Hot answers tagged winter
10
From a theoretical point of view, there are some possible methods to take water out of a fabric object, such as a shoe:
"Replacing" the water for another, faster drying liquid and letting it evaporate;
Squeezing the water out directly by compression and twisting (not usually adviseable);
"Force field" like gravity and centrifugation;
Capilary action (which ...
9
Rain, hail, and snow don't hurt a chain. Salt makes it rust, and dirt wears it out.
Salt: You won't get all the salt out without removing the chain from the bike. The chain is doomed. You can, however, easily delay this till spring with regular application of wet chain lube. A bit of rust won't hurt if you ride regularly.
Dirt: Given that the chain only ...
9
I have seen people trailer them, but for a local race here, many people go car free and strap them to the top tube extending back behind the seat, usually onto the rack.
Found many images using google image search for "carry skis on bike"
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5471607772_40dc377ed0_o.jpg
8
I see snowboarders with an insulating cover over the tube. If that doesn't provide enough insulation, I've worn my pack under my jacket leaving the entire pack, tube and bite valve covered and insulated.
Here is a 3 foot Hydration Pack Insulated Drink Tube Cover on amazon for $7 US
7
Yes. They will be fine. Plenty of people use them in the Minnesota Winters without problems. Just make sure they are always in good shape, which is something you have to do with all brakes.
6
Stand trainers
Pros
no concerns of falling over/slipping off, especially for certain types of training, e.g. one-legged drills
better for interval/spike training, where transitions in speed are not smooth
more options for variable/controllable resistance
Cons
less natural riding style because of bike's fixed position
may develop pedal stroke ...
6
Every two or three days is excessive. Biweekly should serve, even in winter months. The simplest thing would be to buy a chain cleaner and use it when you feel it's needed. Parktool provides excellent instructions as well as a suggested schedule for maintenance.
In addition, you should switch to a heavier synthetic lube in the winter. I've personally had no ...
6
You can get explicit cycling knee warmers - I have a pair of these which see a lot of use (and sometimes go under jeans, very comfortably, if I'm out of an evening too). They are great for the morning commutes where it is cold but likely to be warmer by the time of the return journey, but also for the longer rides where you start colder than you'll finish ...
6
Coatings are fairly useless on their own. Condensation happens because warm wet air is hitting a surface below a certain temperature (condensation point). Coatings tend to just encourage beading and run off.
I'd look for a pair of double-lens ski goggles. It's as it sounds and works in a similar way to double glazing. Two sets of "glass" separated by some ...
5
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/radar/index_e.html
Use the moisture radar, it's your best tool to see when the rain is coming and when it's going with great detail. If you take the time to familiarize yourself with it you'll start to get a feel for how different types of rain look on the radar and where it's going to hit.
5
keeping your face warm while winter bike commuting
I recommend ski googles and Seirus "Masque" over a balaclava. This mask only covers the bottom half of your face, and can be paired with merino wool hat worn underneath a helmet. This is more versatile, as you can remove the mask, but still wear the hat off-bike. I also use a scarf underneath my jacket to ...
5
The tube has a lot of surface area and not a lot of volume, so it's going to lose heat quickly compared to the reservoir. In addition to insulating the tube mentioned by Glenn Gervais you can start with hot water in the reservoir and frequently drink a little bit to keep reheating the tube. This Nordic skiing article discusses this technique in more detail.
...
4
The balaclava is definitely the way to keep your face warm. Try spraying your glasses with some anti fog spray to solve the breath problem.
http://www.rei.com/product/797482/tyr-anti-fog-spray
http://www.rei.com/product/718017/fogtech-advanced-anti-fog-solution-bottle
If you aren't willing to give up the abrasive pedals, you should just get some actual ...
4
I weigh the advantage of increased control against the cost of snow tires.
Studded tires take quite a bit of wear on dry pavement. Each stud type will have a different life span based on materials tire shape etc. My anecdotal experience shows stud life on dry pavement to be about 500 miles. I have done winters without studs because it never reached a ...
4
When ski touring we often carry skis on our backpacks - tied together at top and one each in loops each side. Very stable except in high winds. No reason this would not work riding a bike. Here is a pic
3
There are a number of products that are referenced as "boot dryers" which would serve your purpose. They are commonly used for ski/snowboard boots but will dry any shoe out efficiently. Know that using these will stink up a whole room like a gym locker room, so use them with discretion in your home.
