Here is another great post from Grease Rag WTF Cayla’s awesome blog, The Bicycle Diaries, about her winter vehicle. She includes tons of great photos and commentary. Check it out! (And don’t think I didn’t notice the Grease Rag name drop- thanks, Cayla!)
Below you can see that I have flat bars on this bike. My first year winter riding I had flipped and chopped bullhorns. They were alright, but I felt I wasn’t upright enough to be in control when on ice/snow. So I switched to risers, however they were from a polo bike, so they were too short. This year I went to the Hub (Minnehaha) and bought a 5 dollar flat bar from their used parts section. 5 bucks, and I feel WAY more in control that I ever have on a winter bike.
Also, note that I have a knobby tire on my front wheel. This is because I have a 27 1 1/4″ rims. These are and OLD size. This means that they do NOT make studded tires for this size wheel. Now you may be asking, “Cayla. why don’t you just buy a new front wheel?” That is a fair question. My answer is: Because this one still works! This is the original wheel that came on the first fixed gear bicycle I ever bought 4 years ago. It came in a pair, but the back one got taco-ed 2 summer ago at polo. I am sure that one of these days the wheel will die, but for now, it is still working and I have no need for it on any other bike. I will also say that this is one of the things I’d like to adjust. I’d like to buy a 700c front wheel to throw a studded tire on and then I can switch on days that are crazy icy/snowy. But I need something on the cheap, so holler if you hear anything.
I love Cayla’s attitude about not replacing something until you get something on the cheap or it wears out.
new clips. These guys are similar to the Hold Fast straps, but made by local polo cat, James. I had been using power grips, which worked well for the last 3 season, but I was looking for something that held my feet in a little better and were more comfortable. I saw that James had his own company going, so I thought I’d support a local guy. I love them.
Cayla, will you send us more info on how to get these local polo-made toe straps? Thanks!
Cayla goes into more detail on her blog about fenders, her top tube pad, and closes with her thoughts on having a “winter” bike.
Because Winter bikes often get the salt beat into them, I tend to go for things on the cheap, because they will have to be replaced in a few seasons (more often than not.) Even if I clean my chain every day and take great care of it, in time Ill need a new one anyways. That is just sort of how I look at all things winter bike related.