First studless commute of the year.
02-29-16 | 11:34 AM
#2
What happened?
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,918
Likes: 298
From: Around here somewhere
Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!
I haven't been a stud in like ever, so this is normal for me.
...and I ride on ice and snow on my Schwinn with only MTB treads too!
--Gilligan
Now if I only had something to commute to...
...and I ride on ice and snow on my Schwinn with only MTB treads too!
--Gilligan
Now if I only had something to commute to...
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I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.
Last edited by Rollfast; 02-29-16 at 11:38 AM.
02-29-16 | 01:18 PM
#3
Heck on Wheels
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: USA Midwest
Bikes: In Signature
We hit 65°F in central OH yesterday, and it felt good. So good I almost forgot to b**ch about the 20 mph winds. I rode a big loop, and had headwinds and crosswinds, but no tailwinds.
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"I had a great ride this morning, except for that part about winding up at work."
Bikes so far: 2011 Felt Z85, 80's Raleigh Sovereign (USA), 91 Bianchi Peregrine, 91 Austro-Daimler Pathfinder, 90's Trek 730 Multitrack, STOLEN: 80 Schwinn Voyageur (Japan)
"I had a great ride this morning, except for that part about winding up at work."
Bikes so far: 2011 Felt Z85, 80's Raleigh Sovereign (USA), 91 Bianchi Peregrine, 91 Austro-Daimler Pathfinder, 90's Trek 730 Multitrack, STOLEN: 80 Schwinn Voyageur (Japan)
02-29-16 | 01:23 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,679
Likes: 481
From: Maine, USA
Bikes: Corvid Sojourner, Firefly Fat Bike, Co-Motion Divide, Co-Motion Java Tandem, Salsa Warbird, Salsa Beargrease, Carver Tandem
I will be stud free on wednesday. Waiting for tubeless conversion to be ready by wednesday. Today would have been totally fine already.
02-29-16 | 01:34 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 440
From: Toronto, CANADA
Bikes: ...a few.
I sneaked in a few studless commutes over the past couple of months and it's always a treat after riding on studs. I'm not optimistic about this week, though, with snow in the forecast.
02-29-16 | 01:39 PM
#7
meh
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,742
Likes: 1,129
From: Hopkins, MN
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
. I don't know why, but that wind never seemed to be at my back even for the short time I was headed southwest, it was just a mean wind!But the Pug is getting Woodchippers today so I'll be able to minimize that wind on the way home.
02-29-16 | 04:34 PM
#8
born again cyclist
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 88
From: Chicago
Bikes: I have five of brikes
This winter has been so damn mild in chicago that I've ridden studless more than I've ridden studded.
As a result I haven't had that revelatory "first studless ride of spring" experience that I usually have at this time of year.
As a result I haven't had that revelatory "first studless ride of spring" experience that I usually have at this time of year.
02-29-16 | 05:35 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
First studless commute of the year.
I keep my studded tires on all winter on my heavy duty beater, and today I did my first studless ride of the year, which means the carbon fiber bike.
Recently this past winter, I got into this discussion about bringing out the nice weather bike.
Yesterday I decided the streets looked clean enough to bring out the carbon fiber and it was great. Streets were salt free, and the rare sand and debris fields at the side were all less than about two feet wide, and I always stay even farther wide from the curb.
As an added benefit, it was 43°F, so off with the fleece, balaclava, goggles, and shoe covers, and on with knitted instead of windproof ski gloves.
As noted by many riders with heavy duty beaters and studded tire, riding carbon fiber anew is so smooth. I had a little trepidation when thinking how spidery the frame and tires are compared to my mountain bike, but I was comfortable on the first block. No problem using clipless pedals either. My hills were much easier, despite the higher gears of the CF, and the stiff head was much less discouraging than if on the Beater.
I used the Jamaica Pond Bikepath for about a mile, and that had some salt staining and scattered thin layers of sand, unlike the roads, but I don’t think I did any damage riding it. However, the studs won’t come off the Beater until at least mid March.
I posted about my first carbon fiber ride 2015 on March 28:
…I try never to ride my pristine CF bike in nasty weather, though cold, and clean roads are fine. …
It sounds like your advice on not riding the bike is from people with OCD. If road salt caused damage, bikes wouldn't last. By the time it really caused parts to wear out, assuming you take reasonable care, you'll be 30 years older.
As an added benefit, it was 43°F, so off with the fleece, balaclava, goggles, and shoe covers, and on with knitted instead of windproof ski gloves.
As noted by many riders with heavy duty beaters and studded tire, riding carbon fiber anew is so smooth. I had a little trepidation when thinking how spidery the frame and tires are compared to my mountain bike, but I was comfortable on the first block. No problem using clipless pedals either. My hills were much easier, despite the higher gears of the CF, and the stiff head was much less discouraging than if on the Beater.
I used the Jamaica Pond Bikepath for about a mile, and that had some salt staining and scattered thin layers of sand, unlike the roads, but I don’t think I did any damage riding it. However, the studs won’t come off the Beater until at least mid March.
I posted about my first carbon fiber ride 2015 on March 28:
…The road shoulders were free of snow, but with lots of debris, and I had about a six-inch clear path on the shoulder immediately next to upcoming traffic…So riding the VFW was so nerve-racking that I would occasionally just pull off the road and let a bolus of cars pass me by until I could comfortably get back in the travel lane.
The route through Brookline had less traffic but with more narrow shoulders, and some visible residual ice (while on my narrow 25 C slick tires). All the while, particularly in Brookline, old well-known and new unrecognized potholes were prevalent; but by 6:15 AM I had sufficient daylight. All in all, it might have been premature to ride that route on my CF bike, but it still was a pleasure.
The route through Brookline had less traffic but with more narrow shoulders, and some visible residual ice (while on my narrow 25 C slick tires). All the while, particularly in Brookline, old well-known and new unrecognized potholes were prevalent; but by 6:15 AM I had sufficient daylight. All in all, it might have been premature to ride that route on my CF bike, but it still was a pleasure.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 03-02-16 at 01:26 PM.
03-01-16 | 08:14 PM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 0
From: Zinj
Bikes: '93 911 Turbo 3.6
I haven't ridden studs since I put on some Conti Top Contact Winters. If Conti keeps making em, then I'll ditch the studs altogether.
I was about to read Jim's above reply but got lost in the quotes again.
I was about to read Jim's above reply but got lost in the quotes again.
03-02-16 | 06:24 AM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
…Folks, please put your locations in your profiles. It's easy, fun, and profitable. OK, I lie; there's no profit in it….
03-02-16 | 12:57 PM
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 5
From: Columbia, SC
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 Rival; 2014 Cannondale Trail 7 29; 1972 Schwinn Suburban, 1996 Proflex 756, 1987(?) Peugeot, Dahon Speed P8; 1979 Raleigh Competition GS; 1995 Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1978 Raleigh Sports, Schwinn Prologue
I can never have a studless commute, because I'm always on the bike
