Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Studded Tires...

...are heavy, loud, and feel strange. They also make the ride home a lot more challenging. I wish I had a power meter on my mountain bike. I would love to know just how much more effort it takes to go the same distance.

But, I am hoping they keep me upright all this season. I had the bike come out from under me two times last season. My shoulder still isn't 100% from one of those spills.

good luck and take your time. they aren't infallible but they help. good for the icy stuff not as helpful on snow.

Since I know exactly where Wenatchee, WA is - I would think it much safer to go the indoor route - you live in some nasty winter weather!

I agree on all accounts, especially the shoulder. Have you had it checked out? I went down over a year ago due to a narrow gap in the road that caught my front tire. I was on the bike after a week, but couldn't play basketball for a couple months. I had pain initially but it gradually went away. Then, a full year later, in an odd position my shoulder popped out and went back in again. After an MRI it turns out I have a torn labrum (reverse Bankart lesion) from the initial accident. It would have been nice to know about that right away.

Since I know exactly where Wenatchee, WA is - I would think it much safer to go the indoor route - you live in some nasty winter weather!

True, winter here is not trivial, but I have a pretty good route. Last year I only missed a couple of days on my commute.

I put some 700x35 Nokians on my bike for last winer. I normaly run 700x32 vittorias. I didn't notice as much difference as I'd expected. I was pleasantly surprised. I never did get used to the "riding on rice crispies" sound though. What tires did you put on your mountain bike? Are they basicly studded knobbies, or are they a more street oriented tread?

I was running normal knobbies. The studded tires are not as aggressive as my normal tires, but they are still a knob tread. I will have to ride in the snow so I didn't want to just have a smooth tire with studs. I don't honestly remember what they are called. I would have to look at the sidewalls again. They have carbide studs and I got a really good deal on them at my LBS since I got them before winter had started and they were left over from last season.

...are heavy, loud, and feel strange. They also make the ride home a lot more challenging. I wish I had a power meter on my mountain bike. I would love to know just how much more effort it takes to go the same distance.

But, I am hoping they keep me upright all this season. I had the bike come out from under me two times last season. My shoulder still isn't 100% from one of those spills.

I lose about 2 MPH in average speed when I switch over to my Nokia W106's. I don't love the loss of speed, but the confidence in Winter riding is well worth the cost in both equipment $$ and loss in speed.

I went down HARD my 1st winter as my steel studded tires were not able to get any grip after less than 2 months of use. After that I've been on carbite studded tires only. Fall has been mild so far... but this IS Buffalo. I'll probably be putting them on this weekend we are way over-due for our 1st snowfall.

Good luck with your healing. I was super lucky. I could have easily shattered my elbow or put damaged my shoulder. I could barely move my arm for two days after my crash, but things improved quickly after that. I was off the bike for nearly 2 weeks, but realize I was lucky not to have long term injuries.

Happy riding,
André

I used to do my own studs with roofing nails, the previous season's cyclocross tires and a tuffstrip. It was tedious drilling and cutting off the nails but sure saved some coin.

Studded tires rock! I'm going to rebuild my rear wheel on my other(LHT stock) wheelset and probably toss the Nokian W106s on 'em in anticipation of the crappy weather. Last few years it hasn't snowed until late December - almost Christmas, so I'm hoping for the same this year. Even though you lose some speed, I think riding in the winter is a lot of fun especially when the roads are a mess from sleet and/or freezing rain and all the cars are spinning their tires at every intersection trying to get going. But it's also dangerous if a car loses control, so... I'm hoping for a short and mild winter this year. But last year was my first winter car fee, and after riding in the sleet, snow, freezing rain and -30F nights, I feel I am prepared for anything.

Last year I didn't have the two wheelsets so I didn't switch out tires until March, and I probably won't this year... but man going back to slicks after several months of studded knobbies is sort of a come is like discovering the wonder of cycling all over again.