Introductions - Definite Newbie!

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deyoung686
06-10-05, 12:26 PM
Hey everyone! I've loved bike riding ever since I was little and have recently considered it being the only mode of transportation for me. I just turned 19 and still have no license, I have a learner's permit though and have dished out $500 for car insurance already and it's almost time to dish out another $600. But the more and more I think about it, it seems like such a waste giving them all that money. So I've been thinking about ditching the car and trading it in for a bike. I live in a rural area but the grocery store, restaraunts, and places of interest are only like 3-5 miles a way. However, the winter is a concern for me. I live in Wisconsin and we have been known to have some pretty serious weather here and I was paging through the forum and saw someone else bikes in the winter. So what exactly is some of your opinions about riding in the winter?

Hope you all can help and I look forward to talking with you some more.

:D Orry

KingTermite
06-10-05, 02:04 PM
Welcome deyoung686!

Can't help with winter biking issues...I live in FL and my "winter" means biking in 45F weather only, no snow and usually no rain when that cold either.
AndrewP
06-10-05, 08:23 PM
As it gets colder you can always add layers of clothing to keep yourself warm. On hot summer's days there is a limit to how much you can strip off to keep cool. Salt is not kind to bikes, so it is worth having a real beater (maybe 3 speed) for winter riding. My son uses studded Nokian tires for winter riding, but when I used to ride in the winter I never felt the need for them.

Joe Dog
06-10-05, 10:23 PM
I like my studded tires for winter. They are Schwalbe "Ice Spikers" and they are a must for icy roads and trails in my book. I run them on an older Cannondale Mountain bike with the seat lowered a little bit for more stability. I've been able to keep the knobby-side down almost all the time. The Schwalbe's are expensive ($80 per tire is typical here) but they seem to grip better and the studs last longer than cheaper ones. The other potential problem is the dark. I know there are some very bright lights on the market these days but they are expensive, too. Check out the "total geekiness" thread on this site for a do-it-yourself project for a possible cheap solution:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=42629&highlight=geekiness

Good luck with it.

Joe Dog
Anchorage, AK