Studded tires

I've finally gotten around to putting the studded tires on the Xtracycle. It's taken me a while to get at it as I've been mostly riding for fun lately. Those rides only require about 1/2 block of riding on streets before I hit the canal path and then gravel. The Karate Monkey does fine on these conditions, but without studded tires, any riding on streets is pretty iffy.

This is the 4th year I've had this set of studded tires, and I'm amazed at how well they are holding up. The rubber still has that almost greasy feel of brand new tires and the studs are still in decent condition. If I were buying studded tires right now, I'd probably opt for the newer Marathon winter tire, but at the time (4 years ago), this was the easiest winter tire for me to get my hands on. They're still stocked at MEC, and compared to non-studded tires, the traction difference does justify buying a set.

I'm still considering a set of ice-spiker's for the Karate Monkey. If I did, I'd also add some fenders and end up with a great winter errand bike. But then again, I'd lose it for the service of exploring and the fun rides. The one issue I have with the Xtracycle is that with the longer tail, weight distribution is more concentrated on the front tire. I often spin out going up short steep hills and when I'm taking off. I've even rode around with dead weight in the Xtracycle, just to aid it's traction issues. I suppose for the shorter distances that I have to go in this small town, a little back wheel slipping isn't a huge issue.

I've started adding stickers to my deck

These are the Specialized Nimbus EX tires that I run on the Xtra in the summer. I can't say enough good about these tires. Fast, smooth (enough), and they have amazing traction in rain. Again, after more than 4 years of service, they're in pretty decent conditions still.

I have't even lost one stud.

Finally ready for winter

I'm trying out a new two-flasher setup on the front.

Soon, the studs will be back on the bikes....

The weather we've had in Southern Alberta has been pretty terrible this summer. August was the only month so far this calendar year that we haven't had snow. We've had very few hot days, and my short-wearing days were less this year than I remember them being ever. After a terrible, cool, wet summer, it's hard to get excited about winter coming.

Until I remember how much fun winter cycling is. I almost think I prefer it to summer cycling. Everything about it is a little more epic. Lights, studded bike tires, careful wardrobe selection, and the fact that a perfectly flat and straight gravel road can turn into an almost impossible-to-ride trail with the slush and snow. Winter is harder on the bikes, and every ride pretty much requires an after ride wash-down, but it's a little funner. There's a greater feeling of achievement after a winter ride than a summer ride. Not that I don't love a nice warm ramble in the country on a hot summer day, stopping to take pictures and drink water while the birds and bugs sing around you. Those are great too, and I"m sure I'll be missing them come mid-January when I'm staring outside at -30 degrees.

I'm not sure why (and I think it's kind of sick) but, I'm pretty stoked for winter cycling to be coming around.

Global warming?

Yesterday we set a record low for the date. -32.4C (-26.32F). They say it hadn't been that cold here since 1813 or something. How good was their weather equipment back then anyway? Nasty nasty cold!

Today it warmed up a bit....to -25C when I left for work. The cold isn't the problem though, it's the ice all over the roads. My Schwalbe snow studs just don't cut it, by a long shot. On Soots, or even any other bike for that matter, those studs are good for the occasional little patch of ice. Right now, on all the road around town, there are ruts that can be 6-10" deep that are solid ice.

It's gotten to the point that I've reverted to re-studded the ice spiker tires I had last year. It's a long and slow process, but I'm over half done. This year though, I've made a few changes. The resistance on the studs last year was so great, that keep any forward momentum require a lot of consistent effort. Not that it's a bad thing, but when you're reward is reaching a top speed of 8-10mph, it's a little disheartening. This year, I'm taking the same approach, running the pan head screws through the square tread block, covering the head with duck tape and then running a second tube as a liner over the tube that will be holding (hopefully) the air. The difference: I'm cutting the screws down with bolt cutters, so the screw will only be about an eighth of an inch proud, rather than a quarter inch. This should make it roll a little faster (still going to be a slow tough slog) and I'll be able to retain the claw like traction that I get when the studs dig deep into the ice.

(This picture shows last years version of the spiker tires)

I'm also building the studs up around a frame that hasn't seen action lately. My trek. The bike that started my serious bicycle commuting. Some mustache bars, maybe a 7speed cog in the back and a shimano bar end shifter from the parts bin. Hopefully in another week I'll have it all together.

