Are you going to ride in snow?

[Gionnirocket]

Waiting For The Snow...

View attachment 74355
Schwalbe Marathon Plus Winter 29x2"

If you run over a nail with a studded tire... Do you get a flat or added traction?

 

[pmcdonald]

OK thundersnow . . . thundersnowstorm ... officially This thread just went TMI ... Wikipedia link

Thundersnow - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Be safe @J.R. and other brave souls

I wasn't aware of this phenomenon. So a thunder storm.. with snow? That sounds kind of awesome and terrifying all at once.

I'd take a sprinkling of snow in our storms at the moment. The humidity is oppressive.

 

[Art Deco]

OK. I get it now.
Bring in some wood. Not going anywhere.

 

[Art Deco]

Knowing my luck, Mazovia won't get any snow by April or May (it might snow in May; it used to happen in the past). I don't dream to get any snowing. I just want to be prepared to make my promise "riding all year round" happen

The boy scout motto. Be Prepared. Nope, I wasn't prepared for this snow.

 

[Gionnirocket]

OK. I get it now.
Bring in some wood. Not going anywhere.

Me too... I got motivated early this morning.

 

[RandallS]

Just came in from a 23km ride. Lots of packed snow and ice and I really took it easy as i haven't gone studded yet. Wind came up and although the web says +5, it felt like -5. Was good to stretch out the legs a bit as its been very cold the last 5 days or so.

 

[pmcdonald]

The boy scout motto. Be Prepared. Nope, I wasn't prepared for this snow.

Unexpected snow! The first (and last) time I encountered such a treasure was on our US trip last year. Late October, I started a walk in Vermont to a summit called the Camels Hump. It was about 15C at the trailhead and drizzling lightly. The summit was obscured in clouds. It was pleasant walking in sneakers, jeans and a tshirt - actually a little sweaty in the drizzle - but I thought I'd better pack the down gortex jacket and gloves Just In Case.

Drizzle turned to the lightest snow flakes gently drifting down, which got heavier and heavier as I walked higher. I was like a kid in a candy store. Up towards the summit out of the shelter of the mountain the wind ripped past at about 60km/h. I put the wind chill at a rough -15C. I think I almost got frostbite taking a panorama of the white out at the summit. I huddled in the shelter of an ice-blasted pine, wolfing down my mustard and ham sandwiches, shoes soaked in icy water with an enormous stupid goofy grin on my face. It was awesome - I loved every minute of it!

A couple of Burlington locals wandered past dressed in far more appropriate cold weather gear, including crampons. We had a great chat on the walk back down. (Bloody Aussies, they probably thought. Being Vermonters, they were far too polite to voice that thought out loud)

[Need anyone think me too irresponsible, I had a medical kit, food and water on me, along with cell reception, and up and back it was only about 3 hours total. Even in these conditions the walk was well trafficked too]

 

[Art Deco]

How quickly it can change.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Guys. Let me tell you my story.

It was June 2006, Summer in Norway. I was a roadie to a Polish band for a shanties festival in Langesund. We took a trip by the bands' van to explore the province of Telemark. Wooden churches, a lake where SF Hydro with the load of heavy water was sunk by Norwegian partisan commando, and finally, Rjukan, the home of the Norwegian chemical industry. There, a sabotage by Norwegian partisans and British paratroopers stopped the Nazi production of heavy water during WWII.

Rjukan is located in a valley so deep the sunshine operates for several hours a day only. After seeing the town and the remnants of the plant, we drove up Gaustatoppen, a volcanic mountain. Guess what? Minus 10 C and eternal snow! We were freezing while taking photos there! Now, I can fancy returning to the place and renting a good e-bike in Rjukan...

Unluckily, no photos remained. A video of Breton girls singing is still there.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Jeez, I've had snow on the ground for nearly the last month and have been skiing most every day. The bike(s): safely put away probably until March. Given that roads here are all too often steep and icy I'm not really up for biking on them.

Recently I've been on the Dawn Patrol for skiing and have seen the same guy commuting to work on his fat tire bike. Where he is riding is relatively flat and he appears to be taking a detour to avoid some substantial hills anyway.

 

[Dallant]

Guys. Let me tell you my story.

It was June 2006, Summer in Norway. I was a roadie to a Polish band for a shanties festival in Langesund. We took a trip by the bands' van to explore the province of Telemark. Wooden churches, a lake where SF Hydro with the load of heavy water was sunk by Norwegian partisan commando, and finally, Rjukan, the home of the Norwegian chemical industry. There, a sabotage by Norwegian partisans and British paratroopers stopped the Nazi production of heavy water during WWII.

