Winter Riding

I'm located here in Saskatoon as well, and it's good that there are some
other crazies that do the same thing. I enjoy winter riding (I haven't
done much of it, but plan on more) quite a bit, as it saves me about $100 a
month in fuel to an from work. Not to mention, I've dropped 50 lbs since I
started riding again a year ago. My daily commute sends me about 14 kms a
day.

I've got two bikes, one is a '02 Ironhorse hard tail (summer rider), and my
old winter-beater '92 Nishiki Navajo. I'm looking at studded tires for the
Nishiki, and will probably settle on manufactured ones, rather than
home-made style. I managed to ride down to -20 celcius this year, but I am
purchasing some proper clothing this fall to allow me to ride a little
colder. Looking forward to the challenge!

Safe riding!

--


Paul Ricklefs
Check out: http://thehappyscrapbooker.com

"Bran" wrote in message
news:qfOMuGrZTFdc-pn2-eg97JOZf0fZX@merlin...
"Jeff" spake thusly on or about Thu, 10
Jul 2003 02:02:02 UTC

- I'm seeking advice on riding in winter (with snow, ice, etc). I'm
planning
- on heading back to school in the fall (18 years after getting my BCSc)
and,
- money being tight, the daily commute will be bus or bike. I've yet to
- ascertain whether there is a bike lockup at the relevant campus.
-

well I have ridden the past two winters just west of you in Saskatoon. if
you live in this country you know how to stay warm trick is staying dry
while being warm. I am considering studed tyres this winter but my
superheat tyres handle everything but glare ice pretty well.

I had one fellow whip past me on a touring bike this past winter but I
prefer a mountain bike. the ice bike and edmonton links have been offered
up and they do cover most of what you need. I rode down to -38 this past
winter with no ill effects other than having a 12 month season and no
issues getting reaquanted to the saddle in the spring.


--
I hurt before the ride so fibro gives me a head
start on the rest of the pack. silver lining?

Zoot Katz wrote:

Wed, 9 Jul 2003 21:02:02 -0500, ,
"Jeff" wrote about Winnipeg winter:

Has anyone tried commuting under such conditions? If so, have you any words
of advice?

Get a patch of sheepskin and stuff it in your shorts.

The Edmonton Bicycle Commuters have some good tips.

http://edmontonbicyclecommuters.ca/c...?action=winter
--
zk

You're on track there. When we sell (at work) products to heat protect valves
and related stuff and are unsure where the package will end up (hey, this
happens) we play it safe by specifying boxes, heaters, etc, built to "Edmonton
specs". It works. Next stop after all, is the Arctic.
I would expect Edmonton bike shorts to have more padding (by about one sheep)
than Vancouver bike shorts.
Best regards, Bernie
PS: the OP doesn't need "words or advice" - he needs words of encouragement!!
;-}

Thu, 10 Jul 2003 21:10:29 -0700, , Bernie
wrote:

Get a patch of sheepskin and stuff it in your shorts.
\szip
Next stop after all, is the Arctic.

I always figured people who liked Montreal, would love Edmonton.

I would expect Edmonton bike shorts to have more padding (by about one sheep)
than Vancouver bike shorts.

Might help if you wore them backwards.

Best regards, Bernie
PS: the OP doesn't need "words or advice" - he needs words of encouragement!!
;-}

He needs to survive a plague of mosquitos before worrying about frost
bite. Winnipeg winter snow isn't as bad as the slush and mud of
spring. But it's a great place for cycling. I didn't have a winter
bike so I rode when the weather was dry, or rather, too cold to snow.
--
zk

"Jeff" wrote:

1. Good lockup.

Is there a possibility of just bringing the bike into the classroom with
you? Shake the slush and water off before bringing it in the building, and
perhaps use paper towels from the bathroom to keep the bike from dripping
all over the floor.

RFM
--
To reply, translate domain from l33+ 2p33| to alpha.
4=a 0=o 3=e +=t

"Paul Ricklefs" spake thusly on or about Fri, 11
Jul 2003 02:00:15 UTC

- I'm looking at studded tires for the
- Nishiki, and will probably settle on manufactured ones, rather than
- home-made style.

Bike Dr. makes some in house that seem to be very functional. (and
significantly cheaper than the Nokians) My wife and son rode them this
past winter with great approval ratings. They were also selling off some
manifactured ones at $20 a tyre this spring that may still be around.

