Winter commute/ride pics

[hansolo758]

In the winter time, there is a definite dearth of ride reports and pics. These are pics from my commute, which is quite scenic.

The bike is an aluminum single speed cyclocross bike, with the logos retouched so as not to offend our hosts. I use crosstop levers and studded tires.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride221.jpg

A good deal of my commute is on a paved bike path the city is very good about plowing. I don't mind having my tax dollars used in this way at all. Riding to get there can be a little hairy if I have to ride in the slop that's on the side of the road.

Once I'm on the bike path, though, it's peaceful and uplifting:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride10.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride11.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride12.jpg

I have to sometimes carry my bike across unplowed snow (which is why I like to use a single speed Al cyclocross bike to commute with in the winter). Studded tires aren't any help here:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride16.jpg

My commute takes me across part of a ride my wife and I like to do in the summer. Here are some winter versions of some scenes I posted in the summer here (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=46513)

A pond:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride14.jpg

Railroad crossing:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride17.jpg

A church:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride18.jpg

A section of the bike path:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride15.jpg

All this gets me in a good frame of mind before I have to arrive downtown, with its dirty snow and traffic:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh174/hansolo758/winterride/winterride4.jpg

[markie]

Too cold for ride pics... Here is my Winter beater instead

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/3080671285_31906cbc45_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/3081509670_a81c30ee65_b.jpg

[hansolo758]

Nice bike! What lights do you use?

[markie]

Thanks!

I like the planet bike super blinky on the back and I have my old Lume HID on my bike. I use an LED cateye doubleshot pro on my head, too. I commute on unlit poorly cleared roads and it is nice to be able to see if you are riding on ice, or not.

What tires are you using? My old schwalbe snow studs are getting tired.

[hansolo758]

Thanks for the info. on the lights. As to the tires, I use Nokian W106 Hakkapeliittas, 700 X 35 c, with 100 studs per tire. They work fine except on the crusty slop that's on the side of the road that you have to ride on early in the winter -- where I haven't found anything to work very well.

[Fixed]

nice job happy holidays
cheers

[bumperjohn]

That is a fantastic commute. I think I may now be a pussy after looking at your commute.

Jon

[d_douglas]

But I just rode my wife's small Fisher Klunker home in the snow (I ride a 59cm road bike) and it was a total riot! She left her bike at work last night and so rather than leave it there a second night, I decided to repatriate it.

Streets were clear but the snow was dumping down. I must've looked like an idiot riding this mini bike all the way home, but I loved every minute of it.

God, I love bikes!

[xjoex]

Here is a shot from this mornings icy ride in. I use the Kenda Klondike 700x35 studded tire. It works great and is going on its third winter of use.

I use a Lumotech IQ fly on the front and a Princeton Tec EOS on my helmet.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Jz4f840sc_c/SUJyhzznmcI/AAAAAAAABXE/zGVJq98Z36I/s400/100_2990.JPG
More info here (http://robonza.blogspot.com) .
-Joe

[hansolo758]

Nice pic, Joe. Thanks for the information on the blog.

[mike p]

Kool pic's. Thanks for sharing, you guys are studs.

Mike

[Brian Smith]

Love the shots, Hansolo.
I can't find mine right now, but I do enjoy the winter commute once the temperature becomes reliably below freezing.