2013 Winter Biking: What I Learned Today

So, not trying to take over for the I Rode Today forum, but it's got a million comments, so let's start a Winter Bike thread for this season.

What I learned today, riding from Rogers Park to 5600 West on Belmont, and back, via various side-streets (and then lots of Montrose) and Hopleaf:

When rats are road-killed in this weather, they freeze into little blocks of bloody ice (2800 block of West Montrose).

When I'm cold enough, I will aim for the jets of steamy air coming up from the storm sewers--quite refreshing (1900 block of West Winona).

Biking in the city is a constant learning experience.  What'd you learn lately?

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on January 31, 2013 at 4:00am

I learned that my brake and derailleur cables can freeze and become non-functioning. Luckily, the front brake still works. Good thing I was already planning on visiting the bike shop tonight for a busted saddle.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 31, 2013 at 4:59am

Just thaw the bike out long enough to dry the water out of them and then lube them well.  If possible pull the housing out of the stops to lube it up.  If your bike has a cable guide on the bottom of the bottom bracket make sure to keep that very well lubed.  When riding in the REALLY cold and the bike is wet or there is a lot of water on the ground give the brakes little squeezes as you ride to keep them free and do random shifts to help keep things moving.

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

I learned that my brake and derailleur cables can freeze and become non-functioning. Luckily, the front brake still works. Good thing I was already planning on visiting the bike shop tonight for a busted saddle.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on January 31, 2013 at 7:45am

WD-40 is not a lubricant!

I just use chain grease on my U-Lock and it works like a charm. There is also lock-specific lube out there as well.

h' 1.0 said:

I learned that  the security desk at the ER entrance near my bike rack keeps a large can of WD40 with nozzle on hand.  I had to take one of my locks inside to thaw this morning and then go back out to put it on-- fully expecting it to be stuck again tonight.  Year before last I carried a small bottle of graphite and a small aerosol de-icer in my jacket, but I guess I got out of that habit last unwinter.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 31, 2013 at 8:00am

WD-40 is not lube but it can free up a stuck lock.

In other news you don't put grease on a chain.

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

WD-40 is not a lubricant!

I just use chain grease on my U-Lock and it works like a charm. There is also lock-specific lube out there as well.

h' 1.0 said:

I learned that  the security desk at the ER entrance near my bike rack keeps a large can of WD40 with nozzle on hand.  I had to take one of my locks inside to thaw this morning and then go back out to put it on-- fully expecting it to be stuck again tonight.  Year before last I carried a small bottle of graphite and a small aerosol de-icer in my jacket, but I guess I got out of that habit last unwinter.

Permalink Reply by grayn8 on January 31, 2013 at 9:42am
I was just about to post that the craziest thing just happened to me, but it seems you had the exact same thing. My ulock was frozen shut and being the silly primate I just pulled and yanked on it and just when I thought I should get some xylene or 100etoh, it opened. The cylinders were coated in ice. Would angling it do a better job of it? And did the wd40 work well? I just biked from little village to old town with no real brakes, but used boot tread to slow and stop. Seemed to do the trick until passing an armored car in the Dearborn bike lane.


h' 1.0 cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/2013-winter-biking-what-i-learned-today?xg_source=activity&id=2211490%3ATopic%3A631226&page=12#2211490Comment642256">

I learned that things that have never happened to me in close to a decade of winter cycling can happen in these crazy end-time winter conditions.  Both of the cylinder cover barrels on my U-locks were frozen firmly in place (in the covered position, which I suppose is a good thing) and all cables except the front brake cable were frozen in place for the entire ride home.  Fortunately the back brake stuck in the "on" position, so I was never able to get going fast enough that a partial front brake alone wasn't enough.

Once I had the sense to put my gloves on I was able to work the cyclinder barrels with a bit of elbow grease.

Permalink Reply by grayn8 on January 31, 2013 at 11:50am
Oh teacher H, what is the graphite? I looked at some of the de icers at a Walgreens and it seemed a little on the environmental side that could lead to some weird Korean monster movie like the Host. Although I think that was formalin.

h' 1.0 said:

I didn't actually use WD40-- just found out it was an option if I find out in a little while that the locks are frozen again. Would use the graphite I have at home just for lubrication purposes.

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

I was just about to post that the craziest thing just happened to me, but it seems you had the exact same thing. My ulock was frozen shut and being the silly primate I just pulled and yanked on it and just when I thought I should get some xylene or 100etoh, it opened. The cylinders were coated in ice. Would angling it do a better job of it? And did the wd40 work well? I just biked from little village to old town with no real brakes, but used boot tread to slow and stop. Seemed to do the trick until passing an armored car in the Dearborn bike lane.


h' 1.0 cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/2013-winter-biking-what-i-learned-today?xg_source=activity&id=2211490%3ATopic%3A631226&page=12#2211490Comment642256">

I learned that things that have never happened to me in close to a decade of winter cycling can happen in these crazy end-time winter conditions.  Both of the cylinder cover barrels on my U-locks were frozen firmly in place (in the covered position, which I suppose is a good thing) and all cables except the front brake cable were frozen in place for the entire ride home.  Fortunately the back brake stuck in the "on" position, so I was never able to get going fast enough that a partial front brake alone wasn't enough.

Once I had the sense to put my gloves on I was able to work the cyclinder barrels with a bit of elbow grease.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on January 31, 2013 at 12:29pm

Some of our work-members are institutional locksmiths, and to me they have recommended Tri-Flow Superior Lubricant.

Permalink Reply by David P. on February 1, 2013 at 1:02pm

I learned that chemical handwarmers don't seem to do much of a damn thing for my hands.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on February 1, 2013 at 2:00pm

I learned that riding into the wind at 1 degree leads to frost in the goggles instead of fog.

Permalink Reply by Mark Potts on February 1, 2013 at 2:28pm

I learned chemical handwarmers in my road shoes made all the difference in the world... sock - plastic bag - warmer - shoe - external sock 1 - really thick external sock 2.  For the first 5 hours I had nice warm feet, then the chill came, and the last half hour or so they died out and my feet went iceblock... if I didn't have them for all that other time (I rode about 50 miles today!) there is NO WAY I woulda made it.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 1, 2013 at 3:15pm
The only chemical hand warmer I use is beer.
Permalink Reply by Donald P Kingston on February 1, 2013 at 7:01pm

and what is the secret to crossing Berwyn and Cicero?

h' 1.0 said:

Lately I've learned how to get across Berwyn and Cicero on side streets. I've had some of my most enjoyable  rides of recent years traveling across the near west 'burbs late at night, just in the past few weeks.

Extremely bike-friendly winter so far.

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