I find riding not only effective and tub reducing but faster; saving the
time warming and scraping as well as the hassles of parking put me at/in
city hospital 15 min ahead of an overnight guest who was driving.

Good luck on the winter commitement.

--
I hurt before the ride so fibro gives me a head
start on the rest of the pack. silver lining?

On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 18:19:36 -0000, Bran
wrote:

"Paul Ricklefs" spake thusly on or about Fri,
11 Jul 2003 02:00:15 UTC

- I'm looking at studded tires for the
- Nishiki, and will probably settle on manufactured ones, rather than
- home-made style.

Bike Dr. makes some in house that seem to be very functional. (and
significantly cheaper than the Nokians) My wife and son rode them this
past winter with great approval ratings. They were also selling off some
manifactured ones at $20 a tyre this spring that may still be around.

I find riding not only effective and tub reducing but faster; saving the
time warming and scraping as well as the hassles of parking put me at/in
city hospital 15 min ahead of an overnight guest who was driving.

Good luck on the winter commitement.


If you can afford the Nokians, they're good tires. I rode studded tires
this winter on my mountain bike, and the tires are great on the ice. The
studs look unused after a winter of riding 3 days/week.

--
Bob M in CT
Remove 'x.' to reply

Bob M spake thusly on or about Fri, 11 Jul 2003
20:04:53 UTC

- If you can afford the Nokians, they're good tires. I rode studded tires
- this winter on my mountain bike, and the tires are great on the ice. The
- studs look unused after a winter of riding 3 days/week.
-

as are these at 1/4 the price. nothing against nokians but my wife never
went down over the winter given freeze/thaw/freeze blizzard for the 10
months of our winter (slight exageration) 5 days a week commuting.

My son went down once trying to climb out of an icy rut but he is only 11
now and his skills are not that great yet. he rode the 5 days a week plus
some rides with me for fun.

I did not use studs and went down 4 times. once from leaning on a patch of
black ice and three times in the ruts. given I found excuses to go ride in
the blizzards I figure thats not bad for 2300 Km of winter riding.


--
I hurt before the ride so fibro gives me a head
start on the rest of the pack. silver lining?

"Fritz M" + wrote in message
...
"Jeff" wrote:

1. Good lockup.

Is there a possibility of just bringing the bike into the classroom with
you? Shake the slush and water off before bringing it in the building,
and
perhaps use paper towels from the bathroom to keep the bike from dripping
all over the floor.

That is something I'm considering. I'll find out more on Wednesday when I
talk to the program coordinator. I'm hoping that they have a lockup in the
basement. As an alternative, the main campus is about a mile away, has a
good lockup area, and is connected by a free bus service. If the service
frequency is okay, it might serve.

I will definetly go there. I shop there regardless, but never thought to
ask about the tires. Thanks again.

--


Paul Ricklefs
Check out: http://thehappyscrapbooker.com

"Bran" wrote in message
news:qfOMuGrZTFdc-pn2-kbhSbJGPO3td@merlin...
"Paul Ricklefs" spake thusly on or about Fri, 11
Jul 2003 02:00:15 UTC

- I'm looking at studded tires for the
- Nishiki, and will probably settle on manufactured ones, rather than
- home-made style.

Bike Dr. makes some in house that seem to be very functional. (and
significantly cheaper than the Nokians) My wife and son rode them this
past winter with great approval ratings. They were also selling off some
manifactured ones at $20 a tyre this spring that may still be around.

I find riding not only effective and tub reducing but faster; saving the
time warming and scraping as well as the hassles of parking put me at/in
city hospital 15 min ahead of an overnight guest who was driving.

Good luck on the winter commitement.

--
I hurt before the ride so fibro gives me a head
start on the rest of the pack. silver lining?

"Bran" wrote in message
news:qfOMuGrZTFdc-pn2-994QdKidNDO2@merlin...
Bob M spake thusly on or about Fri, 11 Jul 2003
20:04:53 UTC

- If you can afford the Nokians, they're good tires. I rode studded tires
- this winter on my mountain bike, and the tires are great on the ice. The
- studs look unused after a winter of riding 3 days/week.
-

as are these at 1/4 the price. nothing against nokians but my wife never
went down over the winter given freeze/thaw/freeze blizzard for the 10
months of our winter (slight exageration) 5 days a week commuting.

The thing about Nokians is that they use tungsten carbide studs, so they last
a very long time. Cheaper tires often use hardened steel which wears out
pretty fast on pavement. Nokians are worth the $$ if you ride on the road a
lot.