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Apologies to Boston-area commuters

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Apologies to Boston-area commuters

Old 03-20-09, 09:10 AM
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Apologies to Boston-area commuters

I'd like to apologize in advance: I decided to tempt fate and I took my studs off last night. I am now expecting a wicked dumpah along the lines of the '96 April Fool's day storm.

But what an improvement! I had grown accustomed to how damn loud the studs are, and how twitchy they seem in fast corners. Now I feel like a speedy ghost.
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Old 03-20-09, 11:22 AM
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Apology accepted. Especially since I believe that I am responsible for the last two big storms given that I decided to wash my bike days before both. I really need to keep a better watch on that 10-day forecast thing.

But in all seriousness, my drive train needs replacing and I keep putting it off, because I know that as soon as I do so we will get another foot of snow.
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Old 03-20-09, 11:45 AM
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I also took my studs off. They really got a workout this winter! I think that if we do get any more snow now, it won't stick to the pavement for more than a day or two.
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Old 03-20-09, 11:50 AM
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It's that time of year. I hung up the winter bike yesterday and commuted on the road bike today. Winter was officially over at 7:44 this morning. Spring Equinox you know. Just ask the groundhog.
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Old 03-20-09, 12:41 PM
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Oh, way to go chumbolly. Thanks loads.
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Old 03-20-09, 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by chumbolly
I'd like to apologize in advance: I decided to tempt fate and I took my studs off last night. I am now expecting a wicked dumpah along the lines of the '96 April Fool's day storm.

But what an improvement! I had grown accustomed to how damn loud the studs are, and how twitchy they seem in fast corners. Now I feel like a speedy ghost.
No need to apologize. I just got one day of riding, about three weeks ago, when my studs were invaluable and I'd like to do it again. Bring it on!
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Old 03-20-09, 08:27 PM
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I took my studs off a week ago but had the good sense to not say anything! You've definitely put us at risk for a big April snow storm.

I hope you feel good now.
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Old 03-21-09, 11:09 AM
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Has anybody ever been run over by a studded tire yet?
Prolly not a pretty sight.
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Old 03-21-09, 02:30 PM
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I took off my studs a couple of weeks ago - I felt like I'd jettisoned 50 pounds!
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Old 03-21-09, 02:31 PM
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Alright, stick it to those Boston commuters.
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Old 03-21-09, 02:44 PM
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Dick Albert just mentioned Chumbolly by name.
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Old 03-21-09, 02:52 PM
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The snow is gone for now, also most of the plow budget.
Could be worse, I could be a sunburned *****
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Old 03-21-09, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by gear
Dick Albert just mentioned Chumbolly by name.
Wait a minute; didn't Dick Albert retire last week?
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Old 03-21-09, 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
Wait a minute; didn't Dick Albert retire last week?
yeah, he heard chumbolly took off his studs and was bragging about it- even Dick Albert couldn't take one more week of winter.
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Old 03-21-09, 09:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Bat22
The snow is gone for now, also most of the plow budget.
Could be worse, I could be a sunburned *****
I thought you tourist came to Hawaii to get a nice winter sunburn so, when you return to Boston, you would stand out better against the snow (cyclist should always be visible).
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Old 03-22-09, 11:48 AM
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I heard there was a telescope on top of Mona Kea..pipe dream worth getting burned for.
Chombolly, I want to thank you on behalf of my little friends popping up in my front yard.
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Old 03-22-09, 03:13 PM
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The peak of Mauna Kea does have several observatories at the 13,803 feet summit. Had snow at the summit as well last week. The last few miles to the observatories is dirt road, so I have never seen a cyclist riding to the top or in the snow, in the short time that I did some work up there.
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Old 03-23-09, 09:26 AM
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I guess the observatories are usually above the cloud deck from what I read some time ago.
Then I caught a tv program showing tourists riding up a peak in a bus, then riding down
by bike.Couldn't remember if it was the big un.
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Old 03-23-09, 09:31 AM
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I'm sorry guys, but I've been a year round commuter through Boston for ten years without studded tires and while I suspect that the year that I put studs on my tires is the year that Boston will go without snow, I've yet to do it because I'll miss out on the bragging rights
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Old 03-23-09, 09:34 AM
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I've never used studded tires either. Usually practice skills on an ice patch before I
do regular cold weather commuting.
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Old 03-23-09, 10:00 AM
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I took my studs off a few weeks ago, the night we had all that rain and subsequently froze the next morning. Hello black ice, followed by hello pavement, and a nice bit of road rash

Road rash has healed into a nice war wound though, and better sense on waiting to swap tires later next winter
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Old 03-23-09, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by spokenword
I'm sorry guys, but I've been a year round commuter through Boston for ten years without studded tires and while I suspect that the year that I put studs on my tires is the year that Boston will go without snow, I've yet to do it because I'll miss out on the bragging rights
Originally Posted by Bat22
I've never used studded tires either. Usually practice skills on an ice patch before I do regular cold weather commuting.
Here's my reply:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
I ride Route 1 to Norwood and this winter it has been well-tended, so I demurred from buying studded tires. This following post, in reply to a thread, "Studded Tires or Fenders" by a subscriber who could afford only either one or the other, convinced me:

Originally Posted by tsl
I dunno, maybe it's my age showing. Here in Rochester, at least along my commute, there's always ice that miraculously didn't get salted away.

I figure gunk washes off quickly and easily. Broken bones would keep me off the bike for weeks while they mend.
Even though ice patches may be small and easily seen, there may occur emergency situations where it is unavoidable to ride on them. I live by Jim's Law of the Road: No matter how lightly traveled and/or well-paved a road is, a car will likely pass you on the left as you encounter an obstacle [e.g. ice] on the right.
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Old 03-24-09, 04:00 AM
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Hey 21 degrees this morning, thanks a lot Chumbolly.
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Old 03-31-09, 10:22 AM
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April Fools' is tomorrow, I think we're safe but it will be cloudy and maybe rainy?
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Old 03-31-09, 11:35 AM
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Well, I'm getting the snow tires taken off my car tomorrow, so I expect at least two feet of snow by the weekend.
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