It snowed for the second time here in Klamath Falls. I woke to a light dusting,but I think by the time I was ready to go home after the bus route there might have been 2 or 3 inches in some places. So despite the flurries just after Halloween, this is really my first ride in the snow.

I arrived at work looking like this:



You might see that my bike is pretty clean, the snow was just a light coating at 6:45ish. But after I got home, I realized my bike is FILTHY. I'm ashamed at it's appearance... here I'll just show you, though it's probably nothing new to you guys.




I brushed some of it off after these pictures, but a lot is still on there. I understand now the concern with snow causing chain slippage and frozen derailleurs.

I'm worried at how hard it was to pedal after a while. I'm good in 3 for most of a ride, sometimes 4, but any wind really makes it hard, and I'm still using 2 and 1 on any sort of hill. With snow on the ground and wind, I'm afraid I'll have to get off and walk- I don't have any gears left. I guess snow packed under the rear fender might have caused it, or caked around the brake pads. Will that always happen? Can I increase rear clearance somehow? It was really only an issue near the end of the ride, and after I rolled the bike through the yard, my back tire stopped turning at all until I got it on the dry porch pavement.
As much as I love parking outside my door, I'm going for the covered porch at the other one I think, now. That way I won't have snow on the bike to start with (but it sure is pretty that way)

Anyhow, I DID IT! Wheee!

thanks for sharing !!... im a snow virgin ... we don't get that much in the valley

Good job on your part! Time and experience will tell if you and your bike can survive your first winter.

Good for you to be still riding even with bad weather
I wish I can ride in serious snow but my tires are real skinny

SNOWBOUND by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

If I may add a question or two:

What are you all doing with your bike once you get home and it is caked with snow? Will be bringing mine into the apartment so I am not sure.

The snow that accumulates between the tire and fender.... does it slow you down?

I'll answer from my experiences.

I generally just bring my bike into the kitchen and let them melt and drip all over the linoleum. Then I mop it up.

Snow build up between tire and fender can cause issues depending on clearance and snow consistency. It's worse in really wet, heavy snow. That's also when I have derailleur issues.

What's stopping you? Just adjust your riding to the conditions.