winter riding
#26
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talked to my local bike shop. biggest tire I can fit is 28s. so ill just find some good grips for my bike and do my rides like that. so to further this post...how should I layer my body gear. temps should be 10 to 30 degrees. im gonna rock good thermals with another cheap basic thermals, a hoodie and a good winter snowboarding type jacket. and gloves face mask etc. is this good enough? or should I look for something to add? I know bout overdressing due to the heat and sweat build up. whatcha think...
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talked to my local bike shop. biggest tire I can fit is 28s. so ill just find some good grips for my bike and do my rides like that. so to further this post...how should I layer my body gear. temps should be 10 to 30 degrees. im gonna rock good thermals with another cheap basic thermals, a hoodie and a good winter snowboarding type jacket. and gloves face mask etc. is this good enough? or should I look for something to add? I know bout overdressing due to the heat and sweat build up. whatcha think...
#28
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lose anything in there thats made of cotton and replace them with wool, youll only need the jacket when its <25
key areas: feet, hands, face
if you dont wear glasses the cold air is gonna make your eyes tear a lot, and sucking in huge gulps of dry cold air burns your lungs, so having a scarf or bandana or something over your mouth to warm and humidify the air helps immensely
i wear wool mountaineering socks and my feet are still a bit cold in anything <20 after about half an hour, wind/waterproof booties will help that a lot
if the gloves you have arent cutting it try some lobster gloves, the less isolated your fingers are the warmer theyll stay when theyre essentially punching the wind the whole time
you want to be cold when you step out of your house but not freezing, the work you put in will keep you warm
key areas: feet, hands, face
if you dont wear glasses the cold air is gonna make your eyes tear a lot, and sucking in huge gulps of dry cold air burns your lungs, so having a scarf or bandana or something over your mouth to warm and humidify the air helps immensely
i wear wool mountaineering socks and my feet are still a bit cold in anything <20 after about half an hour, wind/waterproof booties will help that a lot
if the gloves you have arent cutting it try some lobster gloves, the less isolated your fingers are the warmer theyll stay when theyre essentially punching the wind the whole time
you want to be cold when you step out of your house but not freezing, the work you put in will keep you warm
#30
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I don't care much about winning, but with black ice, there is nothing for the stud to 'bite into'. it's just a frozen layer of wetness that is super slippy. On normal ice (like riding on a frozen lake) studs make sense to me - the metal is harder than the ice, so it is able to deform the ice surface and get grip despite the slipperiness. This is why I was asking about how they perform on black ice, as I suspect that conditions would still be slippery even with the studs.
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Studded tires might be great for the snow, or hard packed ice - but how well are they going to be against black ice? OP said he would be night riding, which is when that **** is most prevalent. I have no experience with studded tires but do have to contend with black ice each year. I'm thinking the studs would slip just as easily, no?
Layering is a personal thing op. While I agree that wool is probably the best choice, I've gotten by on the cheap without it. I typically rock under armor under my clothes, and if its around 30 degrees F a hoodie is all I need--you are on a bike, and assuming you have a commute over a mile or two, will warm up. When it gets down to 20 wear the above with a winter coat and scarf. Below that I tack on a sweater et cet. A hat under your helmet is great, but you'll sweat an awful lot if its above 20, so consider a headband or those behind-the-head style earmuffs, and wear some gloves. I'm sure that bike specific gloves (lobster claw style et al) are awesome, but I've gotten by with cheap mittens. I know a lot of people swear by goggles, but I wear glasses and they fog up enough to impede vision under them, so its never my cup of tea unless its below zero. Experiment a bit, be more cautious because of the ice, and have a few dollars for the bus if you are under prepared and you'll be fine, and might find yourself enjoying it. Winter riding sounds tougher than it is, I usually actually really enjoy it.
Edit: If you really don't have clearance for 32c, you could consider finding a cheap winter frame if UT gets enough snow. I guess I'm maybe a little over-cautious, but as I ride in a lot of traffic, I would not want to do without my studded tires. I haven't had fenders because I definitely do not have the ideal bike for winter commuting, but if you layer right (and wear a waterproof back pack or mess bag if for no other reason than to absorb the water your rear wheel throws up) it really won't be that bad.
Last edited by oneeyedhobbit; 10-13-13 at 01:48 AM.
#32
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I agree on the Winter Cycling forum, anyone interested should take a look in there. Quite a few threads about studded tyres, their pros & cons and whatnot.
--J
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To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
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#33
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI-fR2tXR_8 I don't know if this video can help you at all, figured i'd post it anyway.
Last edited by Philasteve; 10-15-13 at 01:48 PM.