This is my 4th year of nearly daily winter riding and this was the first day when I had to turn back home. We've had sleet and snow covered roads most of the year so far and i have been getting along fine with studded tires. FF >>to today.
We had a little over 6 " of snow over night and the stuff was COMPLETELY wet and heavy. The temp when I left out this morning was 32 F and that really complicated things. This is the first time i've encountered conditions where the bike simply wouldn't go. On the roads that had been plowed the squirm was unbelievable. I am used to squirm but this was crazy. I was chasing the front wheel from the second i left the garage.
This was so difficult that i decided to head for unplowed roads and for a multi-use trail that i knew wouldn't be plowed. WRONG! After reaching the unplowed road that connects to the MUP I quickly learned that I was stuck. The front wheel was still squirming all over the place and the snow wrapped around the wheels so bad that the wheels were locking up because of the snow around the v-brakes.
This was when i learned that I would have to turn back. I hate "giving in" but sometimes you just can't overcome mother nature. The only thing i could have done was walk the bike for a couple hours but that was rather pointless. The main problem is that the temp was simply too warm. 32F and heavy snow is a BAD combination.
So I bow to Mother Nature. You win. I'll wait for your grace, when I can ride again. (hopefully tomorrow :D )
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
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6" of wet snow, not much you can do about that. Same for cloging at 32 degrees.
In some conditions you can release the front brake to reduce cloging, if it's deep snow you just stop when you stop pedaling anyway. Also the back tire may not clog as bad because the front tire clears the way first. If your back brakes don't clog you could leave them connected. Of course it's possible it will clog anyway, and this won't work. It depends on the exact temp. and the snow. Just an idea, it has worked for me at times, and not worked at other times.
What tires? what pressure? Try about 25 psi if your tires are pretty fat, it helps with the sliding a little. Possibly not enough, but it helps. As you say there is always tomorrow.
Yeah some days you do have to give in. Funny thing is when i walked back into the house 20 minutes after leaving... my wife said, "what's wrong, too cold?" I said, "nope, it's too hot." That's what sucks, it's probably the warmest morning we have had in 2007, and I couldn't ride.
2manybikes
Some days you just have to give in...
This was one of those days
Nice.
On days like that we get to share photos on BikeForums,and dream about next time.
Photos from all over the world. It could be a lot worse.
....and I'm having hot chocolate now ! :)
ViperZ
Nice.
On days like that we get to share photos on BikeForums,and dream about next time.
Photos from all over the world. It could be a lot worse.
The thing about snowstorm and whiteout conditions is that when they do occur here, traffic is so bad that there is no other way to go anywhere. I used to attempt to drive to work, and found it was utterly pointless... we're talking two plus hours for a 10-km trip. So if I have to go somewhere I basically walk to/home from work, pushing the bike with me so that in case I find some ridable terrain, I can make up some time.
Fortunately sustained conditions like that occur here maybe once every two years on average.
chipcom
I'm giving in tomorrow - as much as I would have liked to give the new snow bike her maiden commute tomorrow, freezing drizzle/snow is turning the roads slicker than cow slobber...and I spent so much time screwing around between the bike and the playoff games today that I didn't get a chance to restock my food, drinks and clothing at work...so tomorrow is drive in and restock day.
ViperZ
It was a good ride today. -10C roads were hard, and compact. Lots of ruts, but at least it's consistant traction.
Still dark in the morning, but it's light enough when i leave work to not require a head light. I turn it on though just to be seen in the downtown quagmire of lights and traffic.
2manybikes
:beer:
Make it an X-Large, All-Dressed Please :D
Nice photos thanks. When you are 45 minutes from my house, call me and I will order it.
You might need to get an extra battery to ride to Rhode Island. :D
ViperZ
Nice photos thanks. When you are 45 minutes from my house, call me and I will order it.
You might need to get an extra battery to ride to Rhode Island. :D
That would be Awesome to break pizza with my brother :beer:
Rhode Island is a nice place. My wife and I stayed in a bed & breakfast in Newport. It was a most memorable experience! :)
Thulsadoom
Normally I loathe having to admit that I couldn't finish a ride as I had planned, but 2 days ago I had no choice to give it up. I was 90 miles into a century and ended up having to call my girlfreind to come get me in the van. A "lake effect" snowstorm came in and got so that I couldn't see the shoulder, or anything else for that matter. Lines of traffic were trying to get home, probably after having left work early to try and beat the storm, and were slipping and sliding around within inches of me. My glasses were caked, and I couldn't take them off because the wind was blowing too hard to try and keep my eyes open without some protection. And I was just dead tired, I didn't want to walk it in. What a drag, but I don't regret it. There's no way I was going to let some bubba in his pickup take me out just to save my pride. Sometimes you just gotta have some common sense.
2manybikes
That would be Awesome to break pizza with my brother :beer:
Rhode Island is a nice place. My wife and I stayed in a bed & breakfast in Newport. It was a most memorable experience! :)
:lol: yeah bro!
I'm about 30 miles north of Newport, about 40 on a nice bike route. Right along the water almost the whole way. I'm very close to Providence. Did you travel around the area at all ?
Sometimes you just gotta have some common sense.
Three cheers for the cell phone ! Good decision.
I know exactly what you describe. This day the snow was acumulating so fast I could not go up the bike path because it got too deep right after I came down it, I had to go on the road.
There is a cross road and a red flashing light straight in front of the bike. About a block and a half.
That looks like what I got here right now and will remain for my ride home in an hour or so. I'm hemming and hawing between taking the MUP, which is probably pretty deep by now, but void of impatient cars trying to get home and slipping/sliding around, or the road, which is the opposite on both counts. 15-20mph crosswind at 18F and falling aint gonna be fun either. YEEE HAAAWWW!!! :D
cyccommute
The best snow conditions: 4" of fresh dry snow on top of pavement (or dirt) that has been at 20F for 2 weeks.
