Winter advice for a newbie.

[Tarqs]

Hi

As a newbie this will be my first winter cycling. I have a road bike which is going to have to be an all-seasons ride and I'd like to know how to prepare it for winter.

I know mudguards should be my first job. Should I change tyres? I have Continental Ultra Sport II fitted at the moment. What would everyone recommend tyre wise?

Does anyone have any other suggestions about what else I should be thinking about to keep me and the bike in once piece?

Thanks in advance

 

[fossyant]

Mudguards for all year round. Tyres will be fine, no need to change.

If it's icy then thats a different kettle of fish - nothing other than tungsten carbide studded tyres will stick. Either drive or get public transport if you dont have a spare bike with these tyres.

For bomb proof tyre, then the Schwalbe Durano Plus is excellent.

 

[Gez73]

I use Schwalbe winter tyres in snow/ice. They just fit on my tourer for Winter commuting with mudguards too of course. Get some GT85 or equivalent to keep drivechain reasonable in ice or snow. See Mickle method! Salted roads will take their toll quicker than you would believe. Studded tyres at the correct working pressure will give you so much more confidence too so well worth investing if cycling is only option. Gez

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Mudguards for all year round. Tyres will be fine, no need to change.

If it's icy then thats a different kettle of fish - nothing other than tungsten carbide studded tyres will stick. Either drive or get public transport if you dont have a spare bike with these tyres.

Digressing slightly

If you're walking/running, Inov-8 OROC shoes are great!! (I've used them for icy fell-races)

 

[Simpleton]

Keep the drivetrain and rims clean. Especially after a wet ride and the roads have been gritted.

 

[Simpleton]

And Durano + for tyre choice, however if your commute/riding takes in a fair amount of dirt and grime on the road then itight be worth going with Marathon +.

 

[LarryDuff]

Get a good pair of gloves.

 

[DCLane]

Good warm gloves, longs, winter jacket, overshoes.

That'll do for starters.

If you've got the cash a good pair of winter boots makes a lot of difference, as does a thermal jacket and winter longs.

 

[Profpointy]

mudguards all year for me, but even more so in winter. Good gloves - the exquisite pain of forgotten gloves on an icy.day is a mistake only done once.The pain disapears after a couple of miles, but the pain that returns 10 minutes after reaching the office I still remember 30 years later.

Riding on ice - no,. Tried it once and ended up on my arse. And fell on my arse again trying to pick the bike up. Admittedly this was 2" thick sheet ice where a brook had run across the road

 

[Tarqs]

Thanks everyone.

So...

Mudguards
Gloves
Overshoes
Keep the bike clean
New tyres optional?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

mudguards all year for me, but even more so in winter. Good gloves - the exquisite pain of forgotten gloves on an icy.day is a mistake only done once.The pain disapears after a couple of miles, but the pain that returns 10 minutes after reaching the office I still remember 30 years later

Agreed, it's as they warm back up (it's the same running, just a lower speed for the wind-chill)

Riding on ice - no,. Tried it once and ended up on my arse. And fell on my arse again trying to pick the bike up. Admittedly this was 2" thick sheet ice where a brook had run across the road

I came off twice on black-ice, on the same road, within half-a-mile.
It was a low lying road, Ferry Lane, at Stanley, if anyone knows it

The first time, thankfully, the car following stopped, I picked myself up to see a 3-pointed star at head-height

Second fall, I quite literally saw stars, as I sat up, I'd hit the ground that hard, & was convinced I'd broken my wrist, pushing the bike the remaining mile to work

Booked into A&E on arrival, at work, received a large dose of no sympathy at all, from Nurses who I've known for years (well, no sympathy in jest.......... I hoped)

 

[Gez73]

Thanks everyone.

So...

Mudguards
Gloves
Overshoes
Keep the bike clean
New tyres optional?

Get yourself some Buffs too. Even the freebie ones from the magazines are quite useful for Winter. I have several of them in different materials. Gez

 

[Nigelnaturist]

If the last two winters are anything to by for the next few years, just stock with road tyres as @fossyant says makes no difference, watch it on the leaves ect... my choice of tyres Gatorskins, front has just done 12,000 without a puncture.
Clothing, I have a winter Jacket, but doubt it got worn more than 5 or 6 times last year, base layers, Aldi do some good stuff, if i remember I only had a base and my winter shirt most of last winter, wind proofing is probably more important than staying dry as its the wind that takes away the body heat.

 

[andyfraser]

My clothing for the last 2 winters has consisted of waterproof walking boot, normal socks, Aldi longs, a normal t-shirt, a waterproof cycling jacket, a pair of thick winter cycling gloves and a helmet, even when it got down to -6. I have all sorts of base layers, thick socks, buffs and the like but didn't need them when cycling.