What kind of bike do you ride in winter?

[M Stone]

What kind of bikes are you winter riders using?

I use a 1960 girls Meteor Flite (even though I am a man). My riding is mostly in the city.

I like it because the top tube doesn't get tangled in my legs when the ice is bringing me to the ground. It also has a coaster brake which doesn't freeze up like caliper brakes do.

The tires are 1.75" wide which are wide enough for winter riding, but more narrow than the typical 2.125" tire, so it is a bit easier to handle.

Best of all, it only cost $5.00, so I don't have to cry when I see the salt from the roads eating it up. I have heard of wome winter bicyclists using their expensive mountain bikes for winter commuting. This is hard to understand considering the damage that the salt does.

[Q]

I'm a retro grouch roadie. I own 2 bikes (I'm weaning myself...I used to own 4). My winter bike is a custom frame Assenmacher. I had it made for me by Matt Assenmacher (Schwartz Creek, Mi.) in 1976. I use the same tires--700 X 23 Contintal Grand Prix--that I use in the summer. The bike is a mixture of parts, using a Campy BB & Crank, with Ultegra STI shifters & brakes. My DeRosa Nuovo Classico is for summer use & good weather only.

[cyclpsycho]

I ride a Ciocc cyclecross bike. It has cantilever brakes so it allows me to put on fenders and 700x28c tires. In early winter I have a freewheel I had welded so it's a fixed gear. That keeps my legs moving (warm) and helps smooth out my pedaling, plus I can use it to help brake.

[tonyr]

I agree with M Stone. I have a Huffy mountain bike that I bought for $10. I found a plan for making studded tires at a site called ICEBIKE. They work great, too bad we hardly got any snow in Minnesota this year. When I see the abuse that my Huffy suffers there is no way that I would use one of my better bikes in snow.

[afelig]

I ride a GT Tequesta, ($20 at a police auction) converted to single speed, with canti brakes, flared drops, studded tires, and fenders with mudflaps. Wisconsin winters are ugly like my bike.

-Michael

[MadCat]

Last winter I rode a 1996 Fisher Marlin. I bought a studded tire for the front and a basic trail tire in the back. My cycling buddy Dave actually keeps his this road tires on all winter because they cut through the snow and somehow they don't slip on the ice. Winter riding is incredible in 6" of fresh powder. The best suggestion I can give anyone whose riding in the snow and ice it to keep your weight on the seat to maintain traction. Also, when the temperature drops to -20 degrees C, don't touch your u-lock with your bear hands.

[afelig]

When it's -20f, I try not to touch anything with my human hands either!

[pat5319]

I use an old schwinn double bar probably about a '52 with studded tires when it's icy or an old midline trek "sport" bike when it's not icy, w/cyclocross tires
If the snow is deep and jamming my gears is probable,then it's the Schwinn

[Cambronne]

Blessed as I am... I live in the southeast, where it rarely snows, I ride my dear old "Rainbike" all winter long. It's a ten year old Trek 7900 (alloy frame) hybrid, with mudguards, racks, and lights. Tires are Performance 700x35 kevlar, with slimed tubes. The bike now has some 62K miles on it, and looks it, too... scratches & dents, mismatched components, some stuff doesn't even work (rear derailleur adjuster barrel... smashed, headset... clickety-pop.)

Though we get no snow for years at a time, temps do drop to below zero F, and cold rain at 37 degF is a b*tch, no matter where one rides.

The upside is that the afternoon ride home is generally a pleasant 50 to 60 degrees, and December temps of 70 aren't that rare. (This means stuffing all of that cold weather gear into my backpack for the trip home...)

[fantinelj]

I live in NW Arkansas, where the temperatures in the last week have varied between 20 F and 53 F. I ride XC and I always get out at LEAST 4 times a week, usually more. Salt has never been a worry of mine since I am always on trails, so I ride my Trek 6500 year-round with no worries.

The only thing that I change on my bike for the cold is the amount of travel in my brake levers. I let them out some for the cold so I can keep them moving to keep them from icing up.

[LittleBigMan]

Originally posted by Cambronne
Blessed as I am... I live in the southeast, where it rarely snows, I ride my dear old "Rainbike" all winter long. ...and looks it, too... scratches & dents, mismatched components, some stuff doesn't even work (rear derailleur adjuster barrel... smashed, headset... clickety-pop.)