The worst snow conditions: Anything that sticks around for longer than 5 weeks, with fresh snow on top of partly melted glaciers every week since Christmas and another one on the way for the weekend (Storm #6)...35 days of snow on the ground with no end in sight.
I'm going to kill that groundhog!
2manybikes
That looks like what I got here right now and will remain for my ride home in an hour or so. I'm hemming and hawing between taking the MUP, which is probably pretty deep by now, but void of impatient cars trying to get home and slipping/sliding around, or the road, which is the opposite on both counts. 15-20mph crosswind at 18F and falling aint gonna be fun either. YEEE HAAAWWW!!! :D
Exactly where will you be leaving the Fuji touring bike ? Is it locked ? Um..I mean....good luck...:D
Lower the tire pressure as much as you dare. How far do you have to go?
chipcom
Exactly where will you be leaving the Fuji touring bike ? Is it locked ? Um..I mean....good luck...:D
Lower the tire pressure as much as you dare. How far do you have to go?
Like I'd ride the Fuji in this crap. :rolleyes: ;)
13 miles, I opted for the road. The snow wasn't bad off the shoulders and the snowfall had eased a bit by the time I left. The dropping temps and crosswind did almost make me regret not wearing a second layer of socks, bacalava and glove liners today.
ViperZ
:lol: yeah bro!
I'm about 30 miles north of Newport, about 40 on a nice bike route. Right along the water almost the whole way. I'm very close to Providence. Did you travel around the area at all ?
I was on a 3 day course in Boston, and brought my wife along. We flew into Boston and drove to Newport the first day. We stayed there for the weekend (3 days) and did the mansion tours, and just hung around the coast line. We ate at this great resturant called the Rum line and the Black Pearl. After that, we drove out to the Cape, and then back up to Boston via Plymouth. We then stayed in Boston for 5 days, watched a playoff game between the Bruins and the Panthers, and just checked out the city.
We would have loved to stop in at Providence, however will have to do that when I ride over ;)
2manybikes
Like I'd ride the Fuji in this crap. :rolleyes: ;)
13 miles, I opted for the road. The snow wasn't bad off the shoulders and the snowfall had eased a bit by the time I left. The dropping temps and crosswind did almost make me regret not wearing a second layer of socks, bacalava and glove liners today.
Glad you were OK.
I meant where did you store the Fuji while out on the other bike? :D ;)
I was on a 3 day course in Boston, and brought my wife along. We flew into Boston and drove to Newport the first day. We stayed there for the weekend (3 days) and did the mansion tours, and just hung around the coast line. We ate at this great resturant called the Rum line and the Black Pearl. After that, we drove out to the Cape, and then back up to Boston via Plymouth. We then stayed in Boston for 5 days, watched a playoff game between the Bruins and the Panthers, and just checked out the city.
We would have loved to stop in at Providence, however will have to do that when I ride over
On a ride to Newport and back I often go past the Black Pearl down the pier to the little coffee place on the very end for something to eat before turning around. It's a small world ! I ride out to the Mayflower at Plymouth, and up to Boston too.
ViperZ
On a ride to Newport and back I often go past the Black Pearl down the pier to the little coffee place on the very end for something to eat before turning around. It's a small world ! I ride out to the Mayflower at Plymouth, and up to Boston too.
The most memorable Clam Chowder I ever had was at the Black Pearl! That's a nice ride to be sure! Plymouth is a nice town... The first time I was there by myself, I wandered the town and found the cemetery up on the hill. It had a beautiful view of the ocean.
The Rum Line was this great restaurant that was just around the corner from our B&b, We both loved how quaint and charming the place was as it was tucked in amongst the residential area, sort of like a hidden gem.
diff_lock2
at -20 degrees Celsius or -4 degrees Fahrenheit (google)
The sky's are normally clear, and its sunny. But only for a few hours.
If i get to ride with in those few hours, i enjoy the ride.
Otherwise its dull, and you just wana get home.
Also plastic seems to fail at these temps.
It was -20c few days ago. its reaching for 0c now, i really don't know if its going to dip down to -20c any time soon.
I got ski goggles so i think snow wont bother me much now.
Just damp clothes (witch still keep me warm) that need drying off indoors.
2manybikes
The most memorable Clam Chowder I ever had was at the Black Pearl! That's a nice ride to be sure! Plymouth is a nice town... The first time I was there by myself, I wandered the town and found the cemetery up on the hill. It had a beautiful view of the ocean.
The Rum Line was this great restaurant that was just around the corner from our B&b, We both loved how quaint and charming the place was as it was tucked in amongst the residential area, sort of like a hidden gem.
This is on the other side of that pier from the Black Pearl.
I need a better solution...
They fog up from my own breath... and then with goggles they fog from sweat.
My face was warmer though...
mrbubbles
:beer:
Make it an X-Large, All-Dressed Please :D
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3250/bess26mn.jpg
Hotel Bessborough
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2265/kiwanis1ka.jpg
Kiwanis Park
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3827/ssask8dx.jpg
South Saskatchewan from the University Bridge. Broadway bridge in the distance.
any chance you have those pictures in high res? i like some
and dang, that's some pretty winter, that rarely happens in Vancouver, I gotta move somewhere colder
ViperZ
This is on the other side of that pier from the Black Pearl.
any chance you have those pictures in high res? i like some
and dang, that's some pretty winter, that rarely happens in Vancouver, I gotta move somewhere colder
For sure, I'll fire you an email via the PM function withthe pictures. (OK, fire me an email, and Ill get then to you :0 )