Fall/ Winter 2011 Commuters

[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.

[7rider]

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

Borne of experience, I'm afraid.
I once before had my headlight blink out on a ride home. No spare battery. No helmet light. Almost full dark. Was a freaky ride home.

I learned to be better about re-charging on a regular basis. Except this week.

Spare Li-ion battery now fully recharged and stashed back in my pannier.

[Melalvai]

Snow is on its way!
But it's only supposed to last a day or so. I might have to go out of my way or bike at a strange time of day, to get my studded tires on actual ice.

Maybe I should pour buckets of water on the driveway when it gets below freezing...my family might not appreciate that.

[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.

[ridebikeme]

Nokian extremes here as well. I have used others with fewer studs, but found that often times I wasn't making contact with the ground. Our roads here are slightly beveled to shed snow/water to the sides. Unfortunately, some roads seem to have more angle than others, so having more studs in the tire seems to work better for me.

Although my commute isn't very far,; it's funny to see the motorists looking in "shock."



http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com

[Melalvai]

Schwalbe marathon winters.
I watched the bike shop mechanic putting the tire on and decided right then that I'll pay someone to put them on and take them off at the beginning and end of every winter because I don't want to!

[Tri Girl]

I rode today. It was 17 degrees when I left, wind chill around 10. I got too hot, tho, because I had on two wool sweaters, my wool coat and my ultra thick mittens and scarf. Had to undo the jacket halfway there.
I only have a 2.5 mile commute. I sometimes wonder if drivers think I'm a homeless person (there are more of them riding bikes in my city than bike commuters).