Jeff Williams said:winter. That will depend on how the bike performs (it has a front fork suspension system that
some, but not all, advisors claim won't work in the
What do you mean by "won't work"? If it jams and stays fully extended (like any cheap K-Mart
suspension bike will eventually do) you've just reverted back to a rigid fork. I doubt you'll miss
your suspension when riding on city roads.
(OTOH, if you ever ride on a bike path in the middle of January, with a mixture of snow and ice that
has been stepped on by hundreds of pedestrians, you'll wish the whole bike was built out of shock
absorbers. <g>😉
Quoted message said:winter) and how well the city clears the roads I use (hard packed, rutted snow probably will be no
fun for cycling) - I'm not obsessed.
Hard packed snow, which is what you often see on residential roads, is actually quite nice, almost
as hard and smooth as the pavement. The worst is the black glop you'll see on arterials, that
mixture of snow, salt and calcium that gets stuck under your fenders and can easily wipe you out.
In-between is the fresh snow, which doesn't pose a threat, but can make every foot turn into a
struggle. (Now you'll know what it feels like to ride to school uphill both ways. <g>😉
Quoted message said:This week's results: I rode to class 4 times (nasty headache on Wednesday sent me walking to the
bus) for about 60 miles total distance. I'm taking about 40 minutes each way, on average. Coldest
ride: -6C including windchill.
You'll find that since you're working out, you'll be warmer on the bike than you would be on foot.
It's your extremities, especially your fingers, that will feel the cold first; make sure you have a
pair of warm gloves or mitts. (Lobster claws are a nice compromise.)
Quoted message said:Living west of the school is bad since prevailing winds almost always have a western component.
Minimum wind speed seems to occur about the time I ride to class.
Think of it this way: would you rather face a headwind early in the morning when it's colder, you're
not completely awake, and you have a schedule to keep? Or how about in the afternoon, when it's
warmer, and you can ride at a more leisurly pace?
Quoted message said:There are a lot more bicycle commuters in Winnipeg than I expected. I wonder if they ride in
the winter.
I think you'll find, as I did, that you're never the only one.
Glad to see you're giving this a try. Don't rush in, and take your time. When I started out (I
commuted by bike year-round in 96-00), I never set out to ride through the winter; I simply figured
I'd stop when it wasn't fun anymore.
Here's a few more thoughts from the top of my head:
* Check out <http://www.icebike.com>, lots of interesting info.
* Make a trip to your MEC store; they've got some winter cycling gear. (Although they seem to be
clearing out some of that stuff, don't know why.) Ski clothing is also an interesting alternative.
* Don't count on that bike rack to be there all winter; it'll probably be removed, or disappear
under the snow. Don't wait to find out your U-lock won't fit around that lamppost!
* If you leave your bike outside at night, never store it wet. There will be a few times when it's
+3 when you ride home, and it's -25 the next morning. I learned this lesson the hard way.
* Ask if/when your LBS will close for winter. If they do, you might want to get some spare parts; I
went through my share of brake and shift cables (and even housing). In a pinch, your Canadian Tire
might have some left, but they don't restock, so don't count on it.
* Don't get attached to you winter bike -- mine lasted two years on average. When you throw it away,
strip it bare. Trashed bikes are a good source of spare parts, which are then useful when you're
fixing your new (used) winter bike.
* WD-40 is your friend. Your bike has lots of exposed mechanical parts that are begging to just
freeze solid. Not to mention your bike lock. (Throw away the plastic frame mount for your lock;
it'll break before next spring.)
Take it one day at a time, and don't get discouraged. If you end up not liking it, no harm done, but
sometimes all you need is to take the bus and give yourself a break today, and tomorrow you're back
on the saddle. And if it doesn't work out this winter, there's always next year.
Good luck!
--
Frederic Briere <*> [email hidden]
=> <[email hidden]> IS NO MORE: <http://www.abacomsucks.com> <=
