Winter Cycling - Tires for Spring / Fall Transition Period

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gecho
10-21-10, 12:48 PM
I'm currently using Bontrager Racelite Hardcase 700x32 slicks on my touring bike, and have been wondering at what point I should stop using slicks as the weather starts to change.

Next week there are snow flurries in the forecast. I don't think much of it will stick around, but there could be some shallow slush. Should I be switching to a tire with tread blocks?

I have a set of 700x34 cyclocross tires with shallow tread blocks that I can put on the bike.

ebfixit
10-23-10, 06:47 AM
Hi gecho, I like to run slicks until that melting snow is still around as ice in the morning. Then I'll run a tire that has some sort of tread on it. Those cyclocross tires sound perfect. You planning to ride all winter?
gecho
10-23-10, 09:51 AM
I would like to try riding all winter, though I haven't been tested by any particularly cold weather yet. Once the ice and snow settles in for good, I'll probably switch to a mountain bike with Marathon Winters.

ebfixit
10-25-10, 12:58 PM
Well good luck to ya. I've given up on a full bike commute in the winter here. Still ride a bit here and there on some old Innova studs and a couple of homemade ones though. See ya on the road maybe.
rumrunn6
10-25-10, 01:44 PM
go straight to studds when the black ice shows up
gecho
10-25-10, 03:08 PM
There are a few cm of snow (likely wet / slushy) in the forecast for tomorrow, followed by a few days of below freezing temperatures which should leave the roads icy. So I got a pair of Marathon Winters.

The forecast for the weekend is +12C. If the temperatures keep bouncing around like that I'm going to wish I had two sets of wheels.
ebfixit
10-26-10, 01:45 PM
Yep. Or two bikes.
rumrunn6
10-27-10, 09:43 AM
I've got 3 road bikes and an MTB. But last year eventually settled into using just one as the winter commuter even if temps were over freezing. You'll get used to the studs on dry pavement. What I did was ;play with the tire pressure - from maxing it out on warmer or dry days to a bit softer when a little more stability and traction were called for. I did go too low a few times so use caution when airing down. You don't need to see a visual difference for the performance to change.

... just a word of caution folks ... last year lots of folks went down due to wet leaves - so be careful out there!