View Full Version : The ride of shame - I had to turn back
legot73
12-01-06, 07:41 AM
It happened. I had to turn back today.
I was pretty excited to ride my first real winter day with snow, but there's 6" on the roads, none of them have been plowed, and its still coming down hard. I had the Nokian 35mm 106s on, but that didn't matter. I still fishtailed around at about 5mph or less. Riding in tire tracks was no good, riding in powder was no good. I couldn't keep the bike straight and would have been better off walking. These tires are made for a plowed road or hardpack, what I needed to day was a 4" wide tire that would float on top like a snowshoe. The city is only plowing the interstate and highway routes into the city right now, not even major roads.
I tried, and found my limits. Days like this will need to be conquered with a different bike in the future.
vrkelley
12-01-06, 09:36 AM
Ride of shame? uh no! I guess I've ridden, crashed and 'layed' there a few times with nobody around to scoop me up to know... There's bold and then there's bogus.
You did the right thing. There will be better days.
ghettocruiser
12-01-06, 10:20 AM
It sounds like you're asking for someone to recommend a Pugsley.
Yeah, its bad out there. I didn't dare ride today.
Where you live in Milwaukee, legot73? I live near Appleton and Hampton. I always see someone on a bike who I assume is a commuter of sorts in my area... he seems pretty hard core :)
I chickened out today too because they're forecasting 8 inches of snow by the time I get out of work. So I walked in. I'll either walk home or get a ride from a co-worker. It's all good, as long as you get where you're going. It does take practice to ride in the snow so try it again if you want.
legot73
12-01-06, 10:56 AM
It sounds like you're asking for someone to recommend a Pugsley.
Go ahead, make my day. ;)
Yeah, its bad out there. I didn't dare ride today.
Where you live in Milwaukee, legot73? I live near Appleton and Hampton. I always see someone on a bike who I assume is a commuter of sorts in my area... he seems pretty hard core
Not me. I'm in Fox Point and go west from there.
vrkelley
12-01-06, 11:42 AM
Oh wait a second. You're in WI? That's the same F'n storm that got us here in the PNW on Monday. Yeah, hunker down and hope for the best. We got close to a foot...there's still 6" on the ground...and plenty of ice for Santa's sleigh.
timmhaan
12-01-06, 11:45 AM
you got a foot of snow in seattle!? that's pretty rare.
strange to think that we're having a high of 72 degrees today in NYC.
legot73
12-01-06, 12:02 PM
you got a foot of snow in seattle!? that's pretty rare.
strange to think that we're having a high of 72 degrees today in NYC.
Don't get too comfy, it was 65 here on Wed.
CrosseyedCrickt
12-01-06, 04:32 PM
you got a foot of snow in seattle!? that's pretty rare.
strange to think that we're having a high of 72 degrees today in NYC.
wait until tomorrow ;)
2manybikes
12-01-06, 05:35 PM
It happened. I had to turn back today.
I was pretty excited to ride my first real winter day with snow, but there's 6" on the roads, none of them have been plowed, and its still coming down hard. I had the Nokian 35mm 106s on, but that didn't matter. I still fishtailed around at about 5mph or less. Riding in tire tracks was no good, riding in powder was no good. I couldn't keep the bike straight and would have been better off walking. These tires are made for a plowed road or hardpack, what I needed to day was a 4" wide tire that would float on top like a snowshoe. The city is only plowing the interstate and highway routes into the city right now, not even major roads.
I tried, and found my limits. Days like this will need to be conquered with a different bike in the future.
26" Nokian 296's at 25 psi on an MTB work pretty good in that condition. They still fish tail once in a while, but if you steer into the fishtail just like a car and keep the bike straight upright, and keep pedaling, you usually straighten out. When it's soft powder a 4" tire does not float on top of the snow. But it does have more traction. In soft powder on top of a road a 4" tire is more work to push through the snow that a thinner mtb tire. Everything is a compromise of some kind. When the snow gets much over 6" and the pedals start going down into the snow it's easier to walk. The moisture content and the density of the snow can make a huge difference.
feethanddooth
12-01-06, 07:24 PM
im still waiting for my first ride in snow. sounds like you did more than most would do by even trying.
vrkelley
12-01-06, 07:26 PM
It's true that there's a bit of skill to navigate on ice and snow, keeping momentum and balance. That comes with time.
ghettocruiser
12-01-06, 08:59 PM
There is so much variation in snow that it's impossible to make any blanket recommedations.
It's like asking what tire is best for riding on a "trail", without specifying whether it's a paved bike path or a world-cup DH course in the rain.
Severian
12-02-06, 10:39 AM
I had a bad commute on Wednesday and decided that no matter what I was going to ride yesterday. On my roadie... with Continental 4ks... the slicks... gods was my ride crazy!
and yes... the storm we got here in Wisconsin was CRAZY! they shut down Chicago from what I hear.
Frunkin
12-02-06, 10:48 AM
im in appleton and we have 1/2 to 1 inch of snow
i was dissapointed
It happened. I had to turn back today.
I was pretty excited to ride my first real winter day with snow, but there's 6" on the roads, none of them have been plowed, and its still coming down hard. I had the Nokian 35mm 106s on, but that didn't matter. I still fishtailed around at about 5mph or less. Riding in tire tracks was no good, riding in powder was no good. I couldn't keep the bike straight and would have been better off walking. These tires are made for a plowed road or hardpack, what I needed to day was a 4" wide tire that would float on top like a snowshoe. The city is only plowing the interstate and highway routes into the city right now, not even major roads.
I tried, and found my limits. Days like this will need to be conquered with a different bike in the future.
My friends in Milwaukee sent me some pics. You guys really got socked by snow! I heard is was coming down 1.5" per hour.
When the temps get colder for longer and the surface cools down more, the roads will be less slippery after snowfall. The first one is the most slippery:D
I rode Friday but I should have taken the car. It was nuts, and we didn't get any snow. Instead it was 33F and raining cats and dogs. My hands got wet, and the ride took forever because the streets were flooded (over my bottom bracket sometimes) and I had a 20 mph headwind. My hands got so painful I thought I was going to lose fingers. It was just too hard really....maybe better mittens (like, really waterproof) would have helped.
Strangely, I had my feet totally submerged several times but my toes were not all that bad.
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