[LordOpie]

So how do you like the air free tires today? I am interested in getting some. I have got to get fenders. I got away with not having them in Memphis but that won't fly here.

Fenders (eg. Freddy Fenders): I say get the widest ones your bike can handle. Not just wide enough for whatever tires you have on your bike. That way, you can always put on wider tires if you want.

Airfree tires: I got the 20mm wide tires cuz I want fenders on my single-speed/commuter bike and the rear triangle looks rather tight, otherwise I would've gotten wider ones.

I like them a lot for the intended use -- zero chance of flat while commuting. I still don't understand the whole sluggish/harsh ride quality. The ride is plenty smooth, granted, I only ride steel so maybe it's different on AL?

I absolutely would not use these tires on a long road ride. My seven mile commute and tooling around town, perfect. I can take the pump off my bike, I can take patchkit/tubes out of my bags, I can leave the wrench at home (SS has bolts, not QR). As soon as I get around too it, I'll loctite the bolts down.

Commuting: I very much recommend 28-40mm airfree tires without hesistation. Do the 35-40mm tires if your bike can take them and fenders together. If I continue to commute through the winter, I'll splurge and re-evaluate (spend more money)

I wouldn't recommend them for any "serious" use.

 

[James]

Holy crap I have to get me some of those!!!! THat is my Big problem commuting in the winter when it ges below 15 F My toes get tooo cold.

wow they are a little pricey though

Yeah, they are spendy, but hot damn they work awesome. If I had to pay retail for them I probably wouldn't have bought them, but man am I happy I have them...

 

[LordOpie]

Do any of y'all work on your bikes at work?

I put fenders on today. Kind of a pain in the butt since none of the bolts supplied with the fenders worked with my current setup. I had to take the bottle cage bolts for use on the rear drop out with the fender bars and the rack. They were much longer than the bolts supplied, which I used on the cage.

I used zip ties on the chain stay and the fork crown in order to finish up.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Do I spy a steerer tube extender? Weird. That bike is pretty sweet. I couldnt handle the SS on my ride, but it looks good.

 

[BikeMike]

LO, your bike is looking awesome. And related to the airless tires, when you say they're fine for your 7 mile commute, do you mean 7 miles each way, or 7 miles round trip?

 

[LordOpie]

Do I spy a steerer tube extender? Weird. That bike is pretty sweet. I couldnt handle the SS on my ride, but it looks good.

Four years ago I was spotting a student in a climbing/bouldering exercise, she fell, I saved her life and now I've got a fvcked spine at the C1.

I experimented with lower bars since I've been seeing a chiropractor over the past year that has been a huge help. Nothing she did could stop the migraines when the bars were that much lower than the saddle.

Yeah, steerer extender is ugly *shrugs*

LO, your bike is looking awesome. And related to the airless tires, when you say they're fine for your 7 mile commute, do you mean 7 miles each way, or 7 miles round trip?

Thanks! 7 each way. Even if my commute was 20 miles each way -- under non-aggressive city riding conditions -- I'd use them. I'm sacraficing a little performance through turns for the knowledge that I'll never get a flat. (our roads have way too much glass and debris on them)

 

[Biscuit]

Did you purposely pick the color to match the walls in your office?

 

[jasride]

Great thread.

This here is my Kona PHD. Had it for 2 years now. Good bike.
My work commute is 16miles each way, but mostly flat. I can
extend it to about 18 each way and add a few hills but I guess
I get lazy.

Commuting is good for the soul.

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

 

[LordOpie]

Commuting is good for the soul.

amen!

Nice bike! No lights or anything?

 

[jasride]

I do have lights. I use a blackburn blinky on the rear and
a Niterider for the front. That seems to work just fine. My
work shift is 8:30 to 5:00 so I haven't needed the head lamp
yet. Once daylight savings time begins in a few weeks i guess
the lights will be needed.

 

[jasride]

opie,

your set up looks nice as well. Im diggin the bars, they look like they're right where they need to be for your commuting needs.

 

[splat]

Yeah, they are spendy, but hot damn they work awesome. If I had to pay retail for them I probably wouldn't have bought them, but man am I happy I have them...

