Commuting - Commute in this?

Would you communte in this weather? See my post in the Winter Cycling area.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=39989

w/ gusts of 60 mph? Not I. I'm not yet quite that chongo.

I live in SoCal...

I played in 50 mph winds a couple of weeks ago but it was also 65F though I have been itching to try out the Grizzly in snow so at least once. Commute not with the wackos that drive up here I stay home.

I wouldn't even hesitate.

I live in SoCal...

Me too, but the smoke from Monday almost looked like that :eek:

Me too, but the smoke from Monday almost looked like that :eek:

ET, we had several days this summer that looked like that due to smoke and ash! It is sure harsh on the lungs! Hope you and your loved-ones are ok.

I played in 50 mph winds a couple of weeks ago but it was also 65F though I have been itching to try out the Grizzly in snow so at least once. Commute not with the wackos that drive up here I stay home.

Hey ngate, Yea, 50 mph is pretty good. Sure makes one take stock even at 65F. Now, what is a Grizzly as used in your post? By-the-way, I saw a local store clerk on his bike this morning on his ride home. The wind is not so bad, but the ICE on the roads IS VERY BAD. 4 hours of rain prior to the temp drop and the gound temp have made it a real rink. He was sticking to the back alleys which are not paved and have llittle traffic. Pretty smart.

ET, we had several days this summer that looked like that due to smoke and ash! It is sure harsh on the lungs! Hope you and your loved-ones are ok.

Today at lunch is the only "work-out" ride I've done since all the fires started out here. The commute isin't far, and I really don't get much sweat or heavy breathing.
Thanks for the concern, everyone's OK in the family...

Thanks for all the replies!

Well today was even worse! The winds were not as bad, but the snow continued. Winds were 20-30mph.

It is amazing how much you notice when you are exposed to something new. (winter commuting which I first found about here on the forums.)

I have seen 4 guys riding today on the ice laden streets. I have wimped out. :(

Hey ngate, Yea, 50 mph is pretty good. Sure makes one take stock even at 65F. Now, what is a Grizzly as used in your post? By-the-way, I saw a local store clerk on his bike this morning on his ride home. The wind is not so bad, but the ICE on the roads IS VERY BAD. 4 hours of rain prior to the temp drop and the gound temp have made it a real rink. He was sticking to the back alleys which are not paved and have llittle traffic. Pretty smart.

I know have had 2 nights of high winds on my commute home getting to be an old pro at it. The Grizzly I speak of is my new (as of last March) Bianchi Grizzly hardtail MTB. My first one so I want to try it out in the snow, no ice though. I am thinking of hauling my road bike for a trip to Glacier sometime is it safe or even sane to try and bike on the highway to the sun?


Heres a link to the Grizzly I own.

http://gianni.bianchiusa.com/2002/site/bikes/mtb/01_grizzly.html

I am thinking of hauling my road bike for a trip to Glacier sometime is it safe or even sane to try and bike on the highway to the sun?
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Here is a link about bicycling the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier Park.

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_park/mt/drv_gla.htm#bike

I think it would be great ride, but it really is a dangerous road in many areas. The biggest problem, in my opinion, is the RV traffic. BIG, WIDE, and drivers that are not used to 1000 foot drops at the edge of the road.

There are several great rides near here. Riding from Great Falls to Helena is one of the most spectacular rides in the state. (IMHO) I'd be happy to help from this end of you'd like.

Nice hardtail. I am looking for a hardtail myself. I have an FS now but want to try the HT to develope some skills.

ngateguy-
I worked in glacier for a couple seasons and can tell you the sun highway is a classic ride. It is VERY narrow in places and heavily travelled by RV's, although after the fires this summer tourist traffic will probably be waaaay down for a few years. IMHO Glacier, especially the heart of the park (which the sun goes right through), is far and away the most beautiful place in the U.S. And I've seen a lot of it.

You can also consider going early in the season. The plow crews usually don't open the road to public auto traffic until mid-June, although as soon as a path is cleared it is open to bike and ped traffic. Check out the website for info on this. It's also cool to see the plowing operations... keep in mind though that the temps at the top of Logan Pass sometimes stay well below freezing until July.

Hope this helps.

As much as I hate studded tires on cars (they absolutely destroy roads in Oregon - to the tune of tens of millions of dollars a year), Nokia makes what look like pretty good studded tires for bikes. As long as the snow is 'dry' it won't build up on your wheels or gears, and you should be ok. For studded tires, check:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

" I am thinking of hauling my road bike for a trip to Glacier sometime is it safe or even sane to try and bike on the highway to the sun?"
I've riden the Highway to the Sun early in the morning and saw only three cars the whole trip and this was in July. The key is to go early.

I rode in that on the way home that same day. I was riding a commuter bike with road tires, no knobs. It was a long white-knuckle ride home. SInce the ice has not left, I have not been back on the bike. But I did norder some studded tires from peter white, they should be here tomorrow. Then I will attempt it again. (but on my mountain bike - have to dust it off first)

I rode in that on the way home that same day. I was riding a commuter bike with road tires, no knobs. It was a long white-knuckle ride home. SInce the ice has not left, I have not been back on the bike. But I did norder some studded tires from peter white, they should be here tomorrow. Then I will attempt it again. (but on my mountain bike - have to dust it off first)

Hey blatod! Yea the ice is still here too! We are supposed to be near freezing today. :D Let us know how those new tires work out.

I wouldn't even hesitate.

You especially should think twice Chris, after some of the falls you have taken down under. You riding on snow and Ice????? This I would have to see! :D

Why not? I did it all the time before I moved south.

No Ice here but boy has it been cold its been sort of fun though thank God for polypro!