Frozen Bike

NEW BLOG!

2006-11-03T09:05:00.000-06:00

OK, so the title & URL for this site are kinda limitting, so I created a new blog for times I want to write about stuff other than riding a bike in cold weather.

http://clevernamehere.wordpress.com/

Time will tell wether I keep both or eventually abandon this one.

Deep & Profound Brain Things

2006-03-31T08:52:00.000-06:00

I road the Single-speed set up with only a front brake!

At least that's what it ended up as...-5c this morning, probably about +5c in the garage. Rear derailuer (sp?) must have still been a bit wet from yesterday's ride. As soon as I took the bike out of the garage, things froze up a bit. Couldn't use the big chain ring, the rear was limited to about 5 or 6 of the 9 cogs & was very slow shifting.

Then at about the 2/3 of the way I had an idea...[cue Sid the Sloth from Ice Age] "with this stick & my highly evolved brain... ouch!"

[cue Julien, King of the Lemurs from Madagascar] "After much deep and profound brain things inside my head..."

I decided to ride through the uncleared, frozen puddle-laden trail. So... riding through the puddles like an ice-breaker, splashing water all over the bike at -5c creates.... yep... a very frozen bike.No more shifting, no rear brake... yeah, I think I'll stick to the roads for a while.

Eeeewww!

2006-03-28T21:16:00.000-06:00

Ok, I'm ready for the messy conditions to be done! (Isn't Spring supposed to be all "nice gentle rain, green grass & pretty flowers"?)
Today's ride home included snow, slush, ice, icy slush, sand & gravel, icy gravelly slush, and a really nasty grass/mud mix (isn't this what the pioneers used to make houses out of?)

No wonder I couldn't shift to the big ring! Ice was MUCH better. At least it melts & you just have to clean off a bit of sand. I may have to hit the car wash for this stuff.

But I shall overcome! The gunk will not win! I will not give in! I may be replacing my bottom bracket, chain, chain ring & cassette soon, but I will never surrender Bwuahahaha!

Oh yeah, on a completely different note... In true blogger style, I guess I should post something political...

Obligatory Blog Political Content
Saskatoon's proposed mandatory bike helmet bylaw is...

Stupid!

Don't get me wrong, I'm very much pro-helmet use (hey I just bought a new one). We can talk about the likelihood of being involved in an accident where a helmet would make a difference. We can debate whether a helmet will save your life, but in the end it's pretty cheap insurance.

I just believe the money/effort spent implementing and enforcing a helmet bylaw would be much better spent educating the public about proper vehicular cycling, safety & the benefits of helmets.

Ok, that's enough political stuff for a while... If you want to read more about the pros & cons of bike helmet laws, Google it. Or Yahoo, or Lycos, or Webcrawler, or AskJeeves, or AltaVista, or Mamma, or I suppose Dogpile if you wanna cover a few at once... you get the idea.

Over & out.

Oh Yeah, I'm Hot!

2006-03-24T07:59:00.000-06:00

I've been struggling with a self-image problem.
You see, I know I look dorky when I'm all geared up... but is it dorky enough?

This question has plagued me for months until, finally I could take it no more! Time for action!

The first step in my move to ultimate dorkyness...
A pair of wind/waterproof front cycling tights!
These are very effective given my amazing chicken legs!

Still, I felt that there may be those out there that could still refrain from laughing... or those that may simply snicker as they drive past. What I was really after was all-out, uncontrolled, rolling in the isles, "I can'be believe anyone would be out in public like that" laughter. I really wanna see Tim Horton's coffee sprayed over the dashboards and windshields of Saskatoon motorists vehicles (especially City of Saskatoon truck #1104, but that's another story)!

So, what to do.... Ah Ha!
I'll get me some of these!

And so... my journey to complete and utter self-humiliation is complete! No longer will I fight the curse of blending in that has aflicted me for so long. No longer will I fear that I may be too un-dorky!

Oh and, bonus! This stuff actually works!

True Ice Bike

2006-03-20T22:23:00.000-06:00

Just a glimpse into what it's like to ride a bike through slush/snow/gravel/salt when it's just below freezing and very windy!
This poor bike is really earning it's keep... no cushy, pampered road bike here.

My Novato is in the shop!

2005-12-30T14:33:00.000-06:00

Woo Hoo!

OK, It's not usually all that exciting for the bike to be in the shop but thanks to many generous people, it's being fitted with new brakes. Brakes that cost nearly as much as my first good bike! :-0 yikes! (That bike was 20 years ago though)

They are Shimano Deore BR-M535s purchased from the good folks at Bike Doctor in Saskatoon.

