Comments on: Smackdown, day 2

By: Tim K

Tim K — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:10:16 +0000

Hey Val — when are you going to blog? I’d rather read your comments than my posts any day!

For both of you… yep, I’m thinking about making some studded tires. Anne can skip a day of riding if it is too icy, but I’ve got to get to work. I have a spare pair of wheels that came with knobby tires and near limitless supply of sheet metal screws (my neighbor is a sheet metal dude). Of course, once I do, La Nina will flee and they’ll be resigned to the basement!

Oh, and thanks about the photos — I’m really trying to shoot more. And, I’m with you on the middle one. I didn’t want to wait around to get all artistic.

Easy access is key to the photos (for me). I’ve got the camera case (an old timbuk2 accessory pouch) velcro’d to the wald up front; I can grab it easily mid ride or at a quick stop. If it’s in the coat or in the sideloaders it doesn’t get used (or it gets dropped when fumbling in the jacket — that’s happened twice now!).

By: Smudgemo

Smudgemo — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:19:51 +0000

I forgot to add that your photos are pretty. Well, not so much the middle one, but the others are. I really should stop and shoot more.

By: Smudgemo

Smudgemo — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:18:30 +0000

Geez, don’t get crazy temping fate. Perhaps studded tires and a cheap set of extra wheels would be a good investment. Falling down on a path is one thing, doing it in traffic where someone behind you may not be able to stop is another…

By: Val

Val — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:11:47 +0000

Indeed, the evolution of this type of road condition does tend to present the hardy rider with a conundrum: the trails are never sanded or plowed, so they’re loads of fun to ride when the snow is fresh, but as more riders and walkers churn things up and the ruts and footprints thaw and refreeze, they become progressively more impassable. The same holds true for many sidewalks – sidewalks next to plowed streets can be even worse, as the chunky wake of the plow gets strewn over the sidewalk, and no effort is made to clear it for walkers (why would anyone walk?). By contrast, the streets get cleared to some extent by cars driving over and packing, if not melting the snow, and we do now have some actual plows (unheard of in past years). In this situation, the admonition by vehicular cyclists to take the lane is enforced by the conditions, and the cars just have to deal with us. Keep a sharp eye on them, though. Also, it seems that I can’t say this enough these days: You will never regret getting a pair of studs. It is, of course, a pain to switch tires, but once you’re out on the ice, you’ll be glad, no, overjoyed that you did. Safety and fun – what’s not to love? Make them or buy them, but whatever you do, ride them.