Winter Is Coming - Biking in Cold Weather

[Prairie Dog]

A sunny Tuesday morning ride in spring-like conditions. +3 C, lovely trails and even managed to go for a spin on freshly flooded pond ice. Couldn’t ask for more.

 

[tomjasz]

HH ware

Wear.
Famous in the Alaskan and North Sea Fisheries. Norwegian immigration was huge in MN and Alaska. News flash Fontleroy, we had Scandinavian imports protecting our fishing crews before Poland knew enough to come out of the rain. As usual you somehow see yourself as privileged and enlightened. As if a modicum of financial success somehow occupies the high ground. City boys and their toys. Arrogance for you is a breakfast food.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Wear.

"Ware" as in "goods".
Polish your English

 

[chunk]

It's spring around these parts, mid to high 60's F. I've been taking advantage of the great temps, and I have been getting in some nice rides. Some might think I'm crazy, but I can't wait for the SoCal summer temps, 100 F plus. I'm a native Ca. and I love the heat, but it's still pretty nice for February. Cheers.

 

[dariusf2]

Great pictures from others, adding some more bike porn

 

[Stefan Mikes]

What’s the bike, Darius?

 

[dariusf2]

What’s the bike, Darius?

Its a Salsa Bucksaw but heavily upgraded Only original parts are the frame, Rockshox Bluto fork (upgraded damper), headset and seat clamp I also use the original 26" fat wheels with 45NRTH Dillinger 4" studded tires for when there is now / ice otherwise I run a custom build 27.5x3" wheels with Hope hubs for the rest of the riding. I keep a cassette and rotors on both wheel sets so its a quick swap and adjust brake calipers. I actually sold my hardtail fat bike once I got this one.

Salsa Bucksaw - Review - Pinkbike

Salsa's full-suspension fat bike looks to raise the bar when it comes to fun, but just how capable is this big tire brawler?

www.pinkbike.com

 

[dariusf2]

Here is the latest build with 1x11 SRAM NX and my Ibis at the end

I guess if I sold both bikes I could have a down payment on e-bike, for now I will just stick to my Gravel e-bike. I am toying with an idea to build a hard tail plus size e-bike.

 

[mclewis1]

27.5 x 3" for "regular" riding and 26 x 4s for winter ... nice setup. I'm considering something similar (perhaps not quite as aggressive) for next season. In my case it's 27.5 x 2-2.5 for the regular conditions and a 26 x 3 rear for the winter ... but I'm still working on the idea.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I never thought I'd say one day, "It's so warm outside..." +4 C. Warm!

 

[Foul2Fair]

 

[Foul2Fair]

Winter was almost over when I made this....

 

[Mike_V]

I’ve worked outdoors most of my working life. From 122F to -30F. And in far more varied conditions than your uppity city butt has ever experienced. Why ever do you need to be so self aggrandizing. Again some of us don’t need to tally our trips about the globe to somehow complete with your idiotic blather. Ever been snow cave camping, flew off a cliff, piloted an aircraft, dirt boated at 70mph, rappelled down a ZA escarpment, or had a kind moment where you allowed anyone else to have experienced life’s adventures you’re to much of a pansy to have experienced? Always the “Richard”. Dick

Thankfully you’re anything but a typical European. Just a spoiled keyboard warrior buying his way through life’s thrills.

Tell us again about how you collected a paycheck from Eric Hicks @ LUNA Cycle who you now defame regularly.

 

[BEC111]

I never thought I'd say one day, "It's so warm outside..." +4 C. Warm!

Warm winter here too. It’s been around 15-20C here n Northern Virginia for much of February. Good for riding. which is good for my heart health.

 

[Mike_V]

Come on stefan you always seem to be the spelling nazi yet you screw up 'behavior', just playing by your rules.

Interesting statements Stefan, your just projecting like usual. I have many PMs from you where you where quite the bully (according to you namecalling = bully). I would love to share them.

Narcissistic Snobby Europeans are not tolerated here in the US.

There is a reason for the saying "Dont be a Stefan", and you have confirmed it yet again

You write like an old man, son.
Howd'ja pick Lemming ? it's some pest Euro - RAT with a death wish 'noun?

 

[Prairie Dog]

Hopefully the OP got the answers that he was looking for when he started this thread. I realize that it may have extended beyond what he had initially expected as more members have chimed in with their thoughts on biking throughout winter in their specific locales. We’ve been experiencing warmer weather recently but I personally would prefer to see our average temps hovering just slightly above or below freezing. That may all change in the coming days as we prepare for another cold snap before the month end. The title of this thread after all is, ‘Biking in Cold Weather’.

 

[mclewis1]

We're seeing a lot more of the freeze/thaw rollercoaster this winter ... which brings with it a lot of different conditions to ride in. Yesterday was +11C and sunny, today is -4 and rain (and now because of the temps it's freezing rain which is really nasty). Even the dog (greyhound) with her 4 wheel/paw drive isn't happy in this.

Interestingly right now with the thin ice layer being quite wet and soft (but still really nasty to walk on) it's not bad biking with good studded winter tires (took a little tour down the driveway and around the block). No pedestrians are out and only a few car drivers with their associated wide eyes and white knuckles on the steering wheels.

 

[DasTero5.0]

Here in the Chicago suburbs, cold weather is just around the corner. This will be my first winter owning an ebike and using it as my primary method of transportation. I bike my son 3 miles to daycare every morning and also bike for general errands, grocery runs, etc. I won't need to do long rides when it's really cold, and I do have access to a car when there's too much snow on the ground. I'd appreciate any tips to prepare for winter riding!

Prepping my bike:

• I have the stock Specialized Pathfinder Sport tires that came on the bike. Should I get knobby tires for winter? Would it even be safe to do that while pulling a trailer or should I just drive the car when the roads are snowy?
• At what temp should I start taking my battery inside vs. leaving in the bike in the garage? I'm thinking temps below 40F?

Keeping warm:

• My hands get cold super easily. I'm planning on getting the Bar Mitts Extreme cold weather
• I have a lighter winter coat and am thinking I'll try just using that with layers underneath. Any recommendations for base layers? Or should I go for a super warm coat?
• Any recommendations for warm pants?
• Recommendations for keeping my face and ears warm? Maybe a ski mask and cycling winter hat under my helmet?
• I have a rain cover for the trailer which will block the wind. That coupled with a winter coat and a blanket should keep my son plenty warm

View attachment 134206View attachment 134207

What tires are those? How do you like them compared to the stock Ground Controls?

 

[Prairie Dog]

We're seeing a lot more of the freeze/thaw rollercoaster this winter ... which brings with it a lot of different conditions to ride in. Yesterday was +11C and sunny, today is -4 and rain (and now because of the temps it's freezing rain which is really nasty). Even the dog (greyhound) with her 4 wheel/paw drive isn't happy in this.

Interestingly right now with the thin ice layer being quite wet and soft (but still really nasty to walk on) it's not bad biking with good studded winter tires (took a little tour down the driveway and around the block). No pedestrians are out and only a few car drivers with their associated wide eyes and white knuckles on the steering wheels.

So true. It’s created some precarious conditions so bad that I wouldn’t recommend riding on without appropriate tires. The ice here on city streets tends to be smooth and hard like this section I came across as I exited one of the trails today. Fortunately, the woman coming down this icy stretch of hill had enough sense to install studded tires on her bike.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I had another clean ride this morning and hope to head out again before the polar vortex sweeps in next week. Our fate might be sealed for the remainder of the month.

I was tempted to take a lap or two around this local rink as I was passing by but the guy in the Zamboni might have had other ideas.

More trail goodness as the temperature hovered around a near perfect -2C.