Track bikes in the Chicago winter
 

Low tire clearance equals low traction...right? Or do you guys rock the track bike all winter? Any tips for winterizing that are specific to track bikes?

All winter long. 23c's last winter, 25 in the back, 23 up front now. I really don't feel much of a difference. Skids are easier though, seated even. ;)

All I do is use a fender.

I have some 28c Vittoria Randonneurs that I might put on the daily rider bur probably not.

Both my bikes either have a hole drilled or in the case of the Colnago, the BB shell has a clover cutout. I won't be riding the Colnago in bad weather though so that's moot. But the hole allows the Soma to air out and let any moisture escape.

Frame saver is good for the tubes if your frame is steel. My Soma has that. Marcus at Yojimbo's sells it.

BB's are easier to deal with if they're sealed, but this year my Sugino 75's have their matching unsealed Sugino 75 BB but that comes with an accordion like plastic sleeve to protect the spindle so I'm not too concerned.

Wipe your bike down as much as you can after a ride outside, the salt and the wet can beat up a frame some.

I use my conversion with full fenders in the winter, but only because I like to stay clean.

Also, if you've got a safe place to store your bike that's not insulated (I can lock up my porch so the bikes are safe, but the porch is uninsulated). The major damage that can happen to your bikes occours when the bike goes from way sub zero temps to indoors temps and back again. Winter up here in the north (another 6 hours north of Chi) can easily hang out about 35 degrees colder than your freezer in your kitchen (before the windchill, which obviously doesnt affect bikes) so rather than let my bike fluctuate back and forth from -5F to 70F I just keep the winter ride cold all the time.

Oh yeah, get your drive train waxed and Nokian puts out a rad (but expensive) carbide studded tire.

Really? What happens? This makes sense conceptually, but has anyone experienced any real world problems from this?

Part of me is thinking that temperature changes, while reasonably rapid and extreme, put less stress on a frame than the usual wear-and-tear of the street.

Naz - Frame Saver looks neat. Am I correct that it's for the inside of the tubes only? Do you use anything on the outside?

Definitely rock fixies in the winter.
Not having levers & shifters means I can wear my giant
snowboarding mittens. This year I'll have a bike that I
can also fit full fenders & I'm going to make some mudflaps
which should be hot. I should get one of those coffee
cup holders for my bike.

how much snow do you guys get in chi? much? or is it mostly just cold?

I'm considering trying to ride as much through the Winter as I can this year, which I've never done before.

I think the problem with melty slush and salt is that it gets all runny and gets everywhere, like inside your frame tubes, your BB, every threaded part on the bike. I would think that this would be a bigger problem than straight snow/slush/salt frozen to the outside of your bike.
In the winter I bring my bike inside, so all the stuff can melt off of it. In the whole scheme of things, I don't know if bringing the bike inside will make it fail sooner or whatever. I don't really care.

Yes. Paint.

We get less snow than Toronto does, for sure. But to me snow really isn't that big of a deal in Chicago. For the most part the major streets are pretty clear and if not you can usually ride in the tracks of cars. When it is really bad no one can go very fast so you don't get hassled as much by drivers (who think you're crazy anyways). To me the things to really worry about are ice, metal grates/gaps, and slush in that order. Also I normally don't wear eye protection, but in the winter I always do (goggles are a great idea)

A lot of people argue that skinny tires in snow are better because they cut into the
snow and contact the ground. I'm looking forward to testing this with my cross bike which has knobby 30's vs my pista which has slick 23's.

www.bikewinter.org

jeff

drop your tire pressure a bit

I usually ride some sort of conversion with a rear fender, a brake, and 28 cc tires.
I usually spray the drivetrain with wd-40 to help keep the gook off.

Thanks, I agree--salt and snow are a bigger threat. But I want to know if summerinside's got a story of his Masi shattering as he walked in the back door, or something. We've all got enough problems prepping our bikes without worrying about decompression chambers.


Touche.

Major roads are usually plowed, so the amount of snow usually isn't an issue. Traffic and city trucks push snow to the side. When a storm is on the horizon, "Snow Command" HQ is all over the news, with Al Sanchez giving defcon updates, and obligatory shots of blue city trucks idling, waiting to be called into action. But Sanchez fell on his sword for da mare this last summer, so who knows who will keep society's seams from splitting. Anyway, I think its fair to say that getting pelted by salt spun from a city truck's salt spinner is a rite of passage. That and spinning helplessly on ice. I'm looking forward to it.

