How do you prep for winter riding?

"Gadget" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm sure this has come up before and if it has forgive me for rehashing

old

Quoted message said:

threads but I'm curious to how everyone else prepares or psyches

themselves

Quoted message said:

up for the winter.

As this will be my first commute through the winter my preparation involved posting on here to see
how good or bad it may be (i enjoyed it yesterday) - the comments here gave me confidence and I dont
know what I was worrying about!

Quoted message said:

Me personally, it involves rummaging in my wardrobe for my winter cycling clothes. As for the bike
I remove any frame furniture that is unnecessary for winter. Also this process removes the bolts
and nuts that can rust. Apply adequate protection from the dreaded road salt. Fitting the winter
tyres also is a big must. On the subject of nuts and bolts rusting in

their

Quoted message said:

sockets is there any reason why manufactures of frame furniture isn't

making

Quoted message said:

them from aluminium.

Ooh sounds very techy to me - i just pedal and service ;-)

Gadget said:

I'm sure this has come up before and if it has forgive me for rehashing old threads but I'm
curious to how everyone else prepares or psyches themselves up for the winter.

Return lights to bike and more layers of clothing to rider until it stops moaning about frozen
fingers. Delay haircut. Decline to buy new gloves/socks/shoes/teeth on the grounds that the current
ones will "last until March".

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================

Gadget said:

I'm sure this has come up before and if it has forgive me for rehashing old threads but I'm
curious to how everyone else prepares or psyches themselves up for the winter.

Me personally, it involves rummaging in my wardrobe for my winter cycling clothes.

Yes, comfortable clothing is the secret - with lots of thin layers. Must admit it's difficult to get
psyched up when it's cold AND wet, or just very very cold. Clocks going back is a right bummer as
well for the evenings.

Quoted message said:

As for the bike I remove any frame furniture that is unnecessary for winter.

Like what?

Quoted message said:

Also this process removes the bolts and nuts that can rust. Apply adequate protection from the
dreaded road salt. Fitting the winter tyres also is a big must. On the subject of nuts and bolts
rusting in their sockets is there any reason why manufactures of frame furniture isn't making them
from aluminium.

Alumium is [censored] for bolts, generally. The bolt shafts are nothing like as strong as steel (so can't
be used for heavy duty applications unless oversized) and there's a high risk of eventually rounding
the heads off when tightening. Horrible! Aluminium corrodes too anyway. Titanium bolts could be good
for certain applications - but there's no need just for the sake of normal winter cycling, IMO.
Steel is real.

Greasing or antiseizing the threads will prevent seizure, and a bit of surface rust on the outsides
does no harm. Some nicer quality componentry uses stainless or chromed bolts which will not rust or
corrode. I think stainless steel is a little weaker than certain other steels so investigate before
replacing any critical high-load bolts and use reputable brands and suppliers.

Regular cleaning should help prevent salt eating your bike and storing bike indoors whenever
possiblle really helps dry up moisture as well.

~PB

Gadget said:

I'm sure this has come up before and if it has forgive me for rehashing old threads but I'm curious
to how everyone else prepares or psyches themselves up for the winter.

SNIP

1. Find all known gloves, hats, waterproofs and overtrousers in house. Dress like Michelin Man
prepared for bio-war.
2. Find I forgot to charge light battery from yesterday and curse (again) the scrote that nicked my
previous bike and SON dynohub.
3. Have coffee and a [censored] in the garden to test thermal qualities of selected outfit.
4. Ride to work and love every minute.

- don't mind rain; I've got goretex everything except pants.
- hate wind. (I've heard that in some distant parts of the globe they get 'tailwinds' but not
round here)
- pray for snow/sleet and other exciting precipitation.

"Gadget" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Me personally, it involves rummaging in my wardrobe for my winter cycling clothes.

Yep

Quoted message said:

As for the bike I remove any frame furniture that is unnecessary for winter.

Nah, if anything I need more frame furniture in winter - more gear (warm/waterproof) to carry..

Quoted message said:

Also this process removes the bolts and nuts that can rust. Apply adequate protection from the
dreaded road salt.

Putting them in with anti-seize grease seems to suffice until I need to take them out, could be
years later. For a while I filled all the heads of my allen bolts with plumbers mait - stops water
getting in the heads and making unsightly rust spots, and discourages nicking of bits. But I
stopped bothering with it, since I didn't like having to pick it out myself when I wanted something
undone, and since dirt tended to stick to it, I decided rust spots probably aren't any worse. Still
not sure though...

Quoted message said:

Fitting the winter tyres also is a big must.

Winter tyres? I use the same ones year-round. Just my normal narrow slicks (narrow for MTB rims at
any rate, 1"😉.

Quoted message said:

On the subject of nuts and bolts rusting in their sockets is there any reason why manufactures of
frame furniture isn't

making

Quoted message said:

them from aluminium.

You can get them but you can't do them up tight for fear of stripping the threads. Stainless steel
is best, or I guess titanium, if you can find them, at a price. Main thing is to use antiseize
grease before installing and not over tightening. Stainless self-locking nuts are good - they won't
loosen off even if not tightened up (too) hard.

Rich

"Gadget" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I'm sure this has come up before and if it has forgive me for rehashing old threads but I'm
curious to how everyone else prepares or psyches themselves up for the winter.

bicyclinglife.comwintercycling.htmOpen ↗

Simon

Gadget said:

I'm sure this has come up before and if it has forgive me for rehashing old threads but I'm
curious to how everyone else prepares or psyches themselves up for the winter.

I've sent the nice frames off for a respray so I don't ride them!

