Mars
I have been using my HP Velotechnik SpeedMachine to commute to work since I bought it in August of lst year. I live in Burlington, Vermont. I never take the car, no matter what the weather is. My round trip commute distance in the winter is 16 miles. This is my 4th year of all weather riding, but the first using a bent. I figure I have ridden about 1000 winter miles on the bent.
I have some studded tires for the front and back, but mostly run lightly treaded tires in the winter. I keep the studded front on a seperate wheel so I can switch quickly if need be in the morning. I only put the studded rear on in a storm.
I have found the bent to be superior in nearly all respects to the upright bikes for winter riding. The laid back position reduces wind chill significantly. I put Ugg wool inserts into my bike shoes to keep the soles of my feet warm. Of course, the speed of the bent is much better than an upright bike. Handling wise, with the studded front tire I can negotiate icy/snowy roads as well or better than I could on the uprights. I seem to have less lateral movement on the bent and can keep pedalling on the slickest black ice. On an upright, I needed to glide over these types of spots for fear of a wipeout. The only downside I have discovered is handling in rutted snow or ice. The SpeedMachine has a 20" front wheel and the ruts are propotionately larger to its diameter than a larger wheel. This makes the bike more unstable, it seems, when I hit a rut. This is compensted for somewhat by the low position in a fall. I naturally slow way down in the rutted conditions, so if the wheel deflects and I fall, I really only hurt my pride.
The bent does not require any more winter maintenance than the uprights did. The chain seems to stay cleaner for some reason so the drivetrain requires less attention. I wipe the bike down about once a week.
All in all, I am very happy with the performance of the SpeedMachine this winter in Vermont. Still, I am REALLY looking forward to spring, when I can put the slicks back on her and start riding some longer miles! :)
I have some studded tires for the front and back, but mostly run lightly treaded tires in the winter. I keep the studded front on a seperate wheel so I can switch quickly if need be in the morning. I only put the studded rear on in a storm.
I have found the bent to be superior in nearly all respects to the upright bikes for winter riding. The laid back position reduces wind chill significantly. I put Ugg wool inserts into my bike shoes to keep the soles of my feet warm. Of course, the speed of the bent is much better than an upright bike. Handling wise, with the studded front tire I can negotiate icy/snowy roads as well or better than I could on the uprights. I seem to have less lateral movement on the bent and can keep pedalling on the slickest black ice. On an upright, I needed to glide over these types of spots for fear of a wipeout. The only downside I have discovered is handling in rutted snow or ice. The SpeedMachine has a 20" front wheel and the ruts are propotionately larger to its diameter than a larger wheel. This makes the bike more unstable, it seems, when I hit a rut. This is compensted for somewhat by the low position in a fall. I naturally slow way down in the rutted conditions, so if the wheel deflects and I fall, I really only hurt my pride.
The bent does not require any more winter maintenance than the uprights did. The chain seems to stay cleaner for some reason so the drivetrain requires less attention. I wipe the bike down about once a week.
All in all, I am very happy with the performance of the SpeedMachine this winter in Vermont. Still, I am REALLY looking forward to spring, when I can put the slicks back on her and start riding some longer miles! :)