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Got your tires on? ordered? Got all your lights ready to go? The winter beater all lubed and ready?
Personally I'm still beating around the bush. Since I cleaned and lubed my bike last spring, it's still hanging there. I know I need to put a different hub on this year, but just don't feel like it yet (going from SS with coaster to derailleur, suffered too much last winter).
You guys/gals making any changes to your winter bikes this year?
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I've finished repairing the back strobe. The swithes could use a little better waterproofing. Have not gotten out the wool yet.
Friday - mounted my cheap rear blinkie. Was gone when i arrived back home.....
Monday - holiday......
Tuesday - mounted my headlight and hooked up my cateye L1000
Was still dark when i left this morning. Last week i was cheating and just leaving 15 min late in order to wait for the sun to rise. This week i couldn and decided to get used to packing the damn batteries up and over mountains again.
And now on the way home my peddals were grinding like crazy....I think I need them regreased before the floods hit.
:)
We finished with Winter last week. Spring's here and Summer's just around the corner.
:)
Been playing around with the winter beater on and off for a week or so now. Needs a new headset, and I'm lazy.
Plus I need to pick up a new chainwheel, 44/14 wont cut it this year, I'm going with 36/14.
:)
We finished with Winter last week. Spring's here and Summer's just around the corner.
:)
LOL, hey, do you really have a winter bike in Perth?!? I'd imagine snow and ice to be "freak" weather down there!
Been playing around with the winter beater on and off for a week or so now. Needs a new headset, and I'm lazy.
Plus I need to pick up a new chainwheel, 44/14 wont cut it this year, I'm going with 36/14.
You've gotta be kidding! You push through snow with that many gear inches? You must do a lot of cyclocross style carry-a-bike, no?
LOL, hey, do you really have a winter bike in Perth?!? I'd imagine snow and ice to be "freak" weather down there!
Never snow and the only ice is what forms on the car if it's been a particularly cold night.
I ride the same bike all year round. :)
got my nokian W106 (700x45mm) last night. These things are huge, can't wait till it gets cold and snows.
I don't go to a great amount of fuss. I need to mount up the studs on a spare wheelset and put my rear racks on both my mountain bikes. The rear rack holds the trunk bag that is equipped with winter gear. I've got both my headlight systems charged and ready and that's about all there is to it.
My winter clothing hangs with my summer stuff and so there is nothing to do there either.
Friday - mounted my cheap rear blinkie. Was gone when i arrived back home.....
Dang :mad:
My winter bike is also my rain bike and errand bike, so it is used year round. I have purchased a pair of Lake MXZ301s on clearance and took inventory of my winter clothes. The only thing I need to do now is add a better mudflap to my fenders.
Craig
I need to find an old touring bike/frame to make into a fixed gear commuter soon. Then I have to get a pair of Nokian W296's (plowing really doesn't happen around here).
After that, I should be set.
I'm building a CX conversion that I will be riding this winter until it gets really icy. Then, the MTB w/Nokian Extreme 294 gets some action.
Getting out the softshell and wool for next week.
Still have not found a good alternative to my waterproof rain pants for the wet rainy streets. They get so sweaty after 20miles and reek upon arriving at work. But the waterproofs are about the only thing that keeps the shoes dry. Once those puppies get wet, it takes about 2 days to dry out.
Bought some padded PI tights with the $$ the company gave me for NOT driving. But the pant leg lends iself to filling up the shoe AND they are not windproof/water resistant. I will make a "boot" to go over the shoe. But that won't prevent the water from running down my knee and filling the shoe from within...
Also bought some used thin knit wool pants same problem. All will need reflective tape.... Lots of customizing this week and next.
Getting out the softshell and wool for next week.
But that won't prevent the water from running down my knee and filling the shoe from within...
.
I got out my softshell for next week also since the showers are starting.
I also have the same problem with legs and water. I currently wear some mec windproof pants. The fronts are wind/water proof but the backs are lycra. For shoes i wear sandals and sealskinz socks. (the sandals dry in 30 min at work) But if its a downpour, enough water runs down my legs and into my socks from the top. So im currently trying to find a foolproof way to stop water from getting in the top but without sweating to death. Sealskinz apperently makes a style that has a seal around the top, but i cant find any in town.
Looked at marmot precip pants today that were on clearance, but i dont like the baggy rain pant style. So i looked at some waterresistant tights, the Sugoi ones are too thick so too warm for our winters. Headed to mec tomorrow, they advertise some for 65.00 cdn that are made from stretch entrant waterproof material but without taped seams. Hopefully they work.
Looked at marmot precip pants today that were on clearance, but i dont like the baggy rain pant style. So i looked at some waterresistant tights, the Sugoi ones are too thick so too warm for our winters. Headed to mec tomorrow, they advertise some for 65.00 cdn that are made from stretch entrant waterproof material but without taped seams. Hopefully they work.