Now, normally I would concur with a lot of others & say that disc brakes are serious overkill for a commuter bike, however... Most bike commuters don't ride in slush & snow! The weight & price disadvantages of disc brakes are soon outweighed by the safety factor of having brakes that are much less likely to freeze up during winter riding. There's also the excessive rim wear caused by sand/grit grinding between the rim & the brake pads. No rim wear with disc brakes... brake rotors are much less expensive to replace than rims!

The idea is to prevent this (this isn't my bike, but you get the idea):

So, thank you very much for the gift certificates Char, Mom & Dad A, Mom & Dad N and Nancy & Jeff!

Peacefull Morning

2005-12-30T10:36:00.000-06:00

The Great Awakening (ok, the "drowsy, stumbling around, gradually get less sleepy" moment)

I woke up this morning to the absolute perfect conditions for a ride! -6c, no wind, lots of frost on the trees...

So I quietly went through my winter riding prep & grabbed the camera... managed not to wake anyone. Pulled the bike out of the garage, turned on the rear LED light, then the front... d'oh! must have left it on after my last ride :-( Oh well, I guess I'm sticking to the trails).

It was just cold enough for the snow to have some reasonable ability to support me & the bike (at least in the places were people had walked)... too much warmer & it starts to fall apart & you slide around a lot more.

Lakeview Park

The Trusty Alluminum Steed
This bike has been great! With slicks it's very quick & responsive in the summer on dry pavement, and with the 2.1" wide studded Nokian tires, it gets around very well on the icey stuff. The aggressive tread is great in the softer snow too.

For a moment, you almost forget you're in the city...

For a moment.

Me
OK, here's proof (sorta) that it was me riding throught the snow. The balaclava was overkill for -6 but I forgot to dry out my skull cap and, well, there's something undesirable about putting on a cold, sweaty,wet toque. But hey, the balaclava is kinda cool looking when the frost builds up on it!

Studded Tires - Revisited

2005-11-22T07:16:00.000-06:00

How NOT to Build a Studded Tire
Well, I decided I don't completely trust my home-made studded tires for a couple of reasons:
1 - The screw heads don't make contact with the ground (even with low tire pressure) unless I'm banking quite a bit in a turn.

2 - I couldn't find hex-head screws in the size I wanted and the round-head Robertson screws I ended up using seem like they might be worse than no studs at all. I thought they'd get more beat up from the pavement, thus providing sharper contact edges.

Use The Force (the experience and expert knowledge of the Scandinavians)
So I bit the bullet and bought a set of Nokian Extremes. They are quite pricey, but they have a very good reputation for lasting up to 6 or 7 years with their carbide tipped studs.

Many will say these tires are overkill for commuting, but these are Saskatoon streets we're talking about! The city tends to clear only the main routes, and only a few times during the winter. The side streets might get cleared once.

So we end up with roads that look like a series of parallel mini bobsled runs - deep, icy ruts. I want all the traction I can get when I have to pull out of a rut to get out of the way of that Lincoln Navigator barreling down the road!

Dry Pavement
The tires require a 50km break-in on pavement, so I put them on even though there's now snow. They aren't as squirmy as I expected they'd be - really no worse than "normal" knobbies. They slow me down a bit compared to the slicks I normally run. I'd guess they reduce my average speed by about 2-3km/h (about the same affect as other knobbies).

Bzzzz
One negative side-effect... the aggressive tread causes a vibration that hits my aluminum frame's resonating frequency and causes the bike to buzz at 24-26km/h. I noticed a similar effect with regular knobbies as well, but at a slightly slower speed, so I guess it's an issue with the frame design, not the tire... hmmm, maybe I should have gone with a steel frame like the purists would advise. The buzzing only happens on the pavement, not on dirt or snow and only at that speed, so It won't be big deal.

Now if only we'd get some snow & ice so I can try these things out!

Anticipation

2005-09-27T22:35:00.000-06:00

A fellow Canadian bikejournal.com member wrote that it was snowing in his town today!

Low for tonight is supposed to be -2c... and a chance of showers. It's coming, like it or not! I haven't looked forward to winter this much since I was a kid! I decided to get started on my home made studded tires today:

Studded Tires For Cheapskates

Buy a nice set of street/trail tires for wife's bike to replace more aggressive tread OEM tires.
"Borrow" old tires from wife's bike
Hit the Co-op (or other favorite hardware store) & purchase a wack of #6 x 3/8" robertson metal screws
Spend 15 minutes installing screws
Take a break to address the "I'm scared" issues of 6 year old daughter
Spend another 35 minutes installing remaining screws on 1st tire (oh well, if it works it'll beat spending $100 - $140 per tire for a new set of Nokian studded tires)
Take pictures to post to blog

I decided to go with the "install the screws from the outside" method rather than the "from the inside out" method. This is a much easier method. As far as effectiveness... time will tell. Hopefully after a few dry pavement kms, the screw heads will be beat up enough to add a little extra bite.

