Cycling Thread

[Fuzz]

I was far to lazy to put the spikes on this morning, so risked it. No problem this morning, hopefully I can say the same tonight!

[habernac]

Spikes are almost always overkill. A little wet today, very pleasant.

[Fuzz]

Ya, my rear tire is pretty slick though, and at temps below zero turns into a curling slider. So my winters are more necessary. Plus I've got a few sections through confederation that get pretty ugly and are un-ridable without studs, particularly one steep hill. And walking sucks! I tend to need the studs earlier than most pathway peddlers do.

[Bigtime]

Well I'm so lazy that I have summer bike and winter bike. Winter bike will always have the studded tires on, so even while overkill I get to hear the sound of sizzling bacon when I ride it on pavement. So worth it!

[Fuzz]

Maybe once my garage is done and I have some extra cash I can have a summer and winter bike too! And a fat bike. That'd make, uh..5! Sounds like a good number.

[habernac]

I just hate the rolling resistance. I have to ride 16 or 17km. Not worth it to me. 90% of the time, the path is plowed. I just have to be careful riding out of my own cul de sac.

[Fuzz]

Ya, it is absolutely more work but I keep mine pumped up pretty firm. I only go 6 km, so I see where your decision is tougher!

[Bigtime]

Yeah I pump them up before every ride in the morning, 85psi for life.

[KTrain]

Anyone thinking about moving to studded tires should be aware that they have to take it easy on them for the first 40km or so. No fast breaking, ripping around corners, etc. The studs need some time to bed into the tires properly.

If you start flying around on them right away, especially on dry pavement, the studs can fall out.

[Mass_nerder]

Between yesterday and today I've been conducting a site analysis for a university project, counting users of a park (path) around Shaganappi golf course.
I counted 274 cyclists between 8am-6pm yesterday and 6-8am today, making up 83% of all users in that 12 hours.
Really surprised at how many people fought through the relatively miserable weather these past two days!

[worth]

I am so slow on my winter bike, it's painful, but it's a junker and I don't want to clean my road bike every day. The more I can keep my road bike clean, the more sane I will be.

[KTrain]

The only solution is a third bike.

I've been debating a different commuter bike. My friend lives in Auburn Bay and commutes with a single speed. That blows my mind but his rationale is that there are less moving parts so it's easier for him to keep it clean and maintain it over the year. It's also cheaper to fix when things go wrong. They can also be lighter.

We're lucky down here in that, while it's a long commute, it's pretty flat. I wouldn't want to be doing 150-200 meters in elevation one way to work on a single speed.

[habernac]

I got a cross bike and put fenders on it. Much faster than the old mtn bike I had for poor weather, but still slow compared to the roadie.

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by KTrain

The only solution is a third bike.

I've been debating a different commuter bike. My friend lives in Auburn Bay and commutes with a single speed. That blows my mind but his rationale is that there are less moving parts so it's easier for him to keep it clean and maintain it over the year. It's also cheaper to fix when things go wrong. They can also be lighter.

We're lucky down here in that, while it's a long commute, it's pretty flat. I wouldn't want to be doing 150-200 meters in elevation one way to work on a single speed.

I commute/run errands on a single speed and any bigger hills suck, but you do get there much quicker haha. Although with a new MTB coming into the picture thinking of turning my hardtail into a pure commuter to have the joy of gearing again.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by KTrain

The only solution is a third bike.

I've been debating a different commuter bike. My friend lives in Auburn Bay and commutes with a single speed. That blows my mind but his rationale is that there are less moving parts so it's easier for him to keep it clean and maintain it over the year. It's also cheaper to fix when things go wrong. They can also be lighter.

We're lucky down here in that, while it's a long commute, it's pretty flat. I wouldn't want to be doing 150-200 meters in elevation one way to work on a single speed.

I get that rationale; however, how many dueraillers do you replace during the lifespan of a bike? Cables are cheap and you are looking at maybe an hour of labour to replace it.

personally, I'd rather have the choice of gears for windy days and it makes the bike more versatile overall.

I have three bikes, and my wife would like not get excited about the addition of another rig - not would I want to make the effort to convert a geared rig to a singlespeed....

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I get that rationale; however, how many dueraillers do you replace during the lifespan of a bike? Cables are cheap and you are looking at maybe an hour of labour to replace it.

personally, I'd rather have the choice of gears for windy days and it makes the bike more versatile overall.

I have three bikes, and my wife would like not get excited about the addition of another rig - not would I want to make the effort to convert a geared rig to a singlespeed....

The maintenance on a single speed is much easier. Especially when you’re having to clean your bike after almost every ride in the winter.

[redflamesfan08]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

Between yesterday and today I've been conducting a site analysis for a university project, counting users of a park (path) around Shaganappi golf course.
I counted 274 cyclists between 8am-6pm yesterday and 6-8am today, making up 83% of all users in that 12 hours.
Really surprised at how many people fought through the relatively miserable weather these past two days!

I think I went past you yesterday. At least I know I saw someone sitting on a bench with a notebook in weather that was not at all your typical - "I'm going to go outline my novel in the fresh air" weather.

[Northendzone]

out of curiosity what gear combo would you run in a winter single speed?

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

out of curiosity what gear combo would you run in a winter single speed?

I haven't even thought about it. Someone else might have experience doing it.

[Bigtime]

Well riding the winter bike today was clearly a mistake. Sounds like tomorrow will be the day for it.