Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Winter Cycling
Reload this Page >

Winter Cycling 101

Notices
Winter Cycling Don't let snow and ice discourage you this winter. The key element to year-round cycling is proper attire! Check out this winter cycling forum to chat with other ice bike fanatics.

Winter Cycling 101

Old 11-15-10, 03:59 PM
  #1  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Winter Cycling 101

Have been working on this... have a lot more content to add but wanted some feedback from all you crazy people.




Winter Cycling 101

Note: My site was hacked in June and have recently re-loaded the site and am working on a re-write of the article, still waiting on re-verification and Google seems to have an issue with their DNS / Caching that pops up a false warning while things look good in Firefox.

URL has been updated as this has changed.

Last edited by Sixty Fiver; 09-24-11 at 06:26 PM.
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-15-10, 04:29 PM
  #2  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Will be adding some frosty images (they could be of you) as well as some video we just did here to promote winter cycling.
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-15-10, 04:33 PM
  #3  
ScottRock
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NYC
Posts: 189
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Some tips on weatherproofing / special maintenance considerations would be nice. E.g. what to look for when looking for the "right lubrication." Otherwise, pretty good stuff.
ScottRock is offline  
Old 11-15-10, 04:40 PM
  #4  
Doohickie
You gonna eat that?
 
Doohickie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Posts: 14,723

Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 164 Post(s)
Liked 67 Times in 44 Posts
I need to alert R A N T W I C K to this thread. He commutes in balmy London, Ontario, 100% of the time.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.


Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
Doohickie is offline  
Old 11-15-10, 08:46 PM
  #5  
Pwnt
( 8n(|) DOH!!
 
Pwnt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 851

Bikes: Scattante R670

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
BRILLIANT!

Honestly, I have nothing to add. You nailed it! Maybe something about maintaining/inspecting you bike as things seem to wear quicker in the the winter but....again, Brilliant!
__________________
_____________________________________________

I love noodles.
Pwnt is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 03:03 AM
  #6  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Originally Posted by ScottRock
Some tips on weatherproofing / special maintenance considerations would be nice. E.g. what to look for when looking for the "right lubrication." Otherwise, pretty good stuff.
Done.

Think I am done adding stuff for the day and need to be rested for tomorrow's frosty riding.
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 03:05 AM
  #7  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
I also added some links back to the Winter Cycling Forum, Winter Bike Pics, and Tyre Studding thread... so we might have a few more guests.

Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 09:04 AM
  #8  
black_box 
Fax Transport Specialist
 
black_box's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: chicago burbs
Posts: 1,000

Bikes: '17 giant propel, '07 fuji cross pro, '10 gary fisher x-caliber

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 568 Post(s)
Liked 385 Times in 243 Posts
And yes… those are *cough*spokeydokes*cough* on the front wheel which serve as stall indicators.
oh sure...
black_box is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 09:05 AM
  #9  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Originally Posted by black_box
oh sure...
Seriously... I know a few mtbr's that put these on their wheels and if you can hear them you know that you are moving much too slowly.

Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 09:34 AM
  #10  
Arcanum
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 903

Bikes: 2010 Kona Dr. Dew, Moose Bicycle XXL (fat bike), Yuba Mundo V3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Good write up. Some commentary on brake options for winter bikes would probably be helpful. Trying to stop with snow and ice crusted rim brakes can be disconcerting, to say the least.
Arcanum is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 10:14 AM
  #11  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Originally Posted by Arcanum
Good write up. Some commentary on brake options for winter bikes would probably be helpful. Trying to stop with snow and ice crusted rim brakes can be disconcerting, to say the least.
Good point... this is becoming quite a group project.

More braking info was added.
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 10:27 AM
  #12  
bijan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Posts: 409
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Sweet! Excellent info.

Could use some shots of you riding the bikes.
bijan is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 10:50 AM
  #13  
crhilton
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 4,556
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I'm gonna finish reading this, and then I think I'm going to post a link to it on one of our local shop sites.

The net needs new icebike content. icebike isn't really dated, but their site looks so dated you'd never know.
crhilton is offline  
Old 11-16-10, 11:09 AM
  #14  
crhilton
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 4,556
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Any well maintained bike should be capable of handling the winter and I would advise against riding a “beater” as winter is far too long here to ride a crappy bike, dedicated winter riders tend to ride fairly decent bikes as better parts last longer and run more smoothly.
Thank you.
crhilton is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 08:56 AM
  #15  
hobkirk
Retired dabbler
 
hobkirk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Acton, MA (20 miles west of Boston) - GORGEOUS cycling territory!
Posts: 788

Bikes: 2007 Specialized Roubaix Elite Triple - 1st ride = century 9/19/2010 , Ultegra

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Good page. Thanks. Is your terrain pretty flat? It seems it would be quite difficult riding in my area with just 3 gears - or are the gears widely spaced? [I haven't ridden an internal 3 speed in over 50 years.]
hobkirk is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 09:34 AM
  #16  
alan s 
Senior Member
 
alan s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 6,977
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1496 Post(s)
Liked 189 Times in 128 Posts
It's a great start. I'd like to see a discussion of the different tires and techniques for other winter conditions - ice vs. snow. Your article focuses mostly on snow riding, but in the Mid-Atlantic, at least, ice is more prevalent. Perhaps links to Icebike and Peter White would suffice.