Note: you may be able to skip step 5

If they don't fall apart or cause flats during test runs, I may go to the extra effort and add a few screws down the middle (this time from the inside out).

Hardcore Cyclist!

2005-09-24T09:31:00.000-06:00

And I thought Saskatchewan cyclists were hardcore! This guy's braving the high winds ahead of Rita near Galveston!

Seriously though, I'm feeling pretty forutnate to live in Saskatchewan. So many people displaced from their homes, not sure what they'll return to... I don't think I could handle that!

I'll be heading to Florida on a business trip near the tail-end of the hurricane season, so I can't help thinking a bit about the "what ifs". The way the freeways were clogged with cars trying to escape Rita, I'm thinking of an alternative escape plan.

Prairie boy's completely naive hurricane escape plan
At the first indications of a hurricane headed my direction I'll find the nearest Wally World & buy a cheap bike, backpack and enough food & poweraid to fill it and hit the road out of town. I know the hotel I'll be staying at has bike rentals too, so I could probably borrow one & deal with the late return policy later. :-)

After seeing pictures of people pushing their SUVs down the freeway so they hopefully won't run out of gas in the 14hour traffic jams... I know I can sustain 15mph on a bike for hours (seems kinda slow until you compare it to the freeway traffic speeds during emergency evacuation) . I should be 100 miles out of town in the time it would take to get a car from down town to the interstate on-ramp! With the added adrenaline rush of trying to outrun a hurricane I could proably even increase my cycling speed a bit!

Hmm I wonder what direction the wind would be. I'm assuming it would be blowing away from the hurricane & therefore be a fantastic tail-wind for cycling! If I'm wrong & it would be a headwind I may have to reconsider my evacuation plan! If I'm right though... woo hoo! I may not even have to pedal!

Windchill!

2005-09-21T08:15:00.000-06:00

As per my usual weekday morning routine, the first thing I did was check the temperature. I was very disapointed to see it was +1c... I was so hoping for 0c.

fast-forward 30 minutes...

...then I remembered... occasionally the temp will drop by the time I get to work... quick, check the temp before it has a chance to warm up again...

woo hoo! 0c! First official "frozen bike" ride since spring! Windchill: -3c. Looks like I'm back in business!

Withdrawal, Envy & Contemplation

2005-09-09T07:15:00.000-06:00

Me: Hello my name is Tony and I’m a bike commuter.
Y’all: Hello Tony

Yes, it’s true. I’m addicted to cycling.
This morning I had to drive the car to work :-( As I drove past cyclists I couldn’t help pouting a little… “No fair! How come he gets to ride a bike on this beautiful morning?”

I found myself wishing I was him… riding along peacefully, enjoying the beautiful morning sunrise, one with the bike as my cadence reaches that magic rhythm, with the wind blowing through my helmet /// sri--ee--tch/// (sound of record player needle sliding across the vinyl). Ok this is sounding a little sappy… time for a reality check.

WARNING: SPIRITUAL CONTENT, Continue at your own risk!

Proverbs 14:30
A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a disease in the bones. - BBE

I knew there was biblical support for me to continue cycling - a solid reason I should not be driving my car. :-) Here’s my application of Proverbs 14:30 to my drive this morning:

“A quiet mind is the life of the body…”
Yep. On the bike I actually have time to think. When I’m in the car I’m thinking about the dollars flying out of the tail pipe, the answers to the radio stations latest “battle of the sexes” trivia questions, whether the police will pull me into one of their “vehicle safety inspection” spot checks, how I’m sure my car would fail, how I’d much rather be riding my bike (ok, this is thinking too, but yech). On the bike my mind is free of all this junk. I can contemplate the day ahead, how I want to live my life, what I can learn from the mistakes of yesterday… you get the idea. I’m still working at using some of my cycling quiet time for prayer and meditation… making slow progress, but it’s a good start just cleaning out the junk.

“…but envy is a disease in the bones.”
When I’m driving I often wish I had a better car. Nothing fancy, just a little less embarrassing. When I’m riding my bike I couldn’t care less what kind of car I own… and who really cares what kind of bike a person rides? When I’m riding my bike, I’m pitying the poor “cagers” – those poor creatures locked up in their metal cages, battling traffic, polluting the air, driving to work to pay for the gas and car so they can drive to work…

It’s been 15 hours off the bike and I’m starting to shake. I feel light-headed. I hope I can make it till my next fix…. er ride.