Though we get no snow for years at a time, temps do drop to below zero F, and cold rain at 37 degF is a b*tch, no matter where one rides.

The upside is that the afternoon ride home is generally a pleasant 50 to 60 degrees, and December temps of 70 aren't that rare. (This means stuffing all of that cold weather gear into my backpack for the trip home...)
You have just described "moi." Spooky.

[chewa]

The same bike I use in the summer.

[MichaelW]

I ride an all-weather light-touring bike all the time. 28mm tyres + rack and fenders + lights, summer or winter.

[Rich Clark]

I ride the same bikes I ride all year. My "foul weather" bike, good for rain and slush, is a steel touring bike (Novara Randonee) with cyclocross tires (Avocet Cross K, 700x32c). It has fenders and front and rear racks.

I ride my Airborne Carpe Diem when it's dry.

I confess to skipping days when there's ice, or when it's raining and near freezing, but in the last couple of winters here in Philly that hasn't been much of an impediment.

Growing up, back in Chicago in the 50's and 60's, I rode an old JC Higgins cruiser with balloon tires. I pounded a bunch of roofing nails through the tires from the inside, and then lined the tires with a strip of old inner tube, and these were my studded tires. I could pretty much ride all year around thanks to that bike.

RichC

[Road Warrior]

I ride an old Raleigh mixte frame 12 speed. This is what I call my "beater bike" I only paid $125 for it. So it won't break my heart should something happen to it. Living in the confines of New York City you've got to have eyes in the back of your head! We've been quite lucky this season.There hasn't been the usual cold and snow. As a matter of fact we're on a drought alert -- even the rain has been minimal! Getting back to winter, even though I call the Raleigh my beater I take care to wipe it down as soon as I can after each ride especially after wet or slushy rides. If this weather prevails I'll be able to use my newest ride my C'dale R2000. I'm on vacation after 3/10/02. I'll also drag my husband who became a little lazy. We'll bring out the Mtb's .

[blnhzmiller]

I ride in Michigan, even in a couple of inches of snow. I have a Pacific Trail bike that I got at Target on clearance for $40. It was 75% off.

[bikehard700]

My prefered winter ride is a Vision Fitness HRC E 3600... I don't worry about salt on the road, or snow and ice hazards... And when the temps. creep above 40 F, I ride my tried and true Schwinn High Plains. I'm pretty sure the salt could not penatrate the muck and sludge already stuck to the bike.




I've done quite a bit of riding outdoors this year.:thumbup:

[mike]

Old single speeds are a good choice for winter riders. The classic look is always neat too.

These days, cheap, older style mountain bikes are becoming available on the used market.

For about $30 or with a close eye at the curbs on trash day, you can pick up a good winter commuter bike.

Of course, you need fenders too.

[Freerider]

I ride an old cheap purple colored supercyle which i bought at canadian tire for $109.99. It has no shox, back or front but its light and fun and easy to ride. Its better too use a cheaper old bike in the winter, then a better bike in the summer time.

[chaz_cycles]

I ride a Surly Cross Check which I have set upwith a flip hub so it can be a Fixed gear or Single speed. It has fenders and 38 tires. We don't have much of a winter here but I got to ride it in Alaska a few time last year and it was great fun. I have been lazy and still have not cleaned it.

[KleinMp99]

One of these

[orguasch]

I don't have a winter bike, but I have a good winter jacket, its very warm

[pvt.Cowboy]

A friend gave me an old Mongoose mountain bike(maybe 6-7 years old) that I ride in the rain. I switched the tires to specialized nimbus armadillos (awesome tires for this bike). No fenders, no racks, lots of rust (he lives outside:)). I switch my lights to this bike in the winter, gets dark here before 5pm in the winter. It has taken quite a punishment and so far nothing has needed replacing. In Seattle we get lotsa rain and cold temps... not much snow.

[mechBgon]

Generally, in icy/snowy conditions I'd take my XC mountain bike and my Niterider light system. If the snow's not too deep, I'll go off-roading.

[Hunter]

N/A

[Andy Dreisch]

"Wintertime" here in San Jose is slightly cool and potentially rainy. That's it. Same bike used year round. Just with more tailights used in addition to the usual set of headlights (NiteRider Digitals ... awesome)!

