Who's got the studs on?
 

I'm still holding out, only a dusting so far this year and it melted in hours.

Mine are on. After a nasty wipeout in 2016 on the summer equivalent of black ice on a bike trail (fresh sealcoat + light rain + small downhill with a right turn), I refused to ride my bike in colder weather if there was any possibility of black ice. This winter I decided that I'd invest in the gear to make winter riding safer so that I could come up to speed sooner in the spring months by riding throughout the year.

Yesterday was the first time I got to use them on trails that had a light covering of snow as well as some ice on the sections by the roads the trail crossed. I was very pleased with the handling even though I'm an even slower rider than normal with them on my bike.

Had them on for a while, but only using it when conditions call for it. Today, for example, I left the house thinking everything was good to go with the 25 mm slicks. There was a light dusting of snow on the road. I probably still could have ridden on those tires but didn't want to take the chance. Who knows what that dusting is covering. So when in doubt I err on the side of caution.

When I run early in the morning that light dusting of snow is the most treacherous because you can see what it's hiding, and often times it's a puddle that froze over night. I've fallen a few times over the years by stepping on just that.

Even in broad daylight that damn ice can be hiding. I hit a spot running at the arboretum earlier in 2016 and was down before I knew it. Slammed my sacrum into the asphalt. Took about 3 weeks before I was more or less back to normal.

I've slipped and fallen from my bike on icy slick but never hurt myself as bad as you, hope you're ok now. Have you considered running with studded shoes? I've read that Salomon makes (made?) them.

Yes, a couple of falls from my bike on summer tires (with treads that are good in rainy conditions but mean nothing to ice) and now I put studded tires on my bike sooner than I put winter tires on my car :D .

Mine will be going on later today! :thumb:

We got a dusting of snow over the weekend, but today, there is some actual accumulation. I learned during my first winter here that the city salts main streets only - the rest are just scraped down. So, I should probably get out the studs if I want to get to work tomorrow, which I imagine my employer would appreciate.

I think looking at your two posts I am exactly where you are at, mentally. Studded tires are new to me. Worst fall last winter was black ice on a turn, clear day bone dry no other road issues anywhere. I limped for 4 weeks (hip), and it hurt a couple more after that. I knew next time it could be the hospital, I'm 52 and things are changing:

20s: Ha that was wild!
30s: Ouch!
40s: Oh man, that's gonna hurt in the morning.
50s: 911

THIS!!

2016 was not my finest year (I turned 55). January was the black ice while running at the arboretum. February my little toe encountered the edge of a bathroom door in a motel room and it turned all sorts of colors (as did my language) and I limped for 3 weeks. Then September was the bike crash (summer black ice) where my entire right side slammed into the pavement. Worst injuries were my right hip flexor (very difficult to get in and out of my car for about 3 weeks) and my right shoulder/collar bone. I couldn't sleep on that side for at least 3 months. I thought I was all healed up and then in early April 2017, my right psoas would lock up so bad after sleeping at night that I couldn't stand for more than a couple minutes at a time. I'm sure it was related to the bike accident as I had warning signs intermittently, but in April it just went nuts. Some sessions with a chiropractor, some special back exercises, and a new mattress and finally I've put that behind me.

You can just slip on one of those Yak Trax onto regular running shoes. They work well enough.

I've also fastened short screws onto the sole of my older shoes for running in icy conditions.

I have Kahtoola microspikes which slip on to my running shoes as well as hiking boots. They are awesome on slippery surfaces. But if you are running for more than a few hundred yards at a time on asphalt or clear surfaces like a frozen crushed limestone trail, they beat up your feet.

The problem that day at the arboretum was that 99% of the road was perfectly clear, but there were spots where the snowbanks were melting and the moisture was running across the road and freezing. Now I tend to avoid the arboretum in the winter and will instead go to the trails with my microspikes.

First commute ever with studs (42 mm, Marathon Winter) today.

Not too much ice though, so I don’t no how that goes yet. Snow today up to perhaps 15 cm, but mostly wet snowy juice. Bad road conditions! Had to ride the car lanes, trying to get to those thinner and flatter spots on the road. One has to be very careful especially in taking corners or changing direction.

I wonder if a mountain bike (perhaps with e.g. Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro) would make a difference in these more snowy conditions...

I put them on the weekend before last -- the earliest they have gone on in 15 years. The timing wasn't too bad, as we had our first snowfall a week later.

Hmm, my winter rides are generally 32F or above, dry pavement and wind under 10-15mph. Not happening much lately. This thread has me toying with getting some studded tires (700x38) and getting out more often. Trainer miles are mind numbing. :(

OK, the studs are now on! I went on a short little adventure this evening and forgot how much FUN it is to shred up the snow and ice. The winter beater has shiny new brakes and a new rear wheel (single speed) this year. Stay safe and upright everyone - here's to NOT riding Zwift!

:winter2:

15 cms sound a lot for winter marathons (feels more like skiing to me). Nokian W106 might be a better compromise that still rolls decently.

Still haven't needed them, This time last year we had over 4' of snow, It's been dry here not even rain. Sometimes heavy frost on short sections of road that don't get sun.

Had 'em on for a month now...

55F today and for the last week. So nope.

Crazy warm and windy here in the Great Plains.

Looks like that here in Regina now. Every side street and back alley is a skating rink. Now that the cold is settling in we need a good snow to bury all that ice for the winter.

Just finished studding my tires today and will be mounting them on my 800 tomorrow. We've had the snow...it melted...but will be returning soon. Can't wait to try this bike out in the snow.

Tony

I rode my dedicated "winter" commuter bike for a week, but we've had decent weather most of December so I've been able to use the fair-weather bike. There'll be ice in January though.
If I'm lucky, there will be enough cold without lots of snow that I'll be able to take my mountain bike out on a frozen lake (of course, with studded tires!).
Steve

Me.

Well, 5 inches of snow today, much colder in the evening and all that slush is ice. Put them on and went for a spin, just increadable what a blast! On the ice it was impossible to put the bike down, a bit less traction in the snow however, still no problem.

For years I've been running two bikes - one with studs, another without. If there's any chance of snow and/or ice, I ride the studded tyre one.

Studding
 

Put mine on last week when it was clear and warm and last night today we had a wee winter storm blow in 9 inches of mixed system and lake effect snow so tomorrow's 3 mile road commute to teach a yoga class will be on the new prickly tires, looking forward to it, a shoulder surgery on each side from past falls has me convinced this will be helpful.