Winter Cycling - Had my first snow-ride last night

And *bleh* quite frankly, it SUCKED. Mostly on account of I didn't watch the news or check the weather forecast and didn't expect half a foot of snow. There were a few flurries when I headed for work, and total cover by noon. Had I known, I'd have put my knobbies on, and maybe been okay, but let me tell y'all, 3.5 miles home on half a foot of snow, on asphalt slicks? NOT recommended. Not recommended at all. That was absolutely, without exception and without a doubt, the longest 3.5 miles I have ever ridden, including that one time when I had to haul a watermelon, two canteloupes, and assorted veg home in my backpack in 95F heat.

Being the darn-fool that I am, I swapped out tires last night, and I'm preparing to make the journey all over again this morning. I'm leaving super-extra early, hoping to get a jump on the cagers. They were giving me NO respect and no room last night, and I was all over the damn road with my no-tread situation. I only wrecked once, when this joker in an old Monte Carlo fishtailed, on purpose as he passed me, and I freaked and rode straight into a curb. I think I knocked my front wheel a little out of true, but it still brakes okay, so I'm not worrying. I wished I had a brick to throw through that jerk's window, though. For real. Another jerk in an aqua Dodge Neon tailgated me for a block, laying on his horn. What I wouldn't have given for a pocket full of fencing staples. Or a brick. I actually pulled off the side of the road, and waved him past. He took his stinkin' time about clearing out, too. Spiteful wretch.

There were only two good things about the whole endeavour. 1. I learned that my cold gear works, it really, really works. Even though I was riding at not much above a walking pace, and it took me an hour and 15 minutes to get home (whereas it normally takes about 20 minutes) I was still comfortable enough by the time I finally hit the front porch. 2. I was able to do it, no matter how much it sucked. I did it, and the sense of accomplishment is worth a little something.

Now, let's see how it goes with some traction.

I hear you. :) My first real snow ride was today. Asphalt slicks yes. Half a foot of snow - sounds about right... I managed 7.5 km (that included walking through some truly unbikeable stretches). It was fun, however. If dangerous. I had an embarassing spill right in the middle of an intersection at the beginning of my ride. There was no more turning on the bike for me that ride (to turn, get off the bike, reposition the bike manually so that it faces the direction you want to go, get back onto the bike and pedal :D).

I just had my first "real" snow ride of the season. I guess it depends on what kind of mood you're in. I had to ride home from work last night in about 6 inches of fresh, still-falling snow, about the same distance you ride. I also had slicks on my bike, as an experiment to see how they work in winter. (Better than I expected.) But I guess I ws in just the right mood, because I ended up having a lot of fun on the ride. My wheels went crazy a few times but I never fell. Also my rear brake finally went out halfway home, so I had to use the front brake (very gently :)) and both feet to stop. My usual 14 minute commute ended up taking almost 40 minutes, but I was just going home so I could afford to take my time. But still in all, I liked the ride and it reassured me that I haven't lost whatever little skills I had. I got a new brake this morning so I couldn't afford new tires, but I should still have an easier ride tonight.

Man, once I changed the tires out for something more knobby, my life improved dramatically. I made the same ride, in another 2" of snow the next morning, in 45 minutes instead of an hour and a half. I made it tonight in about 30 minutes. They've got most of the main streets fairly acceptably scraped now.

My singletrack mindset took over and I got all "path of least resistance" and that helped a LOT. I got back in the habit of watching the "terrain" more than anything else and picking whatever looked like the most manageable part of the morass. I also spent a lot of time looking up at my rearview mirror, because some of my paths of least resistance took me pretty far out into the middle of the road.

It's working out much better now. The tires made all the difference in the world.

What's your cold weather gear in K.C. MO?

I'm wearing PI balaclava, gloves, jacket, base layer, and amfib tights, with wool Defeet sox inside Lake boots. At 29-degrees, my balaclava could have been more wind-resistant, and the PI gloves (not sure which model) aren't meant for winter riding. Amfibs worked well. I could've used another layer inside my jacket. Considering buying some underarmor...



There were only two good things about the whole endeavour. 1. I learned that my cold gear works, it really, really works. Even though I was riding at not much above a walking pace, and it took me an hour and 15 minutes to get home (whereas it normally takes about 20 minutes) I was still comfortable enough by the time I finally hit the front porch. 2. I was able to do it, no matter how much it sucked. I did it, and the sense of accomplishment is worth a little something.

Now, let's see how it goes with some traction.