666pack

what are you doing to get your bike ready for fall/winter?
this weekend i had my first fall related spill, i was bombing a hill a little drunk. the roads were wet, my tires are stripped... i was waiting to get some thick cx tires soon. i was making a right turn and somehow ended up on the ground, when i realized where i was i pulled my bike in towards my body as a pickup truck zipped past where my bike just was.

so i'm definitly gonna get some 30mm studded cx tires. and i think i'll get a rear brake, and i'll put my bullhorns on so that will justify getting a new set of cross levers to fit the diameter of my bullhorns.
and i think i'm gonna get some powergrips too.

what are you gonna do to make your bike ready for winter, or if you have a winter beater post it up...

blickblocks

I'm excited to get CX tires. I don't know if I should go ahead and get studs though, since it's not actually going to snow continously till late December or January.

MattFashion

Sh*t.
i forgot about winter.
thanks alot 666pack....

Cyclist0383

30mm studded cx tires? Huh?

kjohnnytarr

Got Cross tires. Last winter I walked everywhere, and fell enough doing that. I'm kinda scared.

Cyclist0383

Having used both I can say that studded tires such as the Nokian 106 are much better than cross tires in icy winter conditions.

fix:

im getting some vittoria randonneur tires, they are the widest i can fit (700x28) but it doesnt snow much here anyway.

mcafiero

I'm building a new Surly CrossCheck. Gonna have four brake levers on the bars, studded Nokians. Can't wait.

Straws

I have cross tires on my bike. It seems kind of pointless though because it only flurried once here last year and that was on easter morning. We suck as precipitation here in Richmond. It only rains like once a month here.

MattFashion

what about fenders?
i'm not seeing anyone write about what/if any fenders they're using.

fix:

oh just sks raceblades for rain, and a seatpost mounted one for the snow. the raceblades would get clogged in the snow.

666pack

i'm gonna get some raceblades when it gets real bad.
for now i just have a clip on seatpost fender.

mathletics

I'll be using my PB fenders with some 700x28 rain tires. I'm hoping to get the Rob Roy group buy frame before winter gets too nasty so that I can build that up. Front/rear brakes, aero levers with interrupters, comfy saddle. I can't wait!

EDIT: I also really want to go clipless.

pirate

We have wimp status winters here in Santa Cruz, so I just clipped on my clip-on fender, repacked my bb with a buttload of grease until it was oozing out around the spindle, and turtle waxed my frame. Beyond that I'm just gonna get some kool-stop brake pads and full fenders. I should probably do something about the rust that is invading the paint chips, but I don't plan on riding this frame much longer.

oceanfx

How about winterizing your clothing? My bike has never minded the winter that much, but it's being cold I can't stand. How do you guys stay warm while staying agile too? I've taken to underdressing then hitting the road really hard to stay warm, because I don't like a lot of extra stuff on me. Does this work in the winter? (This is my first season commuting; never had a powerful need to ride in the winter before)

polarcreamsoda

wear wind proof jackets. that is probably the most important piece of clothing of the winter riding or not. that and wear a hat. i use a goretex jacket, keeps the cold wind out and keep the warmth in.

BLIMP

fenders and metal stud cross tires.

the main change is that my bag goes from being mostly empty with books and legal pads to being stuffed with a rain shell, fleece, gloves, hat, balcalva, goggles, etc.

akaio

Already threw on the race blades. Switched to clipless pedals (hey if my shoes are gonna get wet on my commute they may as well be biking shoes). Started packing my waterproof pants with me whether its wet or not. And I have a Showers Pass jacket on back order. Even bought a skull cap for when the temp drops a little more.

Im debating on getting a more winterized tire. Though I mostly have to worry about rain here in PDX. Im thinking about trying a Vittoria Diamante Rain on my rear wheel in another month or so. Any one try them out? I figure its mainly a softer more grippy rubber, so if your skid much youll kill it, but if its wet that extra traction could be well worth it.

robcycle

Bike already sports 38mm tires (built up monster-cross style), but I think fenders are on the way. And if we do get any snow here in Richmond, I'll be on the trails, and far away from every idiot who thinks they know how to drive a car in the snow Oh, and I'll probably switch from a dry wax lube to a wet/oil lube, repack the bearings with marine grade lithium grease, and pull out my wool sweaters.

-Rob.

SwollenYak

a liberal dose of Slick Willy lube, a shot or 2 of frame saver in my speed holes, affix da fenders, put on the cx tires, blinkies, and securely mount the headlight.

mathletics

For those of you thinking about clothing, allow me to recommend a balaclava instead of a hat. They don't feel bulky, and they keep your ears, face, and neck warm. It actually replaces both the hat and scarf.

Retem

new work bike aluminum 29er and a big rear mud guard as for the front a cetma rack and my fullface helmet should keep me shiny

fatbat

I like to take 2 half-inch bits of old mtb tube, and cover up the top and bottom of the headset, helps keep the grit and salty water out. Pull the seatpost and give it a fresh coating of grease, as i've had too many aluminum seatposts fused to steel frames. ditto for any bolts you don't often adjust. If you're already thinking about servicing a headset/bottom bracket/hub, best to do it before the sand/car snot/salt arrives.

Full fenders with big flaps on one bike for rain/slush, studded tires on the other for snow and ice.

Clothing is worth a thread on it's own.

MIN 

Here's my new winter bike - it's the Subaru of bikes.



2007 Lemond Poprad Disc CX bike.
SKS Chromo fenders.
34c tires.
NiteRider Minewt X2 Dual LED lights
Crank Bros Eggbeater Pedal
Selle Italia SLK saddle.

blickblocks

My ideal winter bike would be fixed gear, with disk brakes, cross tires, full fenders, ergo drops with road and cross levers, a high end light setup, clipless pedals and shoes.

That Lemond you've got looks awesome, but I think I'd rather have FG because cleaning the salt off my road bike's drivetrain every day really sucked. Also, FG feels great when traction is low.