mtndragon

On the day of a snow storm, I will typically drive as the snow piles up so fast here (Tahoe) that the plows don't keep up and the roads get really small...we don't have any MUPs that are plowed. Next day it's fine, and although my longest commute is 8 miles, there are enough hills to stay warm even into the negatives (F). It's the downhill speeds that really make the cold hurt.

noglider 

Can you go down backwards?

johnnyboy1

I ride, just takes longer. My back-up, if it got bad enough, is the bus. Every bus in Buffalo now has a bike rack for 2 bikes. I keep $2 in the tool bag for just such an emergency. Only used it twice, though. First time I had a flat but no tube with me and second time I had a flat, it was poring rain, and I was late to work.

I'm off today but looking at the snow coming down, thinking about taking a spin!

CoachManny

You and me both...going to go out there on my road bike for about 6 miles and see what it's like.

Major kudos to you getting on the bus twice in 2 years! Super awesome!

Same here I do take bus when my commute is 20 miles one way and weather is not the best or something needs fixed or replaced on my bike.

Manny

buzzman

I use a wide profile studded tire and with low enough gears can ride in pretty deep snow. The studs are good on ice and slippery conditions and the 2.125 tires plow through snow up to about 3- 4 inches. deeper than that and I think the width of the tire and studs start to become counterproductive and a more narrow tire with a deep tread can be work a bit better.

It also depends on the texture of the snow, powdery light snow being, of course the easiest, and thick heavy wet snow mixed with frozen clumps and ruts being the toughest.

I have twice broken my chain pumping hard through deep snow in the winter so I think there can be a point where you are really stressing the bike's drive train almost to failure if you don't have quite the right set up for the conditions.

There are also more "Fat bikes" out there. They are super wide tires with low gears and mean slow going but those that ride them take on some pretty gnarly conditions and they can be great fun, if you're not in too much of a hurry.

cehowardGS

Single digits with the motorcycle is real tricky. First, the tires and the ground will NEVER get warm. Therefore you must ride accordlingly. I have on about 5 layers, and ELECTRIC gloves.. I can do 15 to 20 minutes and still be comfortable.

scoatw

going into my seventh winter, I've experienced just about everything you could in that time. I feel confident with the gear that I've gathered over that time will handle anything that my region should throw at me. My personal low is -14f. Deep snow, that is another story. Today we got hit with 7". The side streets were deep, loose snow. I was squirreling out everywhere that wasn't plowed, but I was able to maintain a steady line down a car tire track most of the time, when I had to. Tonight as the temps dip to 6f, the side sts that get heavily traveled should turn into a nice frozen hardpack. That makes for nice winter riding.

CoachManny

Great feedback here!

It's been two days of snow and no riding. I am seriously having bike withdrawals!

Manny

loky1179

Not everyday - not even close this winter. I've managed to bike one day a week, and since I work 4 day weeks, I figure that's still 25%. Missed one week, so I only have 5 commutes in for the year. I guess I've just been picking the nice days to ride this winter - looking back, the morning temps on those five days were:

-24°F
-11°F
-13°F
-15°F
-10°F

But on the bright side, the temps for my ride home were above 0°F for 2 of those 5 days! Feels like spring!

landdnl

If it wasn't for the snow, I'd commute(22 miles total)everyday by bike unless it got down to -10F. I did my longest bike(45miles) in single digit temperatures(-4 windchill) a few weeks ago. I overdressed my core to keep my hands from getting cold. Gotta love the wool stuff! Bar mitts didn't hurt either!

devianb

If there wasn't so much snow and ice compounded on top of each other I would just drive. I don't feel very confident driving in those conditions plus I waste a lot of gas just getting it warmed up and ready to go. I can do single digit temps and lower in the afternoon/night, but in the morning it is just terrible. No matter what I do I can never keep my hands warm! The only way I can stay warm in the morning even with ridiculous layers is to do some sort of physical activity before hand, but I never have enough time to do it. I hate riding in single digits and lower, but I have to get to work on time and don't want to spend my hard earned money on public transport or cab. Thankfully my commute is only 3 miles one way, I can stand to be miserable for 15 minutes.

CoachManny

Rode last night for 8 miles. Had to ride in the street because of all the snow on the sidewalk.

It was a great ride but I was ready to get home since it was a long commute with bus/train/riding.

Manny