Also, I disagree with your statement that WD-40 should not be used on chains. I use it all the time to allow the oil to penetrate into the links. After cleaning the chain with mineral sprits and applying Prolink lube, I spray with WD-40, wipe the chain thoroughly, and let it dry for a while. It works great.
alan s is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 10:26 AM
  #17  
crazzywolfie
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Orangeville, Ontario
Posts: 388
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
it is pretty good but it maybe it could use something about where and how to keep your bike when you are not using it. i have learned to not just drop a bike on its side outside because it will usually freeze up. i always keep my bike upright in the winter since i have to park it outside

i never use WD-40 unless i have to and even then i have to go to the store and buy it if i decide to use it. i usually use ATF or used motor oil.
crazzywolfie is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 12:09 PM
  #18  
TurbineBlade
Kid A
 
TurbineBlade's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,778
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
That's a pretty good write-up! I wear cotton all year long and often argue against what I see as people wasting money on high-tech clothing simply because someone told them it works better, or they read Bicycling magazine, etc. but in your situation where the winters actually DO get quite cold, I'd probably go for a lot of wool.

Well done.
TurbineBlade is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 05:13 PM
  #19  
irclean
Born Again Pagan
 
irclean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 2,241

Bikes: Schwinn hybrid, Raleigh MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Perhaps a paragraph on pedals would be in order. Personally I prefer BMX-style platform, but I know a lot of people ride year-round on clipless. Either way a warning should be given about stepping off of your grippy pedal and onto some slick ice, which could lead to a spill. Otherwise very comprehensive. Well done!
irclean is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 07:32 PM
  #20  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Originally Posted by alan s
It's a great start. I'd like to see a discussion of the different tires and techniques for other winter conditions - ice vs. snow. Your article focuses mostly on snow riding, but in the Mid-Atlantic, at least, ice is more prevalent. Perhaps links to Icebike and Peter White would suffice.

Also, I disagree with your statement that WD-40 should not be used on chains. I use it all the time to allow the oil to penetrate into the links. After cleaning the chain with mineral sprits and applying Prolink lube, I spray with WD-40, wipe the chain thoroughly, and let it dry for a while. It works great.
"This is a common question and I will start by saying that WD40 is NOT a lubricant and should not be used on bicycle chains as it is primarily a solvent and will wash any lubricant out of your chain.

If you do neglect your chain and it starts to stick WD40 can be used to free stuck links but then a proper chain lube should be applied."
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 07:40 PM
  #21  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Originally Posted by hobkirk
Good page. Thanks. Is your terrain pretty flat? It seems it would be quite difficult riding in my area with just 3 gears - or are the gears widely spaced? [I haven't ridden an internal 3 speed in over 50 years.]
My winter bike is set up with a pretty low gearing on the AG which is a wide ratio three speed... it has a 39/52/70 and the 39 is low enough for the 12-18 % grades I might encounter and 70 gear inches is about as high a gear I need for riding through the city in winter.

Was out today and used the 2nd / 52 gear inches as a starting gear as it is sometime better to apply less torque and reduce the possibility of spinning out... will have to add a note to this effect under technique as it seems the odds of falling are highest when you are starting and stopping and starting in too low a gear will cause you to spin out too easily.
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 07:42 PM
  #22  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Originally Posted by bijan
Sweet! Excellent info.

Could use some shots of you riding the bikes.
Will have to enlist the aid of some friends to do this as it is hard to take self portraits while you are riding.

Will be adding some gear related shots tonight and I love pictures.
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 07:48 PM
  #23  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Originally Posted by irclean
Perhaps a paragraph on pedals would be in order. Personally I prefer BMX-style platform, but I know a lot of people ride year-round on clipless. Either way a warning should be given about stepping off of your grippy pedal and onto some slick ice, which could lead to a spill. Otherwise very comprehensive. Well done!
Done.

I fall more in the winter when I am off, or getting off my bike.
Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 07:55 PM
  #24  
TRaffic Jammer
Dances With Cars
 
TRaffic Jammer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 10,527

Bikes: TBL Onyx Pro(ss converted), Pake SS (starting to look kinda pimped)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Just posting so I might come back to it later. Re: WD-40 it's for anti seize. We messengers used to carry a small can around in our bags in the winter for all manner of stuff. Chains, shifters, cables, brake pivot points, seat posts, just about anything. It is not a lube though, it has some in it mixed with the loosening agents, but it does work. We'd spray it on on those 10cm+ of snow days to help keep the freewheel clear of ice with the exception of the single gear you were riding. It's not uncommon to see a messenger get off his bike at a light and bounce/kick all the crap off it that had gathered.

I was lucky in that I had a friend that lived a block from a fire station , so they'd hose the bikes down at the end of a gross sloppy day for us.

I'm toying with the idea of trying to mount 28mm cross tires on my road brake setup Paké for this winter.
TRaffic Jammer is offline  
Old 11-17-10, 08:05 PM
  #25  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Thread Starter
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 95 Posts
Does anyone want to submit pictures of themselves riding in the winter to add to the gallery ?
Sixty Fiver is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.