How was your ride today? Week of March 30th

Submitted by pinkrobe on

I was expecting a real slog today, but everything was nice and hardpacked. The blast of sunshine made it that much better!

Please help me Ride to Conquer Cancer

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Studs or slicks?

Submitted by mercator on

This time of year is so frustrating. I definitely need the studs for the few blocks from my house to the bike path, but the path itself is in great shape. If it wasn't for the risk of an afternoon snowfall, I would be riding the slicks this week.

/mercator <-- really starting to hate my winter bike

How about a medium tread?

Submitted by PedalFaster on

I have a set of tires I use between stud and slick season that are just a nice solid tread pattern without the heavy lugs of a true off road tire. They are kind of a continental or touring tread. I ride them from about now until June when they finally clear the gravel from the roads and the alleys and trails are no longer muddy and full of rocks and debris. They are certainly not as good as studs if you hit ice but they are a far cry better than slicks for ice and gravel too. The resistance is a fraction of a studded tire. I switched over before our last big snowfall and promptly cursed my bad luck but have been riding with them since and they are doing pretty well. You can buy some pretty nice tires at MEC for good prices. Just a thought...

Eh, changing tires...

Submitted by mercator on

Since my maintenance regime for the winter bike consists of oiling the chain and (usually) wiping it off, it has become a filthy example of bike abuse. The idea of changing the tires is not appealing. My plan is to give it a bath before I put it away for the summer.

I much prefer to just grab a different bike. I do have one with the tires you describe (Vittoria Randonneurs) but it's in pieces right now. I should probably do something about that....

Hats off to the little jeeps

Submitted by gyrospanner on

Those guys that clear the paths along Memorial and out to Bowmont Park. It was clear all the way today & made for a nice ride.

We still have the perpetual icy spot to deal with, but that should all be gone soon.......

I've noticed that the city has a coupla' different plows working now on those paths recently, a little white one with a flatbed box that looks like it might be made by FMC and a little yellow job. They both look like pretty serious plows, does anyone know if thety are new?

Cheers & Good Riding

Still spikes for me

Submitted by jondub on

I've still got a huge bruise on my leg from a tumble on some ice that I didn't see 2 weeks ago, so I'm keeping the studs on for a while yet as the paths West of Bowmont and into Tuscany are still pretty icy. However, I can hear them wearing out as I pedal along the bare pathway!

Improved grip

Submitted by gyrospanner on

I like what it does to the icy spots - it actually binds on top of the ice and improves the grip (only when it's warm). If it's cold it doesn't bind and then it contributes to those "unintentional dismounts!"

Cheers & Ride Safe

I was early for work..

Submitted by mercator on

took the road bike this morning, 23mm slicks, all quiet and fast. Had to go around the block a few times when I got to the office so the boss wouldn't think I was turning into a keener or something (jk) :)

Casual Friday

Submitted by pinkrobe on

I'm pretty lazy on Fridays. I don't shave. I can get away with this because it always looks like I have 5 o'clock shadow anyway. The pertinence of this is that the time saved by not shaving every morning translates into an earlier departure time. I rolled in 10 minutes early through light traffic and had a whole lane to myself through downtown. Woot!

Please help me Ride to Conquer Cancer

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