Mountain Biking - New Winter Riding Idea:

The main problem I have with studs is that I can't make them long enough to get through packed snow. My tires spin until I can find traction down deeper...by that time, I've lost momentum.

So, the idea is to get a Pugs frame and fork:
http://jensonusa.com/store/imgWrapper.aspx?img=/fr/FR409A05GRY__16___ENG.jpg&type=3

Panaracer Speedblaster 1.75's:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/4581.jpg

And some Stud Boy Snomobile bolt on studs:
http://studboytraction.com/product/assassins-lg.jpg



The skinny little tires and big old frame will give you tons of clearance for the big ol' freakin studs. Since they're bolt on and have support plates that go on before the lock nutz...they won't push through and damage the tube as long as there's some hint of a tire liner there. This wouldn't be a shred-the-gnar setup, but more of a cross country setup that would actually let you climb those hills that you normally can't with deeper packed snow that kills the momentum.



The problem is that I don't have any money:D:D or I'd freakin' do it!!! (just to see if it'd work)

Figure $600 shipped on the frame
$150-$300 on studs
$30-$60 on tires
The rest of the parts could come from the junk pile.

A wonderful theory that will prob. never come to fruition.:love:

I just remembered that the thickness of the tire will be the failure. The studded tires I'm running now had to be cut down b/c the center studs kept rolling over under power. The tire folds and gives way under power and braking forces.

You'd have to run a super thick tire and hella pressure. May as well just run steel wheels with no tire.

Or you can just get the complete pugsley, get the knobbier version of the tires and just plow through the snow as is.

Or you can just get the complete pugsley, get the knobbier version of the tires and just plow through the snow as is.


What he said.

Yeah, I thought about that but some of the snow I rode through OTW home from work today was crap that was covered with slush that cars splashed up on the sidewalk. So you got 3-4" of snow covered with that heavier frozen slush crap. The bike rolls into it and then starts to get up on it. Then it just sinks straight down and stinkin' stops or goes L or R.

It's pretty dadgum hard to get anywhere through that crap. Not so much a problem on the trail, but OTW to and from work...sux.

No snow in my indoor mountain bike simulator. Therefore, I cannot comment on these issues.

I don't think studs are supposed to penetrate THROUGH the snow. If they're too long they'll probably just fold over anyway. The studs on my tires are very short (1mm or so?) and dig well in to ice. On snow it's up to the knobs and tire width for floatation. On my 2.1" if the snow isn't well packed it's basically unrideable.

I don't think studs are supposed to penetrate THROUGH the snow. If they're too long they'll probably just fold over anyway. The studs on my tires are very short (1mm or so?) and dig well in to ice. On snow it's up to the knobs and tire width for floatation. On my 2.1" if the snow isn't well packed it's basically unrideable.


I just remembered that the thickness of the tire will be the failure. The studded tires I'm running now had to be cut down b/c the center studs kept rolling over under power. The tire folds and gives way under power and braking forces.
You'd have to run a super thick tire and hella pressure. May as well just run steel wheels with no tire.

Got that figger'd out, thanks.

I was talking to a dirt track motorcyle racer buddy of mine this morning and he said that those ice spiked motorcycles sometimes run a thick tire liner and run the studs through the liner AND the tire. I guess it's still possible with a MTB. You could get a thick DH cased tire and cut the center off a slick and thick tire (remove the bead) then you could run the studs through them both and run a liner to protect your tube. If it will support a motorcycle or snowmobile on ice...surely you could get it to support the weight of a MTB and rider somehow. I haven't given up on the idea.:notamused:

I agree that if the snow isn't well packed it's pretty unrideable. If it's totally new and unpacked it's fine though.

The studs on my tires are very short (1mm or so?) and dig well in to ice.

Yeah, the ones I made have side lug studs that stick out around 5mm or so, but the center knob studs only stick out around 2mm.

very cool idea, the pug has a ton of tire clearance so you could prolly a bigger tire, idk many thick tires, but my michelin mtn xtreme tires are stupid thick (also 33tpi casing i think) my 2.2s are like dh weight, but you can also get them in a 2.0 and still have plenty of room for long studs.

also don't u only really need studs on the ice, won'd rubber penetrate snow? so wouldn't like a dh mud tire but skinnier maybe with side studs for ice cornering work well

My first time using my studs tonight, going in to work. On soft snow, couldn't tell a difference between the feel of regular tires. On crusty stuff, icepack, and icy pavement - awesome! Picked them up a while back, for winter mtb time. Tossed them onto the sindlespeed, figure I'll just leave them on there and that'll be the bike to grab for when things stay icy.

We'll see how they do heading home at 0730, when everything is nicely glazed over.

Conti Spike Claw, in a 2.1" variety. That was the weird bit. I'm so used to running 2.35-2.6" meats.

Hmm

I think your BB will be way low. The pugs has more 29erish geo (in fact, some people run them as 29ers part of the time) because the endo is so freaking huge.. You may have to take a closer look at the geometry to confirm this.

Tossed them onto the sindlespeed, figure I'll just leave them on there and that'll be the bike to grab for when things stay icy.


I'm curious about this...I hear about so many people riding SS in the winter, but I can't fathom climbing some of the hills around here with a SS. I need to keep my weight back for traction in the snow and ice which means I pretty much sit down and grind out the granny. SS would necessitate me standing up and givin' it a bit'o'hell which would cause me to spin out.

(I'm also an outta shape hack)

I'm curious about this...I hear about so many people riding SS in the winter, but I can't fathom climbing some of the hills around here with a SS. I need to keep my weight back for traction in the snow and ice which means I pretty much sit down and grind out the granny. SS would necessitate me standing up and givin' it a bit'o'hell which would cause me to spin out.

(I'm also an outta shape hack)

Really, when I was on some icy patches, it felt fine. Granted this was also climbing in the city on pavement, with some mellow grades, not a steep and icy bit of trail. Didn't have any trouble at all. I was still taking corners fairly cautiously with them, as I need to get used to what they can handle, where/how they'll brake loose. Don't really want to play with that too much when on the way to work. :rolleyes:

I'll have a better sense of what sort of traction these things will give when I can hit and icy trail. When our current snow melts a bit and then glazes over. Won't be able to get a shot at that until after next weekend though, what with work and holiday stuff - going to the in-laws.