Winter Cycling - bike for Ithaca winter

Hi All,

I'm moving this summer to Ithaca, New York, where I'll be for three years. I'm a dedicated bicycle commuter here in Portland, Oregon, but I've never ridden in a place as snowy and cold as Ithaca. Even so, I'm going to give it a try.

I'm saying goodbye to my '01 Voodoo Hoodoo and my '03 Trek 520. I like both bikes, but I can't bring everything, and I am hoping to buy a sub-$1000 steel frame mountain bike once I move out to New York. I'll use it for commuting to school, some light trail riding, and the snowy winter.

Has anybody ridden in an Ithaca winter? I'm going to be in Cayuga Heights, so I'll have a pretty flat ride in to school. Any thoughts on steel frame versus aluminum for winter riding? How about disc brakes and good V-brakes? I have my eye on a Marin Bear Valley, which is one of the few (perhaps only?) sub-$1000 steel hardtail frames.

It feels weird to be thinking about winter riding in the middle of summer, but there is no harm in planning ahead, right? Thanks for any thoughts!

Ride on -

5john

Get a $20-$50 garage sale beater for winter use around Ithaca. I'm thinking something with full fenders and a coaster brake. The incredibly liberal use of road salt in the area will destroy whatever you ride. There is great mtb'ing and road riding there but it would be a shame to waste any decent bike in the salt.

I always wanted to sled down that street that goes from Cornell to Downtown. WoooooooO! :D

A BIKE?!?!?! I would get X-Country Skis...just kidding... Phinney is right though, whenever I visit my sister up there (Hobart and William Smith), they always use a good amount of salt on the roads. I would get an old or cheap bike that isn't anything special and use that. I biked with my road bike a couple times in the salt and it ruined it.

Hi All,

I'm moving this summer to Ithaca, New York, where I'll be for three years. I'm a dedicated bicycle commuter here in Portland, Oregon, but I've never ridden in a place as snowy and cold as Ithaca. Even so, I'm going to give it a try.

I'm saying goodbye to my '01 Voodoo Hoodoo and my '03 Trek 520. I like both bikes, but I can't bring everything, and I am hoping to buy a sub-$1000 steel frame mountain bike once I move out to New York. I'll use it for commuting to school, some light trail riding, and the snowy winter.

Has anybody ridden in an Ithaca winter? I'm going to be in Cayuga Heights, so I'll have a pretty flat ride in to school. Any thoughts on steel frame versus aluminum for winter riding? How about disc brakes and good V-brakes? I have my eye on a Marin Bear Valley, which is one of the few (perhaps only?) sub-$1000 steel hardtail frames.

It feels weird to be thinking about winter riding in the middle of summer, but there is no harm in planning ahead, right? Thanks for any thoughts!

Ride on -

5john

I rode through 4 Ithaca winters (was a college student at Cornell). I love Cayuga Heights, I worked there and had a few friends in the area. Very nice and peaceful. I rode a low-end steel Raleigh MTB, though it was hardly optimal. Frankly, I would probably be a lot better off with my current steel touring bike and some studded tires. There are some big hills in Ithaca, if you're going to be commuting by bike, having a low-geared road bike is a good idea.

Ithaca is definitely a hard place to ride in the winter, but you'll get used to it. Expect there to be a few days when you just can't ride because of snow that hasn't been cleared. And some studded tires would probably be a good idea.

For what it's worth, Ithaca is GORGEOUS in the spring, fall, and especially all summer. And it's fun as hell in winter too. I miss watching the sunset over Cayuga Lake... dang it I'm gettin' all teary eyed.

All,

Just got back from a week of camping up on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Rode up Hurricane Ridge, if anybody is familiar with that climb. About 5200 feet, most of it in the last 17 miles. Whew...

Thanks for the thoughts on Ithaca in the winter. Looks like people are of accord when it comes to salt being tough on bicycles. I've got a rather small apartment, so I'm not sure that I'll have room for two bikes. Perhaps I can ride a my nice bike until it gets nasty, then find an old beater to abuse during the winter. Not sure where I'll put it though.

But moxfyre, I had a question: Wouldn't a MTB with road tires be geared pretty forgivingly for Ithaca hills? I've been riding a touring bicycle for the last few years, and it has MTB gearing, at least in the back. I've got some lingering knee issues from a fall in 2003, which is why I was leaning toward a MTB for general use. I'm curious to know how a touring bike worked better for you.

