Those of you who get snow: whatcha gonna do when the salt and sand comes out?
09-01-10, 07:24 PM
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neits
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Those of you who get snow: whatcha gonna do when the salt and sand comes out?
I'm thinking of winter in New England and fearing for my good bikes' lives here. I have a beater Fuji that I'm probably going to put some new tires and clipless pedals on for riding in salt/sand conditions. Not even gonna bother with fenders until I feel the need to go out in the slush, which won't happen. You guys have similar beaters I'm assuming?
I'm probably going to just hang the steel Bianchi up for the winter since salt stays on the roads all winter, can take the aluminum racing bike out though.
I'm probably going to just hang the steel Bianchi up for the winter since salt stays on the roads all winter, can take the aluminum racing bike out though.
Last edited by stien; 09-01-10 at 07:28 PM.
09-01-10, 07:33 PM
#3
Fuji Fan
I don't call mine a beater.
Here it is from last Winter. The bike now has fenders and Gran Compe levers. I am debating a front rack.
Here it is from last Winter. The bike now has fenders and Gran Compe levers. I am debating a front rack.
09-01-10, 07:36 PM
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None of my bikes are particularly high-end. The Univega Activa, Phillips Sports, and Fuji Palisade will probably all see slush duty, depending on needs. The Schwinn World (1954) and Nishiki Modulus (teeny tires, no traction, and no fenders, at the moment) won't be seeing snow duty though. Not because I don't want to, but because they're redundant, and nicer (or rarer/older) than the bikes that they are redundant with, if that makes sense...
09-01-10, 07:37 PM
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salt will eat aluminum as well as steel.
I still ride though. I just wash the bike thoroughly. I plan to use a few drops of wd40 on the spoke eyelets because I found some corrosion there.
I still ride though. I just wash the bike thoroughly. I plan to use a few drops of wd40 on the spoke eyelets because I found some corrosion there.
09-01-10, 07:37 PM
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Schwinn Varsity. Add fenders.
Its added benefit is resistance training!
I hope you've got some warm clipless shoes...I'm picking up a pair of those LL Bean duck shoes for myself
Its added benefit is resistance training!
I hope you've got some warm clipless shoes...I'm picking up a pair of those LL Bean duck shoes for myself
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09-01-10, 07:38 PM
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09-01-10, 07:41 PM
#8
neits
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On a related note, what kind of fenders could I be looking at to fit under the regular old centerpull brakes that come on cheap old 10 speeds?
09-01-10, 07:44 PM
#9
Fuji Fan
I would bet you have the same clearance as my Special Road Racer. I measured and installed VO stainless fenders earlier this year.
09-01-10, 07:45 PM
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I think I'd just stick with platforms and boots. I've done it, and it works. Well. With clips, you have to use little shoes, and with clipless, you have to use specific shoes....
09-01-10, 07:50 PM
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IMHO go Cheap on the fenders like that planet bike stuff or something plastic. \
Whatever you do, fenders and at least some 28's are a good idea.
Whatever you do, fenders and at least some 28's are a good idea.
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09-01-10, 07:51 PM
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Oh I'd agree if I were commuting, but this is more to keep my legs (and spirits) alive during the wintertime. Semi-training.
09-01-10, 07:54 PM
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Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
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09-01-10, 08:12 PM
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Stein,
Where in New England? Are you new to the area? Can you join us for the Oct. 2nd Ride in NH?
This summer I found a steel, rigid fork, MTB beater at the dump. I picked up a pair of homemade studded tires at a yard sale. I'll add some sort of plastic fender to the mix. And gear it really low. There's no need to hurry when on ice and snow. And, take lots of cool (pun intended) pictures.
Where in New England? Are you new to the area? Can you join us for the Oct. 2nd Ride in NH?
This summer I found a steel, rigid fork, MTB beater at the dump. I picked up a pair of homemade studded tires at a yard sale. I'll add some sort of plastic fender to the mix. And gear it really low. There's no need to hurry when on ice and snow. And, take lots of cool (pun intended) pictures.
