Do you use studded tires in the winter?
Make your own, or buy?

I tried making my own a couple a of weeks ago, out of an old tire
that i had. I think i failed miserably. The tire i used was probably
to stressed to support the scews, it kept ripping. Maybe i'll watch for a
good deal on a kevlar tire set.

Hmmm, I've never tried them, though I think about them every winter when I'm riding to work on ice-covered streets. I remember riding home one night, seeing a van coming down the street the other way, and then noticing that the vans wheels were not spinning. At that point I just hopped off my bike and walked on the sidewalk for a bit. Somehow, though, I've managed to ride 7-8 winters on slick skinny-ish tires.

I've seen people make studded tires with drywall screws and duct tape (for lining the tire), but I think they used really durable tires, and even then the results looked clumsy. If I go with studded tires this winter, I'll probably just buy a set.

-N

I've never ever seen anyone with this in the Netherlands.

In winter our streets usually get salted, but bicicle path have a low priority and usually aren't salted yet the first icy morning. You just have to know the tricks, like don't use brakes

Tijmen from Bicicle Country

I ride quite frequently on the ice, and usually don't have a problem. *usually*. Those few instances of sliding through a stop sign while in downtown traffic is enough to get me to purchase/make a set of studded tyres

I don't think you can *make* them, but I definitely have been thinking about getting some. Of course, in my neighborhood, the people almost run over you in *good* weather. I don't even ride anywhere near my house - I have to cart my bike halfway across town to find a trail where people won't run me over. Of course, it has cougars, so... (shrug)

That must be a tough decision.... cougars or gas-happy neighbours.

I take it these aren't the older women looking for young studs to spend their money on type cougars?

Posted by Lord Kahos I take it these aren't the older women looking for young studs to spend their money on type cougars?

Erm... no. These are the big kitty-cat looking at you like you're a T-Bone steak type cougars. A guy ran into one not two days after I was there, biking on the same trail. (By myself, may I add.) I never saw one, but I'm told that's typical of them. You can live your whole life in their territory and never see one. Fortunately, they are not exceptionally dangerous unless cornered. Unlike the other type... which could be quite dangerous if I accepted their attentions and Mrs. Watcher found out about it.

I use old bald tires that are kinda soft. And Im quite heavy. (225 lbs) my weight combined with the bald soft tires makes for a good ride in snow and ice. The only problem is that the drop-offs on my back frame (2 peice dual suspenision Menelli) is bent and it in trn makes the wheel move back and forth.

I've always wanted to put chains on a bicycle. It would really only work if you had disc brakes though.

My plan was to get some relatively small and durable chain and cut it into sections long enough to go around the ture and meet back inside the rim where the spokes are. With a jillion of these cut, a length of elastic shock cord would be run through all of the ends and probably woven back and forth throughout the spokes on the way around to pull all of the chains tight.

Anyone ever tried something like this? Think it would work?

Yup, that would work, i've seen them for sale at various bicycle shops.

I tried out a pair a few years back, they seamed decent enough

Posted by MacGyver I've always wanted to put chains on a bicycle. It would really only work if you had disc brakes though. My plan was to get some relatively small and durable chain and cut it into sections long enough to go around the ture and meet back inside the rim where the spokes are. With a jillion of these cut, a length of elastic shock cord would be run through all of the ends and probably woven back and forth throughout the spokes on the way around to pull all of the chains tight. Anyone ever tried something like this? Think it would work?

As a off-road biker year round it depends. i use stud-ed but then again I do not go on the streets. Since stud-ed tires on the road are worse then regular tires if the street has been cleaned. Get a good mud tire and you should do okay in the snow for ice just don't stop

yea, I had to 'modify' my rear frame for a wider,bigger mud tire.

Posted by MacGyver I've always wanted to put chains on a bicycle. It would really only work if you had disc brakes though.

Ever heard of drum brakes? Not really common on mountainbikes/ATB as they're heaviear, but they're extremely durable and never fail

Tijmen

Posted by IIVQ Ever heard of drum brakes? Not really common on mountainbikes/ATB as they're heaviear, but they're extremely durable and never fail...

Drum brakes would work with the tire/chain idea, too.

Drum brakes are not that common on bikes here in the U.S., I think because American bikes are usually designed with more sporty-type endeavors in mind, whereas European bikes are generally more commuter-tourish and therefore more drum-brake friendly.

-N

Posted by NV Drum brakes would work with the tire/chain idea, too. Drum brakes are not that common on bikes here in the U.S., I think because American bikes are usually designed with more sporty-type endeavors in mind, whereas European bikes are generally more commuter-tourish and therefore more drum-brake friendly. -N

then disc brakes? they are fairly common here in canaduh. not sure about emerica. but im guessing so. most high end bikes come equiped with discs. a set will run you about 100 bux on ebay.

Posted by Jedstah then disc brakes? they are fairly common here in canaduh. not sure about emerica. but im guessing so...

They (disk brakes) are common enough in the US.

I wonder how necessary the whole studded (or chained) tire thing is--I've read of people riding their mountain bike across the Alaska tundra with plain old high end knobby tires, and they did fine.

-N

Posted by NV They (disk brakes) are common enough in the US. I wonder how necessary the whole studded (or chained) tire thing is--I've read of people riding their mountain bike across the Alaska tundra with plain old high end knobby tires, and they did fine. -N

Riding is the easy part, it's the whole "stopping, going, stopping, going" part that is a pain in the ass that studded tires would alleviate. Especially this year, since Minneapolis (Minnesota) area has no snow, but a tonne of ice.

I've made it thus far without, but each day i consider it more

I hope no one minds if I dust off the winter-themed thread!

That's funny, you don't hear a lot about drum brakes, but I was considering getting one on an internal 8spd rear hub (Shimano Nexus) for this winter. I only use the front most of the time anyway, but in the winter when you pull your rear brake you want it to work...

I've been commuting every day all year since I was 18. A couple of years ago I went over to a studded tire on the front wheel and never looked back (though it's true what Infamy says - you can slide out a bit more easily on metal or concrete that's not covered in snow or ice). And they make an awesome sound. I prefer the Nokian one - I think the studs are carbide rather than steel. They don't rust and stay sharp. They haven't worn appreciably in several years of use.

I also had good results from a Magura hydraulic rim brake. Pretty much maintenance free, once you set it up. They're self-lubricating and run smoothly all winter, even in the presence of a lot of salt water. Though at -20°C, they do get a but sluggish....

i studded a pair of cheap new knobbies using self tapping screws.
so far they work great, but i havn't dealt with much ice.
cheaper than Nokians mind you

Posted by Dusty I also had good results from a Magura hydraulic rim brake. Pretty much maintenance free, once you set it up. They're self-lubricating and run smoothly all winter, even in the presence of a lot of salt water. Though at -20°C, they do get a but sluggish....

Hey Dusty:

I'm having trouble sourcing some Magura parts - can you help? I've got a vehicle with a coupld of old drum brakes which use the low-pressure rim-brak cables (that have putzed out). My local shops won't order them any more, so I'm trying to suss out where to get the bits without ordering from MaguraUSA.

Sounds like the rim-brakes work well - my usual winter-beater is a bit cheap for that, but it got me through the year in Thunder Bay. Winter doesn't bug me, it's the rain like today. Happy rides...

relic