gearing up for the coming winter
#1
this one's optimistic...
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gearing up for the coming winter
what have you guys done or purchased? what goals do you have set for yourself?
i want to be able to ride a minimum of 200-300 a month not including commute.
i also would like to try a winter century ride.
i want to be able to ride a minimum of 200-300 a month not including commute.
i also would like to try a winter century ride.
#2
Squirrel
I'm just starting to read this forum, after I saw a post from Mike on a different thread about winterizing your bike. Most of the links from the beginning of the thread are now bad... We should start new a new link thread with favorite gear.
I have a lot of dogsled gear... I'm thinking of using my steger mukluks on platforms. I know you want stiff soles for biking, but I really like being able to move my feet in the cold, and breaking down seems pretty likely...
I have a lot of dogsled gear... I'm thinking of using my steger mukluks on platforms. I know you want stiff soles for biking, but I really like being able to move my feet in the cold, and breaking down seems pretty likely...
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#3
Plays in traffic
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I did last year on a hybrid with platforms and hiking boots. This year will be a Trek Portland and clipless. (Yes, the Portland will get real fenders when I get it home, and that stainless steel Tubus rack.)
I have the new rig on layaway at the LBS and I'm waiting for the Lake winter cycling boots to hit the shelves.
This year I hope to do more recreational rides. Last year, other than my commuting and errands, all I did was our weekly Tuesday night group ride. I really enjoyed that, but never went out on my own just for fun.
I may pick up some odds and ends in the clothing department, but what I wore last year worked well enough. And of course there's still plenty of meat left on my Nokian W106s.
I have the new rig on layaway at the LBS and I'm waiting for the Lake winter cycling boots to hit the shelves.
This year I hope to do more recreational rides. Last year, other than my commuting and errands, all I did was our weekly Tuesday night group ride. I really enjoyed that, but never went out on my own just for fun.
I may pick up some odds and ends in the clothing department, but what I wore last year worked well enough. And of course there's still plenty of meat left on my Nokian W106s.
#4
ǝıd ǝʌol ʎllɐǝɹ I
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Goals?
Have some reliable beater ready for winter, something I won't have to do maintenance on other then adding oil or so. I authenticly hate having to do stuff on my bike when it's -15 to -40, it's just nasty. Would be a plus if it lasted more then 1-2 years, too.
Guess that's about it.
Have some reliable beater ready for winter, something I won't have to do maintenance on other then adding oil or so. I authenticly hate having to do stuff on my bike when it's -15 to -40, it's just nasty. Would be a plus if it lasted more then 1-2 years, too.
Guess that's about it.
#5
Cries on hills
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Hmm, I hope to try to do winter biking. I've been off the bike for several years; but about 8 years ago I would bike 4 miles from home to campus, regardless of weather. I recall 10F being too cold. Today, since I ride for fun/fitness (not out of necessity), it would be hard for me to bike in say colder than 20F--or whatever my new threshold is (be it cold air or layer count).
What I'm worried about is sweat: right now, being out of shape, I sweat profusely. Yeah, if I go slower--a lot slower--it would be ok, but that kills off the fitness part. I live in a hilly area, so cranking up a hill means sweat--and rolling down the other side means freeze. I don't have all the "good" layers of clothes, and it'd be nuisance to stop every mile and adjust. On my 4 mile commute, I did have a killer hill to start, then it was ok for the rest--but really, it was only like 12-15 minutes of riding.
So, I guess my goal would be to go out at least once.
What I'm worried about is sweat: right now, being out of shape, I sweat profusely. Yeah, if I go slower--a lot slower--it would be ok, but that kills off the fitness part. I live in a hilly area, so cranking up a hill means sweat--and rolling down the other side means freeze. I don't have all the "good" layers of clothes, and it'd be nuisance to stop every mile and adjust. On my 4 mile commute, I did have a killer hill to start, then it was ok for the rest--but really, it was only like 12-15 minutes of riding.
