show me your winter bike!

[Biciclista]

I won't ride in snow and ice, so I have a roadbike with smooth tires, fenders, lots of lights and racks for panniers...
Lucky for me, in Seattle snow and ice are not a guarantee in the winter, in fact, several winters might go by without it ever happening. Snow is such a rare event that I like to stay home and play in it.

[lph]

Funny you should ask, since I'm on a winter biking photo spree at the moment

here's mine, posing in front of the Town Hall. This is not a bike I've chosen for a winter bike, just one I've inherited that is the most appropriate to winter biking.
- studded tires: Nokian Extreme in front, something a bit skinnier in back,
- lights: Light and Motion Stella 180 in front (brighter than I need on the highest setting) and an insanely blinking Superflash in back, a Spokelit in the front wheel (thanks!) and I have one more at home for the rear, a spare white blinky in front and red in back
- fenders: ones that followed the wheel would be better, but these will do - tacked on half of a plastic bottle on the front to catch spray that would otherwise go into the bottom bracket
- a couple of reflective bands to make it easier to see from the side
- note handbuilt wheel in rear - not because it's necessary for winter biking but because I'm proud of it

I know the saddle looks weird, but after trying it level and just barely tilted forwards for weeks I gave it a hefty thump forward and it felt perfect.

My dh just tinkered together a winter bike for himself from a used mtb, with a internal hub gear in the rear and single speed in front. Too early to tell how it goes, but the idea is a good one.

[redrhodie]

Wow, lph, that's a serious winter machine! No wonder you can ride every day year round. I'm glad those spokelites worked for you. You set a great example of what to do for visibility and safety. I can't see how that front fender is a plastic bottle, even at 200% zoom. Very nice wheel!

I'm getting very excited, so of course we'll probably get no snow this year!

[lph]

Thanks.

The front fender is a standard cheapo black plastic fender ziptied on (except I think it's an old rear fender, no matter), but the end behind the front wheel was a bit short to protect the bottom bracket. So I cut a large plastic soda bottle roughly in half lengthwise and cut off the bottom and the top, so I had a curved piece of plastic maybe 15 cm long. Punched a couple of holes near the corners in one end, a couple of holes in the end of the fender, over lapped and ziptied together. I know, I should go out and take a picture instead but it's dark and I'm lazy

[redrhodie]

I know, I should go out and take a picture instead but it's dark and I'm lazy

No, you don't need to. I get it from the description.

You're like MacGyver. You could probably save the world with duct tape and a match.

[tulip]

Red, you might want to get a used beater bike instead of a new bike. Riding in the winter gets cruddy and salty and dirty. I like lph's fender solution alot. I had duct tape on mine, too, but it didn't hold well. Zipties are better.

[redrhodie]

Red, you might want to get a used beater bike instead of a new bike. Riding in the winter gets cruddy and salty and dirty. I like lph's fender solution alot. I had duct tape on mine, too, but it didn't hold well. Zipties are better.

Oh, used is a probability. My lbs guy is amazing. He found me my '85 Merckx for $250.