I look forward to a few months from now hearing the escapades of the temperature-challenged among us. Really, being from the east coast originally, I know what it's like. But I never pursued bike-commuting until I moved to CA.

[tchazzard]

I ride a '99 Trek 6500 with fenders and studded Nokian tires. Picking up another used Trek so I can work on the '99 (replace chain and rear cog) without having to loose a day of commuting.

[tchazzard]

I rode a '00 Trek 6500 for the past two winters, but may pick up a used Trek '02 Trek Bruiser One or Two (rental surplus) as a spare commuting bike. I need to replace the cassette and chain on the '00 and do not want to use my road bike for commuting ('00 Cannondale R2000) given the road conditions on my commute route.

[baltazar]

I have not tried winter biking but am anxious to start this season. I was debating whether to use my '02 Specialized HR (with knobby tires) or my early '90s Raleigh road bike.

After reading the posts in this thread, I've decided that I will be using my wife's Murray mountain bike which we are trying to get rid of. It was after all the top-of-the-line bike at WalMart when we got it in the early '90s :D

[Omalley21145]

I'm going to ride a trek 2000, 2002 model. I just bought my bike in the summer, i didnt kno that there are "winter bikes". would a trek 2000 work well?

[khuon]

Originally posted by tonyr
I have a Huffy mountain bike that I bought for $10.

This takes me back to when I was a kid growing up in Chicagoland and had a Huffy "ATB" that I rode to school during the winters. I also used to ride my old 1990 Nishiki Ariel to class during my college years. And let me tell you, riding in the middle of winter in Grand Forks, ND is no easy task. The temperatures would generally stay below 0 deg F for several weeks on end and 3 foot high snow drifts were common. I was glad to be living fairly close to campus. Midwest winters are harsh. Nowadays I live in a fairly mild winter climate so I don't really have a special bike for winter... although back then, I didn't either... I just rode the only bike I had. I am considering getting a cyclocross frame however.

[Phatman]

KleinMp99, were you talking about the bike or the car in that picture?. I know that with snow and what-not i wouldn't be riding, i'd be driving, because i have a feeling that I would spend more time on the ground then riding, and i have a steel-frame.

Besides, I hate the cold...

[ViciousCycle]

In Chicago, every possible type of bike is used as a winter bike. I even know a woman, Cigdem, who uses her authentic 19th century high-rider as her year-round commuting bicycle, including the winter. She never has to worry about not being seen -- she can make eye to eye contact with bus drivers and semi drivers, and it's a beautiful bike that draws lots of attention to itself. She doesn't have to worry about flats caused by debris hidden underneath the snow -- because her tires are made out of solid rubber. No inner tube to puncture.

[bpherson]

Thanks for all ofthe great advise. I was wondering what to ride this winter (I've never done winter riding before). I was a little worried about riding my new Trek through snow and salt and all of the neat chemicals that are put on the road.

So I can assume that my wifes old Huffy "Tundra" from a local Shopko will work just fine. It costs a lot less than my bike.....and Hey...she's not going to use it this winter!!:D

I am still wondering if there is any thing special that I should do to "winterize" the bike.

Thanks for your help!!

B

[mike]

Originally posted by ViciousCycle
I even know a woman, Cigdem, who uses her authentic 19th century high-rider as her year-round commuting bicycle, including the winter. She never has to worry about not being seen -- she can make eye to eye contact with bus drivers and semi drivers

I would hate to hit an ice patch and fall off that thing!:eek: Isn't the rider something like 5 feet off the ground? I heard that in the old days, people actually were killed falling off the old standards.

[ViciousCycle]

Originally posted by mike


I would hate to hit an ice patch and fall off that thing!:eek: Isn't the rider something like 5 feet off the ground? I heard that in the old days, people actually were killed falling off the old standards.

In the two years that she's been using it as her daily bike, I've only known her to have one injury (an ankle injury). Not only does she have great balance, but she knows when to jump off of her bike. I assume she's probably very conscious about what routes she takes .

[Radfahrer]

My first newbie post!
I have really been enjoying the site, and have already scammed all kinds of useful info, so thanks to all of you!

