Suitable measures to ride the weather!

DonDaddyD

Seriously, no MTFUs or 'Rage against the Hybrid' posts.

Its frosty, I have a roadie, I have less grip than a Mountain bike would having a flat bar, or putting my wieght on the hoods of my road bike provide me with more stability when riding in these current frosty/slippery/reduced traction conditions?

Also if I drop down from 110PSI (I like my tyres to be as close to 120PSI as possible) to, lets say 80-90PSI, would doing this provide me with better traction and grip as my tyres cover more surface area?

lost_in_thought

I don't know on the stability questions, DDD, but I reckon dropping your PSI would make your bike worse when cornering, due to perceived tyre slippage, and make pinch flats more likely...

AndyManc

DonDaddyD wrote:

Seriously, no MTFUs or 'Rage against the Hybrid' posts.

Its frosty, I have a roadie, I have less grip than a Mountain bike would having a flat bar, or putting my wieght on the hoods of my road bike provide me with more stability when riding in these current frosty/slippery/reduced traction conditions?

Also if I drop down from 110PSI (I like my tyres to be as close to 120PSI as possible) to, lets say 80-90PSI, would doing this provide me with better traction and grip as my tyres cover more surface area?

In theory yes .... in reality, you won't notice the difference. :?

Get the bus like the rest of us :P

Feltup

Dropping 10 psi at the weekend seemed to give a bit more traction but no where near enough to combat ice. Squirm at high speeds i.e. over 40mph was more noticeable and I am sure pinch flat risk is greater, it is just a matter of getting the right balance.

lost_in_thought

Ahhhhhh squirm - that must be the technical term for what I was getting at with 'perceived tyre slippage'...

Feltup

Errr yeah, technical term, right :? (must not let on that I made that up)

Totalnewbie

I switched to my hybrid a few weeks ago. I still keep the tyres at the maximum pressure though, although their maximum pressure is lower than road tyres.

I just feel better on it in bad weather than I do on the tourer, it feels more 'sure-footed' where the tourer is nippier.

Mind you if it was properly icy I wouldn't be on any bike, it just hasn't been round my way so far.

STEFANOS4784

Hmmmm, i've been getting the bus but it is rubbish, gotta travel country roads though and had a slippage cpl o weeks ago so probably not guna risk it again

DonDaddyD

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

Hmmmm, i've been getting the bus but it is rubbish, gotta travel country roads though and had a slippage cpl o weeks ago so probably not guna risk it again

Buses and trains, like hospitals are incubators for superbugs...

Where I can, I try to avoid getting a bus or train. I also reckon that a person getting public transport is more susceptable to catching flu, common cold or the plague than a person who cycles or even drives to work.

AndyManc

DonDaddyD wrote:

. I also reckon that a person getting public transport is more susceptable to catching flu, common cold or the plague than a person who cycles or even drives to work.

100% correct, I'm never ill , I use the bus for 2 days and I've got the worst flu I can remember ever having .

Those living in the north west/england , there's a serious strain going around ..... avoid the masses :?

lost_in_thought

DonDaddyD wrote:

Buses and trains, like hospitals are incubators for superbugs...

Where I can, I try to avoid getting a bus or train. I also reckon that a person getting public transport is more susceptable to catching flu, common cold or the plague than a person who cycles or even drives to work.

+1. A thousand times +1. +1000.

Every time I get on a train someone is either sneezing or coughing in my immediate vicinity. Unfortunately, offices with older aircon systems are just as bad, most of the occupants thereof are on public transport, and bring the colds/flu in, then the aircon spreads the germs around the building for everyone to 'enjoy'. :roll:

Rich158

I've missed the frost/ice so far, and I wimped out this morning :oops:
Judging by the forecast it's going to feel like -3 tommorow so I guess I'll get my first taste of it on the road bike.

