Introductions - A newbie from Finland

Hello, world!

I'm 33 and have been commuting with a bike for about 8 years now. I currently ride approximately 2500-3000 kms (err... lemmesee... some 1600-1900 miles) per year and I'm happy to say that my yearly mileage is increasing.

So far I have packed my cycle away for the (relatively harsh) Finnish winter, but last autumn I finally went and bought studded winter tyres. Winter cycling has been a new discovery for me, and I will definitely continue cycling come next winter.

My other hobbies include kayaking, music and computers.

Happy riding!

--J

Let me be the first to welcome you to the club. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the commuting (even in winter in Finland!).

There are other members on BikeForums from the EU too. Join in the discussions when you are able. Spring is almost here and you can remove those studded tires soon;)

Cheers, bikeman!

Thanks for the welcome. Actually, it's exceptionally warm here this spring, so I haven't needed the studded tyres for a couple of weeks anymore. Greenhouse effect?

--J

Welcome to the forums.

Spring definitely seems a little early over here as well.

Richard

Welcome Juha
Its good to have a fellow winter-biker aboard. What improvement did you notice with the studs? I am run my semi-slicks at 35PSI all winter and so far its OK.

The Finnish team is a annual attendee at the International Air Traffic Control Hockey Tournament and are a great bunch of guys.

Hi, sammer!

I ride a hybrid bike with relatively slick tyres. For me studded tyres made all the difference. In winter we have a lot of icy roads or hard packed snow surface. I feel a lot better there with studded tyres vs. semi slick. On soft snow it seems the other way around.

Air Traffic Control Hockey Tournament? Gee, and I thought MY hobbies are weird :).

--J

Hey Juha,

I wonder if we're related? I'm 50% Finnish, my mom's 100% even though she and her parents were all born here in the US.

I too like to kayak. We went a few weeks ago to Redding, California and kayaked down the Sacramento River (biggest in CA). It was a cool 87 degrees :beer: Lot's o beer!

Glad to see there's an international presence.

Andy Boyden (Koistinin and Kumpula family names)
Morgan Hill, CA

I have nothing to add other than that I'd like you to know that your sig line gave me a good laugh. Nice one.

Andy (CrashTestDummy): Cheers! No Koistinens or Kumpulas in my family, as far as I know. Any idea where in Finland your great-grandparents came from? And my kayaking is mostly non-whitewater stuff: sea, lakes and lazy rivers. Lots o' beer to be had there as well, though. Or at least as much as we can carry.

Allister: Thanks, unfortunately it's not mine. I don't know who dunnit originally.