Some nights are just too nice to park the bike.After the commute I took the Norco out for a ride because the conditions where just too good to pass up.
Flotation.
Beautiful powder. Look at that fluffy rail.
What’s the fastest growing winter sport today?
Dec 30
On November 21st I had finished building and testing my new winter bike. And not a day too soon. Tis another early winter for Winnipeg. The most awesome feature of this bike are the matching aluminum full fenders. The boys in Nottingham have designed these with purpose and they shed the snow very well.
It’s a Raleigh of some age bosting a mere 5 speeds of fun with a single shifter up front mounted to the stem. At first this style of shifter took some getting used to. Now I find it therapeutic to mash the lever when the going gets rough. Surely, friction shifting at it’s best.
I’m starting to like these 27″ wheels, on which I ‘ve put the Tioga Blood Hounds for winter. For a cheap tire they work quite well all year round.The rubber manages to stay soft right down to the coldest temperatures. If there was ever an all season bike tire, the Tioga Bloodhound is it. Unfortunately, 27 inch studded tires have not yet come my way.
I have to follow my own advice. Have you read THIS article from the Secrets of Winter Cycling series of posts? Get a plated chain!
The resistance from all that rust just adds to the resistance of all that slush, ice, snow, wind, ski pants, and of course driver mentality, to simply ruin your morning. There’s a Suntour derailleur in there somwhere as well.
Brakes? Yes please…
Ummm, yeah, despite shiniest of brake levers, rim brakes have virtually no stopping power in the winter. There is simply no chance of locking up the wheels and going into a slide on this sucker. Ice and frozen rubber brake pads don’t mix well with steel rims. This gives the term “riding brake-less” new meaning for sure.
The blue tape was inspiration for the name “Super Raleigh Ice Bike”, as another favorite super man wears the same colors.
GT flat BMX pedals do the trick when pedaling in hiking boots or other over sized winter foot wear. Quill pedals will shed snow better but they’ll shred your expensive pantaloons as well. In the winter you really don’t have to worry about leaning into a turn and dabbing a pedal.
It’s very reassuring to know that when ever you stamp down, their will be plenty of pedal there waiting for you.
I couldn’t be without my current favorite saddle the Avocet O2. It’s Chromoly rails are capable of supporting me even when set this far back. The wonky seat post and extra pieces attached to the quick release lever add some extra character if not only weight to bike.
I really wish I didn’t have to ride this bike over the winter because it still looks and rides great. I chose it more for reliability and the fact that I can leave it locked up outside work all day, and not have to worry about bike thieves. Mind you, if you can ride away with it in minus 30c, you probably deserve to keep it.
I’ll post some more pics of the bike when the snow has left.
Check out this new bike blog from Greece. Road-gap.com. Cool Site, soothing layout. I’ve spent way to much time there already checking out the bicycles. So many different bike scenes all over the world…
Tonight was a truly awesome ride. We are in the middle of what seems to be a week long winter storm. What is reported to be at least 20 inches of the fluffy white powder has blanketed the city. Transportation has ground to a halt. But for some some of us, little has changed. It only takes me an extra 10 minutes to get to work compared to my summer bike commute. I passed rows of cars idling cars this morning, all going nowhere, fast. Total productivity bomb.
Going to work was tougher than usual with all of the mashed potato like snow on the main roads. I’m riding the Raleigh Sprite 27″ touring bike to work right now and have retired the Simpson’s Sears road bike. Despite the headwind, there were some nice points to the ride, such as riding the Norwood bridge over the Red River. I could feel the sun’s rays still warm despite the frigid temperatures.
The ride home was another story however. After midnight, the streets were clear of cars. Only a few cautious or daring individuals and of course the hand full of jacked up 4×4’s tooling about.
3 foot drifts were plowed through with ease as the snow had only barely settled into white dunes. My bike literally exploding through the alien yet all to familiar landscape. Only days ago the brown barren surroundings were poised, frozen, just waiting for winter to happen. Over night it’s like all of the bike routes and paths have been made over for my enjoyment or suffering…?
50km per hour tail winds rocketed me through the back roads. Well what you could see of them anyway. Just two narrow black strips on either side of the street. The black patch was the route to stick to. Like a piece of single track written in black and white. One wrong move and you would bail into the unknown white drifts or ditches.
Riding at this speed, at night, through the white landscape is truly a unique experience. Truly not the safest activity mind you, not unlike like downhill skiing, as you dress similarly, however not like snowmobiling where you here nothing but the engine. Winter bike riding or commuting is nearly silent except for the wind and the bite of your tires in the snow and ice.
If you can do it during the winter, disbelievers will have no excuse for not getting on a bike this coming summer. I didn’t spot any other cyclist today, but lately there have been quite a few Winnipeger’s taking to this two wheeled winter entertainment. There isn’t a mountain around for 1000 km, what else are you gonna do?
Halos
I found this clip YouTubing and had to share it! Too funny, enjoy.