Edited:
Agreed. Problem is that the roads are usually wet even if it's not raining. Washing off sweat is definately better.
Yeah, the preceps look like clown pants...nice paracute to slow ya down. Maybe you can get someone with a sewing machine to slim down the legs.
My winter bike this year is also my general nasty weather, short-distance beater ride. It also served as my only bike for a month a half this summer when the nice bike got crunched and I needed to ride something to work and classes. I pulled it out of the basement a couple of days ago after three weeks without riding it. I added some washers to the axle, cleaned rust off the steel front rim (third front wheel this bike has had in as many months!), adjusted the bearings on the 3-speed hub to the proper tightness. They had been far too tight for the previous three months, since I built the bike up as a 3-speed. Everything appears to be shipshape; in fact, the bike is running better than it ever has. So, as far as the bike goes, I'm ready for the winter. The bike for this year is a Schwinn LeTour III modified with a Sears knock-off of the Sturmey-Archer AW hub and flat bars chopped to 20". It's got fenders and a basic rack, but it is a deliberately minimalist bike, for both maintenance and anti-theft reasons. I just need to buy a basic set of battery-powered lights and I'll be all set.
I still haven't worked out the clothing side of the wet weather equation, though. Cold weather isn't a problem, since I finally got a real winter shell (on clearance earlier this summer!) and have both glove liners and full gloves. Pants aren't really an issue for winter. Snow is no big deal, either. If it gets really bad, I have ski pants. Rain is more problematic. I don't have a good rain jacket, and rain pants for men my size don't really exist (because, you know, men shorter than 5'10" never venture outdoors :rolleyes:). I'd go for women's pants, but don't have $80 to spend right now. I've settled for "get wet, stay warm, look dorky" so far. I wear wind pants - worst garment ever - over running shorts, and a long underwear top under a t-shirt for rain. I get wet, but I don't get cold. I'd really like to resolve the clothing situation to be more to my liking, but I've got a system that seems relatively effective.
I think that I'm going to have a good winter for riding. I'm pretty excited about it!
You've gotta be kidding! You push through snow with that many gear inches? You must do a lot of cyclocross style carry-a-bike, no?
I only go about 1.5km a day when it's snowing, so I can just power through it with some grunting and cursing.
jaerery, I've been using the stretch waterproof MEC cycling pants and like them. not thick or too hot for NW riding, its likt the thinnest N2S windstopper liteweight stuff but very stretchy. the ones i got are made with Dermizazz or somesuch. work well. i have never found the right combo but have been preferring the knickers/knee socks rather than full length pants.
seems to keep down on the drain legs. still get wet though.
I still haven't worked out the clothing side of the wet weather equation
Well each year, the weather is a little differant. If you commute or ride at the same time each day, it''s noticable and presents obstacles. Here's what the weather pattern's looked like in the past few winters (from what I can remember).
Jan
2006 wet, dry (inbound, return ride)
2005 snow, dry
2004 ice, wet
2003 wet, wet
As you ride faster and/or further, the problems compound. Also if it's snowing on the inbound and it warms up, there's alot of extra clothes to haul to say comfortable.
Got my winter beater ready 2 months ago. Cleaned and lubed bearings and chain. Installed new tires and tubes, brake pads and cables, adjusted front and rear derailleurs.
RE: Too warm for rain pants...I'm going to try nix-Wax on a pair of stretch PI tights. Wonder how many washes the nix wax will last?????
I'm almost ready for winter. I've got my lights mounted, and just installed a fairing this weekend. In a few days I'll drop by the LBS and order a Schwalbe Marathon Cross for the rear wheel. I won't install it until it starts freezing, though. I've got knee warmers and a helmet visor coming in the mail. I've also got some recumbent-style panniers coming, so I can transport extra clothes and a tarp to cover my ride when it's parked outside. My fenders aren't due to arrive until October, though...
I still have to find a decent waterproof jacket, warm gloves, and a balaclava.
I was planning on using some of my time off at the end of this month to work on the winter commuter. The Headset needs tightening, the driveline needs cleaning and lubing, the cables and brake pads need to be replaced, and I need a water-proof helmet cover and trunkbag.
My wife was planning on me using some of my time off at the end of this month to work around the house. The windows need to be painted, the carpets and ceiling fans need to be cleaned, and the attic and shed need to be organized.
Damnit.
I've got my bad weather commuter beater ready to go and have been haulng it around in the back of my truck to commute from the parking lot at school to class since the parking lot is almost a mile away from the campus. I want to put a five speed coaster internally geard hub on it and loose the derailors and I think five speeds if set up right could be really fine for a winter bike that is used mostly on the streets and modest hills.
I really don't commute much but I do use the bike quite a lot in winter for recreational and training rides on snowy surfaces.
Washed and oiled the chain and cassette. My new wheels need reflectivity and so do some jerseys.
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