tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post2903125486053883394..comments2023-08-20T09:58:41.497-06:00Comments on Jerome's Bikes: Winter Commuting DecisionsJeromehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09984978420642327867noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post-82458154634263912922009-10-20T11:54:37.993-06:002009-10-20T11:54:37.993-06:00Thanks everyone for the great comments and advice....Thanks everyone for the great comments and advice. I appreciate it. Lots of good stuff on the facebook page too. I think the Trucker shall remain clean and away from the salt and sludge. This post from one of my bikes in the past shows why: http://jeromes-bikes.blogspot.com/2006/12/bicycle-tlc.html<br /><br />Now, start sorting out and getting rid of the junk, and tweaking the good bikes to a slightly different usefullness.....good times ahead!<br /><br />Cheers.Jeromehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984978420642327867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post-12094863862801168862009-10-19T17:43:26.372-06:002009-10-19T17:43:26.372-06:00I guess I'm the lone dissenting voice: I'd...I guess I'm the lone dissenting voice: I'd say use the LHT if you like riding it. <br /><br />But then, of course I'd give that advice because that's what I do myself. I am in the DC area, and the bad conditions tend to be wet and road grime rather than salt. We get more ice than snow, but they don't salt much. The places that have the most ice are the mixed use paths, and they don't take care of those at all, so definitely no ice/sand there. Thankfully I don't have to ride more than half a mile on the mup. I rode my LHT all year, even (somewhat ill-advisedly) on a day we got 7" of snow. <br /><br />I feel like the LHT can handle pretty much everything. Touring bikes aren't really designed to be babied, after all. I need lots of gears on my commute, I'd be walking five or six hills each way if I was on a SS, so that's just never been something I consider.<br /><br />My only other bike is a little road bike that I don't tend to bother to ever ride, and it doesn't have a rack in any case, so it wouldn't work for me as a commuter. Thus I never think about it, I just grab the LHT and head out. <br /><br />I actually got a bad weather bike last winter...and never used it. So I donated it this year. <br /><br />Ride whatever makes you happy. If you'd worry too much about the LHT, then ride something else, but there's no sense in not riding something you like.Debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post-44280009643467284942009-10-19T15:11:45.552-06:002009-10-19T15:11:45.552-06:00Commuting? Use the Monkey. Save the LHT.Commuting? Use the Monkey. Save the LHT.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post-3957686591837679352009-10-19T11:50:42.723-06:002009-10-19T11:50:42.723-06:00I like to keep a few bikes away from all the winte...I like to keep a few bikes away from all the winter crud. My LHT will not see winter duty unless my other bikes have major problems. I ride my Cross Check with studs, fenders and Nexus IGH. It sees all of the nasty stuff. The Pugsley gets the call only when it is sub zero and the roads are dry or if we have a snow event that guarantees we have snow on the roads all day long. Since the Pug is lacking fenders, it doesn't get used in the sloppy stuff.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09090802854306112252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post-12050701701322435222009-10-19T11:45:16.026-06:002009-10-19T11:45:16.026-06:00We don't have horrible winter conditions here,...We don't have horrible winter conditions here, so my suggestions are merely academic. Questions like these should be handled with proven principles...<br /><br />1. Use the bike you like.<br />2. Saving is wasting.<br />3. Simplification takes effort, but complexity just happens.<br />4. Simplification forces focus (see 1 above).<br />5. Simplification is prudent, but having a backup is prudent-er.<br /><br />Keep us informed.Ponderohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042079750126434523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post-75300387957519709242009-10-19T11:21:40.472-06:002009-10-19T11:21:40.472-06:00Thanks for the feed back guys.
Hughie, my bro-in-...Thanks for the feed back guys.<br /><br />Hughie, my bro-in-law asked if I could put a bike together for him, and if he wants the Mutt, I’m going to put some different tires on it and give it to him, but, that’s not to say that I don’t have a bunch of other stuff you might be interested in.<br /><br />I’ll send you an email about some of the stuff that I’ve got. A lot of it is stuff that I find at a local recycling facility, so I paid nothing for it, and I’d give it to you for free. The one thing that would cost you would be shipping, which may or may not be too bad. Within Canada should keep it half reasonable. Maybe we could even greyhound it or something? Anyway, I’ll let you know what I’ve got as I start to go through everything.<br /><br />Cheers.Jeromehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984978420642327867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post-11216733713773211322009-10-19T11:06:29.192-06:002009-10-19T11:06:29.192-06:00If you're going to get rid of stuff let me kno...If you're going to get rid of stuff let me know! Maybe we can work something out :)<br /><br />As for your commuting situation, I think not riding the LHT is definitely a good idea, but I have no experience with single speed. Using a single speed or fixie as a long distance commuter in St. Johns would be crazy I think, too hilly and too not bike friendly. <br /><br />I think using the KM and Xtra accordingly sounds like a plan.Hughiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356464528112078992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33160781.post-82322814352772662432009-10-19T10:59:01.280-06:002009-10-19T10:59:01.280-06:00Whew, quite a post. Got me thinking a bit too! F...Whew, quite a post. Got me thinking a bit too! First of all, I live in Boston, and while we get snow, I'm not really outfitted for a snow bike... yet! That said, I can totally relate to your conundrum.<br /><br />I like the idea that it's worth riding a better more comfortable bike and wearing it down rather than waiting for the nicer weather. If you still try to wash it off and take care of it a bit, I'm sure the karate Monkey would easily last more than 5 years, and that's still only $200 a year. keep in mind the rest of the non-snowing year, you'll be riding your other ones even more. <br /><br />if downsizing is another goal, then trash the junk. your second to last paragraph sums it up pretty well! it sounds like that will make you happier in many regards!JPTwinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10348686531981776474noreply@blogger.com