Cough, sputter, putt putt putt... Hey, this thing still works!

2005-08-31T05:47:00.000-06:00

Wow! My last post was February 4/05!

I hereby do solemnly swear to promise to attempt to make a reasonable effort to look into the possibility of posting on a more frequent basis... you have my word on it.

Quick Update
Since my last post:

my bike was stolen
I replaced my bike with one better suited to my needs (thanks to insurance & help from my employer)
I've switched to "clipless" pedals
I've completed my first "metric century" (100km ride)
my odometer for the year is approaching 3000km
the price of gas has gone up $0.15/l!
I celebrated my ***rtieth birthday

Not Your Average Commuting Storey...

2005-02-04T18:50:00.000-06:00

My morning commute was a pretty typical, if somewhat slipperier than usual, ride... with one exception. I had to "put down"... umm "cause to sleep with the fishes"... hmmm "help pass to the next life"... OK, OK, I had to Kill using cruel & unusual methods a long-time family pet.

It all started at around 4:00am today...
My wife & I were rudely awakened by the sound of a saxophone! Well, ok, not a real saxophone... the saxophone belonging to a blues-playing furby originating from a major fast food establishment. The little guy can be seen on the left in the photo below (no I don't take photos of all the kids' toys... it's amazing what you can find with google!).

I have to say, when I'm 1/2 asleep & a toy decides to start playing all by itself, it kinda freaks me out!

We tried to get him to stop playing his saxophone, but nothing seemed to work... I even tried to drown him! I finally gave up & threw him out our 2nd floor window to the icy road below. He landed with a satisfying "crack".... "That'll fix 'im, ah ha ha ha"...

I left for work on my bike at about 5:30am. As I rode by the frozen furby, I couldn't believe it... he was STILL playin' the blues! I gently put him in my pack and headed for the river "he he he... trust me little buddy... I'll take care of you..."

I stopped on the bridge & opened my pack... yep, still makin' music.

I imagine he'll be basking on the shores of Hudson Bay soon (the Saskatchewan River water does eventually end up there doesn't it?) I'm sure some kid will find him in the spring & he'll still be playing the blues.

A Bike Ride With God

2005-02-02T16:46:00.000-06:00

Author unknown

Written sometime between
1910 and 1985.

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like the president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know him. But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was that He suggested that we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable ... It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, and it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal." I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are You taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we're off again. He said, "Give the gifts away, they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first, to be in control of my life, I thought He would wreck it; But He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. I'm learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He smiles and says ... "Pedal."

Never to Soon to Start!

2005-01-28T20:36:00.000-06:00

OK this isn't my own photo, it's a couple of brave young lads from vienna but I couldn't resist posting it here...
Hmmm... looks like I need to get Matthew started with winter biking!
(Matthew is my 2 3/4yr old son)

Two children head home on their bicycles in deep snow in central Vienna, January 26, "Heavy snowfall in eastern Austria caused numerous road accidents and closed motorways in the afternoon." REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader

Back in the Saddle

2005-01-22T22:39:00.000-06:00

I hadn't ridden since Wednesday morning. It felt great to get back on the bike again!

I decided to take the bike to return a video & check road conditions... Discovered the paths in the park were nicely cleared. It took 9 minutes to get to the library to return the video... doubt It would have been any quicker with the car.

It was a beautiful evening - clear sky, minimal wind - perfect conditions for a winter night ride through the parks! I toured around for another 1/2 hour or so... ploughed through some drifts, dragged the bike through others, blasted along a clear section of path at whopping 23km/h (hey, it's fast for me for this time of year on packed snow ok)

Remember how you felt the day you got your first bike?... OK me neither... it's been a few to many years :-o , but I imagine it must have been almost as fun as the ride tonight!

First Whimp-out of the Year

2005-01-19T23:02:00.000-06:00

Biked this morning but left my bike at work... my wife picked me up. (worked late & had errands to run... not enough time to bike home in this weather, shower, then head out before the insurance shop closed)

The last couple of rides have been pretty difficult. We had a warm spell with freezing rain followed by colder weather & snow, then more freezing rain. I'll take -39 over this any day! The roads are a real mess... glare ice, bare in places, coverd with mushy snow in others, ice potholes (not sure what else to call it). All this combined with worn out studs and a lack of sleep... ultimately I think I just needed a little break.

I left the bike in the underground parkade at work... figured I might as well take advantage of not riding it & let it thaw out & dry off. I'll get back on the (aluminum) horse again Friday... I missed riding this afternoon... should have taken the bike home so I could ride tomorrow :(

Frozen Bike Tip #001

2005-01-18T16:43:00.000-06:00

If you're going to ride your bike to work at 5:30am in freezing rain in January and not be at your desk to answer the phone, change your voice mail!!!

