rumrunn6

that short narrow gauge trail is rugged even w/o snow! & even w plowing, the MM is best ridden w studs this time of year. sorry forgot to mention that the vids I posted were on studs

mr_bill

On Christmas Eve day, the worst way to travel by far was on foot on the local sidewalks.

In order of most treacherous walking to least treacherous walking:

1. Sidewalks that were cleared early-morning and were now covered with frozen freezing rain.
2. Sidewalks that were not cleared at all.
3. Take the (treated) lane!*
4. Sidewalks that were cleared mid-morning after the ground temperature was just above freezing.
   

The Minuteman was (4), so a bit of a sanctuary from it all.

For the whole morning the air temp was just below freezing, so I had to shake the ice off my umbrella over and over again.

-mr. bill

* If people driving cars weren't so cranky on Christmas Eve this frankly would have been the best choice, but last minute forgotten gift and/or ingredient errands when the weather is bad really brings out peak cranky.

autonomy

That's pretty much what it looks like - packed snow/ice. Pic from yesterday:

IMG_20171225_1531426_rewind.jpg

Makes for fantastic sledding! Considering temps will not be peeking above freezing, it's going to say like this for a while and just get packed down to ice more. Personally, I don't have studded tires so I'm staying off of it for now, even foot traction was low - I walked a bit in Lexington and in Arlington yesterday. Probably OK for rolling straight at low PSI but the moment you try to brake or change direction...

Trocadile

Studs definitely recommended today. Last week there were different hazards.

jimmuller 

Nice pics! You guys are going to have to ride without me for a few months. I don't have anything even remotely capable of dealing with the snow and ice, let alone the turkeys.

rumrunn6

so pretty ... & so funny!

Amitoj

Thanks, everyone. Looks like studded tires are the way to go this year if you want to go anywhere on your bike!

Panza

Happy Holidays. Still commuting even on Christmas morning in the thick of snow on 2.35" Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires. (I work medical and people need their medications so I work holidays). My commute is only about 2-3 miles one way mind you. I bunny hopped a snowbank about knee high in length to get to my work lot and a truck driver gave me an awesome look.

Ride safe, be visible, and stay away from plows, let them do their job.
Last year a cyclist in Boston died by a snow plow this year in Beverly.

Ghazmh

That's awesome! Lately my riding has been local 2 mile round trips that I don't even bother logging on the tally sheet.

rumrunn6

haha, awesome!
- love the goggles. you look like a fly. in a good way
- good thing there wasn't something dangerous in that snow bank ... one never knows ... as a kid I once tried to blast thru a pile of leaves but did a somersault over the bars when the front wheel got stuck in the thick of it
- those winter shoes?

rumrunn6

heard it's gonna warm up to the 20s on Saturday

NomarsGirl

Brrrrr!!! Much too cold for me. Not sure if you guys are tough or crazy. Carry on!

Ghazmh

I hope your right!!! Cabin fevers setting in and I'm ready to stuff the trainer in the attic.

rumrunn6

well I wouldn't suggest that yet!

anx

I hear you, I have total cabin fever, i swapped on my studded tires that i got as a Christmas present to myself and I'm ready to go but it's just been too darn cold for me, the cold air really gets to my lungs and im hacking away for days so just not worth being out in these below freezing temps. Maybe midweek will be better, if not maybe mid January !

rumrunn6

great looking tires, looks like we might hit the low 30s next Monday!

Ghazmh

This morning I briefly met up with a riding buddy for an 11 mile ride with my 29er hybrid. It was -4 and felt it. I wore my Endurance wool base layer top with my vintage 1999 PI insulated mid layer pocketless jersey (an awesome piece of gear that's as functional and awesome as it was in 99). Over that was my PI Elite soft shell jacket that almost too big unless its covering a few layers. PI tights under a PI barrier pants. On my feet I had thick socks, 1 chemical warmer, Specialized winter shoes and PI insulated shoe covers. Up top I had a recently purchased wool balaclava, face shield and goggles. 2 layer 45Nrth winter gloves with 2 chemical warmers in each. All in all I was almost comfortable except for my fingers. They got cold, numb, and sore despite everything I did. Sweat, eye water or something froze on the inside of my goggles diminishing my vision. It still felt good to ride.

jimmuller 

@Ghazmh, you are a tough man. And a bit crazy!

anx

Wow. kudos to you @Ghazmh, you got me beat I only managed a quick 7 miles loop this morning, waited until mid morning for the sun to up the temps a degree or two, i dont think it made much difference. I had layered up and just had to try my new Suomi studded tires, and yes @rumrunn6 they did the trick. I could have gone for miles on them but the cold had me beat for sure!