Off road i just slow down, try to pre-empt any change in direction/need for brakes, and generally tip-toe arround. I suspect thats not going to save me though

TheKrikkitWars

Consider fitting a pair of dedicated snowtyres, like these nokians, that particular set are designed fro a cyclocross bike, but would most likely fit a road bike. Good luck a set without ordering from across the pond (or finland, where they're made).

lost_in_thought

I'll be in Helsinki pretty soon - if anyone wants any snow bike supplies from the mad Finns give me a shout...

cjcp

LiT - a chap from my cycling club now lives in Stockholm. I'm sure he posted a while back that he used Nokians on his commuter, so you might be able to get them in Helsinki.

cjcp

LiT - a chap from my cycling club now lives in Stockholm. I'm sure he posted a while back that he used Nokians on his commuter, so you might be able to get them in Helsinki.

lost_in_thought

cjcp wrote:

LiT - a chap from my cycling club now lives in Stockholm. I'm sure he posted a while back that he used Nokians on his commuter, so you might be able to get them in Helsinki.

I'm sure they'll be there somewhere! Don't really need them myself though, but if others do I'm happy to import!

How was Montreal?

gtvlusso

Hmmm - I am not sure dropping pressure in a thin (assume 23 or 25 tyre) will make any difference at all - although it does on a sodding great 4 x 4 with 235 + width!

I am still on a race bike with 23's at 120psi - Armadillo's. Finding them fine to be honest, I have had some tricky moments, but above all else slowing down, when unsure of grip, has been my main safety catch - don't mean to be patronising!

Riding a bit more road proud (more in the centre) than in the gutter and avoiding the usual painted lines, grids and so on too in these icy conditions.

Probably comes from riding a 180BHP motorbike in the snow and ice a few years ago - almost had a head rush with the concentration level!!

topcat33

I've been trying to get used to the ice here, I havent come off since I dropped the pressure a bit in my front tyre (MTB) a couple of weeks ago, mind you, I have slowed down on bad days. I've seen the studded tyres here but they're a bit expensive. I googled how to make your own and it seems like it could work, I rekon you need one spiked wheel ready for when the weather turns bad then you just bang it on and away you go. I think you only need one for the front as if the front wheel goes, down you go..................

il_principe

DDD - is ice an issue in your commute? I would've thought the roads around Wombleland are gritted? I've not had any icy trouble in London at all so far this year.

ChrisLS

...I came off on ice last week and I was riding my mountain bike...unless you've got metal studded tyres you have no chance...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/s/Cycle/7/studded_tyres

...like these...

cjcp

I'm sure they'll be there somewhere! Don't really need them myself though, but if others do I'm happy to import!

I was going to add last night (but the poxy internet connection wouldn't let me) that if the conditions required Nokians, I'm not sure I'd ride because British drivers aren't used to that sort of stuff.

How was Montreal?

It's a great place. Very chilled out. But it was like a stag weekend. Got to the hotel, dropped the bags and went straight downstairs to meet the people I was meeting and the beers started. I got to bed at 7.30am London time. But the big night was Friday night, when we drank ourselves to a standstill. We all crashed out at various points in the hotel room at around 6am. I was a complete shambles on Saturday - my condition only really stabilised on Sunday morning. Got back yesterday and, despite zero sleep on the plane, laid a carpet and put the Christmas tree up to start rebuilding those brownie points.

And my god it's cold there!

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Got back yesterday and, despite zero sleep on the plane, laid a carpet and put the Christmas tree up to start rebuilding those brownie points.

That is pretty hardcore.

Still, you're at work now. Close the door, put the phone on DND, shut down Outlook, turn off the BB and get some shut-eye.

Greg T

Feltup wrote:

Dropping 10 psi at the weekend seemed to give a bit more traction but no where near enough to combat ice. Squirm at high speeds i.e. over 40mph was more noticeable and I am sure pinch flat risk is greater, it is just a matter of getting the right balance.

OVER 40 MPH......

