🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Oct29.101217.6050@gw.wmich.edu>, 898watz@gw.wmich.edu writes:
> 
> I'm planning on riding my bike through the winter.......anybody have any
> imperative do's or don'ts for me?  I would like to get as much advice as
> possible from everyone regarding everything from preventing rust (salt on roads
> sucks!) to keeping warm......or maybe some think it isn't a good idea at all
> (riding in winter).  I live in SW lower Michigan, so we probably will get our
> fair share of snow, but roads are usually kept fairly clean -- so we'll see!

I used to ride thru the winter in Ithaca NY.  (somewhat colder and snowier than
Michigan.)  I took the radical approach: a fixed gear with cyclocross tyres. 
No derailleurs to seize up, no brakes to freeze up.  Really worked - up and
down hills.  (A fixed gear rider's pride is never having to use the front
brake.)  

What to wear?  That's the easy bit: layers as for X-C skiing.  Lifa
(Odlo stinks less), X-C gloves, balaclava.  I then moved to Ottawa where we
have Real(tm) winters.  OK, so I wimped out, but only cos my commute route
becomes X-C ski trail.  There are people who ride year round.  (I think Peter
Hickey from Ottawa U. has a FAQ posting on all you ever wanted to know about
winter riding.  I'm now back in Ithaca for this winter, so let's see if I
follow my own advice.

Mike

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