Whatever the bike paths/roads threw at me the studded tires handled expertedly, it was actually quite an odd sensation that took some getting used to as I would brace myself for a skid out followed by a fall but nope the tires just kept on going straight, they are loud on clear pavement but feel awesome on the icy stuff, make quite the satisfying crunching sound as they dig in.

As for the state of the bike paths out there, there's definitely patches of the Arlington bike path that would be doable on nonStudded tires but a lot of it is ice or compacted snow that's turned to ice. I think anyone would be able to get from Davis to Alewife no problem, Alewife to Arlington center probably not-so-much, entire sections like the pics below and some worse.







The only reason i didnt go further onward towards Lexington was the cold, my face was exposed in part still and i lost feeling in the tips of my toes so next time I'll need to wear 2 pairs of thick winter socks instead of just one or get some toe covers for my cycling shoes.

I would have taken more photos but couldnt for 2 reasons, it was too much of a hassle taking off 2 layers of gloves and my phone just stopped working after 45 minutes of being outdoors, it just gave up and the screen wouldnt power on, thankfully its working again now I'm inside!

So yeah, I'm glad I managed to get my first ride of the new year in even if it wasnt an exceptionally long one, maybe will try again on Wednesday.

rumrunn6

well done! thanks for the trail report! more snow Thursday so keep those tires on!

autonomy

Be wary that doing so may make things worse - by stuffing 2 pairs of thick socks into a boot not sized for such you may be cutting off circulation to your feet! Certainly try it - it worked for me, I just had to scale back on the lacing.

Good on you all for getting out. I've pretty much abandoned biking for now, at least outside. I did go hiking and skating, so there's that. It's really awfully cold to be out on a bike, my hands and feet just can't handle it. Somehow it's easier for me to keep warm while staying on the ground. I do wish I had studded tires, though, then I could do what this guy did (awesome!):

IMG_0332_2.jpg

IMG_0333_2.jpg

That is Spy Pond in Arlington and it is now a great place for biking (and skating too, I guess) as it is completely frozen over with - told me by the fishermen - 6 to 8 in of ice.

jimmuller 

All of you are crazy! And wonderfully tough too! Great pics of Spy Pond.

anx

Felt good to get out there, but mother nature doesnt seem to want to give us any breaks, now many inches of snow and bitter cold to come later this week. Maybe I'll just get on my bike and keep heading south and not stop tomorrow!

I do worry about that yes, the shoes are already pretty snug, think i'll just have to get some outside covers for the shoes instead. Love those Spy pond photos, I would still worry that even in these temps taken both my heavy self and my heavy bike on the water would just be tempting fate! It does look fun tho.

autonomy

Yeah, the weather so far this winter has not been friendly to cyclists... although I bet this is exactly the kind of weather fat bikers in Michigan and Minnesota love. I did see a lonely commuter this morning on the road.

As far as the ice goes, I was a little worried myself but figured if it can support all those people...

IMG_0323_v2.jpg IMG_0335_v2.jpg

IMG_0329_v2.jpg

^ that crack goes all the way through, difficult to tell the scale, but it looks over 6in.

Under 4" - STAY OFF
4" - Ice fishing or other activities on foot
5" - 7" - Snowmobile or ATV
8" - 12" - Car or small pickup
12" - 15" - Medium truck

OK, I didn't mean to hijack this thread

Panza

They're my winter shoes but goggles on a MTB is the sign of a true winter bad ass yes.

My winter escapades may be drawing to a near close except for 30º days. I bought a Wahoo Kickr and it's so much quieter than my former wheel-on trainer I don't mind using it inside my house. : )