Is winter cycling really ok?

12346»

Comments

  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    Svetty wrote:
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Well whatever but to be honest if you are cycling in this weather you are either desperate to prove what a hardass you are or have no other means of transport.
    :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: That's your opinion but is factually incorrect :D

    Depends perhaps EXACTLY what the conditions are where you are but for a lot with snow and ice there is no reason to cycle. FACT.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    Svetty wrote:
    That sounds fine but in the absence of data or objective criteria your 'considered risk:benefit assessment' is actually a subjective decision based on no evidence whatsoever but rather an empirical decision on what - to you - seems sensible. That is fine but it is equally the case that others faced with the same decision might make a different judgement.
    I never claimed otherwise. Although my stance is still considered, and takes into account risks and benefits (as I said). It’s not based on “no evidence whatsoever”, although clearly there is a subjective element, especially when quantifying benefits.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Svetty wrote:
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Well whatever but to be honest if you are cycling in this weather you are either desperate to prove what a hardass you are or have no other means of transport.
    :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: That's your opinion but is factually incorrect :D

    Depends perhaps EXACTLY what the conditions are where you are but for a lot with snow and ice there is no reason to cycle. FACT.
    Here are some that work for me:
    1. To get to work
    2. To get fitter
    3. For fun
    4. To see the scenery
    5. To prove to all the health and safety types and general all-round wusses that it is possible
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    Like I previously said, desperate to prove what a hardass you are...
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Like I previously said, desperate to prove what a hardass you are...
    :roll:
    I'm glad you know me and my motivations so well. Actually, I'm just desperate... well, just a little bit keen anyway - to
    1. get to work
    2. get fitter
    3. have fun
    4. see the scenery
    5. prove to all the health and safety types and general all-round wusses that it is possible
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    I just enjoy riding my bike. Nowt to do with being hard. I'm a doer not a moaner. The risk of injury is small. Having fallen many times and the only break I have had is from a high speed crash in a race I'd say my body is pretty robust. With some of the crashes I had like being run over by a deer, for hitting a badger at high speed, if a hip was going to break I would have done it by now. So while it could still happen the impact would have be very severe and that is not going to happen from a low speed ice fall. I know the risk of falling is moderate, but the risk of injury is tiny given the low speeds I ride at on snow and ice. The risk of me becoming moody by driving everywhere when it's cold is certain.

    Saying riding when it its cold is either because you have no other transport or trying to prove something is a stupid and argonaut thing to say. You can keep those kind if opinions to your self and be a moaner somewhere else.

    I was quite surprised today as to how controllable the single speed was with 2.35" 29er tyres. No studs. Fear stops people riding but when you do and if your sensible it actually fine. It fine not to want to pedal on the cold, it is not however fine to tell those who cycle they are being foolish and to try to put others off cycling by spreading your fears.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    What's an "argonaut"? Is it something to do with Jason?
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,821
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    What's an "argonaut"? Is it something to do with Jason?

    https://argonautcycles.com
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    MrB123 wrote:
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    What's an "argonaut"? Is it something to do with Jason?

    https://argonautcycles.com

    Thanks but not sure that was the context...
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Arrogant- predictive text is a problem. You know what I meant.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • davep1
    davep1 Posts: 837
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Svetty wrote:
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Well whatever but to be honest if you are cycling in this weather you are either desperate to prove what a hardass you are or have no other means of transport.
    :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: That's your opinion but is factually incorrect :D

    Depends perhaps EXACTLY what the conditions are where you are but for a lot with snow and ice there is no reason to cycle. FACT.
    What a strange thing to say. Get a mountain bike and get out there! I rode to work twice last week, Wednesday was -6, but dry and bright, absolutely magical. If I could work out how to post pics you might agree! Friday was around zero, windy and overcast, not so great, but I still enjoyed it.
    Whether it's an mtb, or studded tyres, get the right kit and it's not much different.
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    MTB or studded tyres for a fun ride then fine but I'm thinking of normal road bike with 25mm tyres. No way for me but if you're happy go.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    tBd2fZ2h.jpg?1

    'Proper' winter cycling - week before last in Finland, -25C
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • ben@31
    ben@31 Posts: 2,327
    Is winter cycling really ok?

    It was when I was young and full of bravado.

    Now I'm getting older, not being able to feel my hands and feet, stare at darkness for hours and trash my bike with crud is no longer as appealing.
    Especially after cycling in Mallorca and Tenerife in the warmth
    Smart turbo trainers and software make indoor training more interesting than I expected too.
    "The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby
  • lvquestpaddler
    lvquestpaddler Posts: 416
    Since the new year began I've been commuting on my old MTB with the Ice Spikers. It's only a couple of hilly miles each way but we've had lows of -10c, and it's only been above freezing a few days, so even if the road has been cleared of snow I'm keeping them on for the extra resistance and "rural road" black ice safety- and they've been superb....treat each way as a single high intensity session and go for it!!
    I am thoroughly sick of winter now and so looking forward to Tenerife in 7 weeks, whether I bike there or not!!!
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    So, the last snowdrift from the Beast is almost (but not completely) gone from the roadside after a full month, although there was a fresh sprinkle above about 200m on the hills this morning.
    It's the last day of term and I'm not on the bike today, so I think that I can reasonably say that the winter commuting season is finished until the next one.

    I must say that, since being outed as a hardass, my life has changed radically. First there was the offer to star in the next Die Hard movie, then came the unmissable opportunity to become the first person to climb Everest bare-footed, followed by the bare-knuckled fights with Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones and Danny Dyer - only some of them at the same time, I'll grant - and the only disappointment was when the Chuck Norris bout was cancelled when he pulled out citing "extreme fear" as the reason.

    This has all come as a real shock to me, since until quite recently, I was under the mistaken impression that I only commuted by bike through the winter because it was safe, routine and - well, I thought it was just a way to get to work, you know?

    I'm glad that this thread has opened my eyes to the truth. Or at least the FACT.
  • haydenm
    haydenm Posts: 2,997
    Come ride a mountain bike on my local trails, you never have any grip. It's like a cross between base jumping and ice skating

Categories