on Cottrell's winter-biking knowledge—he commutes on a fat-tire Salsa Mukluk bike through Minnesota's worst weather—to compile a list of the best winter cycling gear.

Outside Online
Sunday, January 15, 2012 11

Salsa Cycles Mukluk 3

By: Category: Biking, Bikes and Biking, Snow Sports
Mukluk 3
Photo: Courtesy of Mukluk

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"Ride where other bikes can’t." That's one tagline Salsa employs for its Mukluk 3, a complete-build bike with extra-fat tires (3.8 inches wide) for early morning commutes on un-plowed roads. "The float in deep snow gives better control," says Cotrell. "But another thing people don't realize is a fat bike's versatility: On a single commute, it can ride in snow, over ice, on pavement, and then bounce through the deepest potholes without a pause."

Brand: Salsa Cycles

$1,599

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Mountain Hardwear Hydra Pro Gloves Mountain Hardwear’s Hydra Pro gloves are the most waterproof we’ve tested. $125 Outside Magazine, December 2012 Snow Sports, Gloves, Gift Guide, Gear
Nobis Eve Knit Fargo Nobis's Eve Knit Fargo hat is the perfect après-ski beanie. $65 Outside Magazine, December 2012 Snow Sports, Clothing-Apparel, Hats, Gear

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