If you don't your wife will hear the old message with the old date & think you turned into a pillar of ice on the way to work (or worse :-0 ).

...at least that's what I'm guessing could happen... uhh, yeah... I'm just speculating, that's it...

(Sorry Char!)

Yikes! It's a huge bumble bee ahhhh!

2005-01-15T17:02:00.000-06:00

OK here's me... pretty much the way I look riding to work (I usually ride with both feet on the pedals though)

Insane Man Sinks to New Low!

2005-01-14T07:23:00.000-06:00

Checked the weather last night before bed... -35c. "Oh well, only 1 degree colder than my record... I survived then, I'll survive again".

Checked the weather this morning... -38c and a 13km/h headwind... hmm... oh sure, why not? I don't have exact change for the bus and besides, I have new boots!

frigid Cycling Ritual

cycling shorts, fleece long johns, lined wind pants
nylon socks, 15-yr old indestructible synthetic socks my Grandma gave me, thick wool/poly socks, "bugabootoo" boots (oh, and I cheated & put toe warmers in between the layers)
"wicking" long-sleeve T-shirt, T-shirt, fleece vest, fleece pull-over, high visibility cycling shell
micro-fleece balaclava, thick fleece neck warmer, fleece "Beanie"
clear ski goggles, cycling helmet with duct tape over vents (oh yeh, I'm real cute when I ride!)
turn on the LED headlight & tail light, attach my bike computer
Ride!

..."Hey, this isn't so bad!"
..."Ooh, I wonder if my lips will shatter when I breath in, they're really cold!"
..."Hmm, the tip of my tongue is cold... that's new!"
5 minutes later... "Hey, the air I'm breathing's not so bad anymore & my lips & tongue are back to normal!"

Quick note:
Mom, if you're reading this, don't worry... I changed my route to take me past the gas stations, convenience stores etc. so I would have emergency stops close by if needed.

What a great ride! I stayed comfortably warm the entire distance, very little traffic. I passed another cyclist (maybe I won't be alone in the loony-bin)!

Checked the weather when I got to work... -39c and a windchill of -52c. A record low temp. for me and the feeling of a challenge met!

What makes someone bike in weather most people are hesitant to dive a car in?

2005-01-12T19:22:00.000-06:00

The answers to this one are as diverse as the people who ride. I can only speak for myself.

It all started when...
A combination of incentives from my employer to buy fitness equipment, the fact that I enjoy cycling, the need for exercise and a broken car lead me to the decision to commute by bike through the summer.

I soon discovered that biking to work added only about 10 minutes to my commute. I also arrived at work feeling pumped and ready to face the day. Riding a bike home from work is also a great way to "pound out" the stresses of the day.

Bonus!
I soon realized I had no desire to drive a car to work - biking is way to much fun! I cancelled the plates on my car and decided to fix it "when I felt like getting to it" (read "maybe never"). The combined savings resulting from no car insurance & no gas purchases add up to at least $120/month for me... yet more fuel to the motivational fire to commute by bike.

A beautiful, crisp Fall morning
Around 5:30am I opened up the garage door to get the bike out & began to pedal out to the street. I was stopped in my tracks... the sky was alive! God's creation was singing praises! The Northern Lights were the most vibrant and active I have seen.

On my way I went, quite distracted by the awesome display in the sky (and very happy that there's no traffic at 5:30am). I had to stop several times to take it all in and when I got to the park I decided I'd work through lunch if I had to so I could enjoy the site. I stopped and layed down on a park bench and watched, completely amazed at the beauty before me! (and maybe just a little nervous that someone might see me laying down on a park bench)

I arrived at work just a few minutes late and gladly worked through lunch to make up for it (also very thankful for a bit of flex time once in a while).

Had I driven a car to work that day I would have been completely oblivious to the spectacular display. Instead I was one of the few that was blessed by the beauty of that early morning!

OK, I know I didn't answer the question yet but these are some of the many building blocks responsible for my addiction. Stay tuned for the explanation of the jump from fairweather commuter to hardcore (well ok... medium core newbie) winter cyclist...

Welcome

2005-01-10T05:54:00.000-06:00

What makes someone bike in weather most people are hesitant to dive a car in?
Isn't biking in the winter in Canada dangerous?
Don't you crash alot wen riding a bike on ice?
Doesn't it take forever to get to work by bike?
How can you possibly wear warm enough clothing to bike in the winter?

These are just some of the questions I get & hope to answer here. - both directly & by journalling my experiences.