Studded tires might be a good choice. I had my first ice encounter this morning. Wasn't much I could do and fell in low speed. My knee took the fall. Hurts a little but nothing damaged except my handlebar tape which is torn up on the left side. Be careful out there. Ice and wet leaves are not to mess with.

Do you 'brakeless' guys run a brake in the winter? I've never really ridden much in the winter but I will be..just need to know the best setup.

Thanks for the beta, everybody. I've been looking forward to commuting this winter, probably because after a few years of ski bumming I'm going to go crazy if I don't have something to do outside. Plus I've got a bin full of bullet-proof alpine gear that's just begging to get abused.

Nice to hear that track bikes can hack it.

I'll have to get some of this framesaver stuff, huh. And a fender. And a non-Brooks saddle.

For example?

The way you got dropped at Track Wars?


Like mentioned before the fixie is the way to go. I also recommend summerinside's stance on having your bike stay out in the cold all year rather than the fluctuating temps. I also would clean my bike once every two weeks with some warm water to get out all of the salt. This is also why I rock cheap BB's because if you got a nice one have fun buying another one...

how would stopping for Ryan be comparable to tire pressure?

I understand your need to live in this small "victory" (even though you won nothing - like me), for next year you will be hard pressed at the velo. Although you did do a good job at keeping the slow guys company when I saw you race. Or wait, they were keeping you company, weren't they? I have the pics still. I'll make sure to share them.

To answer the question posed by Tiny Tim:
I ran my 23s about 10 psi lower than in the winter.

See you Saturday, or are you afraid of beers again?

ok so my bottom bracket is accordian style sleeve as well, and my frame has a small hole under the BB.. i've kept it sealed with a small piece of tape because i thought it would add protection... should i keep it open to allow liquid to escape? won't the BB be wrecked?

oh and what's FRameSaver?

I ran Nokian studs last year on a conversion with full fenders. They came in handy about 3 times. I'm not sure if this was because last year was mild winterwise or not. I also rode 23s on my track bike and didn't feel as comfortable. This year I'm thinking about finding a half way point in 32ish cyclocross tires or 28c Conti 4-seasons.

I ran a brake but in the slop it was next to useless so my suggestion is to gear down a bit and plan on riding like you are brake free.

Oytie's right about the bloody salt trucks; you're not winter initiated until you've been pockmarked by a salt shotgun blast to the grill.

Take the tape off to allow any moisture to escape and avoid condensation. The BB will be fine with the accordion sleeve and a small hole as such is neglible in terms of getting stuff in there.

Frame Saver is an aerosol spray treatment for the inside of your tubes. It prevents rust and extends the life of your (steel) frame. You strip your bike down to the frame. Spray to coat the inside of the major tubes and let it dry overnight or 24 hours.

Put your bike together again and ride!

http://www.excelsports.com/image200/...me%20Saver.jpg

Marcus at Yojimbo's has the stuff.

[165] Please bring the pictures on Saturday. Because at least I was riding on the track this season not taking photos. But, I think it was very 'convenient' that you have such a handy excuse when it comes to 'stopping' for a comrade. Chuckles. Where are we going on Saturday again? I have to tell you about the meeting at Northbrook. Sadly I didn't win Rider of the year.

Naz- you are absolutely right about the framesaver it works wonders. I put a good amount into any frame I buy. New, used whatever.

As far as tires I have always rocked a 28c in the front with a skinny in the back. Although some people might think this is goofy...I think it makes sense in the snow. Your traction needs to come from the front...that is where you are going...the back just provides power and when it is a skinny it cuts right down to the cement.

thanks absntr.. top notch advice as always. happy winter all!

i had a very similar fall, hit some black ice on christmas eve and went down at a pretty low speed...the bike fell to the left side and ripped my cork tape and i think it bent my bullhorns just a tad

i was shaken a bit but nothing major...my steel rig held up fine...oh, i ride steel wheels too maybe that's why the fall bent the bars