Fundamental skills for the winter cyclist
11-23-04, 11:58 AM
#26
Recovering Retro-grouch
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Some call it God's country. I call it Acton, Maine
Posts: 5,008
Bikes: Too Many - 7 or 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I will usually hang a sap bucket under my snauze in the deep part of winter. Problem is, after an hour or so, the thing gets kinda heavy.
11-24-04, 02:23 PM
#27
contre nous de la tyranie
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Little Siberia
Posts: 564
Bikes: Trek 830, Trek 520, Surly 1x1 fixed
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Hobbes
One technique I use for sudden stops is to simply jump off my bike seat and break with my shoes/boots as well. I've used it in the summer when I'm tearing along not bothering to break for a intersection but suddenly notice a incoming car. But its especially useful in the winter when breaking is so much more difficult. It takes some practice to do this maneuver without groin injury though, well depending on your bike design. Also sometimes the pedals continue spining and hit you on the back of the leg which can cause some injury depending on what kind of grip they have. My pedals have high grip and can cause quite some injury if i'm not careful.(little bloody holes alongside my leg).
11-24-04, 02:33 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Schweiz
Posts: 180
Bikes: Pinarello Treviso, Rocky Mountain Oxygen
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The over-shoulder dockyard oyster is definitely an essential winter skill.
Don't forget the shoulder-check, though, or you'll be wearing evidence that you haven't quite mastered the technique!
Happy horking!
Don't forget the shoulder-check, though, or you'll be wearing evidence that you haven't quite mastered the technique!
Happy horking!
12-28-04, 10:45 PM
#30
無くなった
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sci-Fi Wasabi
Posts: 5,072
Bikes: I built the Bianchi track bike back up today.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by baltazar
Take the bus 
1) You have a flat, no tubes, and have to get your bike home
2) You have a flat, no tubes, and have to get to work because you are out of sick days, since you used them all up playing hookey so you could ride in the snow
3) Your bike is stolen
04-01-07, 06:56 PM
#32
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
hey hey
hey folks, the London Times has linked to this thread!
Check out No. 3 on their "10 tips" list: https://timesonline.typepad.com/eco_w...ys_of_mak.html
Check out No. 3 on their "10 tips" list: https://timesonline.typepad.com/eco_w...ys_of_mak.html
04-02-07, 02:29 PM
#33
Dog is my copilot.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 802
Bikes: Lemond Maillot Jaune, Specialized Stumpjumper, Kona Jake the Snake, Single-Speed Rigid Rocky Mtn Equipe, Soon-to-be fixed Bianchi Brava
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Actually, you shouldn't stop pedalling on ice, just don't change your cadence. Your rear-wheel gets more traction when force is applied to it. Its the abrupt changes in force that cause the loss of traction.
edit: sorry, what I'm talking about is soft-pedalling. Where you pedal enough to catch the freewheel but aren't hammering.
edit: sorry, what I'm talking about is soft-pedalling. Where you pedal enough to catch the freewheel but aren't hammering.
04-02-07, 02:52 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 970
Bikes: Miyata 600, Marin Larkspur, Marin Muirwoods, GT tequesta, Fuji Ace
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by genespleen
hey folks, the London Times has linked to this thread!
Check out No. 3 on their "10 tips" list: https://timesonline.typepad.com/eco_w...ys_of_mak.html
Check out No. 3 on their "10 tips" list: https://timesonline.typepad.com/eco_w...ys_of_mak.html
04-25-07, 12:12 PM
#35
Never Say Never
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Grande Prairie, AB.
Posts: 72
Bikes: 1999 Diamonback Ascent FS, 2006 Trek Fuel Ex 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The farmer's blow I find is pretty handy, not to mention almost essential in all sorts of situations, I have done it well in crowds, traffic, and usually I like to save 'em up for those arseholes that are backed up 3 cars out into the street from the Timmy's. (If I dont give their bumper a hoof on the way by) As far as turning on ice goes, I have heard valid points from all parties involved, including two wheel braking, powerslides and jumping off your seat in order to stop with your feet. (this has saved my life twice in just the last six months on sheer ice or in ice ruts) I also concur that downhill ice ruts have to be some of the toughest and rewarding conditions to try to ride in. (go 4 no hands if possible on the local valley trails) You WILL feel like a god if you pull it off, but screw up and they'll be picking remnants of your dismembered body off of the trees below!
05-28-07, 05:59 AM
#36
It's all about the Ort.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western Queens
Posts: 269
Bikes: Centurion Trac; Carnielli; Ross Mt Hood; TREK 5200.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you can't manage the Farmer Blow and/or your snot is too runny, you can always retro-fit your gloves with a Snot Spot:
https://www.snotspotgear.com/product.html
https://www.snotspotgear.com/product.html
06-25-07, 09:02 PM
#37
I found a road bike.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 740
Bikes: K2 Attack 1.0sE
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by rattking
drives me crazy when my eyelashes freeze together
maybe its time to get some goggles
maybe its time to get some goggles
06-26-07, 11:42 AM
#38
ǝıd ǝʌol ʎllɐǝɹ I
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 518
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
How about when you know you're gonna hit something for some reason.
For example, going fairly fast with a sharp curb up ahead, but the road is glazed and you know you're not going to stop in time... A good way to hit the snowbank is to make the back of the bike drift sideways so you fall with the bike in front of you, this slows you down surprisingly fast plus the bike hits the object before you do, taking the most of the energy. Works well when the alternative is worse, but it's not something I would do for fun. I've also used this in summer once, turns out it really hurts without pants/coat/snow to soften your fall.
For example, going fairly fast with a sharp curb up ahead, but the road is glazed and you know you're not going to stop in time... A good way to hit the snowbank is to make the back of the bike drift sideways so you fall with the bike in front of you, this slows you down surprisingly fast plus the bike hits the object before you do, taking the most of the energy. Works well when the alternative is worse, but it's not something I would do for fun. I've also used this in summer once, turns out it really hurts without pants/coat/snow to soften your fall.
