slvoid

Up to 1000 recharge cycles?

cyccommute 

Stuff I've read says that NiMH starts to have problems around 300 cycles. They won't hold as much capacity. That's a lot but I've seen tests that stopped at 2300 for NiCd because they just got tired of doing it.

Li-ion is even worse. It will decrease just because of age, independent of cycles.

7stitches

Purchasing a headlamp, snow tires and lots of warm cycling gear. Bring it on!!

RJOsprey

I have a NiteRider dualie so I don't need a light but I saw small (1.5” x 1” x 1”) oval pair of off road halogen driving lights at Walmart for US$15, a lot easier then designing a light; you just need to drill a hole or attach the fixture maybe with hose clamps. Each light is 27 watts - so use only one - even then you'll need a 2 (1 hour of light) to 6 Amp Hour (3 hours of light) 12 V sealed gel cell to feed that very bright light but with a few Radio Shack jacks and a charger it should be a cheap and intense bike light.

Becca

Do the Sheldon Brown thing: clear packing tape

John Ridley

Last year I used duct tape. Works fine. Looks ugly. It's a win/win!

When you have accessories that ugly, the status racers just shake their heads and go away, rather than try to sell you stuff. Of course, those guys all pack their bike away as soon as the temp hits 50*F, so I don't see them for 5 months of the year at least.

jfz

I bought a bright yellow LL Bean rain jacket that is supposed to breathe-I'll let you know how it works after I use it. Maybe now that I have a good rain jacket it won't rain!

recursive

Another thing I'm doing this winter is getting a proper winter bike. Single speed or fixed. I found derailleurs didn't really have the fortitudinous constitution necessary for daily winter riding last year.

Zee

Personally, I'm more than a little worried about those heavy-snow days here in northern Indiana, partly because I have to bike at least a little ways on a busy country road with no extra room for a bicyclist before I get to regular streets, sidewalks, etc. What do you do if the plow comes through and leaves barely enough room for two cars? What do you do if the plow... doesn't come through?

At any rate, I just ordered something great (to me anyway!) on eBay - a dual-headlight and single taillight system with a generator. The headlights mount on the handlebar so I don't have to worry about my front basket (totally old-school for me, all the way - front and rear baskets, wiiide cushy seat, comfort handlebars on my Schwinn Traveler 10-speed, hahaha). Now I just need some of those flashies, a spray with the reflective clearcoat I bought, and I'm highly visible. Oh, and cold-weather gear... lol... how about a snowsuit, goggles and an eight-foot-long winter scarf? (just kidding)

For now, I plan to just keep on pedaling, and if we have a mild winter, great! And if we have really bad snow days... well... I may cave in and take the car

recursive

I have that problem here, where they don't plow all the way to the edge of the pavement, just paving enough for the width of the cars. My response is just to take the lane. There's really no other way to handle it. If a driver hassles you tell them to take it up with the city.

Zee

Hey, I know! I'll put one of those Slow Moving Vehicle signs on the back of each rear basket - maybe motorists will think I'm Amish, and not kill me!

Zee

This is the same thing I was just thinking about; I have this nice (70's?) Western Flyer single-speed with 26"x1.75" tires. I could move all my lights, etc. over to that bike when the snow hits (including my wide, comfy, cushy seat!!). Would something like that, with the wider and deeper-treaded tires, not to mention coaster brakes, be safer and less likely to slide around?

recursive

Wider tires won't hurt, but bike handling wasn't the issue I was concerned with. My problem is derailleurs that can't take the daily slush bath. If that bike is comfortable it sounds pretty well suited for winter though.

Zee

Yep, it's great! I rode it about six miles one day. The back tire isn't true, though; the ride was a lil bit bumpy If I can get that fixed, seal the paint (it sat outside too long and some color comes off any time I wipe it with a damp rag) with a couple of clearcoats, and transfer everything (including the seat), it'll be perfect I think. I even thought of a way to keep the rain out of my face and keep a raincoat hood up at the same time - use one of those visors, over top of the hood =0) Guess I should pick up a couple of them while it's still summer.

(And btw I just found this raincoat doing a google search, and it's a nice one! And yes, you can get it w/o the words , for only $17.99! https://www.chiefsupply.com/cat_raingear.phtml#1870 )

recursive

The coat seems like it might be a little on the baggy side and prone to getting caught on things for cycling. It's hard to tell though from the picture, but cycling rain jackets (whether or not they are just a marketing tool) are more athletically fit.

YMMV.

ajst2duk

Just a flip on this thread to remind you all that there are two hemispheres on this planet, our days are getting longer & warmer - mmmm summer, bring on the seaside barbeque Christmas. I can ditch one of the twin halogen beams and either the SLA or Nicad battery packs (all made for good redundancy should the battery go flat or a bulb blow). I've had about enough of dark & wet commutes but at least this year I invested in good lighting & weather gear.

Michel Gagnon

I never had problems with my derailleurs in snow or ice.

My solution: fenders with mudflaps. The front mudflap keeps water spray off my drivetrain.

HiYoSilver

Yeap, red legs from wearing shorts this AM. Time to start switching. Think it may come early this year, it has been a cool summer in CO.

CBBaron

In the town where I grew up Amish are a common site as are tractors. However the majority of the population is suburanites. Believe me you don't want to be mistaken for Amish, the drivers tend to be very annoyed with buggies on "thier" road. I'm sure that's different in a more tourist Amish community like Lancaster, PA.
Craig

Zee

Yep, you're right, that's a possibility! This is considered "Amish Country" up here... too many people trying their best to cash in on that, and most of them NOT Amish at all...

JohnBrooking

Better yet, https://www.sunrisesunset.com/. Displays a month at a time for any location in the world, with sunrise/sunset as well as moonrise/set and phases. Just print it out in landscape orientation and you're good to go!

JohnBrooking

I'm very excited about my gloves. I was in Dick's Sporting Goods the other day to get something else, and they had mylar/polypropelene glove liners that feel very very warm. Put them under regular gloves or mittens (which I have to buy new every year because I always lose them, thus I always buy cheap), and I'll be good to go, hands-wise.

The seat mounting on my little rear blinkie broke, so I think I'm going to use that as an excuse to get a new one of those, one of the larger ones with two rows of LED's, so I can set one to blink and one steady. The current one, which still works, I'm going to try to mount to my backpack or helmet.

I also want to get something for my wheels, and/or a brighter jacket. Most winter jackets, including mine, seem to be made in dark colors. Last year I put a stripe of reflective tape down the left arm, and some on the bike frame as well. Lots of good suggestions on this thread I started last winter.

Plus, of course the Christmas lights that 2manybikes sent me as a result of that conversation, pictured here. That was a lot of fun!

HiYoSilver

Hey, Denver is listed in SunSet/Sunrise calendar. THANK YOU>

Even illuminite jackets are black and dark yellow. Guess they want you to see the contrast and think you are getting a lot for the buck.

michaelnel

The nicest ones I have seen are made in Oregon ... at BicycleClothing.com. They have waterproof breathable ones, and if you get the long one it will even fit on a mountain bike helmet with the visor (which does help to keep some of the rain out of your face).



They're nice folks, and the stuff is made right there in Oregon in the U.S. of A.

Bicycle Clothing Website

chephy

I got a better front light (only had a blinker before). This one actually illuminates some of the road.

As for winter clothes, I am still in the process of putting my cycling wardrobe together. It will be an interesting season, I am sure.