Blues Frog

When do most of the folks take off the carbide studded tires in the middle US? About on a line through KC MO and St. Louis MO on the map. We are at about 1000+sea level here.

skijor

Late March is usually a safe bet here. Still enough spotty crusty icy junk to ride through for now. Probably in a week or two at most.

Steely Dan

at this time of year, it's nice to have multiple bikes. i can leave the studs on my winter bike, but if the forecast calls for nice weather and clear/dry streets, i can just hop on the road bike. next week the weather looks to be shaping up great (big warm-up coming), so i plan to be on the road bike most days, but i'll leave the studs on the winter bike in case we slide back into colder weather later on.

Bryan0520

I just got some 35mm "city" tires from Nashbar that I'm going to switch up for my current 35mm knobbies I have on my commuter right now. Will do that this weekend. As Steely Dan said, looks to be turning the corner here to spring in Chi-town. Can't wait!

nelson249

That's pretty much what I do but I use an urban cruiser rather than a road bike for commuting in good weather.

MNBikeguy

Here, spring involves major melting during the day, then lots of water in the shoulders and side streets to freeze into smooth glaze ice at night for the morning commute.
As soon as night temps are above freezing, I'll take them off. I probably keep them on longer than most.

ItsJustMe

In 2010 I took mine off on March 7 and got away with it. In 2009 I took them off in March but had to put them back on and only took them off permanently on April 5.

There is still ice on the road on the gravel roads that I ride that are shaded by trees, even though we've had rain and 40 degree temps.

However, given the forecast for the next few days, I think I'll take them off this weekend.

We're at exactly 1000 feet elevation here FWIW. 42 degrees north.

tsl

They're coming off today!

Looking back, it's been mid-March for me every year. Once I put them back on for a day or two, and there's that potential this year too.

But I've been riding my other bikes so much lately, I just can't bear to ride the studded-tire bike, so off they're coming. Right after lunch.

DISCLAIMER: I don't start work until the early afternoon, so morning icy patches aren't an issue.

paul2432

I take mine on and off throughout the winter as needed. I've gotten good enough that I can do both tires in about 20 minutes. Mine are off now, but could very well go back on if a storm comes through. I've probably put them on (and off) five or six times since first putting them on in October.

I think the longest I've had them on is maybe two weeks.

Paul

PaulH

Mine came off last weekend. I've been enjoying the smooth, quiet ride all week. There have been a very few frozen puddles in the morning, but not enough to require studs.

I kept them on until late March last year, but that was an exceptional winter. I put them on in December and off in March, but the dates vary with the weather.

Paul

Consularrider

This year they came off in mid-February when we had a nice warm spell, but went back on for two days when we got hit with a light icy snow. Last year I kept them on one of my two commuting bikes until the end of March because we still had ice that late from the record February snowfalls.

canyoneagle

Thinking about pulling them of this weekend as part of my seasonal maintenance on the steed.
We got a foot of snow a couple of days ago, but it is 60 degrees and sunny today, and the snow is mostly gone. I think the black ice days are waning if not completely gone.

ItsJustMe

I'm taking mine off this weekend too. Damn the torpedoes. If the back roads are still icy I'll take the long road.

wolfchild

I took mine off two weeks ago.

gerv 

Yes... I ride two bikes at this time of year. The only thing to figure out is just how icy the street will be during the commute. Lately I've been riding a MUP when I can and it's usually more of an ice hazard.

irclean

I usually wait until I see a forecast for a week of double-digit (in positive degrees Celsius) weather. Last year I think it was late March.

xtrajack

They go on in mid/late November and come off mid April, as a rule.

BA Commuter

I usually take them off the first week of March. Even though, I have 2 commuter bikes, I'll take my chances with lite knobbies on the beater. I also use that one as a trail bike or around camp in the summer.

If it's really icy or we get a big storm, I'll work from home!

crhilton

KC? I'd take them off if you don't see anything in the 10 day. I'm in NE and I highly doubt I'll be riding studs again until next winter.

Jim from Boston

Studs off?

Thanks for that disclaimer, tsl. I value your opinions, especially on cold weather commuting, so I'm glad you put them in perspective. As an early morning commuter in Boston, I think that we routinely get an extra four weeks of winter due to the temperature differentials. In fact, I even look forward to Daylight Savings Time starting tomorrow because the early morning darkness is so peaceful. (MY DISCLAIMER: I'm a reverse commuter from downtown to a suburb).

My studs are on my beater bike, and they are Marathon Winters, which to me and as others have posted, the rolling resistance is not a problem. The major reason to ditch them is that now most of the riding will be on bare pavement. They will stay on until at least April.

I will ride my road bike under those circumstances, but I keep the studs on the beater bike for the inevitable late March and even April snow storm, or the rare occurrence when everything is glazed with black ice until the sun rises.

PS: The Winter Cycling Forum appears to be going into its summer hibernation; the last opening post was on 3-5 (today is 3-12).

canyoneagle

Mine came off today. The Marathon Supremes are back on. If my hunch is correct, we should get the worst winter storm of the season next week

Blues Frog

The Schwalbe winter came off the front as I have an extra front wheel. But I got lazy and left the Hakkepelitta 106 on the rear. Maybe it can come off tomorrow. Thanks for all the ideas. Most of them parellel my thoughts and experience. This is the fourth winter of commuting for me. I felt like commuting every day was the only reaon my club ride went well for myself today. Keep the shiny side up.

electrik

Average night temp above freezing ... still lots of ice around in the morning when it's near freezing at night(there is much runoff from melting snow)

tjspiel

In general the winter forum doesn't seem as active as it has in past years. I think some of the winter discussion has migrated here.

BTW, I was in Boston this past week for a conference. I always enjoy going there.

Henry III

I've been debating on tossing on the Paselas back on since none of my road bikes have fenders and only my mtb commuter does. By the time I jump back on my road bike I'm gonna feel like Merckx after riding on my studded mtb commuter. lol.