My winter bike is my summer bike: a custom-built Steve Rex "City Bike", equipped with a Shimano Nexus 7-speed hub with roller brake, Planet Bike full fenders, el cheapo Cateye halogen lighting "system", and a chrome chain guard! It rolls on Ayada v-rims with Suzue hubs and Kenda 700x38 gumwalls with Mr. Tuffy liners. It has a nice Imron paint job (black, of course!).

I wanted a nice European city bike (Batavus, Gazelle, Azor, VSF, or something like that), but nothing to be had here in the USA, so custom was the solution!

[danr]

Originally posted by Rich Clark
Growing up, back in Chicago in the 50's and 60's, I rode an old JC Higgins cruiser with balloon tires. I pounded a bunch of roofing nails through the tires from the inside, and then lined the tires with a strip of old inner tube, and these were my studded tires. I could pretty much ride all year around thanks to that bike.

RichC

I just love to hear about the good old days.

For 2 winters, I rode my Airborne Sky Hag SS. They didn't use salt on the roads, but the moisture still put a little rust on the frame. Airborne sold me the frame for $200 since it was used. A good buy, but I am definitely looking for something cheaper this winter.

[D*Alex]

I rode my Airborne Sky Hag SS. They didn't use salt on the roads, but the moisture still put a little rust on the frame.

Umm....aren't Airborne bikes all titanium frames??

[willic]

Hi all!
I have my Giant x800 , 6 years old now and it shows.

6 winters of god damn devistating salted roads have taken their toll.

In this part of the World there is an all pervading moisture laden dampness in the air + with the everpresent wet salted roads from Nov to Mar. No cycle even with fenders can keep it out, thus the cycles that are seen out in the winters look kinda rusted to say the least.

[BigHit-Maniac]

I use an old piece of crap Trek 4300 with full fenders on it.

It works pretty good, but by the time I'm done riding the bike usually outlasts me anyway. lol.

Fun fun.

After seeing the salt eat away the stuff though, there's no way in hell I'd take my good bikes out.. Nuh uh ! lol.


(they salt so heavily around here that the streets actually TURN WHITE).

:rolleyes:

[ULooKinAtMe?]

I ride a $60 Huffy Wonderturd with fenders. Car drives by and splashes it with pickle brine? Whoopsy. It has to be left unattended in a questionable area? Yawn. Bad spill over ice with lots of ugly grinding and scraping noises? I actually first check if I'm OK.

[powers2b]

Concord Raven, '70's steel frame, fixed gear, steel full fenders, MTB bars, plastic BMX seat and a chrome flask in the bottle cage.
700x38 cyclocross tires (blue to match the seat)

[nick burns]

Motobecane Grand Touring with Continental Country Grip tires for most days. Old Raleigh first gen mountain bike with studded tires for the really bad days.

[iceratt]

Today, an '88 Trek 520; tomorrow an '05 Surly 1x1 fixie, with monstertruck tires, if it's ready( my first new bike in 12 years).

[phantomcow2]

as much as i hate to, i ride the same bike year round. Just in winter i have a very regular maintenance schedule.

[tornado]

I ride my fixed gear year round.

[vtjim]

I've got this thing my wife picked up at a yard sale for $12, and then I took it to an LBS to tune it properly. A "Murray - Eagle River" MTB. I think it's a late-80s bike. It's 35 or 40 pounds.

I slapped fenders on it last month. I put studded winter tires on it too.

So far it hasn't given me any trouble but I think the wheels are a little out of true now.

[bhaugh1]

Robin Hood 1973, originally a 3-speed, converted to fixed gear.
It's a small frame (18" seat tube) that I'd intended to save for my 11 year-old son, but then I heard that Santa was bringing him a 21-speed mtn bike....
The small size is great in the snow - (I'm in Montreal here) and despite Sheldon Brown's pronouncements, I've got old-fashioned "monkey-bars" on - great for wrestling through deep snow.
I managed to get a local bike shop to order me a pair of Continental City-Rides in the 26 by 1 3/8 size - they are fantastic - they actually give some warning before they start sliding.

[Portis]

Same thing i ride other 3 seasons of the year. I have two Trek 4300's. The 03 model i use mainly for winter. I have rack and trunk bag on it for extra clothing etc. I mainly only ride my newer 4300 when it is dry out.