One of my big goals this year is to bike commute as much as possible over the winter. I went out for a bunch of cold weather rides last winter and enjoyed them immensely.
I'm trying to decide the best option for a winter beater... to use a bike I already own or to purchase a new (to me) bike.
At my disposal are:
-a 2010 Jamis Ventura Comp (my main bike)
-a 2007 Schwinn "Mountain" bike [weighing in at about 65 pounds]
-a mid-90's steel frame shock-less mountain bike [weighs in around 30ish pounds] that is nominally my fiancee's. (It was a gift from friends, but I have her permission to use it.)
(Both the Schwinn and steel frame would need new pedals and saddle. Also, none of these have disc brakes.)
My commute is from Regent Square to Mt Washington, possibly using the incline during really bad weather.
I've read and heard a bunch of conflicting information. So, I'm asking for opinions on the best approach.
Things I _think_ I've figured out:
- I would (assuming it's safe) prefer clipless pedals. (I have a really hard time using with toe clips... something about them turns me into a huge klutz.)
- I definitely need gears, at least this year.
- I'd like the option of taking studded tires. (Which the schwinn and steel frame should be able to do.)
- It sounds like disc brakes would be good, given that I'll be going up and down mt washington.
- Something that could double as a light trail bike (say, tooling around frick park) would be great.
Any advice would be greatly, greatly appreciated.
i would choose the old mtn bike, big tires, fenders, really spiky pedals (so you can just wear boots) and a 1x6,7,8,9 (whichever rear wheel you can come across) drivetrain
disc brakes are ok but not necessary, if you do end up getting them be careful locking up your front brake on an icy/snowy day... a decent pair of v-brakes will do you fine though in almost all road riding conditions.
Really good fenders.
A really good front fender goes far enough down on the tire that you won't get salt slush arcing into your shoe.
If you get clipless pedals, you might want the double-sided pedals so havea platform. That way you can wear boots and have a rapid escape plan.
When it gets super-slippy, I like to lower my seat (quick release) and have no restrictions on my feet, so I can get a foot or two on the ground quickly. The 1/4 second or so it takes to get out of the clipless (or free from toe clips) is about 1/5 of second too slow.
Go with the mountain bike with platform pedals and whatever waterproof boot you have that is warm.
I know I've posted this picture before, but what got me through every day last winter was incredibly simple:
an old mtn bike that I bought from my boss for $20. tires were pretty wide, that helped a lot. Nothing fancy (at all), and as far as upkeep, I pretty much just washed the salt off, oiled the chain, and changed the brake pads occasionally.
RF, that's amazing: No fenders. What did you do for body covering that didn't cause you to get drenched from the knees down on one side and neck down on the other? Including the underside of your arms?
honestly, I couldn't tell you. My best guess was probably all the layers - I wore many layers of thin sweats/pj pants, and changed when I got to school/work/etc.
I don't think I encountered much slush, aside from right around the big storm, which is quite a feat, considering I ride straight downhill for most of my commute.
There were maybe 4 or 5 days when I didn't ride for my commute. about three of them were when I woke up late and had to get a ride. One of them was this.
I'm totally getting a front fender this year, though. One rainy day nearly killed my love of inclement weather-commuting. This bike I have now seems to aim for my face.
Thanks everyone.
@RubberFactory -- that looks almost exactly like the old mountain bike I mentioned. Same brakes, even the same color.
@RF: You are an inspiration!
I have to give a warning, though, I did have problems with the cable housing on my brakes/gears cracking due to freezing/thawing/moving while frozen too many times.
And I was thinking about it today, and I think that the reason I didn't get totally soaked every day was because that bike was too big for me - I could just barely stand over the top bar - literally, just barely.
I think this thread just convinced me to not bike year-round. You guys (esp. you, RF, judging by the Facebook pic!) deserve serious props for going out in all kinds of inclement weather. But I don't think it's for me.
winter here is easy. its not that cold and the snow usually melts as soon as it falls. you just need to stay dry.
On certain hills, I try to ride just a little farther up every time before I resort to a lower gear.
That's going to be my approach to winter commuting this year. I'm going to try to ride in weather that's just a little colder ... just a little more unpleasant ... just to see how long I can last before I resort to something else.
There is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing or equipment.
I'd call Snowmageddon bad weather, which was combined with lack or preparation and inadequate cleanup afterward.
hmm...
see, Snowmageddon was what convinced me I COULD bike year round here. Thanks to my driving a reasonable sedan (ok, with baldish tires) and my municipality refusing to plow my street, I was trapped in my house for almost an entire week (with both weekends on either end). They ploughed my street exactly twice, both times leaving the bottom 6 inches of snow in place. SUVs of neighbors did most of the "ploughing" with their bumpers.
If I can't get out and about on a bicycle, I have no business being out and about in a much heavier, much harder to control vehicle which costs much more to repair and is not nearly as agile.
also, what stu said - winter is so much nicer with appropriate clothing and gear.
Did anybody else flashback to the little paper kid on his bike shouting "I Want My Two Dollars!!!!" down the sloaps after Cusak?
Mary's got it, "inclement weather" is just a boundary that can be nudged as much as an individual cares to (or has to). A lot of it is just mental. In March, after you've survived a miserable winter, and go out for a ride on a 50 deg day, it feels like the Carribean. Now, 50 deg probably feels a bit chilly.
In March, after you've survived a miserable winter, and go out for a ride on a 50 deg day, it feels like the Carribean. Now, 50 deg probably feels a bit chilly.
So true. I was freezing this morning. 
Last winter actually made me hate winter less.
Seriously. Last winter was fine for riding in my opinion, besides a few days. I'll take snow over slush each and every time. It's the wet and cold that I can't handle... 30-40 deg and rain sucks. 20 and snow is killer.
Just for reference: the riding in bad weather rule.
I feel so awesome.
I used to be afraid of riding in winter but after doing it every day last winter, i can say for sure it's not so bad.
ot, but since ejwme brought it up, i absolutely hate the the "i need an SUV for the snow" myth. proper tires have way more to do with it than the vehicle. i used to drive a RWD sports car with hakkapeliitta snow tires and my biggest worry was some tool in a SUV who was too dumb to realize 4WD doesn't help your 3 ton vehicle stop. i certainly didn't worry about getting stuck.
So.
Anyone have experience making their own studded tires? Worth the time & effort?
Time to dust off/fix up my fatty tire mountaineer for the winter. Whee
I was planning on it this year, Noah, but haven't done it before. I'm not sure what my bike can take, it came with skinny tires (ok, skinny for me), and may not take a big fat knobby tire like I'd like.
SUVs that can't drive in the snow = awefull, danger to physical health. SUVs that feel the need to pull into the lane next to me and lecture me against taking the lane (and feel permitted to do so by starting with "You know I ride a bike, and..." = looser, danger to mental health.
Even if he was right, does he really think slowing traffic in both lanes to deliver his lecture was the brightest idea?
/rant. Sorry.
so for those of you on a budget who don't have fenders, I saw the guy who works at Prestogeorge today getting on his bike, which is now complete with a homemade fender - he cut a wide strip off of a 5gal bucket and strapped it to the bike so that it covered the rear tire. Genius.