I got these on ebay last year for $20 , I need to work on the power system , In other words Up the voltage, right now they are 3 Volts at 2/3 Amp ( 2 Watts ) they work OK , but they wee obviously designed to be in a aHnting boot or Ski boot , somehting that is insulated , not somethine thin like a Cycling shooe

 

[splat]

Ouch! Which is a bigger danger, drunks at night or wildlife? Do you have deer on your route?

On night I was riding home and coming down a good down hill a 10 Point Buck was just standing in the middle of the road staring at me ( deer in the headlight ) I thought for sure I was going to hit him , was braching for an Impact and Yelled "oh Shi.t !" and with the sound of my voice he took off. I was probaly only missed him by about 10 Feet it was close and scared the bejebbies out of me . They Boy was BIG !!! Really Big!! I have seen other deer in that same spot since and now as soon asI see them I yell they run .

 

[LordOpie]

I do have lights. I use a blackburn blinky on the rear ...

Doh! Yeah, they're right there in the photo

 

[splat]

http://www.twowheelgear.com/

Saw this and thought of you guys. It's a pannier bag designed to carry "dress clothes".

I bought this about 15 years ago, and used it up till about 10 years ago. ( I can honestly say i havenot used it in that long!! ) back when I had to wear slacks , dress shirt and a tie every day. Now that I wear Jeans Its Back pack time

 

[LordOpie]

Who's ready for the end of Daylight Savings Time?

We lose an hour, yeah? So if you normally start riding at 7:30am, it'll feel and look like 6:30am... a lot darker and a lot colder.

 

[Wumpus]

Who's ready for the end of Daylight Savings Time?

We lose an hour, yeah? So if you normally start riding at 7:30am, it'll feel and look like 6:30am... a lot darker and a lot colder.

Ummmm... Maybe not warmer but definitely brighter.

 

[splat]

Who's ready for the end of Daylight Savings Time?

We lose an hour, yeah? So if you normally start riding at 7:30am, it'll feel and look like 6:30am... a lot darker and a lot colder.

You got it backwards , if you normally start at 7:30 am it is going to feel like 8:30 , But its going to get a whole lot darker for the ride home.

 

[LordOpie]

You got it backwards , if you normally start at 7:30 am it is going to feel like 8:30 , But its going to get a whole lot darker for the ride home.

Ah, good!


It's nice being dumb, cuz then you can be pleasantly surprised by such stuff

 

[Mr. Hankey]

I need to take some pics of my commuter pos for this thread. I just out fitted her with lights, and fenders, and racks are on the to do list. At least by the next time it sees rain.

 

[LordOpie]

Studded Tires

Anyone use them? Can you recommend some that are inexpensive? I heard Nashbar isn't carrying their version this year.

 

[James]

Studded Tires

Anyone use them? Can you recommend some that are inexpensive? I heard Nashbar isn't carrying their version this year.

Don't cheap out.
Nokian.
For sure.

 

[LordOpie]

Don't cheap out.
Nokian.
For sure.

Thank you. But why? What are the issues with cheaper studded tires? Do the studs fall out or something?

(I've never had them and only need them for my 7 mile commute)

EDIT: Just looked at one set of Nokians... are the studs long enough?

 

[James]

Thank you. But why? What are the issues with cheaper studded tires? Do the studs fall out or something?

(I've never had them and only need them for my 7 mile commute)

EDIT: Just looked at one set of Nokians... are the studs long enough?

You don't want the studs to be too long, or then they're gonna completely suck on non-snow and ice, like pavement.
My opinion is do.not.cheap.out.on.tires.
It just doesn't pay. Plus they'll last a lot longer, more seasons...

 

[splat]

Don't cheap out.
Nokian.
For sure.

what he said!!


However I have used the IRC Blizzards ( 20 years ago ) and the they were OK , and till recently the IRC Sno-mads whic h we good but the Nokians Just blow them away.

BUT !!!

yes the Studs do wear/fall out . and Most of all they are HEAVY and very slow on pavement. and they make a racket too!

 

[LordOpie]

Thanks guys!

I'm reading the 'article' by Peter at http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp -- great info. Seems like Peter has one of the best sites/stores around.

I'm thinking that the 26" Nokian Mount & Ground W160 is the best all-around tire for when you don't know exactly what the conditions will be.

And yes, I will not cheap out. Considering one ER visit would be a lot more money and take me off the bike

Any opinions on which Nokians or the M&G? Thanks.

