I've heard this may be another "el nino" year, so maybe I'll get some fenders.

This weekend I'll probably slap some fenders and my old 700x28 Vittoria Randonneurs on the Cross Check, add a Planet Bike Superflash and call it good.

My gf just knitted me a world champion striped scarf. Here it is in progress (the blue looks purple in the pic, but it is actually blue).

http://static.flickr.com/122/284052437_1e45b3b475_m.jpg

I broke out the lobster gloves and the wool cap I got in Portland last summer. I'm ready - at least when I remember to keep my headlight charged. **** that is annoying.

So what maintenance would you suggest after winter? Just a question...

Also, here in Reno doesn't have too harsh of winters though we do get snow...hopefully I'll survive. I did want to drop my gearing but that is about all I could do. Being that I'm carless and broke I pretty much have to deal with it.

Bear hands. Now, I am very scared. A bear on a bicycle with opposing thumbs riding rather than hibernating.

Imagine what would happen if you got a pack of those hitting winter brevet stops. I'd hate to think of the price increases next year due to unexpected food costs.

Bear hands sound pretty warm to me, especially if worn over human hands.

oh boy the spelling nazi's have shown up, now it's really a party!

the monkey got disc brakes yesterday, and the big apples replaced the knobbies again as trails here are becoming mush then creeks then snow. with the avid bb's, now i can reall stop going down some of the steep hills in the rain. brake pads need some break-in, as they still howl like a train's. i'll probably put a front fender on after chewing a bit of road grit on my ride this morning (mixes poorly with gum). wool pants and neoprene socks are also coming out soon. that's my story; i'm sticking to it.

Ohh! B-a-r-e hands. That took me a long time to figure out.

My winter prep is the same as everyone else's: new batteries in the lights; fenders back on, repack bearings front and rear. This year my commuter is rolling on knobby Schwalbe Marathon 28s that should be nice on the two days we will have snow in Vancouver. Also I am ditching my old billowy Goretex jacket in favour of a Race Face commudork special.

Just you wait until the apostrophe Nazis show up.

why would you have bare hands in the winter anyway?

to match bare bars.

pvc rain jacket and cheapo mudguard and an old beater I will rebuild in the spring winters aren't too bad in norcal just a little wet....

cleaver.

4 layers of clothing
Race blade fenders

Thinkinig about trying some 700c studded Nokians for the snow bike...

Post winter? Take stuff off the frame, let all water and schitt fall out of it while holding it upside down and jumping up and down for a while. Rebuild with lotsa grease. Enjoy the ride without fenders.

You're going to take a cleaver to the apostrophe nazis? That's pretty clever.

haha because fenders affect the ride so much. Good luck when it rains (It does rain when its not winter after all)

Fenders have at the very least a placebic (is that a word?) affect on weight. My bike feels lighter without them, to me. I can deal with getting slightly wet if it rains in the summer. Getting wet, sandy, and mucky every day in the winter? No thanks.

yeah, a wet ass in the summer can be quite pleasant. that's right i said it.

+aliens, yo. i like getting soaked on summer rides.

late autumn and winter, however...