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11-23-10, 01:12 PM
After a bunch of winters riding a fixed wheel in the Northern MN winter, here are my observations:
1. If someone tells you to ditch your front brake in the winter because "It makes you crash", they either don't live within riding distance of a hill or have never really ridden in the winter on a properly set up bike.
2. Running slicks in the winter can be fun, but stopping and falling in traffic is not.
3. Studded tires - try them at least once (if you live in a snowy/icy area) on a properly set up bike (i.e. front brake and decent gear ratio).
4. So now that you tried #3 and have purchased studded tires, don't go bust out a 300' sparking skid down a dry road. It is bad your tires... but does look cool.
5. You will go down eventually, wear a lid.
6. It gets dark early, use proper lights.*
7. Know/learn how to change/patch a tube in the cold. Getting a flat shouldn't be an issue, even in the winter.
8. Play around with layering until you have it down to a science. Being cold sucks, but being cold and drenched in sweat is worse.
9. Many types of hiking boots are plenty warm/waterproof and will fit in large clips/straps.
10. Studded tires can be slick on dry pavement or brick, keep that in mind.
11. Grease everything, including your nipples.
12. Don't like my advice? Have better? Post it here.
*Knog frogs are not lights
1. If someone tells you to ditch your front brake in the winter because "It makes you crash", they either don't live within riding distance of a hill or have never really ridden in the winter on a properly set up bike.
2. Running slicks in the winter can be fun, but stopping and falling in traffic is not.
3. Studded tires - try them at least once (if you live in a snowy/icy area) on a properly set up bike (i.e. front brake and decent gear ratio).
4. So now that you tried #3 and have purchased studded tires, don't go bust out a 300' sparking skid down a dry road. It is bad your tires... but does look cool.
5. You will go down eventually, wear a lid.
6. It gets dark early, use proper lights.*
7. Know/learn how to change/patch a tube in the cold. Getting a flat shouldn't be an issue, even in the winter.
8. Play around with layering until you have it down to a science. Being cold sucks, but being cold and drenched in sweat is worse.
9. Many types of hiking boots are plenty warm/waterproof and will fit in large clips/straps.
10. Studded tires can be slick on dry pavement or brick, keep that in mind.
11. Grease everything, including your nipples.
12. Don't like my advice? Have better? Post it here.
*Knog frogs are not lights