Originally Posted by
ryansexton
Mostly slush, cold rain, and occasional snowy/icy periods here in Niagara Falls.
Questions:
Disc breaks - Good idea? Bad idea? Great idea? Can I get by fine without them? Price range if they are neccessary?
Good idea, you can get by fine without them.
Originally Posted by
ryansexton
Fenders - Looking to keep my back and legs 95% dry. DO NOT LIKE BEING SOAKED. I want to be riding full time, because I don't have a gnarly job, so I really can't afford to drive anymore. Link me to some stuff.
No links, but SKS and freddy fenders have served me well... BUT, you need a better mud-flap. Craft your own out of old milk jugs or something else that's sturdy. You CAN use full fenders on a suspension bike if you craft a mounting to the crown that is in fixed position to the wheel. Your bike looks kind of crazy, but you stay dry.
Originally Posted by
ryansexton
Snow tires - Worth it? Can I use them in wet conditions without causing wear? Are they better - How much better? Metal Studs, or another style?
I'm going to say worth it. (in WI anyway) If you get good ones with carbide studs, wear of the studs will not be an issue. If you get cheap ones, the studs will wear/fall out in one winter (my experience). How much better? On clean plowed roads, a little worse. On plowed roads that still have a layer of snow/slush...marginally better. On black ice...infinately better (something is better than nothing right?) Peter white has several comments on his site about selection of winter tires. I recommend you read it. Carbide studs are the only way to go as far as I'm concerned, but I don't know your conditions first-hand.
Best of luck!