Winter Cycling - 1 3/8" knobbies on 27" 12-spd steel road bike?

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robtown
02-11-06, 01:58 PM
Last time it snowed I was off my commute for 3 weeks because the rail trail was snow/iced over. Do you think my junker with 1 3/8" knobbies would work?
My normal road bike has slick 700x23c

cerewa
02-13-06, 12:03 AM
Those of us who can't see what the snow and ice conditions are/were like down there can't really tell what tires are right for the job.

Studded tires are useful for most slick conditions, but I'd also suggest just giving yourself 45 minutes or so at a non-commute time to ride the trail on the knobby-tire bike to see whether you think it gets good enough traction for commuting. It's easier to tell whether traction is good by trying it than by looking.

P.S.- have you considered riding on the road instead?
robtown
02-19-06, 07:09 PM
Last time it snowed I was off my commute for 3 weeks because the rail trail was snow/iced over. Do you think my junker with 1 3/8" knobbies would work?
My normal road bike has slick 700x23c

I took the bike out on Sunday after the 12" snowfall. It had melted down to about 7" of heavy wet snow on the trail. The good news is the tires had enough traction. In the trampled area the bike jostled left and right. On the virgin snow it was smoother but the drag made 1st gear seem like 5th - my top speed was approx 7mph. I don't have the energy levels needed for 7 miles. T In about 200 yards round trip the derailur froze in 1st.
A warm front cleared the trail by Thursday so I commuted with my skinny tire road bike.