What will you do differently this winter?
 

So, (of course!) you’re riding during winter :winter:

How will your commute differ from last year?
Any lessons learned? Items (e.g. clothing) you forgot last year but won’t this year? ...

I'm going to ditch my gloves. Don't need them this time around.

I added Bar Mitts late last year, and they made a big difference in my comfort level. I'll have them on my bike nice and early this fall!

Going to make some bar mitts and try a helmet cover.

I'm seriously thinking about installing studded tires. We don't get a lot of snow or ice down here, but when we do I hate to forgo riding.

I bought a set of pogies a few years ago. The are absolutely great at keeping your hands warm while making your commuting bike even more dorky than it usually is.

I went studded about 10 years ago. What a difference! They have their disadvantages but IMO those are outweighed by the major benefit: not falling. Here in Chicago the only thing that stops me from commuting is a big snow dump right at the morning rush hour... that hasn't happened (on my work days) since February 2015.

I also got a set for my mountain bike. Frozen lakes are a blast! (I wait until I see ice fishermen and snowmobiles.)
Steve

I'm rehabbing my winter commuter. I built it 4 years ago. I've stayed on top of the mechanical issues but winter commuting is hard on a bike so it's time for a complete rehab. I'll strip it down to the frame, deal with any rust issues, overhaul it, replace all the consumables. The bike rides like a champ with studded tires in iowa winters.

http://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...ter-build.html

Already have studded tires. Be sure to wear studs on your shoes too.

Three winters ago I pushed my cold weather thresh hold down 10 degrees to 10F to allow for more winter commuting. I did this mostly by dressing lighter, but smarter, thanks to bikeforums. Two years ago I added studded snow tires to better deal with the ice that lingers on the shaded side streets I favor. This allowed for more winter commuting.

Lights, clothing, equipment, strategies...I can't think of anything I will do differently this winter...but there is always room for new goals and more improvements.

probably wont.. rain gear is sorted out, Disc brake IGH bike ..

pump up the tires on the old MTB which got stored with studded tires on it for that week it may Ice the road.
but other than that its just another year..



:50:

Wow! 4 consecutive posts in favor of studs. On the ChainLink n Chicago, it seems like most of the posts are justifying not using studs for some reason or other. Go figure!
Steve

I've been using studs for the past three years, and though I curse them every time I have to ride them on dry pavement I wouldn't ride without them in the winter.

Nothing different this year. I'm actually thinking of getting second set of studs for my CX bike with disc brakes so I can ride that one without the rack and panniers.

Okay... Remember to throw gloves away in matching pairs ;-)

awesome :thumb:

My thought exactly!

For the first time I’ll have a dedicated winter bike with studded tires at my disposal, and bugweb shoes. Hoping to soon add a helmet too.

Fun thing is, each winter proves to be a new adventure.

Whatever... In the end, it’s not about studded tires. Not only. E.g. skills are a valuable asset
Etc.

winter commuting will be the same as always ... thermal underwear/vest, dress warm, good gloves, good jacket, scarf, good socks, good ligts etc .... switch Conti GP4000 SII to Conti 4 seasons tyres

however.... for my quality longer rides on my other bike (fast bike), I'm going to try tubeless tyres ... I will be buying the 2017 IRC Formula Pro RBCC tubeless tyres and hopefully I won't have any punctures .... I'm hoping to do 100-120km rides on boyt saturdays and sundays which should keep me fit during winter

I've been using studs for a few years, and they make a big difference in terms of my ability to go out in any weather. I got them after I hit black ice in the dark and broke a rib.

Here in Madison, you've got two "camps." One the one side are riders like me, who want the bike to be more or less unconditionally safe, and don't mind giving up some speed.

On the other side are riders who count on their skill to keep the shiny side up (that, and driving to work if it gets too nasty). And over the past couple years we've had very little ice on the streets, so I saw a lot of regular bikes throughout the winter.

I plan on being less prissy about road salt and my bikes. I'll keep them clean, but they're not heirlooms -- they're meant to be used.

Last winter was a mild one, and I took off the studs in early March, only to be blindsided by a major storm a week later. Next year, I'll stick to my traditional pattern of studs from mid-December to mid-March.

Last winter was so mild, I might have forgotten the details of what to layer for which temperature. And for riding around ice and/or even snow :eek::eek: I'll be winging it. I do have 28's on my "winter bike" now, last year only 23's.

I'm going to eat more. And try try to use that SAD light my girlfriend got me last Christmas. Lol

All the skills in the world won't keep you upright when you have to make a sudden stop or take evasive action on black ice. Not that skills aren't good to develop; I won't argue with you there!
Steve

Single speed mountain bike! Last year, it was a 6 speed. The year before, an 18 speed. I don't have the energy or facilities to keep a winter bike clean, so this will be better (and single speed chains are cheap to replace).

This will be year 4 for the studs. My fair city only salts the main drags and scrapes the rest. If we get a real winter, it will be a good 4 months of frozen-over snowpack: good fun with studs, not as fun without. I'm considering a pair of lightly studded tires for 700c wheels, allowing me to ride a better/faster bike longer into the year. It will depend on whether we get a real winter that goes straight to permasnow (MTB required) or a warm winter with a freeze-thaw cycle like last year.

Clothing and gear is good to go. I'm currently set up to ride from -20F and up, and if it gets colder than that, the University where I work will shut down because college students don't have appropriate gear and nobody will be able to start their cars.

Last winter I didn't bike much due to my wife's advanced pregnancy, then family leave. So probably this winter the main change will be riding more!

It doesn't get that cold here and I typically skip it when rain is forecast so no extreme measures are needed.

I also have a new MTB so I anticipate getting a helmet lamp and doing some dark single track commutes.