The only thing I notice over 40 mph is the radio playing some top tunes as I waft down the road in my Aston whilst Keira Knightley smiles her minx smile at me from the passenger seat.

Listen - I'm all for bigging myself up but in fairness I think this is a big up too far!

lost_in_thought

cjcp wrote:

I'm sure they'll be there somewhere! Don't really need them myself though, but if others do I'm happy to import!

I was going to add last night (but the poxy internet connection wouldn't let me) that if the conditions required Nokians, I'm not sure I'd ride because British drivers aren't used to that sort of stuff.

How was Montreal?

It's a great place. Very chilled out. But it was like a stag weekend. Got to the hotel, dropped the bags and went straight downstairs to meet the people I was meeting and the beers started. I got to bed at 7.30am London time. But the big night was Friday night, when we drank ourselves to a standstill. We all crashed out at various points in the hotel room at around 6am. I was a complete shambles on Saturday - my condition only really stabilised on Sunday morning. Got back yesterday and, despite zero sleep on the plane, laid a carpet and put the Christmas tree up to start rebuilding those brownie points.

And my god it's cold there!

Yeah, all us lot really need to MTFU on the 'ooooh it's cold'.

Sounds like you had a great time, I'm quite jealous.

And good work on the carpet-laying and christmas-tree-erecting! Doing stuff is the best way to beat jet-leg. I recommend drinking.

cjcp

That is pretty hardcore.

I collapsed into bed. Kids are happy though and it's been done before the weekend, and I brought home a load of Christmas shopping, which clears the way for me to ask if I can go for a ride this weekend.

Still, you're at work now. Close the door, put the phone on DND, shut down Outlook, turn off the BB and get some shut-eye.

That will be Thursday. I have a client Christmas party tomorrow night, and then a lunch on Friday, which starts at 11.45am, lasts all afternoon and then switches to another venue in the evening. My body cannot take this sort of punishment.

(Thinking about it, the chances of me getting permission to go for a ride are not looking healthy.)

cjcp

lost_in_thought wrote:

Yeah, all us lot really need to MTFU on the 'ooooh it's cold'.

Indeed. From a commuting standpoint, give me rain over the snow and the freezing temperatures any day.

Feltup

Greg T wrote:

Feltup wrote:

Dropping 10 psi at the weekend seemed to give a bit more traction but no where near enough to combat ice. Squirm at high speeds i.e. over 40mph was more noticeable and I am sure pinch flat risk is greater, it is just a matter of getting the right balance.

OVER 40 MPH......

The only thing I notice over 40 mph is the radio playing some top tunes as I waft down the road in my Aston whilst Keira Knightley smiles her minx smile at me from the passenger seat.
Listen - I'm all for bigging myself up but in fairness I think this is a big up too far!

I am sure Keira was bigging you up, and probably giving you a squirm How do you find the Aston? I thought it was a bit light and floaty above 160mph which is why I went for the McClaren F1.

spen666

AndyManc wrote:

[....
Get the bus like the rest of us :P

Speak for yourself- some of us are not just fair weather cyclists and commute all year round

m0scs

DDD, these maybe useful in the ice.

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/BI ... cid=133635

Not sure how this would effect your FCN though. :shock:

Not too hot for fast cornering either.

Would be great to take a scalp or two with these fitted. Imagine the shame, worse than being taken by a Sturmey Archer shopper!

lost_in_thought

cjcp wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Yeah, all us lot really need to MTFU on the 'ooooh it's cold'.

Indeed. From a commuting standpoint, give me rain over the snow and the freezing temperatures any day.

I think the snow would be fun for a while, but the novelty would wear off pretty quickly. On the rare occasions when it snows and settles in Essex, my first thought is usually 'BIKE!'

It's the only time I enjoy borrowing my brother's MTBs with their ridiculously knobbly tyres.

But commuting on an MTB would be un-fun. So yes, I'll take the rain.