Icey Today
- Thread starter gudujarlson
- Start date
I hope those are studded tires. Last year I made some homemade studded tires and went out for a ride a day after a melt. One section of the trail was very slick; I had to slow and get off the bike to get over a snow mound. I could't walk at all, nearly falling with each step - but I could ride on it OK.
I had a pair of Suomi/Nokien Extreme 294 studded tires on. I couldn't really walk around where that picture was taken, but I could ride over it without much trouble.
Each tire has 294 aluminum carbide studs that cut into the ice and provide traction. The traction is by no means like pavement or even dry dirt. I can spin the rear tire if I accelerate sharply; leaving tracks in the ice. The amount of raw friction is approximately like riding on mud, but it's hard to compare the two surfaces.
These guys took it to the next level... Or maybe 3 more levels.
Fat Bike Bedlamites: Surviving boredom one day at a time! http://universalklister.blogspot.com/2013/01/fat-bike-bedlamites-surviving-boredom.html
Fat Bike Bedlamites: Surviving boredom one day at a time! http://universalklister.blogspot.com/2013/01/fat-bike-bedlamites-surviving-boredom.html
I really am not so attracted to mountain biking as a sport so much. But the idea of riding a mountain bike in winter is very appealing... even though it would be ridden in my urban environment. Are they really able enough to get around in snow and some light ice? I'd love to do more winter cycling.
Dave, I guess your two options are studded tires or a fat bike. OK, 3 options, I'm sure someone has studded tires for a fat bike.
My Surly is really good on ice. I was leery at first, but it has no stability issues at all. 3.75" tires with deep tread.
My Surly is really good on ice. I was leery at first, but it has no stability issues at all. 3.75" tires with deep tread.
Urban, snow and a little ice - you could do that with a beater road bike. I drove a road bike last winter on 700x28c slicks without much trouble. This winter, I have a cross bike with disk brakes and 700x35c tires (not studded). You do need to take care on the slippery sections but it goes through fresh show just fine, I have even taken it out on some snomobile trails for a few miles.
I am currently riding around town on a cross bike with 700x30 lightly studded tires. A mountain bike is overkill for almost all days. I do see a lot of them ridden in winter though. I have a 1-1.5 hour commute so I prefer to keep the rolling resistance down.