Gadget said:

I'm sure this has come up before and if it has forgive me for rehashing old threads but I'm
curious to how everyone else prepares or psyches themselves up for the winter.

Me personally, it involves rummaging in my wardrobe for my winter cycling clothes. As for the bike
I remove any frame furniture that is unnecessary for winter. Also this process removes the bolts
and nuts that can rust. Apply adequate protection from the dreaded road salt. Fitting the winter
tyres also is a big must. On the subject of nuts and bolts rusting in their sockets is there any
reason why manufactures of frame furniture isn't making them from aluminium.

Many Thanks

Gadget

get winter bike off hooks, clean and polish summer bike and hang on hooks

--
Pete

interchange 12 for 21 to reply

Quoted message said:

As this will be my first commute through the winter my preparation

involved

Quoted message said:

posting on here to see how good or bad it may be (i enjoyed it

yesterday) -

Quoted message said:

the comments here gave me confidence and I dont know what I was worrying about!

Wait until it rains!

storing

Quoted message said:

bike indoors whenever possiblle really helps dry up moisture as well.

~PB

Not a chance. No space in my flat. I have had to store it in there in past but only because the
outside storage area was built up with loft debris from a recent conversion. Also the room that was
used to store it hadn't been developed into what it is now.

Gadget

Lee said:

"Gadget" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm sure this has come up before and if it has forgive me for rehashing

old

Quoted message said:

threads but I'm curious to how everyone else prepares or psyches

themselves

Quoted message said:

up for the winter.

As this will be my first commute through the winter my preparation involved posting on here to see
how good or bad it may be (i enjoyed it yesterday) - the comments here gave me confidence and I
dont know what I was worrying about!

Quoted message said:

Me personally, it involves rummaging in my wardrobe for my winter cycling clothes. As for the
bike I remove any frame furniture that is unnecessary for winter. Also this process removes the
bolts and nuts that can rust. Apply adequate protection from the dreaded road salt. Fitting the
winter tyres also is a big must. On the subject of nuts and bolts rusting in

their

Quoted message said:

sockets is there any reason why manufactures of frame furniture isn't

making

Quoted message said:

them from aluminium.

Ooh sounds very techy to me - i just pedal and service ;-)

I just pedal.

Reply to [Not Responding]

Quoted message said:

pray for snow/sleet and other exciting precipitation

I remember last year, doing a supermarket run one evening, and finding that it was snowing when I
came out. It was magical! I cycled home the long way, panniers bulging with groceries, just to
savour the faint crunch of snow, the beauty of clean white roads, and the peace and quiet
- all the cars seemed to have been frightened away.

Mind you, if there's as much black ice around this winter as there was last year, I'll take it as a
sign from G*d or Bob Dixon that I *really* ought to get that Windcheetah.

--
Mark, UK If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome; if you believe the theologians, nothing
is innocent; if you believe the military, nothing is safe. -Lord Salisbury (1830-1903)

Quoted message said:

bicyclinglife.comwintercycling.htmOpen ↗

"It is only when temperatures dip to below Zero (F), (-20C) that being warm enough requires some
planning. Even then, most winter cyclists keep right on riding until -20F and some to -40F."

Yeah right!!!!!

~PB

"Drinky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As this will be my first commute through the winter my preparation

involved

Quoted message said:

posting on here to see how good or bad it may be (i enjoyed it

yesterday) -

Quoted message said:

the comments here gave me confidence and I dont know what I was worrying about!

Wait until it rains!

been there, done that! Ive been lucky and only had the odd one or 2 showers but i suppose when it
gets colder and rains, then it will test my mettle!

"[Not Responding]" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ooh sounds very techy to me - i just pedal and service ;-)

I just pedal.

Slap some proofhide on the saddle, stuff a Tesco bag & lassy band (sorry, water proof saddle
cover and retaining device) under said saddle, spray GT85 at various bits, spray some chain lub
at the chain.

Dig out warmer kit & waterproofs.

Fit lights.

All the above is a once only event. Then:-

Pedal.

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bicyclinglife.comwintercycling.htmOpen ↗

"It is only when temperatures dip to below Zero (F), (-20C) that being warm enough requires
some planning. Even then, most winter cyclists keep right on riding until -20F and some to
-40F."

Yeah right!!!!!

Yebbut, he lives in Alaska so he probably doesn't even notice it being cold until gets to
around -20.

I also noticed the bit about studded tyres. Maybe that's what they OP meant when he talked about
putting on his 'winter tyres' ;-).

Rich

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bicyclinglife.comwintercycling.htmOpen ↗

"It is only when temperatures dip to below Zero (F), (-20C) that being warm enough requires
some planning. Even then, most winter cyclists keep right on riding until -20F and some to
-40F."

Yeah right!!!!!

~PB

The motto being if that lot in Alaska can keep going through the winter - then we've no excuse!

Simon

Quoted message said:

"It is only when temperatures dip to below Zero (F), (-20C) that being

:> warm enough requires some planning. Even then, most winter cyclists keep right on riding until
:> -20F and some to -40F."

: Yeah right!!!!! ~PB

(opps, I lost the atribution lines. Sorry Pete B and whoever posted the above).

I've found from personal experience that when it gets down to -8C or -10C I start to find I need
more than just jeans on for commuting (thermal long johns under work well). Down to about -5C or so
I find that (for short distance commutes only mind) boots, jeans and a couple of jumpers under a
jacket work fine for me. Adjust temperture with gloves/scarfs/hats.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune clune.orgclune.orgOpen ↗ "Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook