Although it had already snowed above 7000', here at 6500' in central Colorado Springs we hadn't had any snow until last night (New Year's Eve). This morning I woke to 2-inches of medium-weight snow. After breakfast I shoveled the walk and driveway.
Then I dressed in my winter bike clothes, went out to the shed, swapped wheel sets for the ones with the studded snow tires. It took only 12 minutes, but would have been faster, except I had to re-adjust the brakes. Still, that's faster and easier than unmounting and mounting tires as I had done for many years.
It was 17 degrees Farenheit. I let the air out of the Suomi Nokian W-106's to bring them down to 25 psi, these tire's optimal pressure for loose snow, and I set out for a my first snow ride of the season!
I made a quick 40 minute ride out to one of the local MUPs and a set of tire tracks showed me I was the second rider of the morning there.
Now that I no longer have a daily commute, I look for any excuse to ride, and the long overdue, much needed first snow of the winter is a good one.
Happy New Year, Happy Winter Riding everyone on and at bikeforums!