Rjukan is located in a valley so deep the sunshine operates for several hours a day only. After seeing the town and the remnants of the plant, we drove up Gaustatoppen, a volcanic mountain. Guess what? Minus 10 C and eternal snow! We were freezing while taking photos there! Now, I can fancy returning to the place and renting a good e-bike in Rjukan...

Unluckily, no photos remained. A video of Breton girls singing is still there.

I want to see a Stefan the Roadie picture!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I want to see a Stefan the Roadie picture!

Not in the sense of "a road cyclist" of course. A band's companion on a tour. All pictures from that time have been lost.

Two years after, at a festival in Poland. I wore long hair in my late 40s and early 50s until I got grey I must admit I used to drink lager beer (until my religion changed)

 

[FlatSix911]

Not in the sense of "a road cyclist" of course. A band's companion on a tour. All pictures from that time have been lost.

View attachment 74387
Two years after, at a festival in Poland. I wore long hair in my late 40s and early 50s until I got grey I must admit I used to drink lager beer (until my religion changed)

That looks like a Motley Crue!

 

[Art Deco]

OK. I get it now.
Bring in some wood. Not going anywhere.View attachment 74365View attachment 74367

Reply to my own post ... the pretty side

 

[6zfshdb]

After 14" of snow on Wednesday, the park service got around to plowing the forest fire/service roads in my area. At 19 degrees and windy, it wasn't the best day for a ride but I wanted to see how my Marathon Plus MTB tires handled in snow. I managed only 8 miles before it ceased being fun. Overall, I was pleased at their performance. Certainly a lot better than the stock Fat Franks which were all but useless.


The experience brought back memories of my dirt bike years when you needed to use quick steering maneuvers to maintain balance. On paved, snow covered roads, it would be much easier to stay out of frozen ruts and far less stressful. If I were a commuter or serious road rider, I could see myself riding in Winter far more than I do now.

 

[Art Deco]

Sorry to admit that eight miles is pretty normal for me. Without the snow.

 

[J.R.]

After 14" of snow on Wednesday, the park service got around to plowing the forest fire/service roads in my area. At 19 degrees and windy, it wasn't the best day for a ride but I wanted to see how my Marathon Plus MTB tires handled in snow. I managed only 8 miles before it ceased being fun. Overall, I was pleased at their performance. Certainly a lot better than the stock Fat Franks which were all but useless.

View attachment 74490 View attachment 74495 View attachment 74493 View attachment 74491 View attachment 74494 View attachment 74492
The experience brought back memories of my dirt bike years when you needed to use quick steering maneuvers to maintain balance. On paved, snow covered roads, it would be much easier to stay out of frozen ruts and far less stressful. If I were a commuter or serious road rider, I could see myself riding in Winter far more than I do now.

I got out in the back field when the snow was about 6" deep. Just did a couple loops and I'm riding on the same tires. Not too bad, they don't compare to my old Nokian studded tires Not bad in powder though.

....
Ok Ma Nature, we know you're in control, we know its white, slippery and cold. It's enough for a white Christmas... make it stop!

 

[Art Deco]

Reply to my own post ... the pretty side
View attachment 74497View attachment 74498

And the not so pretty side of wood heat.The path to the woodpile.

 

[FlatSix911]

Here is a timely video from Electrek with a few product links below.

Wet Lube: https://amzn.to/3oZzJls
Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Winter Tires: https://amzn.to/3r3GlRx
Reflective Stickers: https://amzn.to/3mrepn9
1st Battery Cover: https://amzn.to/3mpJojp
2nd Battery Cover: https://amzn.to/2K2C14t
Handle Bar Covers: https://amzn.to/37sWTe5
Holy cow, what a bright Headlight: https://amzn.to/3mresiP
Flashing Light Set: https://amzn.to/3oZruph
Mirror: https://amzn.to/38d64yo

 

[Latitude]

Snow here now, not as much as the N.E. United States, fortunately. Been riding in temperatures just around freezing. Marathon GT 365 tires performing well. As are my heated gloves and socks... staying relatively comfortable. Last shot, derailleur 6 hours after my ride. Shifting wasn’t especially smooth towards the end! Thawed, oiled the chain and gear. Edit: snow was melted for today, temperature just above freezing, got lots of mud on my bike! Stopped several times to investigate a loud rattle, isolated metal items in the trunk bag, even took it off and left it trail-side... no difference. Turns out it was a loose kickstand extension! Back to quiet now. Ordered an eWool heated vest to counteract sweat/cool phenomena.