First Proper Snow Commute

Initialised

Nearly went over twice yesterday evening, twice, still can't get used to how recovering it feels as the studs catch. Was muddy slush with a layer of ice in the middle. Probably need to drop the pressure as I'm still running around and 45psi to keep the roads easy.

More snow coming down now. Going to enjoy the trails at lunchtime.

meanredspider

The other thing I've remembered about riding in snow is how bright lights are quite tiring on the eyes. Additionally, I kept thinking a car was approaching from behind too...

graeme_s-2

meanredspider wrote:

Can empathise, Graeme. Had a horrible commute on the road bike a couple of weeks back where it was icy towards Inverness (which is very rare if it's not icy at my place). Dunno if you have Marathon Winters but they seem really poor for losing studs. On my 3rd season with the Ice Spiker Pros and I'm only about 10 studs down across both tyres (out of 722). Anyhow, will take to MTB/Spikers if I'm in any doubt for the rest of the winter.

Yep, they're Marathon Winters. I think I'm going to get onto Schwalbe about them and see if I can get some replacement studs. I don't care about losing the odd stud here and there, but to lose a run of 8 leaves me with a significant patch of rubber with no studs at all.

meanredspider

Yup - when I had them they sent me studs though I found constantly replacing them tiresome. I don't know whether missing studs contributed to me coming off on ice

Initialised

Nose dived into the trail earlier, if I will go down hilling just because I have Snow Studs on. Dropped the pressure for he ride home. Nice and squishy hopefully no more sliding about.

Bordersroadie

meanredspider wrote:

Yup - when I had them they sent me studs though I found constantly replacing them tiresome. I don't know whether missing studs contributed to me coming off on ice

The stud loss seems to affect some batches of tyres more than others. My buddy does a 33 mile each way commute and has racked up hundreds of miles on his 26" Marathon Winters and has not lost one single stud for the last two years. He's on his third winter with them.

Mine are losing very few now and survived a rear wheel skid on ice last week and some wheelspinning this week negotiating a 25% gradient of solid ice on our farm track, with no lost studs.

Schwalbe are very good at replacing them for free and you get the nack of fitting them after a while but I agree it's a bit of a pain especially if you're losing 8 in a go.

Do the 'Pros have different studs, I thought they were the same as the MWs, or is that the non pro Spikers?

I know the weight difference but what's the rolling resistance of the 'Pros like vs the MWs?

I must say regardless of added weight, the fact that the MWs get you safely across some properly dangerous surfaces (like our one-mile farm track which is pretty much 100% thick ice now) is amazing, especially for not much more than twenty quid a tyre.

meanredspider

Yes - the Pros studs are different - aluminium coated tungsten carbide - 361 in each tyre. Yes, the rolling resistance is higher but the grip is also infinitely better too. They are also much lighter 0.6kg across both tyres which both make up for the added resistance. By the time I'm running ice tyres, I've given up on speed and just want to be safe. As I say, I fell off on MWs and bust my rear hanger - fortunately I was fine but it's not an experience I want to repeat.

Fireblade96

There was a light dusting of snow in les hauts de Caversham this morning, but I was on PT as had to go to Salisbury.
Bus was late and train service disrupted due to "unfavorable weather conditions " . Should winter ever really arrive we're fecked

Which winter tyres should I buy ?

meanredspider

What bike(s) have you got, Fireblade?

Fireblade96

Pompino fixie is the usual commuter, but I'll probably use the mtb for snow/ice.
Just not sure between marathon winters, ice spikers, snow studs,...
Commute is only 5 miles each way.

Ta :-)

Initialised

Snow Studs came into their own today, dropped the pressures and bits that nearly threw me yesterday (slush, on ice on mud) were no problem, honestly I can ride sheet ice on these.

Snow Studs: 100 (26") 120 (29") Studs on the shoulder.
Ice Spiker: 304 (26" only) Studs.
Ice Spiker Pro: 361 (26") 400 (29") Tungsten Carbide Studs across the whole tyre.
Marathon Winters: 200 (26") 240 (29") Studs suited to road riding but lose studs quicker due to thinner carcass than Snow, or Ice.

If you are sticking to the road Winters, mix and match Snow, mostly off road or loads of really bad snow, Spikers, extended periods on sheet ice, e.g. short cut across a frozen lake Spiker Pros.

My experience is only with Snow Studs and yes they are hard going on the dry road but they will keep you up on sheet ice and are excellent as a mud tyre, until the mud freezes with a layer of rutted ice on top and a layer of snow on top of that with some slush thrown in for good measure.

meanredspider

Part of the reason I use Pros is that much of my ride is on untreated roads. You can get away with Winters in most urban situations (though my fall was in the most urban part of my ride on a smooth, if very icy, path). It's just a shame that they are so incredibly heavy.

