Originally Posted by
cyccommute
I'll preface this by saying that I hate using studs. They are heavy and slow and useless...except in conditions exactly like the ones you show. I know they are expensive and you may not use them that often but if you want to ride on those kinds of roads with any degree of confidence, they are worth the investment. Personally, I resisted owning a set for many, many years and have suffered my share of crashes. I've been using them on one of my bikes when conditions get bad for the last couple of years and find them to work as advertised. I still don't like riding them but they do work.
You could just purchase the tires and change them when it snows (cheapest but most inconvenient option), buy a set of wheels and change the wheels when it snows (next cheapest and slightly more convenient option) or get a dedicated bike (most expensive but most convenient option). Otherwise, you can ride without them and risk a crash or find another form of transportation until the roads are clear. It depends on how important riding a bike is to you.
I ride a bit over two miles on main thoroughfares with posted speeds ranging from 25 to 45 mph, so speed is a tad important on those faster bits.... the faster youre going the easier it is for traffic going the same direction to avoid you etc. I am thinking SE tripel with a sturdy full time drum/dyno front wheel and a set of studded tires to go on it in crap riding conditions would probably be my best option as i'm thinking about things more dynamically. If i get the ASI rack & fenders and light system, it would be "plug and play" simply gotta figure out best way to hang the wires, as i do not believe those models have wire guides or holes for wiring up lights etc. They (ASI) seem pretty open to fitting my needs on two levels... one the staff there understanding what i'm trying to do and options insofar as having parts available that are useable between their 3 primary brands (such as the conductor fenders for dyno lights & tubular rack used on my uptown), and all i gotta do is select a shop to do all the ordering & assembly work. I'm actually really excited... i just hope my rims last another 18 months or i'll have to skip second bike for a while (probably 1-2 years after new rims).
Originally Posted by
ThermionicScott
The vast majority of my (and I'd wager most people's) winter riding is on clear, dry roads. It's the unanticipated icy patches that you can't ride around where they prove their worth. ("Isn't...responsible" is a strange description for bicycle tires that last a really long time and at worst, slow you down a little. It's too bad you're not riding 559mm wheels, or I'd offer you a killer deal on some like-new Kenda Klondikes in that size.
)
Most of my winter riding on the new bike has been in snow/slush. I've gotten wise to black ice and was able to get across town to the store this morning around 0100 hours. Black ice was here and there, but nowhere i'd be normally riding. The big issue that trip was potholes that i nickname DOT tunnels to china which are large, deep, and to be avoided at all costs as it would probably damage a wheel (or some other thing i cant afford to fix
).
However yea, i'm probably going to be getting studded tires for my birthday & the SE maybe november if all goes to plan if not sooner if some other stuff i've been waiting a while for comes through.
- Andy