Fall/ Winter 2011 Commuters

[Anelia]

This happened to me recently: they closed the whole street and I had to go around to another street where the ascent is over 15% (I'm not exaggerating) and it's cobbled. I ride mt bike so I switched to the lowest gears and I still panted at the top.
Today the sidewalk near my home was frozen and I was happy that I rode my husband's bike with 2,35 inches Maxxis Minion tires (they are for downhill): I didn't push the brakes and I didn't slip, I felt secure even on the ice.
My route to work is about 2 miles but on the way back I chose to ride some more so I went out of town, climed our plateau: about 10 miles. The downhill was cold and windy but I had to go back

[Anelia]

You can watch me on the news: It's at the end, aout 1 minute of the vudeo. It was the last working day for me in December and the news is about the heavy winter road conditions

[radacrider]

Nice, Anelia!!!!

[Melalvai]

Very cool! Didn't understand a word of it but I like listening to different languages just for the sound.

[tzvia]

Oh man Anelia that looks COLD.

Our 'cold snap' here in So California is when it dips into the upper 30s, F at night. A long sleeve cycling jersey, with a cycling jacket, winter gloves and a balaclava just about takes care of it. Once, last month, I also wore sweat pants over my pants, to keep my knees warm.

Last week and today, temperatures only dipped into the upper 40s at night and have been in the upper 70s to low 80s during the day (should be 84f today). Yea, winter can be really brutal here in Los Angeles county...

My big issue is the construction. I can't stand those metal plates that they put over the work holes in the street. They get wet and slippery, and those small rocks and paving pebbles are like marbles. Got so bad I treated myself to a new commuter that can take 35c tires and fenders. It feels so good not to have your teeth rattled loose.

[7rider]

Good thing I brought my spare battery today. My headlight blinked out 1/3 of the way home. I almost didn't realize it, as my new Vis-360 on my helmet is actually brighter than my Knog headlight. And allegedly the Knog has a higher lumen rating. Huh. But, I pulled off the road, swapped out the battery and was soon on my way with both lights blazing.

[Melalvai]

Good thing I brought my spare battery today. My headlight blinked out 1/3 of the way home. I almost didn't realize it, as my new Vis-360 on my helmet is actually brighter than my Knog headlight.

Such a GOOD feeling when preparations and backups save your butt! You had the spare battery AND additional lighting.

Now get a new spare battery (or recharge the other one, whatever it is you do), before you forget.

[Melalvai]

I got to use my studded tires finally. For FIVE WEEKS after I bought them we didn't get a flake of snow! I was starting to think they worked by magically preventing snow...like my rain gear (for several months after I bought it, it was never raining when I was riding my bike).

This week we got snow and I got to use them. It was so much fun! The first day, I felt like all the motorists who saw me were looking at me with envy, thinking, "I wish I were on that bicycle"! To paraphrase Queen: "You want to ride my bicycle/ you want to ride my bike"

I had heard they aren't as good on packed snow as on ice or regular snow. I guess that's true but they are still really good on packed snow. They don't completely prevent all the slipping & sliding, but it's maybe 90% better. When I'd ride in this stuff on regular tires, I spent a lot of time with one foot off the pedals ready to touch ground.

And they are really great on hard ice and on snow that's not packed. On those surfaces I'm as stable as if on pavement.

Another thing that delighted me is that even starting on a slight incline I always had traction. I remember on regular tires having to try several times to get started because my rear wheel would just spin out.

Yeah, I could walk the 1.5 miles when it's like this, but it's SO much fun to bike with studded tires! Actually it was really nice to have my bike the last couple days, because they ended up being really long, busy days, and it was nice to get home in just a few minutes.

[lph]

Yeah, I could walk the 1.5 miles when it's like this, but it's SO much fun to bike with studded tires!

Yay!

I hate putting them on, but once I'm used to the slower pace I get such a kick out of the mobility.

Which ones did you get? I've tried ones with fewer studs, but ended up going back to Nokian Extremes.