vrkelley

There appears to be alot of misinformation about winter riding, even biking in general. The stuff is cheap, sounds good but just doesn't cut it. Post your all time looser legend or product here.

Here's one I just remembered from last year:

Fallacy: If your head is warm...you're feet will be warm.
Reality: If you go fast, get alot of wind from cars or weather your feet need more protection

CastIron

I've always followed the variant of that rule that said in order for your hands/feet to be warm your head needs to be first. It's the negative of your posted rule.

kuan

You only need one studded tire.

cooker

How do you stand the cold? No-one ever asked me that after I said I went skiing.

vrkelley

Only Brooks saddles "break in".

Hezz

One I have read a lot is that a bike helmet is all the cover and insulation you need in winter. For some people and some situations this is true but generally not true for really cold weather riding.

Reality: A bike helmet doesn't cover the back of your neck which is a critical region to keep warm since it's your central nervous system link to the rest of your body. Reality: Nearly all lightweight helmets are designed to keep your head as cool as possible in warm weather conditions. The venting is too extensive for cold weather riding below about 50 degrees. Reality: No matter how good the insulating properties of the foam helmut a lot of cold air can get into the space between the helmet and your head. Negating most of the insulation properties. Reality: The heads need for insulation varies with the conditions.

vandeda

Yup ... I've done similar. Usually I ask them "Have you gone skiing?" and when they reply "yes", I ask "How do you stand the cold?"


Can't say I've heard too many fallacies though, no one I know commutes/rides really in the winter (other than mountain biking)

bike2math

The slightest drop of water, when mixed with a molecule of salt will cause you bike frame to reject every attatched part, rust into a fine powder and drift away in the wind.

The non biking public seems to have the impression that these machines are alot more fragile than their cars.

ghettocruiser

^^^ I was gonna say that, but I feared starting a brawl with the "riding a nice bike in the winter will destroy it" crew.

How about the olde "skinny tires work better in snow" punchline.

vrkelley

carbon frames can't do winter

Gojohnnygo.

The three different pair of neoprene gloves I have they suck in cold temps.

vrkelley

All time whooper:

Your feet won't feel the 20F cold if you go 2 sizes bigger on the summer shoes and wear wool socks.

Roody

You have to spend a lot on high tech gear to stay warm and dry.

timmhaan

"i have to ride the trainer in the winter"

bent-not-broken

It's not the heat, it the gosh darn humididty! (Is this OK in the winter forum?)

Bent

diff_lock2

so far I'm running only one for the front, helps tons.

Gojohnnygo.

I don't need studded tires or lights to ride at night on black ice. I ride like a ninja.

diff_lock2

Have you seen "fight science" ? on discovery or national geography?

They talk about this actual ninja guy, how can hit some nerve bundle to send a signal to stop your heart... the signal was like "heart swelling-must-stop" or something.

Machka 

Good post.

While I agree with all the comments people have made here based on my knowledge gained through research and experience, there may be some people here who don't know why the things people have mentioned here as fallacies are fallacies.

This post is good because it explains in detail why the claim that a helmet cover is all you need is a fallacy.



For this thread to be useful, perhaps the people who have posted a fallacy could also post a list of reasons (preferably backed up with quoted research, or examples of personal experience) so that people who are new to winter riding will know why we think these things are fallacies.




BTW - my helmet cover does cover my neck ... it has a flap down the back, and also a bill on the front to keep rain off my face. Even so, it would not be enough to keep me warm in the winter.

Gojohnnygo.

Thats a very good point Mackka.

vrkelley

Yep anything goes. the Op said: Post your all time looser legend or product here.

slvoid

If you urinate into your frozen water bottle, you will thaw the frozen contents and be able to drink from it again.

CastIron

^^^ Actually mostly true. Completely disgusting, though.

ghettocruiser

My problem was that in downhill braking scenarios, my bike would end up backwards. Bad scene.

Machka 

As an example of what I mentioned in my previous post ....


I was told by a few people that all I needed was one studded tire on the front because the front of the bicycle is where all the steering etc. happens. That made some sense, but at the same time, my instincts told me that even if you've got a very solid front wheel, if your back wheel slides out from under you, you'll still go down.

And then I saw it happen. A friend of mine was riding behind me on a bicycle with a studded front tire. We started to ride across a patch of sheer ice ... and he went down. I was further along on the ice, and remaining upright, until I heard the clatter behind me. I shot a quick glance over my shoulder (HUGE MISTAKE) and went down myself.

Now in my case, I don't use studded tires at all. I just flatten my fairly wide mtn bike tires, and with the exception of that one occasion, I've managed to remain upright without studs. However, it does depend a lot on the prevailing road conditions in your area. In western Canada (in the prairies) it doesn't get very icy.