Autumn/Winter Commute

safc2409
safc2409 Posts: 30
edited October 2013 in Commuting general
I'm thinking of changing my current slicks back to something more suitable for the changing weather conditions.
My commute is half track/trail and half road. I am currently using my schwalbe marathon plus which I love but I'm not sure whether to put my old Geax Saguaro' back on or purchase some Panaracer fire xc pro for the winter months.
Any suggestions?

Comments

  • samtope
    samtope Posts: 18
    I also use slicks, Continental travel contacts, which are great in my opinion. I have Fire XC pro's on a spare set of old wheels and was using them this weekend while tinkering with the Continental wheels. The difference in effort and speed was really noticable on the road, I would be put off my commute if I had to use them all the time. Puncture resistance is an issue too, The Schwalbes are rated highly and I've never had a problem with my slicks either. The Panaracers though.. I'm going to keep my slicks on, and consider ice spikers if the winter get exciting.
  • wastegate86
    wastegate86 Posts: 158
    Slicks are fine unless the paths get paticually muddy or rocky
    I personally run 25c slick road tyres through the winter on appalling country lanes that get used by several farmers
    Changing your riding style can go a long way when road conditions get bad, a more cautious approach will save you from most falls
  • bigmonka
    bigmonka Posts: 361
    But what about when it's slippy and frosty? Slicks would make me a bit nervous tbh.
  • junglist_matty
    junglist_matty Posts: 1,731
    BigMonka wrote:
    But what about when it's slippy and frosty? Slicks would make me a bit nervous tbh.

    Won't make a blind bit of difference which you use if the tarmac is slippy and frosty, I use slicks all year round in all conditions, through the snow and all sorts, just be careful in the snow and ice, regardless of tyre.
  • bigmonka
    bigmonka Posts: 361
    junglist_matty wrote:
    BigMonka wrote:
    But what about when it's slippy and frosty? Slicks would make me a bit nervous tbh.

    Won't make a blind bit of difference which you use if the tarmac is slippy and frosty, I use slicks all year round in all conditions, through the snow and all sorts, just be careful in the snow and ice, regardless of tyre.
    Slicks in snow and ice?! You're a braver man than me! I've bought some Schwalbe marathon winter studded tyres for this year so that I can keep going throughout the Yorkshire winter - it's probably overkill but I just don't feel safe on normal tyres over winter :oops:
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    junglist_matty wrote:
    BigMonka wrote:
    But what about when it's slippy and frosty? Slicks would make me a bit nervous tbh.

    Won't make a blind bit of difference which you use if the tarmac is slippy and frosty, I use slicks all year round in all conditions, through the snow and all sorts, just be careful in the snow and ice, regardless of tyre.


    Slicks wouldn't have got me up the hill in the snow - and would've been dodgy on the icy lanes - glad I had the CX tyres on - but will get some knobblier ones for the coming winter.

    I'm changing from 23mm slicks to some 32mm touring tyres that I have "in stock" as soon as I've got spare tubes - may as well "use up" the naff tyre in conditions that I'm just travelling in ... and hopefully they'll be a bit more robust in the flint/mud dirt that gets spread on the lanes.
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    When the snow and ice comes I change to Schwalbe Snow Studs, this year I'll be putting them on an MTB. So far they have never punctured even when I've run them down at 20 psi for extra traction. They add 1.4kg to the bike but they allow me to keep going whatever the winter decides to dish out.
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.

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