The only thing I'd disagree with in Initialised's summary is that Ice Spikers aren't great in loads of snow - the resistance of the front tyre overpowers the propulsion capabilities of the rear. Apparently a mud tyre is much better but I give up trying to commute in snow much above 3-4" of depth.

Topaxci

First morning on the Marathon Winters down here in Norwich.
No snow as yet, but lots of ice everywhere, much of my commute is treated but the sections that aren't were lethal this morning. Huge reduction in other cyclists even compared to yesterday, when it was just cold and wet.
Much harder and slower but I feel much safer on the MTB with Winters than I would have on the road bike slicks.
Just waiting for our first proper snow now...

meanredspider

By the end of this week I'll have done about 120 miles & 6000ft of climbing on Ice Spiker Pros and an MTB. Chris Hoy's thighs? Pah - mere sticks....

bobbygloss

I'm up to 92 miles and 6100ft so far this week, on Nokian Extremes. Average speed for the 7 commutes so far is 10.9mph.
Choice is either smooth ice, inch deep pulverised snow that makes the bike squirm horribly, or rutted snow that feels like cycling on a never-ending cattle grid. And it was -11.5C this morning.

graeme_s-2

When I walked home from the pub last night it was already below freezing, but there was very little moisture about. It was -2 this morning when I left the house, but based on last night's assessment I went for the fixie with slicks again. Had to be careful in a couple of places, but it was generally clearer than yesterday. I also changed my route slightly to avoid a road that isn't a bus route so doesn't get gritted.

I've been pretty pleased with my Marathon Winters. I just stick them on my hybrid at this time of year and use it when it's too icy for road tyres/has snowed. It's a 5 mile each way urban commute, so I don't really care about the extra weight and I only need them for a few days a year.

meanredspider

I'll be at 90 tonight after 6 rides (had to use the car yesterday as I needed to go into town in the evening) - currently averaging around 14mpg

Edit - that's 14mph :oops:

UndercoverElephant

I've been using the Marathon Wankers on the Day One all week. They're heavy and hard work, especially as I'm not really used to single-speed, but I've been happily riding over sheet ice without a care.

Initialised

I'm into my third week on Snow Studs, over 100 miles and 3000 feet each week, but I won't mention my average speed, makes MRS look fast.

itboffin

This mornings ice tyre commute has totally wiped me out, there's just no way I can do over 1600ft and 32 miles a day on those.

Initialised

@ITB I think you forgot rules 5 and 9

meanredspider

Initialised wrote:

I'm into my third week on Snow Studs, over 300 miles and 3000 feet but I won't mention my average speed, makes MRS look fast.

I am fast

itboffin wrote:

This mornings ice tyre commute has totally wiped me out, there's just no way I can do over 1600ft and 32 miles a day on those.

Yup - rules 5 & 9

I'm liking this thread - makes me look really tough

ETA This week, 93miles, 4500ft, 6 rides, 13.7mph, -1C avg. 1 day to go.

itboffin

Initialised wrote:

@ITB I think you forgot rules 5 and 9

Rule #1 I am never wrong.

In other news were back to lashing torrential rain down here, still means there won't be any ice.

Initialised

meanredspider wrote:

Initialised wrote:

I'm into my third week on Snow Studs, over 300 miles and 3000 feet but I won't mention my average speed, makes MRS look fast.

I am fast

itboffin wrote:

This mornings ice tyre commute has totally wiped me out, there's just no way I can do over 1600ft and 32 miles a day on those.

Yup - rules 5 & 9

I'm liking this thread - makes me look really tough

ETA This week, 93miles, 4500ft, 6 rides, 13.7mph, -1C avg. 1 day to go.

Just checked my stats, it's over 3000 foot ascended each week since I've been on the studs, so for the Meme connoisseurs out there it's over 9000 in total. I really didn't think I did that much climbing, I guess you just don't notice some of it.

meanredspider

Milder here today but snow still on the lawn and snow forecast in Inverness. Too much of a risk on the road bike so 4th day on the MTB.

To be fair (as much as it sticks in my craw ) to ITB, it is much harder work on the MTB with ice tyres but stick with it and it feels easier - and it should be fab for the waistline too - nearly 25 minutes extra exercise extra a day vs a summer road bike commute - or 2 hours extra a week

itboffin

Junk miles and increased chance of injury no thanks ill be sticking to hard turbo sessions for the time being esp if next weeks forecast are true.

meanredspider

I don't understand the term "junk miles" - I work every bit as hard and feel more tired - they seem like great miles to me

itboffin

Like McDonald's I understand you can eat it but it's not going to nourish you.

My wife had to abandon her .5 mile commute this morning because her wheels were just spinning with no traction

rubertoe

Get her one of these...

UndercoverElephant

Heavy rain last night, so I thought I might get a chance to ride a road bike for a change. Woke up this morning, and it's clear and cool - and sheet ice everywhere.

One the Day One again then, and very glad I was - several of the other cyclists in the office have had offs this morning. Nothing serious, thankfully.