3
You ask about a balaclava - I can highly recommend the Assos facemask. The downside of this will be the price, but as with anything Assos make, the quality is the best on the market (imo). This is my second winter with mine and last year was fine. Note from the photo in the link the loops above the ears....for your glasses. But I think if you ride with both ...
3
I suffered from foggy glasses a lot, I prefer to wear clear lenses since I tend to ride after dark frequently. I tried a few of different cycling glasses with clear lenses, eyeglasses with anti-fog coating, motorcycle goggles, and several pairs of safety glasses with no luck.
I finally found a pair of $9 MSA Safety Works safety goggles with anti fog coating ...
3
I think that cleaning with water is the problem. You wash them overnight, leave the bike outside. Water freezes inside of the breaks. You splash hot water again in the morning and get more water on your breaks and behind the pads that will freeze later on.
I would try avoid using water in your daily clean. Just try it for couple times. Clean the pads with ...
2
Your list looks pretty good and I'm in Ottawa as well. Would you prefer something with derailer, hub geared, or single speed? The ultimate frame for a winter ride would be titanium because it won't rust or more importantly, corrode from salt. But that will cost you 800-900+. That being said I'd agreed the aluminum is likely the best overall ...
2
Disclaimer: I used to design and sell after market suspension parts for proflex bikes
There are three main strategies for the "spring" in fork suspension
coil spring
elastomer stack
inert gas, e.g. air or sometimes something fancier.
Nowadays all springs are dampened somehow either by
using oil,
negative air (opposing force on the spring)
friction ...
2
I live in South Central Wisconsin and have been commuting year round (on roads with there fair share of pot holes and such) for 3yrs now and have found a regular old commuter tire works just fine. I favor the Serfas City Drifter 26x1.5. As far as 700's go, if you wanna pony up a little more cash I hands down suggest the Schwalbe Marathon Dureme. I just ...
2
I've had some horrible experience with v-brakes in snow - it was like having no brakes at all.
I was lucky to find out the ineffectiveness of the brakes in a relatively safe situation, but that was like a revelation about the shortcomings of v-brakes. (Otherwise they've been quite reliable for me - even in the mountains.)
Keep in mind, the snow may come ...
2
I opened my shifter a bit, not disassembled the whole thing, but I was able to degrease it well. I then applied a lot of spray lube. I shifted up and down while spraying, making sure the lube got everywhere. I have used my bike every day in cold weather now, one day as cold as -10Celcius, everything seems to work. It can be a bit sticky, but I always manage ...
2
A pair of skiing goggles is my non-fogging option when it is really cold and/or snowing. Most models have vents that help air circulation along the glass and a coating that keeps them from fogging. The larger space between the glass and your face helps, so get big ones.
When it isn't too cold, and there is no chance of snow I just skip the eye-protection.
2
I've worn Scott skiing goggles and never had peripheral vision problems, just be sure not to wear tinted in the dark. Really helped with wet sloggy winter commutes to Seattle. Wool sweaters and socks work when wet, which can be either rain or sweat. Also have a nice gore-tex helmet cover. Remember the old adage: if your feet are cold, put on a hat. ...
2
Ski goggles with double paned lenses with a wide field of vision are best for winter if fog is an issue. The double panes help avoid condensation due to the air barrier between the lenses (and the fact that most double pane goggles also have anti-fog treatment helps as well). Additionally, they are more enclosed, which keep your eyes from tearing up due to ...
2
I have a Dry Guy Boot dryer which I put my shoes on after I get home to dry them out. The heat really isn't needed, just set the timer to air out my shoes and gloves. They also make a portable one that can be used with a 12-volt car power that works with just one pair of shoes at a time. This is also useful after a long ride where you've been sweating a lot ...
2
My solution is to wear cycling sandals (I use Shimano SD-66) in combination with neoprene shoe covers.
I find that I'm still toasty warm even when it's very wet and down to 0C/32F. Then when I finish the ride, I can hang up the shoe covers and let the shoes air out and everything generally gets pretty dry for the ride home.
Plus riding in sandals in summer ...
2
You should acquire a good dryer, the kind with the tray insert that you can set shoes on. Easiest way to dry your shoes every time.
You're in Corvallis though, so there's it's a safe bet for me to wonder if you're in a dorm or apartment that doesn't have a washer and dryer. In this case what I do is prop my wet shoes in front of a space heater ( obviously, ...
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