Winter Cycling - BD Single speed as winter bike?

My top choices for college are currently the U of Michigan(Ann arbor) and U of Minnesota (minneapolis). What kind of equipment is needed to ride through the winter in either of those areas?

I'm currently thinking of fitting one of the bikesdirect single speeds (clockwork, sst, or sst aluminum primarily, due to the non-generic rims) with 30mm cross tires like these (http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/437/4256/26553) inside 35mm road fenders. My question is whether the fenders and tires will all fit within the frame of the bike with adequate clearance, and whether unstudded tires would work in minneapolis or ann arbor.

i'd go for the Jury if youre gonna get one of the BD/BI bikes. for that kind of weather.

A lot of people don't bother with studs in Minneapolis. A lot do. The busier streets have the snow and ice worn off them pretty quickly. Those residential streets that usually have a lot of parked cars on them (like near the U) tend not to get plowed as cleanly and may be icy/snowy in spots all winter long.

I have studded tires on my bike and I wouldn't be without them during the winter. It takes just one icy patch to ruin your day. That being the case if you're going to put studded tires on your bike, you need room for at least 32mm tires. There's one studded tire that I know of that comes in that size. It's got relatively few studs on it and you may want something a bit more aggressive, though they might be just fine.

If your bike has room for 35mm tires you have a lot more options. Either way 35mm fenders won't be big enough.

I run 35mm studded Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires with 35mm Planet Bike Cascadia Touring fenders. Pretty tight, but they're fine. I ride a Surly Cross Check.

A lot of people don't bother with studs in Minneapolis. A lot do. The busier streets have the snow and ice worn off them pretty quickly. Those residential streets that usually have a lot of parked cars on them (like near the U) tend not to get plowed as cleanly and may be icy/snowy in spots all winter long.

I have studded tires on my bike and I wouldn't be without them during the winter. It takes just one icy patch to ruin your day. That being the case if you're going to put studded tires on your bike, you need room for at least 32mm tires. There's one studded tire that I know of that comes in that size. It's got relatively few studs on it and you may want something a bit more aggressive, though they might be just fine.

If your bike has room for 35mm tires you have a lot more options. Either way 35mm fenders won't be big enough.

+1 I far prefer studded, I've had my day ruined without them.

have you considered the fantom cross uno? should have enought clearance for what you are looking for.

have you considered the fantom cross uno? should have enought clearance for what you are looking for.

I have, but once I've upgraded the "Jalco" generic rims and 36t chainring, I might as well have just bought the Fantom CX.


I run 35mm studded Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires with 35mm Planet Bike Cascadia Touring fenders. Pretty tight, but they're fine. I ride a Surly Cross Check.

35mm studs inside 35mm fenders? How does that work?

If those images (from the dawes sst al) are accurate, it looks like I could probably fit 45mm fenders? (Base tires are 25mm)

I was looking at the fantom cross uno, I want a fixed gear winter bike, and I already have a couple nice wheel sets. for winter gearing i usually go small ring in the front, big cog in the rear

35mm studs inside 35mm fenders? How does that work?

They work for the same reason that these brackets, ( (, despite of having the same width, are not touching eachother.

Secondly, those fenders are "designed to acomodate" 35mm tires, so they are actually wider than 35mm.

I doubt 45mm fenders will fit under those calipers. You could always run cantilevers. Get the Shimano BR550's: they use regular v-brake cartridge pads and are a breeze to adjust.

They work for the same reason that these brackets, ( (, despite of having the same width, are not touching eachother.

Secondly, those fenders are "designed to acomodate" 35mm tires, so they are actually wider than 35mm.

I doubt 45mm fenders will fit under those calipers. You could always run cantilevers. Get the Shimano BR550's: they use regular v-brake cartridge pads and are a breeze to adjust.

Must vary by fender. 35mm Cascadias are only supposed to fit up to 28mm tire. Sure enough whilst in an LBS I took a set over to the studded tires and set them on top of a 32mm Nokian and, well, they wouldn't have worked. Not right anyway.