Originally Posted by
cyccommute
A second set of wheels really only works well for a more conventional wheel set up. Once you start throwing generator hubs and/or drum brakes into the mix, things get complicated and expensive in a hurry. Even just changing the tires is slightly more complicated. I have a set of cheap wheels for my studded tires and I keep my good ones for better weather.
I would also say that once you go to a second bike, generator hubs and lights start adding a lot of expense. Battery lights really shine (
) when it comes to multiple bikes. The investment in the light system is roughly the same or even lower but you don't have to invest in 2 generator hub wheels and 2 light systems. This morning, for example, I went out to my garage and pulled the studded tired bike off the wall, took the lights off the last bike I rode to work and was out the door in less than 2 minutes. I have at least 5 bikes that I choose from to ride to work and swapping lights from one bike to another is trivial. And, at roughly $25 for each light head, cheap.
It may not be as convenient but if funds are a problem, battery lights can save you a lot of money towards that second bike.
I am never doing battery lights ever again. The headlamp on the uptown is like 4x my old battery light and that one was not a brand x piece of crap and i used it for many years and loved it. The SE has a fine front wheel, so after more thought, i'd probably just do the dyno brake hub with same rim and new spokes. Then i'd have a second set of tires for winter riding. Since the SE all ready has a rear coaster brake and the 3 speed hub, it'll all be enclosed and all i'd need to winterize it fully is a chaincase. Basically if my uptown is the pickup truck with all season tires, the SE would be my manual shift hatchback with all season and winter tires. When i'm done both will have rack, both will have fenders, both will have dyno lights, both will have internal rear hubs, and both will be used to minimize wear on one.
The SE will get the added front brake because it will be the one getting the winter/studded tires on. Does that make more sense to you now? Putting studded or simply more grippy treaded tires on a v brake wheel makes no sense to me, as it can get iced up (and has). So hopefully now you understand my reasoning behind not only the dyno drum brake but the plan for if/when i get the SE. It isn't just to have a second bike, it's to have a bike which is more capable and simpler and lighter than the uptown especially on icy/snowpacked days.
Another thing is that my uptown's dyno hub is making noises ive been told it shouldn't be, so it may need replacing...... if it is replaced why not just replace it with a hub that has a brake in it, that way if the v brake ices up i can still stop without grinding the rim into dust.
Originally Posted by
Sixty Fiver
Looks like the street in front of my house...
It is very strange here, just one day of sun and anything we get is pretty much melted by the next sundown. Thursday we got 10 inches, everything was closed schools etc before it even started to snow, then friday a lot of stuff was closed again, and only after putting salt down and getting sun on the paved parts is it now clear and dry.
- Andy