I was wondering how my road bike handles snow + ice. I was running on slicks until a week ago, when I fell in front of 6 co-workers :) I switched to knobbies for my front that night, leaving my rear on slicks, and have been very happy since.
Not content with mere road slush, I decided to go off-road. It was a pretty bright day too. This is how my ride started...
http://irqnine.com/images/etc/bf/P1030992.JPG
Pretty soon I reached the woods. I deflated my tyres to what must've been 20 psi. Oh boy it literally hugs the road. Aside from a slightly swinging tail and sliding my front tyre while turning and going downhill, I had no problems with grip at all.
http://irqnine.com/images/etc/bf/P1040097.JPG
http://irqnine.com/images/etc/bf/P1040062.JPG
... but pretty soon I found out that studs are required for certain terrain conditions...
http://irqnine.com/images/etc/bf/P1040058.JPG
It was a very good ride. 3 hours later, I was exhausted. So I sat down...
http://irqnine.com/images/etc/bf/P1040137.JPG
...and thought I would cap this thread off with a picture of a goose.
http://irqnine.com/images/etc/bf/P1040155.JPG
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
In the immortal words of the late, great John Lennon - "give geese a chance"
I ride in winter but only on a MTB bike using knobbies and studs. You certainly have quite a set of bangers on you to do that on a thin tire road bike!
dobber
Aside from a slightly swinging tail and sliding my front tyre while turning and going downhill, I had no problems with grip at all.
I'd have to rate those as pretty significant problems. 20 psi, I'd be pinch flatted before I got out of the garage.
But it looks like you had a bang up good time, and that's all that matters in the end.
Tequila Joe
Great ride report. It is impressive that you ride those conditions on a road bike.
way124
Thanks. Where's the fun in cycling when you're not on the verge of losing control :D
ViperZ
Nice, thanks for sharing... Road Bike in Winter is Rad :D
divineAndbright
Ive been riding an old 10 speed so far this winter.. with the slick 27" wheels, its do-able surprsingly, though I stick to the frequented roads so im always on pavement for the most part (say, cars are helpful sometimes..) its just like riding in rainy weather really... cold rainy wet weather.
I took it a few times in suburban neighborhood areas to see how it would handle on actual hard packed snow with lots of tire grooves making the ground uneven and such.. hell of a work out keeping yourself from wrecking, it was also impossible to go uphill, the backtire would just spin! But as I say its do-able, im sticking to the frequented roads though... thats my advice to you winter road bikers, that and careful 'rounding the turns when the roads wet!
the beef
Awesome pics. Sexy goose.
rbrsddn
Cool pics. Winter has yet to arrive here in CT. It is 50 F at 7:30 am. Got the Nokians on the MTB, but no ice to try them out yet...:-(
Shiznaz
Cool pics. Winter has yet to arrive here in CT. It is 50 F at 7:30 am. Got the Nokians on the MTB, but no ice to try them out yet...:-(
Same here. I built up a 2 speed SS mtb (Kona smoke coverted to 2 chainrings, 2 cogs, and a chain tensioner) with fat knobby tires over the weekend and yesterday's temperature got up to 15-16 celcius! I test rode it in shorts and t-shirt! I can't wait for some snow so its actually fun to ride the darn thing (reaaaally slow on pavement)!
Shifty
I was wondering how my road bike handles snow + ice. I was running on slicks until a week ago, when I fell in front of 6 co-workers :) I switched to knobbies for my front that night, leaving my rear on slicks, and have been very happy since.
Not content with mere road slush, I decided to go off-road. It was a pretty bright day too. This is how my ride started...
Pretty soon I reached the woods. I deflated my tyres to what must've been 20 psi. Oh boy it literally hugs the road. Aside from a slightly swinging tail and sliding my front tyre while turning and going downhill, I had no problems with grip at all.
http://irqnine.com/images/etc/bf/P1040062.JPG
... but pretty soon I found out that studs are required for certain terrain conditions...
http://irqnine.com/images/etc/bf/P1040058.JPG
Do you think it would be a bit more fun on this? Check out the studs!:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d126/telehammer/DSC2197.jpg
way124
I'll use that when I need to go through 5m of snow.