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

I am in a predicament

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.

I am in a predicament

Old 11-25-21, 12:23 PM
  #1  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
I am in a predicament

I recently purchased a set of Continental Contact Spike studded tires for riding on road in winter. I got them to put on my Salsa Cutthroat. But I was thinking, jeeeeez, ya know, it would be a shame to cover such a nice bike in road salt.

NOW, I do have an old mid-80s steel Raleigh that I use on my trainer. Perfectly road worthy. Trouble is, it is the least coolest bike I own. You must understand, I have a reputation in this town, and I can't sully my good name by being seen outside on this thing. There is a small saving grace here and that is, during the winter in Eastern Canada, all skin is covered, including your face.

SO, would anyone know that it is really me?

BUT, can I take that chance?

What if someone found out that it WAS me?

Well, I'd have to move, change my name, cosmetic surgery, etc.

My predicament is, what is more important: riding my CutThroat and covering it in road salt, OR riding that old beater with the chance of having to leave the country if found out.

I don't know what to do.........you folks are smart; thoughts?
digger is offline  
Old 11-25-21, 12:26 PM
  #2  
10 Wheels
Galveston County Texas
 
10 Wheels's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,221

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 1,236 Times in 617 Posts
Cut back on the Boose or Drink More.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Likes For 10 Wheels:
Old 11-25-21, 04:07 PM
  #3  
MinnMan
Senior Member
 
MinnMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,735

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4266 Post(s)
Liked 2,938 Times in 1,812 Posts
I'm wondering or not there was a sincere predicament buried beneath all that.

Some of the coolest cyclists I know ride the least cool bikes. At times.
If you live so far north and established said "reputation", what did you ride in previous winters?
MinnMan is offline  
Old 11-25-21, 04:51 PM
  #4  
Siu Blue Wind
Homey
 
Siu Blue Wind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,518
Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2424 Post(s)
Liked 1,392 Times in 891 Posts
The bike doesnt define the cyclist. His dedication does.
__________________
Originally Posted by making
Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.
Siu Blue Wind is offline  
Likes For Siu Blue Wind:
Old 11-25-21, 06:05 PM
  #5  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times in 1,574 Posts
Originally Posted by digger
I have a reputation in this town
Of that, I have no doubt.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 11-25-21, 06:17 PM
  #6  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,830

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4744 Post(s)
Liked 3,860 Times in 2,509 Posts
I found that riding the worst weather on a winter worthy rig got me respect. I went back to my alma mater for a year a decade after graduation. Bumped into one of my former profs. He saw my helmet and started telling me of a long haired student of his who rode all winter - with obvious respect. He had no idea he was describing me.
79pmooney is offline  
Likes For 79pmooney:
Old 11-25-21, 06:33 PM
  #7  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
Of that, I have no doubt.
That made me laugh!
digger is offline  
Likes For digger:
Old 11-25-21, 07:18 PM
  #8  
Ghazmh
Senior Member
 
Ghazmh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,020

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 693 Post(s)
Liked 903 Times in 486 Posts
Dude, riding that old bike in the winter when most people wouldn’t ride outweighs any cons of riding a whooptie.
Ghazmh is offline  
Likes For Ghazmh:
Old 11-25-21, 07:35 PM
  #9  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by Ghazmh
Dude, riding that old bike in the winter when most people wouldn’t ride outweighs any cons of riding a whooptie.
I think you meant “whoopty” not “whooptie”.

A “whooptie” is, according to Urban Dictionary, a slag term for a wax pen.

Your point is valid nonetheless.
digger is offline  
Likes For digger:
Old 11-25-21, 07:42 PM
  #10  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by Siu Blue Wind
The bike doesnt define the cyclist. His dedication does.
Agreed. It is presumptuous to assume my pronouns. But it is ok, hard to break old habits.
digger is offline  
Likes For digger:
Old 11-25-21, 07:42 PM
  #11  
Gravel Rider
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Liked 155 Times in 63 Posts
Hold your head up and rock that old steelie!
Gravel Rider is offline  
Likes For Gravel Rider:
Old 11-25-21, 08:10 PM
  #12  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
those look cool

https://www.bike24.com/p2360741.html
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 11-25-21, 08:11 PM
  #13  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by Gravel Rider
Hold your head up and rock that old steelie!
I think I’m going to get a new bike for on-road winter. Something like $1000-1500 and aluminum will do, no need for the higher level carbon.
Something that is not a real keeper bike but one that doesn’t make me look Freddy, like I don’t know what I’m doing.

