Commuting - First white commute of the season!

We had a little surprise snow "event" this morning on my side of town, just 1 or 2 fluffy inches. Of course it completely snarled traffic for the cagers who have forgotten how to drive in it...again.. heh heh.
I jumped on the Moonlander and smiled all the way to work. (man I love that bike!)

It was best Monday morning commute I've had in a long while. Grabbed a pic for those of you who might have put the bike away for the season. This is what you missed today. (temp 22F)

283300

Looks fun - nice pic !

I was out in it with my road bike and slick tires. Fortunately they cut through to pavement just fine. Glad I made it to work before things really got to be a mess. I'd better start seriously thinking about getting my winter bike back in commission. It's been easy to blow off the much-needed maintenance the last few months and it was left in pieces about the time the streets cleared up last spring. :-)

good gravy, that looks cold.

Now I have to get my Trek 820 ready for my winter commute won't be long and we'll have snow btw
nice pic :)

I was out in it with my road bike and slick tires. Fortunately they cut through to pavement just fine. Glad I made it to work before things really got to be a mess. I'd better start seriously thinking about getting my winter bike back in commission. It's been easy to blow off the much-needed maintenance the last few months and it was left in pieces about the time the streets cleared up last spring. :-)

Me too. A few of the intersections were very slick and some cars spun out. Otherwise it was uneventful other than my feet were cold. I haven't gotten all my winter gear out yet.

I sold the Nexus 8 speed rear wheel from my winter bike last week so I could fund the remaining pieces I need to build the Alfine wheel and disc brake. Needless to say I don't have all the parts yet so my winter bike is out of commission at least until next week.

This morning was probably the slipperiest conditions I've yet ridden my road bike under. It worked OK but it was kind of odd trying to take off from a stop light and having the wheel spin like it was on a bike stand.

We had a little surprise snow "event" this morning on my side of town, just 1 or 2 fluffy inches. Of course it completely snarled traffic for the cagers who have forgotten how to drive in it...again.. heh heh.
I jumped on the Moonlander and smiled all the way to work. (man I love that bike!)

It was best Monday morning commute I've had in a long while. Grabbed a pic for those of you who might have put the bike away for the season. This is what you missed today. (temp 22F)

283300

Great Picture !

I've noticed a Moonlander parked outside of Moose and Sadie's a few times in the last month or so. Yours?

Great Picture !

I've noticed a Moonlander parked outside of Moose and Sadie's a few times in the last month or so. Yours?

No, that's not mine. I am only a few blocks away but I haven't been there in a long time. The number of Fat bikes around here is really growing. They are more versatile than they seem, and simply the most fun I've had on any bike since my '71 Schwinn Sting-ray. Totally addictive.

Beautiful Picture and cool Fat bike :)

sting-rays were the balls!

Yes... beautiful photo. How are the fatty tires in snow? Have you been through more than in this pic?

Yes... beautiful photo. How are the fatty tires in snow? Have you been through more than in this pic?

I just got the bike this summer and Monday was the first time it's touched snow so there's not much to report yet. I can say that the 2 inches of fluff was not even noticeable in terms of handling or speed. About all it did was quiet the "ruhrring" sound of the rolling tires on the asphalt. More reports as the year progresses. I'll be out in it and I've got 2 sets of rubber to snow test, the Big Fat Larry's and the Bud and Lou. C'mon Winter!

Cool bike... It never snows down here! :(

Nice! Enjoy!

Nothing like seeing all that white stuff and rolling yourself a big fatty... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012winterpugsleyme1.JPG

thats the coolest thing i have seen in my life we dont have bikes with tires like that down here .me wants

I just got the bike this summer and Monday was the first time it's touched snow so there's not much to report yet. I can say that the 2 inches of fluff was not even noticeable in terms of handling or speed. About all it did was quiet the "ruhrring" sound of the rolling tires on the asphalt. More reports as the year progresses. I'll be out in it and I've got 2 sets of rubber to snow test, the Big Fat Larry's and the Bud and Lou. C'mon Winter!

Have found the Pug to be great on snow and not as bad as some say on ice... am running the Large Marge on mine and might put in an order for some BFL's the next time we order parts for the shop.

12 psi seems to be the sweet spot for me to balance traction and handling... we got a foot of snow last week.

I just got the bike this summer and Monday was the first time it's touched snow so there's not much to report yet. I can say that the 2 inches of fluff was not even noticeable in terms of handling or speed. About all it did was quiet the "ruhrring" sound of the rolling tires on the asphalt. More reports as the year progresses. I'll be out in it and I've got 2 sets of rubber to snow test, the Big Fat Larry's and the Bud and Lou. C'mon Winter!

The Larry on my Pugsley slips out a lot unless I run very low pressure on it. On ice and polished snow it's pretty sketchy even at 4-5 psi. At that low of pressure the bike has odd cornering characteristics when I encounter a stretch of bare pavement. The tire always wants to stay flat which keeps the bike from leaning in a corner giving this weird front tire pulling feel.

I have no idea when my studded tires will arrive so, I've been contemplating getting either a Nate or Bud for the front. The Bud is so much larger than a Nate the bike might look a bit odd. On mtbr I saw a Mukluk with, B & L and it looks awesome. If I went that route I'd probably have to give up on the idea of fenders.

edit: The type of snow probably affects handling a lot. So far I've only encountered fairly dry stuff. Moister snow should give extra grip.

I went with minimal fenders (for now) as my Pug is going to see a lot of snow and trails... when it gets wet and / or icy I have my dedicated winter bike which is studded up and gets me from A to B faster on cleared roads.

If I get new tyres the old ones may get put in line to be studded for winter use.

Nothing like seeing all that white stuff and rolling yourself a big fatty... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2012winterpugsleyme1.JPG

Shouldn't you be riding around in disguise? :)

Edited to add: Nice bike!

The Larry on my Pugsley slips out a lot unless I run very low pressure on it. On ice and polished snow it's pretty sketchy even at 4-5 psi. At that low of pressure the bike has odd cornering characteristics when I encounter a stretch of bare pavement. The tire always wants to stay flat which keeps the bike from leaning in a corner giving this weird front tire pulling feel.

I know what you mean about how the steering feels at really low tire pressure. if I run the BFLs down below 7psi, you have to muscle it a bit to turn on asphalt. I'm a pretty big guy so my sweet spot is around 9-10 psi for off road, lots of grip, lots of float, steering is still responsive.


I have no idea when my studded tires will arrive so, I've been contemplating getting either a Nate or Bud for the front. The Bud is so much larger than a Nate the bike might look a bit odd. On mtbr I saw a Mukluk with, B & L and it looks awesome. If I went that route I'd probably have to give up on the idea of fenders.

As far as studded tires, I've seen the 45Nrth Dillingers in the shop and they are really light, about 300 grams lighter with studs than a stock BFL or a 120TPI Bud or Lou. Amazing. I have a studded tire cross check for really icy days, so for the Moonie I think it's going to be a Bud and Lou set up for me when the deep snow comes and for trail riding in the snow. Those tires are frighteningly big and the traction is just insane. The Bud will fit your pug if you have the Necro with the bigger fork or an after market fork but probably not the standard pug fork. The Nate is a great tire though.

For fenders, I picked up a set PDW Dave's Mud Shovels. Great design, and cheap, and Dave Gray is a really nice guy who has designed a lot of fat bike products. Tire choice makes no difference with them.