Is This The Answer To Winter Commuting?
11-27-08 | 08:34 AM
#27
pedalphile
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 0
From: ellington, ct
Bikes: trek 1200, 520, Giant ATX 970, Raleigh Talon
If your commute is a downhill ski slope, I guess it would work. As for that track system, seems to me that an aggressive knobbie gives you all the traction you can use. When the snow gets deep enough to need a track, you better have an engine to help push you through. That is an engine other than your legs.
11-27-08 | 12:42 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Val-d'Or in winter, Radisson in the summertime
Bikes: 97 Rocky Mountain Whistler commuter/tourer - 04 Devinci Phantom hardtail - 89 Italo-Japanese road bike - 2010 Pivot Mach 429 29er - Rocky Mountain Blizzard Fatbike
I know a guy who bikes in winter on the unplowed MUP for 8-9 km, he has a Surly Pugsley with the Large Marge rims. If I wanted to bike in heavy snow, that is the kind of tool I would use rather than that cool attire, which I see more as a tool for a snow bikercross or something more downhill... I guess!
11-29-08 | 09:20 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Montreal
Bikes: Trek 520, Specialized Enduro, 70's SS conversion town bike, 80's mtb internal hub internal drum brake winter bike, fixed karate monkey
This would not work for commuting in a city in winter. It might be okay if you're travelling through fields of packed snow, but it's not good for a city.
The ultimate winter commuting bike is one of the following, depending on your local city's conditions/topography:
titanium mountain bike with rigid forks, and horizontal drop-outs. v-brakes in the front, no brakes in the back, fixed gear, 26x2.0 inch studded tires. dingle cog with 2 front chainrings (ie: it's fixed gear but you have 2 available ratios to manually shift to for days with differing conditions... you could have 46x16 and 44 x 18)
OR
take an old steel mountain bike, build a new rear wheel for it out of an internally geared hub that has an internal drum brake as well, run that with 26x2.0 inch studded tires and slap on a chain tensioner (remove 2 out of the 3 chainrings). This is for hilly cities with tons of snow and ice/really variable weather, like Montreal.
OR
titanium fixed geared bike with front canti brake, 700x35 studded tires, this if for cities with less snow and more ice, more consistent winters.
The ultimate winter commuting bike is one of the following, depending on your local city's conditions/topography:
titanium mountain bike with rigid forks, and horizontal drop-outs. v-brakes in the front, no brakes in the back, fixed gear, 26x2.0 inch studded tires. dingle cog with 2 front chainrings (ie: it's fixed gear but you have 2 available ratios to manually shift to for days with differing conditions... you could have 46x16 and 44 x 18)
OR
take an old steel mountain bike, build a new rear wheel for it out of an internally geared hub that has an internal drum brake as well, run that with 26x2.0 inch studded tires and slap on a chain tensioner (remove 2 out of the 3 chainrings). This is for hilly cities with tons of snow and ice/really variable weather, like Montreal.
OR
titanium fixed geared bike with front canti brake, 700x35 studded tires, this if for cities with less snow and more ice, more consistent winters.