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Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
09-01-10, 08:31 PM
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I initially was planning on swapping the tires out on the Surly as a winter bike, but the more I'm thinking about it...the more I'm not sure I want to subject it to this. I'll probably do what I did last winter and get a rigid steel MTB with knobbie 2 inch tires on it. A guy that I know has a chromed early Mongoose (pre-box store Mongoose) that might do the trick quite nicely.
I ride the titanium a lot during the winter, at least when there's only slush, because of its corrosion resistance.
I ride the titanium a lot during the winter, at least when there's only slush, because of its corrosion resistance.
09-01-10, 08:32 PM
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neits
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Stein,
Where in New England? Are you new to the area? Can you join us for the Oct. 2nd Ride in NH?
This summer I found a steel, rigid fork, MTB beater at the dump. I picked up a pair of homemade studded tires at a yard sale. I'll add some sort of plastic fender to the mix. And gear it really low. There's no need to hurry when on ice and snow. And, take lots of cool (pun intended) pictures.
Where in New England? Are you new to the area? Can you join us for the Oct. 2nd Ride in NH?
This summer I found a steel, rigid fork, MTB beater at the dump. I picked up a pair of homemade studded tires at a yard sale. I'll add some sort of plastic fender to the mix. And gear it really low. There's no need to hurry when on ice and snow. And, take lots of cool (pun intended) pictures.
I'll be in the Boston area for school. Thanks for reminding me, I meant to add my email to the list. I was just in Maine for a few vacation days. Surprisingly I didn't buy a bike while there.
09-01-10, 08:47 PM
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09-01-10, 08:51 PM
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I'm thinking of winter in New England and fearing for my good bikes' lives here. I have a beater Fuji that I'm probably going to put some new tires and clipless pedals on for riding in salt/sand conditions. Not even gonna bother with fenders until I feel the need to go out in the slush, which won't happen. You guys have similar beaters I'm assuming?
I'm probably going to just hang the steel Bianchi up for the winter since salt stays on the roads all winter, can take the aluminum racing bike out though.
I'm probably going to just hang the steel Bianchi up for the winter since salt stays on the roads all winter, can take the aluminum racing bike out though.
09-01-10, 08:51 PM
#21
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Buy a Ti bike??
09-01-10, 10:50 PM
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nlearner is the expert to consult on commuting in Boston, as he does Cambridge-Brookline routinely.
Before my exodus, I lived there for 15 years and hated the winters. If the winters are mild, you've gotten off lucky, when it's bad, it sucks. The slush and salt assault on the equipment will be hard as you surmised. The road surfaces truly deteriorate alarmingly. I would hesitate to subject a nice bike with narrow tires to a Boston winter.
If you must leave the bike outside on campus often, and rely on it for reaching parts of the metro area, I'd hunt down a cheap rigid MTB like a Trek 830 and create a winter beater. Fenders to keep the slop off you, and lights, bright lights!
Before my exodus, I lived there for 15 years and hated the winters. If the winters are mild, you've gotten off lucky, when it's bad, it sucks. The slush and salt assault on the equipment will be hard as you surmised. The road surfaces truly deteriorate alarmingly. I would hesitate to subject a nice bike with narrow tires to a Boston winter.
If you must leave the bike outside on campus often, and rely on it for reaching parts of the metro area, I'd hunt down a cheap rigid MTB like a Trek 830 and create a winter beater. Fenders to keep the slop off you, and lights, bright lights!
09-02-10, 10:27 AM
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PanGalacticGargleBlaster
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I like the stick-stand.
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09-02-10, 10:59 AM
#25
Senior Member
Same thing I have done for the last 10 years: ride single-speed with fenders and 20mm tires. The thin tires cut through the snow right down to the pavement, the only thing I fear is black ice.
