It is Cold!

Well, the tires work great, but it is very cold outside.

I was heading home for lunch, into the wind which was coming from the North. I checked the local weather before I left and they said that it was -17C out and with the windchill, it feels like -28C. At to that I am riding into the wind and you could say it was a little nippy. The only part that gets cold though are my fingers and toes. Still, I'm finding it such a blast to be riding in the winter! Some of the cars driving by look at you like your crazy. I don't think that's true, I think that it just that they are confined to the belief that you need to drive a car if you live in this part of the world. I certainly am not against cars, I've a truck, a mini-van and a 1965 rambler marlin of my own and really like them all. I just think that it is important to evaluate whether or not you can find alternative transportation some of the time. I only ride 3 miles to work and back twice a day. I don't have to carry much, so why wouldn't I ride a bike.?

A friend of mine once put it like this. Your car weighs 2500lbs, you weight 179lbs, how much of the gas you are using is going to transport you and how much of it is going to transport your car. Around 5% of they fuel your buying goes to transport yourself based on the above numbers. Essentially, you are paying to move your car from place to place. Interesting way to look at it.

Cheers,

Jerome

Studded Bike Tires

Well, I was able to get my studded winter tires on my bike and do they ever work well.

Today it was -17C when I headed out the door with my bike, on my way to work. I was amazed at how well the tire gripped the ice and snow. The street that I live on is well covered with packed snow and some icy spots, and these babies didn't let it show. I wasn't pushing them too hard, but I wasn't taking it easy either. A far cry from my crashing yesterday and resorting to driving my truck.

I put these on my commuter trek and I think they will stay there.

I picked these us at Mountain Equipment Co-op in Calgary for $55.00. I figure that if I was going to try to ride my bike to work as much as possible, these would be vital. If the road clear up and I want a faster running bike, I jump on the fixie or any other of my 7 bikes. I was amazed though at how fast these tires do roll. Another thing that I like about them is that the side walls have a reflective ring around them. Nice when it's to work and back in the dark at this time of year.

Front Before

Front After

Rear Before

Rear After

Winter

Well, the 2nd spell of winter has come upon us. For the last several days we've had highs of -8 to -12 C. I've been riding my bike to work everyday this week and the cold hasn't been all that bad. You can dress for it, and as long as you do, everything is fine.

Snow, that a whole other story. Here is a picture from my office. This morning I geared up jumped on the bike and headed out. We had received about 2 inches of now overnight and I thought that it wouldn't be that bad with my specialized slicks on my commuter bike. Was I ever wrong! I wiped out twice before I got to the end of my street and turned around and started up my truck. Chicken and I know it.

But, I did something (or am doing) about it. I picked up a set of set of Schwable studded snow tire for my bike today and will be installing them tonight (provided I can get the time after the kids are in bed). I'll take some picks and if I get them on, I'll be testing them out tomorrow.

I don't mind wiping out, it's not a big deal, the issue is that I have never ever seen another person commuting to work by bike in this town. People are not used to bikes being a part of their traffic and if I am unable to make quick maneuvers, well, I don't want to think about it.

Hopefully I'll let be able to report tomorrow on how well, or not so well they work.

Cheers,

Jerome.