Oh, and you're right, Tim. X-country skis are also in my future. When life gives you snow, you just have to go out and play!

Thanks again everybody! Ride on,

-5john

Don't forget the snowshoes. Snowshoeing has totally replaced skiing for me.

But moxfyre, I had a question: Wouldn't a MTB with road tires be geared pretty forgivingly for Ithaca hills? I've been riding a touring bicycle for the last few years, and it has MTB gearing, at least in the back. I've got some lingering knee issues from a fall in 2003, which is why I was leaning toward a MTB for general use. I'm curious to know how a touring bike worked better for you.
You're right, sorry if my post was confusing! I was saying that mine is suboptimal because it had knobby tires and because I find that drop bars give me better hand positions for climbing.

I would probably want MTB gearing on a road bike for use in Ithaca. Especially that 22 tooth chainring :)

Your touring bike sounds like the right approach, perhaps switch to 22/32/44 chainrings? In any case, I wouldn't give up the geometry, drop bars, and lighter weight of a road bike in order to get MTB gearing!

You're right, sorry if my post was confusing! I was saying that mine is suboptimal because it had knobby tires and because I find that drop bars give me better hand positions for climbing.

I would probably want MTB gearing on a road bike for use in Ithaca. Especially that 22 tooth chainring

Your touring bike sounds like the right approach, perhaps switch to 22/32/44 chainrings? In any case, I wouldn't give up the geometry, drop bars, and lighter weight of a road bike in order to get MTB gearing!


I see, moxfyre, It seems that we're on the same page about gearing. I'm looking to retire my touring bike, however. The aggressive position isn't what I'm looking for in a commuter for school. Plus, I've done some touring on a mountain bike before, and aside from the lack of front bags, it worked pretty well for me. MTBs with slicks on them aren't nearly as fast as a road bike, of course, but they do OK for short distances.

I see, moxfyre, It seems that we're on the same page about gearing. I'm looking to retire my touring bike, however. The aggressive position isn't what I'm looking for in a commuter for school. Plus, I've done some touring on a mountain bike before, and aside from the lack of front bags, it worked pretty well for me. MTBs with slicks on them aren't nearly as fast as a road bike, of course, but they do OK for short distances.
I hear ya. The MTB with slicks approach sounds good. Only thing is I would probably go for a rigid fork, or a fancy suspension fork with lockout. I loved commuting on my old MTB, except for hills, where the bouncing of the fork drove me nuts. It would be maddening in Ithaca :)

I always wanted to sled down that street that goes from Cornell to Downtown. WoooooooO! :D
I got vertigo just looking down that street. I'd guess you'd be at Mach2 by the time you hit downtown. ;)

Thought I might throw in my 0.02$

I don't know your conditions overthere but if you've got some ice and snow I think you should try to hold open the possibility to use tyres of the wider sort. If the streets are icy I would guess the narrower Nokian tyres with studs should suit your needs. But if you really have snow, putting a wide tyre on your front wheel makes wonders (if you get your front wheel over it the back will follow). I guess this would favour the MTB frames.

My choise for a winter commuter (and only bike) is an old rigid MTB. The tyres vary with conditions.

So the point I'm trying to make is that it's good to be able to use wide tyres in snow.

So I'm all for steel, but in this situation, perhaps AL is the way to go?

I've been riding year round in Ithaca for the past 3 years. I like the set up I've been using which is an Aluminum MTB with V-brakes and studded tires. It does take a beating though. I swap out all cables and brake pads in the spring and put on a new chain. I've needed other parts, but probably not much more often than due to routine wear. To keep my bike as gunk free as I can, I fill a pump action 2 gal garden sprayer with warm water and wash off the salt and sand regularly. To keep warm and dry, I use gore tex pants, ski goggles, platform pedals and Sorrel boots, fenders a face mask and something I got from a ski mobile shop - I don't know what they are called, but they velcro over my handlebars and I can fit a gloved hand into them and they keep my hands warm even in frigid temps. They're great. I'm sure I look goofy (they're day glow orange), but at least I can ride year round!

You may see me on the streets of Cayuga Hts!

haha awesome thread.

i've seen people riding sleds and mattresses down buffalo street in the snow, but i was never brave enough to do it myself.

as for a winter commuting bike: get a crappy mtb or old road bike beater that you don't care much about, put some fenders and knobbies on it and you are good to go. i lived downtown and wasn't tough enough to commute every day, on super cold days I took the bus. my housemate bike commuted every day though.

good luck . . . Ithaca is a great town.