So, I guess my goal would be to go out at least once.
#6
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I'm looking at a Trek 820 today to take on the winter duties. I keep scanning Nashbar for studded tires but I haven't seen anything yet.
#7
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Goals ? To not wipe out on black ice at 40 kmh smashing my hip from the fall, while sliding across 2 lanes of a busy highway at 6:30 am and finally slamming into the concrete meridian before coming to a stop.
Other than that...try to find a better solution to wet feet than sandals and goretex socks.
Other than that...try to find a better solution to wet feet than sandals and goretex socks.
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I'm building up a single speed winter road bike with 38mm 700c tires out of an old crome moly 27 inch ten speed I got for ten dollars. Probably rebuild my last years winter mountain bike into a single speed also but with lower gearing than the road bike and wider more knobby tires and fenders for more wet and snowy or slushy conditions.
#10
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I've been ready since last winter, and the winter before, and....
I never understood the idea behind a "winter beater" bike. I rode my aluminum hard tail mountain bike all winter last year and it is just fine, I just had to replace a few of the bolts holding the disc rotors on because of corrosion. Maybe it's because I took the time to clean my bike once a week, I dunno.
I do know one thing for sure, I'll put the platorm pedals on my bike this winter. Last year I left work at 3:00 am one morning with 3 inches of snow on the ground, by the time I had gona 10 miles (which was well over an hour and a half) there was well over twice that much and riding in it was impossible. Walking 4 miles in clipless sandals while dragging a bike in the snow at 5:00am is not fun and I do not plan on doing it again.
I never understood the idea behind a "winter beater" bike. I rode my aluminum hard tail mountain bike all winter last year and it is just fine, I just had to replace a few of the bolts holding the disc rotors on because of corrosion. Maybe it's because I took the time to clean my bike once a week, I dunno.
I do know one thing for sure, I'll put the platorm pedals on my bike this winter. Last year I left work at 3:00 am one morning with 3 inches of snow on the ground, by the time I had gona 10 miles (which was well over an hour and a half) there was well over twice that much and riding in it was impossible. Walking 4 miles in clipless sandals while dragging a bike in the snow at 5:00am is not fun and I do not plan on doing it again.
#11
64 49' N
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I'm building a new set of wheels, Velocity Aeroheads with an OC rear on Dura Ace 9 speed hubs, Sapim spokes. They will be shod with a fresh set of Nokians (If I can find them). My only real riding goal is to avoid injury until March or April when I can start working on road race base again. Such is life above the 64th parallel.
#12
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What I have purchased recently in preparation for the coming winter, is a new ceramic heater to dry my clothes at work. Cant stand putting on wet clothes at the end of a work day.
#13
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I wish I had the luxury of treating my winter riding as something I do of my own volition, to keep up with training
Living car free has it's ups and downs, and winter cycling has a few more downs than ups. Winter cycling is almost always fun for me though, it's a real challenge and there's a lot of natural highs you just can get from cycling in spring, summer, and fall.
Not a single piece of my winter gear is specific for cycling. A thick wool cap, ski gloves, doubled socks... not a whole lot of weight saving, but my wallet definitely feels heavier The only expensive part of the whole getup in my ColdGear Under Armour, which I couldn't live without.
Living car free has it's ups and downs, and winter cycling has a few more downs than ups. Winter cycling is almost always fun for me though, it's a real challenge and there's a lot of natural highs you just can get from cycling in spring, summer, and fall.
Not a single piece of my winter gear is specific for cycling. A thick wool cap, ski gloves, doubled socks... not a whole lot of weight saving, but my wallet definitely feels heavier The only expensive part of the whole getup in my ColdGear Under Armour, which I couldn't live without.
#14
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I'm lucky enough that corrosion is a small concern. It doesn't usually snow here, just nine months of what seems like solid raining. So no salt on the roads means that I am comfortable taking out my Specialized MTB. Get some new fenders and check out some deals on rain gear and I should be ready for my first winter commuting.