🚀 go-pugleaf

898watz@gw.wmich.edu writes:
> Hey netters,
> 
> 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!) 


     My advice is to be flexible. Don't get into a frame of mind where you
feel that you must cycle to work, no matter what the road conditions. You
can usually deal with poor conditions if you are the only one out there 
but the cars must be considered in the equation. I commute all year
round by bike but I ride only if the roads are clear and the weather is
promising.

                                                          Arnie
 
-- 
Arnie Berger
arnie@col.hp.com
Telnet 719-590-5642

In article <1992Oct29.195924.20497@col.hp.com> arnie@col.hp.com (Arnie Berger) writes:

>     My advice is to be flexible. Don't get into a frame of mind where you
>feel that you must cycle to work, no matter what the road conditions. You
>can usually deal with poor conditions if you are the only one out there 
>but the cars must be considered in the equation. I commute all year
>round by bike but I ride only if the roads are clear and the weather is
>promising.
>
Some years ago I actually had a job where I could ride BART to work and then
walk a mile from the station to where I worked. After a couple of years
I would walk even in the rain after I discovered what those crazy limeys
knew all along -- an umbrella is the best way to remain reasonably dry
without getting all sweaty.

Using a bit of this idea and looking at a European commuting bike we see
fenders and lights. Add to this a rain hood and you are in a much better 
position to ride comfortably in most conditions.

So you only have to drive to work a dozen days a year.

In article <1992Oct29.101217.6050@gw.wmich.edu> 898watz@gw.wmich.edu writes:
>Hey netters,
>
>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!
>

My advise is to first get a bike that you won't mind beating up a bit.
Winter is really tough on a bike. I keep everything GREASED not oiled.
The snow and salt just rip off any wimpy oil I used on a regular bike

Keeping warm is something you'll have to experiment with. Just keep in
mind that you'll want to layer. I use about two layers of winter
tights and a rain suit layer. Keeps me pretty warm.

I've been through two winters so far. None of the weather has stopped me yet.

Just watch out for the ice patches! 8-0

Flip


-- 
    __@  __@        Phillip "Flip" Russell  | Purdue University
  _-\<, -\<,_       flip@sage.cc.purdue.edu | West Lafayette, IN
 (_)/---|/-(_)      "We don't have enough power captain!!!"

In article <1992Oct29.195924.20497@col.hp.com> arnie@col.hp.com (Arnie Berger) writes:
>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!) 
>
>
>     My advice is to be flexible. Don't get into a frame of mind where you
>feel that you must cycle to work, no matter what the road conditions. You
>can usually deal with poor conditions if you are the only one out there 
>but the cars must be considered in the equation. I commute all year
>round by bike but I ride only if the roads are clear and the weather is
>promising.
>

Why?

I HAVE to cycle to work. I'm sure not going to walk!!! 8-)

For me the cars don't really matter much in the winter. Mostly they're
all backed up and I pass 'em all. 8-) Those little fender benders
slow down the traffic to 5mph. 

You only ride if the roads are clear? WIMP!!!! 8-)

I have more fun when there is a fresh layer of snow on the ground.
It's really tough when it's slush!!

Flip


-- 
    __@  __@        Phillip "Flip" Russell  | Purdue University
  _-\<, -\<,_       flip@sage.cc.purdue.edu | West Lafayette, IN
 (_)/---|/-(_)      "We don't have enough power captain!!!"

898watz@gw.wmich.edu writes:

>Hey netters,

>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!

Hm,

I have a 15 year old bike on which I ride almost every day in each season.
During all the years I almost never have got any problems.
Just be sure that you have good lights, good tyres and that the parts that
can rust are greased well.

I don't know how cold it can be in Michigan but in Holland you can simply
wear your normal wintercloths.

>Thanks,

>-Mike-

Johan.
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johan Thole (thole@cs.rulimburg.nl) | The wrong side of a door is
University of Limburg               | where the dog is.
Dept. of computer science           | #include <std/disclaimer.h>

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

  +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
  |  Michael Ogg           |  e-mail:    ogg@physics.carleton.ca      |
  |     currently at:      |      or:    ogg@lns62.tn.cornell.edu     |
  |  Wilson Lab            |                                          |
  |  Cornell University    |  voice:     (607) 255-4882               |
  |  Ithaca, NY 14853      |  fax:       (607) 255-8062               |
  +-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Has anybody survived a winter with Looks? We had a winter preview last
week, and using them was difficult with all the snow collecting on the
cleats. They were quite nice for foot-down braking on ice ,though, with my
modification, ie. replacing the recessed cleat screws with exposed allen
bolts (kids, don't try them on your wooden living-room floor).

In the worst weather I rode in (+0 then rain then <0) made riding on
a bike path feel like riding on rails whenever I hit somebody else's
track. I stopped using the path after one block.
--
Ott-Vill R______________________
ovr@snakemail.hut.fi

In article <1992Oct29.101217.6050@gw.wmich.edu>, 898watz@gw.wmich.edu writes:
> Hey netters,
> 
> 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!
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -Mike-
Winter Riding?  You must be a serious rider.  Well I live in Memphis, Tn and it
does not get as cold here as it does in Michigan.  I normally ride around 120
miles a week usually that is two 60 mile rides on the weekends.  In the winter,
I ride during the hottest part of the day between 11:00am and 4:30pm.  Don't 
ride after it gets dark, don't ride in any weather below 35 degrees.  35
degrees is very questionable.  The best way to keep warm is to wear a pair of 
biking tights to absorb your sweat.  And a pair of thick sweat pants over them.
A tight turtle neck and loose sweat shirt.  And of course, some type of wind
breaker jacket.  The tight pair of clothing keeps your outer clothing dry.  And
the loose sweats will keep the cold air from freezing your sweat.  The tight
clothing keeps the sweat on your body and as long as you work hard on your bike
the sweat will stay warm from you body heat.  It is very important to keep 
your sweat warm.  Well this covers how to keep you body warm.  There are three 
other areas you must keep warm.  Your face, your hands and your feet.  As for
you face, I wear ski mask, glasses, ear muffes and a hood.  And of course your
helmet.  You helmet will be hard to get on but you can manage.  For the hands,
I wear a thin pair of gloves to aborb the sweat and a thick pair to keep them
dry.  Most important part of staying warm.  Your feet.  I have purchased a 
pair of thick thermal socks.  I wear a pair of normal socks, plastic bags over
those socks, thermal socks over them, pair of shoes, and there are some boots 
you can buy in a bicycle store.  Most of the time during a ride my entire body
will stay warm, except for my feet.  I usually get about 20 miles before my 
feet start to freeze.  Usually after getting off my bike I go in to a tub of
hot water where I stand to warm my feet up.  Winters are hard on bikers, but if
you dedicated enough you'll make it though.  And if you find a good way of 
keeping your feet warm let me know.

                                             Winter Biker
                                             John Smith