 

[splat]

Thanks guys!

I'm reading the 'article' by Peter at http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp -- great info. Seems like Peter has one of the best sites/stores around.

I'm thinking that the 26" Nokian Mount & Ground W160 is the best all-around tire for when you don't know exactly what the conditions will be.

And yes, I will not cheap out. Considering one ER visit would be a lot more money and take me off the bike

Any opinions on which Nokians or the M&G? Thanks.

Peter's shop is awesome , and Peter Himself is a Good guy, I have ridden with him a few times.

well I use the 296's But my main purpose is for riding on Ice in the woods and on lakes. for commuting I would be temped with the 160's

 

[LordOpie]

well I use the 296's But my main purpose is for riding on Ice in the woods and on lakes. for commuting I would be temped with the 160's

Thanks!

It seems like from what I've read for city/urban commuting, 296 studs per tire would be overkill, definitely not fun on those days when there's no snow or ice, and possibly dangerous when no snow and ice?

Is that fair to say?

 

[James]

Thanks!

It seems like from what I've read for city/urban commuting, 296 studs per tire would be overkill, definitely not fun on those days when there's no snow or ice, and possibly dangerous when no snow and ice?

Is that fair to say?

I tend to agree. The 296 would be great if you're using it for mountain biking in the woods and on lakes, but commuting you're gonna be hurting.
What about a Moots snow bike? Not much heavier, and no chance of rust!
http://www.moots.com/news.php?News_ID=15

 

[LordOpie]

You buy me the Moots and I'll happily ride it

That thing does look great tho and if anyone can build a snow bike, it's a company that lives in a ski/snowboard resort town.

 

[LordOpie]

Anyone use battery powered heated socks?

more

 

[LordOpie]

So I realized that a headlight isn't as important as a tail light.

Tonight was dark on my ride home and either people ignored my so-called taillight or maybe didn't see it. Makes me glad that over the weekend, I ordered the Dinotte tail light from Nashbar for $125.

http://www.dinottelighting.com/

 

[LordOpie]

This morning: slight headwind and 30°F.

In addition to what I've been wearing and feeling a chill and a serious performance loss, I wore another layer on my legs, a medium weight skull cap, and neoprene boots.

While my head was sweatier, my torso was less sweaty, so I'm gonna guess that my body was using less energy to keep me warm. My feet and legs were not more sweaty than typical.

However, my performance still sucked. I'm not sure if my legs simply need a rest from two months of SSing to work or if the weather is just such a factor.

My new geared bike should be finished by the weekend, got the last parts needed today. Next week should be a more enjoyable commute.

 

[Heidi]

wow, what's the point if you aren't having fun?

 

[splat]

Anyone use battery powered heated socks?
more

I have a Pair of those ,while the Heater element doens't really do much ( they are deisined to be in a Ski/Hunting boot that has plenty of insulation , not a Bike shoe that is lightweight . any Way they are really very warm Heavy socks. but you will need a SHoe a Size larger then you normal bike shoe because they are that thick.

 

[splat]

wow, what's the point if you aren't having fun?

That is the main reason I commute by Bike , its fun.

 

[splat]

I switched over to my Hardtail Mt Bike as a commuter last night , and Put the Road Bike ( as a commuter ) away. with DST and it being Pitch Black at Night I can't see the pot holes, that Leads to flats , flats Make splat Cry. On the plus side now using he My Bike ,the last 2 Miles to the office and first 2 on the way Home ,are now on dirt.

 

[LordOpie]

I have a Pair of those ,while the Heater element doens't really do much ( they are deisined to be in a Ski/Hunting boot that has plenty of insulation , not a Bike shoe that is lightweight . any Way they are really very warm Heavy socks. but you will need a SHoe a Size larger then you normal bike shoe because they are that thick.

Good info, Thanks! If it got bad enough to need bigger shoes, those socks, and my neoprene boots, I think I'll just wear my snow boots and not be clipped in

 

[LordOpie]

What's everyone's top three dangers on your specific commute?

(soccer moms, taxis, pot holes, wildlife, teens texting, somthing else?)

 

[LordOpie]

My newest 'toy'

(not my photo. Borrowed from a bikeforums poster)

Photo of the light, mount and the battery pack that I'm simply putting under the saddle.

clicky for large...