Fall and Winter Commuter Challenge!

**kfergos** · 10-20-2008, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by out_spokin'

As planned, took Monday off to help recover from my cold, so 2/3 last week. No other supplemental riding, but got some reflective sidewall tires to up the safety quotient for the dark morning rides for now, and soon to be evening ones too. Gotta install those tomorrow and get back in the swing!

Post pictures of the sidewalls! Are those also puncture-resistant? How much were they? I'm interested in getting a pair, but I also really like my tough Gatorskins for not getting flats.

First day with a freeze warning this morning! BRR.

**SouthernBelle** · 10-20-2008, 05:14 AM

It was rather cold here too this a.m.! I had on 2 layers of wool and full-fingered gloves. I was rather chilled for a moment as the wool doesn't necessarily cut the wind, but once I got going I warmed up.

I am interested in the reflective sidewalls too! Wonder if they come in 26"?

**Aggie_Ama** · 10-20-2008, 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by kfergos

Post pictures of the sidewalls! Are those also puncture-resistant? How much were they? I'm interested in getting a pair, but I also really like my tough Gatorskins for not getting flats.

First day with a freeze warning this morning! BRR.

They make reflective Specialized Armadillos which are a tough tire like the GatorSkin.

**Biciclista** · 10-20-2008, 06:54 AM

despite a forecast of light rain, I rode my bike in to work today. That guarantees a wet ride going home since the sky is falling as i write this.
what was I thinking? Rain pants!!!
eeek!!!

**kfergos** · 10-20-2008, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

They make reflective Specialized Armadillos which are a tough tire like the GatorSkin.

Ooooooo! I just checked them out. It's probably better if you hadn't mentioned them...

They do look really cool. I wonder if I have $110 between the cushions in my couch??

**Aggie_Ama** · 10-20-2008, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by kfergos

I wonder if I have $110 between the cushions in my couch??

Lol. I always wonder that when I want something. They aren't cheap tires but they pretty bomb proof.

**Biciclista** · 10-20-2008, 08:17 AM

wow, THAT is expensive!

**ms pepperpot** · 10-20-2008, 08:38 AM

I cycled in this morning - thanks everyone for the encouragement.

It was quite pleasant then, now I'm looking out of my office window at the rain, it's getting dark and I need to head home quite soon. I have to cycle home though as I'm not in the office tomorrow and I'll need my bike.

**SouthernBelle** · 10-20-2008, 09:34 AM

Ah well. They don't seem to come in 26s anyway. I did spend more than that on my roadbike tires, even from biketiresdirect.

**ms pepperpot** · 10-20-2008, 09:35 AM

I have asked for reflective walls on my new bike and that will have 26 wheels. I think they'll be Schwalbe marathons. Maybe try looking at some of those.

**Grog** · 10-20-2008, 11:13 AM

This morning it was pouring rain and I realized that my sweet partner had ridden to work wearing my booties. A lot of my gear had been left at my locker at work (long story) and I just wasn't going to ride in the rain.

I went to the bus stop (with a bag full of clothes to leave in my locker for the week) and waited...

And waited...

And waited.

Two full buses went right by the half-dozen people waiting there with me.

After almost half an hour of waiting, I decided I would work from home and walked back. Now I couldn't spend that much time just trying to get to work.

Meanwhile, dozens of bike commuters happily rode in the rain on the nearby bike route. I was so envious.

You won't catch me trying to get on the bus on a rainy day again!!

**ms pepperpot** · 10-20-2008, 01:40 PM

I think commuting may need to go on hold for 2 weeks, unless it's definitely not going to rain.

I started home this evening in the rain, and soon found out that the slightly dodgy breaks on my dad's bike (which I'm borrowing at the moment) don't work at all in the rain. It was clearly going to be too dangerous to cycle all the way in the dark, rain and relatively heavy traffic.

I stopped at some friends who live very close to my work, hoping to leave the bike there and get the tube the rest of the way. unfortunately they were out and i didn't want to leave the bike locked up on the street so i ended up walking and pushing the bike 6 miles back home (including stopping off at the super market as I'd already planned). I finally got home, rather bedgraggled, at 9pm.

I'm going to start a countdown until 4th november when I get my new bike - then I'll be back cycling everyday I promise.

**Biciclista** · 10-20-2008, 01:50 PM

i have to leave work in 10 minutes and i hear thunder and the sky is filled with big black clouds!!!!

eeeek!

okay, 1 hour later. It is POURING. It started to rain less than a mile from home. I barely got wet. . . this time.

**bikerHen** · 10-20-2008, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by ms pepperpot

I have asked for reflective walls on my new bike and that will have 26 wheels. I think they'll be Schwalbe marathons. Maybe try looking at some of those.

I've got 26" Schwalbe Marathons on my LHT. Great tires! They are a little on the heavy side but, I've yet to have a flat, which makes up for the extra weight in my book.

The reflective side wall is very visible at night and is holding up well going into their second winter. I got them at bike tires direct. bikerHen

**SouthernBelle** · 10-21-2008, 05:08 AM

Ms. P, What kind of brakes do you have on that bike? Sometimes a piece of sandpaper or a file used to rough up the surface of old brakepads helps.

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