WIRED> how to winterize your bike
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on
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Time to fenderize a Walmart bicycle.
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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on
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Would a walmart bicycle even fit in the bag?
Juan said:
Time to fenderize a Walmart bicycle.
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Permalink Reply by Ryan L on
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"If you're not doing any long distances, you can try the zip-tie method shown in this Gadget Lab post. Just run zip ties around the tire and rim in even intervals, with the knobby bits facing downwards, and in alternating directions. Obviously, this won't work unless you have disc brakes, drum brakes, or a brakeless fixed-gear bike. "
Why do people keep insisting on doing this? If you get a flat you are utterly screwed.
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Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on
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In summary:
1. Buy $150 worth of studded tires (for your Walmart bike)
2. Buy $??? worth of brand new disk brakes
3. Throw out your chain after spending hours slathering it with weird waxes
4. Buy fenders
5. Buy lights
etc etc.
Alternative:
1. buy an old 3-speed Raleigh at Working Bikes
2. Ride it.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on
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After 5 years of owning a bike I got for $25 and 3 years of riding in the winter it's just now starting to fall apart, but still very rideable.And how many times do you actually ride in a snowstorm,
slushy roads? 2-3 weeks combined total?My chain and alot of other parts started rusting after I washed all the accumulated oil, road dirt that was coating it and put oil and silicone spray on it.
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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on
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Or hilariously inconvenienced. Remember to carry a pocketknife with you.
Ryan L said:
"If you're not doing any long distances, you can try the zip-tie method shown in this Gadget Lab post.
Why do people keep insisting on doing this? If you get a flat you are utterly screwed.
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Or just use a $1.99 4.5" pair of diaganal cutting-pliers from Harbor Freight. It'd take 35-45 seconds to snip a hundred tie-wraps around a tire. No big deal for anyone with a modicum of hand-eye coordination. For $1.99 more you could have a whole new envelope of 100 more cable-ties to put back on the tire. Hardly "totally screwed" in any case...
I don't see what the big deal is -other than this trick only working on tires without external brakes.
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:Or hilariously inconvenienced. Remember to carry a pocketknife with you.
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Permalink Reply by S on
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Most people don't normally pack cutting pliers or a pocket knife/swiss army knife/leatherman with them on bike rides and those with saddle bags with the necessary components to change a flat don't usually have a tool to cut open a zip tie. Basically, if you zip tie your tires like this, you'll be stuck walking for a while or finding alternate transportation if you flat. Not utterly screwed but definitely a big inconvenience.
James Baum said:
Or just use a $1.99 4.5" pair of diaganal cutting-pliers from Harbor Freight. It'd take 35-45 seconds to snip a hundred tie-wraps around a tire. No big deal for anyone with a modicum of hand-eye coordination. For $1.99 more you could have a whole new envelope of 100 more cable-ties to put back on the tire. Hardly "totally screwed" in any case...
I don't see what the big deal is -other than this trick only working on tires without external brakes.
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:Or hilariously inconvenienced. Remember to carry a pocketknife with you.
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It's not rocket science.
If you have QR wheels you don't have to pack a 15mm wrench.
If you don't have QR wheels then you damn well better pack one to remove your axle nuts.
If you put zip-ties on your wheels then you damn well better pack a tool that can get them off if you get a flat.
Either you come prepared to help yourself or you walk (or ride) around the perpetual victim. I just don't understand people who fall into the latter category.
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Permalink Reply by Duppie on
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It's a solution in search of a problem.
On days that the roads are unrideable unless you have snow tires (how many do we really have in the city of Chicago? 5-10 a year?), take public transit. Problem solved.
James Baum said:Or just use a $1.99 4.5" pair of diaganal cutting-pliers from Harbor Freight. It'd take 35-45 seconds to snip a hundred tie-wraps around a tire. No big deal for anyone with a modicum of hand-eye coordination. For $1.99 more you could have a whole new envelope of 100 more cable-ties to put back on the tire. Hardly "totally screwed" in any case...
I don't see what the big deal is -other than this trick only working on tires without external brakes.
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:Or hilariously inconvenienced. Remember to carry a pocketknife with you.
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I'll just take the Hummer.
Duppie said:
It's a solution in search of a problem.
On days that the roads are unrideable unless you have snow tires (how many do we really have in the city of Chicago? 5-10 a year?), take public transit. Problem solved.
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It's bad enough changing a flat when it's 10 degrees outside. I can't imagine the extra time it would take with your gloves off to put on more zip ties not to mention if you f-ed up and get a second flat after all that work. Just doesn't seem logical to me.
James Baum said:
Or just use a $1.99 4.5" pair of diaganal cutting-pliers from Harbor Freight. It'd take 35-45 seconds to snip a hundred tie-wraps around a tire. No big deal for anyone with a modicum of hand-eye coordination. For $1.99 more you could have a whole new envelope of 100 more cable-ties to put back on the tire. Hardly "totally screwed" in any case...
I don't see what the big deal is -other than this trick only working on tires without external brakes.
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:Or hilariously inconvenienced. Remember to carry a pocketknife with you.
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