Studs on the Xtra

Last night I made a little time to install the studded tires on the Xtra. I wasn’t necessarily going to run studded tires on the soon to be named Xtra, but with all of the snow we’ve recently received, and the fact that the roads and sidewalks is pretty much solid ice, I needed something with studs. Either that or drive........ Yesterdays ride on the KM proved this. 3 wipe outs on the way home for lunch. 2 on a busy road. Not my idea of a risk worth taking. Also, seeing as the only set of studded tires I’ve got are 26”, and the only 26” bike I’ve got is the Xtra, I didn’t really have much of a choice. The studded tires that I run are Schwable Snow Studs. I don’t think they make these tires anymore. I think they’ve been replaced by the Schwable Marathon Winter. I do like these Snow Studs I have though. While they’re not aggressively studded, they do offer that extra little bit of bite that aids in keeping the bike vertical. I’ve been eyeing up the Nokian 29er 294, with its 294 studs. Those on the single speed Karate Monkey would make for a very well planted bike on the winter roads around Strathmore. However, I think that once the ice is gone, the studs would wear down really quickly. At least the ones in the center band of the tire. One thing I really like about the Snow Stud is that I can pump them up to 65PSI, and the studs are clear of the road. Obviously cornering will bring them into contact, but you just have to remember not to corner very fast. Last night, I put 35PSI in them, and that lets the center of the tire flatten out, and brings the studs nicely down to the icy surface. Where these Snow Studs really shine is when everything starts to melt. Slush and slop pose no issues for these tires. The tread pattern sheds slush, snow and mud like crazy. I’ve never seen a tire as good at shedding mud as the Snow Stud.

After a season away from the studded tires, you forget how big of a difference the do make. Especially after abandoning my bike ride back to work after lunch yesterday I really notice the difference. If you think you may benefit from running studded tires on your bike, I’d say give them a go. You’ll be amazed at how much it helps. With the current conditions that I’m commuting in right now, I’d say that I couldn’t ride my bike to work safely without studded tires.

(This is the way home for lunch today. Warmed up to a balmy -16C!)

Now……..I’m seriously second guessing my decision not to buy a set for the Karate Monkey……

Winter commuting. sort of.

This morning I had an early appointment to drop our minivan off at the Chevy dealer for some warranty service. Perfect. I throw the pink bike into the van, and get a bit of early morning riding in. I dropped the van off at 7:30, and the guy booking me is asked if I needed a ride. “Nope” I told him, “I’ve got my bike”. He looked up from the computer screen like I was crazy. “Really? You’re going to ride a bike in this?” Some people just don’t get it.

The distance from the dealer to my work place is minimal (4kms), so I did a little touring around town. All the old memories of commuting in the winter when I lived here in town all came back to me. Man I miss riding my bike to work every single day.

I threw on the Schwalbe Snow Studs last night as I knew that the streets would be icy. Traction was excellent. I’ve never tried any other studded winter tires, but I’ve got very few complaints about these ones. They perform very well, and the only time I have issues riding in this weather, are in circumstances that I don’t think any tires would do well in.

I think a longer lunch time ride is now on the agenda!

Slippery Today

Well, last night I got me gear all ready for riding to work today. I woke up to 3 inches of snow. No big deal I thought.

Well, this was different snow than I have ever ridden in. It was the slickest commute I've done so far.

After shoveling the driveway and I jumped on the bike and headed out. Instantly I was saving myself from embarrassment as I barely recovered a wipe out in front of a bunch of kids waiting for the school bus. I slowed down and bit, and found myself slowing down several more times before I was at a speed that didn't lead to making snake trails in the snow. I've never ever ridden this way before. My front tire was left, right, left, right over and over. I don't know if there was a thin layer of ice under the snow, but it was fantastically slick.

Even these studded tires didn't stand a chance on this snow/ice.

Once I was on the main roads it was better, but still a few moments when I was surprised to still be up right.

When I got to work, I was glad the ride was over. Would I do it again you bet! Days like this I am temped just to fire up the old Chevy, but I always am glad that I didn't.

Ride yer bike!!

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