I’m not sure why I didn’t think of that before.
digger is offline  
Old 11-25-21, 08:12 PM
  #14  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
it's not what you have, it's what you do with it

I trust that's not too esoteric. but so what if it is
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 11-25-21, 08:14 PM
  #15  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
it's not what you have, it's what you do with it
My wife has said that EXACT same thing to me before.
digger is offline  
Likes For digger:
Old 11-25-21, 08:18 PM
  #16  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by digger
My wife has said that EXACT same thing to me before.
lol, yahoo!
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 11-25-21, 09:13 PM
  #17  
MinnMan
Senior Member
 
MinnMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 5,735

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4266 Post(s)
Liked 2,938 Times in 1,812 Posts
I'm pretty sure the OPs concerns about cool are tongue-in-cheek, but as I've posted about before, I am also trying to decide whether to put the studs on my Warbird or the steel Masi. At the moment, I'm leaning towards the Masi. By the time you add the weight of the bike, the studded tires, and the all the clothes I'm wearing under those conditions, it's raher like riding a truck. But it's a good workout. A couple of winters ago I did a winter century with it.

So personally, the choice is probably going to go to the old steel bike b/c it's going to be a better workout.

Also, recently I've been using the Masi as my commuter, and if I continue to commute in the snow, the studded tires will do double duty.
MinnMan is offline  
Old 11-25-21, 09:28 PM
  #18  
_ForceD_
Sr Member on Sr bikes
 
_ForceD_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Posts: 2,306

Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1012 Post(s)
Liked 759 Times in 408 Posts
Too many people spend time worrying about what the people, who never think about them, think about them. — J. S. Felts

Dan
_ForceD_ is offline  
Old 11-26-21, 02:28 AM
  #19  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
lol, yahoo!
Yahoo! You're having fun! It warms my heart!
digger is offline  
Old 11-26-21, 02:30 AM
  #20  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by _ForceD_
Too many people spend time worrying about what the people, who never think about them, think about them. — J. S. Felts

Dan
I worry to much about what people think? You think so? About me?
digger is offline  
Old 11-26-21, 02:35 AM
  #21  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by MinnMan
I'm pretty sure the OPs concerns about cool are tongue-in-cheek, but as I've posted about before, I am also trying to decide whether to put the studs on my Warbird or the steel Masi. At the moment, I'm leaning towards the Masi. By the time you add the weight of the bike, the studded tires, and the all the clothes I'm wearing under those conditions, it's raher like riding a truck. But it's a good workout. A couple of winters ago I did a winter century with it.

So personally, the choice is probably going to go to the old steel bike b/c it's going to be a better workout.

Also, recently I've been using the Masi as my commuter, and if I continue to commute in the snow, the studded tires will do double duty.
True, extra weight would enhance the workout. I'm familiar with the Warbird but I had to look up the Masi; it's very nice! I wouldn't mind being seen on something like that, even though it is steel. But at first glance it looks like aluminum, so that's a plus.

That old Raleigh has dual pivot brake calipers, stopping power isn't the greatest, but I'll keep my average speed down to 30 kph for the winter.

A winter century is impressive!
digger is offline  
Old 11-26-21, 05:54 AM
  #22  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
I mounted the rear tire and there is 2mm of gap between the chainstay and the tire sidewall (42mm tire). Too close for me.

Back to the Cutthroat I guess.
digger is offline  
Old 11-26-21, 07:27 AM
  #23  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by digger
I mounted the rear tire and there is 2mm of gap between the chainstay and the tire sidewall (42mm tire). Too close for me.Back to the Cutthroat I guess.
at what pressure? I had big tires on a bike, & I found running them at a lower pressure, gave me more clearance all around

also what width are yours? I see they come in 3 sizes 32mm, 37mm & 42mm
https://www.wheelworks.com/product/c...c-394173-1.htm

Last edited by rumrunn6; 11-26-21 at 07:35 AM.
rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 11-26-21, 11:02 AM
  #24  
Siu Blue Wind
Homey
 
Siu Blue Wind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,518
Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2424 Post(s)
Liked 1,392 Times in 891 Posts
Originally Posted by digger
Agreed. It is presumptuous to assume my pronouns. But it is ok, hard to break old habits.
General term. But I'll call you a she if you'd like. Or a they.
__________________
Originally Posted by making
Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.
Siu Blue Wind is offline  
Old 11-26-21, 11:45 AM
  #25  
digger
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
digger's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Likely North of you.
Posts: 2,267
Mentioned: 213 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1295 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times in 132 Posts
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
at what pressure? I had big tires on a bike, & I found running them at a lower pressure, gave me more clearance all around

also what width are yours? I see they come in 3 sizes 32mm, 37mm & 42mm
https://www.wheelworks.com/product/c...c-394173-1.htm
Inflated to 45 PSI and the tires are 42mm wide.
digger is offline  
Likes For digger:

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.