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CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".

IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters


It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.

RULES No personal insults. No swearing.

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff

31. sallyhinch
    Member

    My spiky tyres started to go rusty last year in all the rain :-( - the year before they were brilliant though. I did try just putting the front spikes on but it's not much good for going uphill on icy roads. Like trying to cycle up a down escalator. I probably wouldn't bother if I was mainly cycling in town though - it's the black ice, not the snow, that I worry about.

    I'd say it has taken me about 5 years to assemble the 'right' kit for year-round whatever-the-weather cycling. You learn by experience what you need and what works for you

    Posted 9 years ago #

32. Mandopicker101
    Member

    @Instography - OK, what tyres do you have and what sizes?

    I'm running an old pair of 33mm CX tyres and they're handling leaf jam nicely (and some offroad fun too) but doubt they'd cut it on ice.

    My rims are 13mm internal width, so I'm only supposed to be at 25mm, but LBS simply smiled knowingly and said 'Aye, you're fine with 33mm'. Anything higher though I'd have to wonder... No worries with clearances though - I'm riding a crosser.

    Posted 9 years ago #

33. paddyirish
    Member

    @Mandopicker101

    Thanks for the heads up on the Winter Schwalbes at Planet X - found a discount for another 20% off them, so hoping to fit them in the near future.

    Posted 9 years ago #

34. Instography
    Member

    I'll check when I get home. They're not huge.

    Posted 9 years ago #

35. Bhachgen
    Member

    Winter Cycling - another bike needed.

    You are clearly still to discover the n+1 rule. Though it looks like you will imminently be signing up to it.

    Posted 9 years ago #

36. Beano
    Member

    The Marathon Plus tyre that I had on the rear might* be at the end of its life as there are some significant rusty bits on the bead and it doesn't look so good. Maybe i'll take it into my local bike shop and get them to look at it and give me their advice on how many miles it has left.

    anyway...assuming it is needing replaced would i be better:

    a) buying another new Marathon Plus
    b) buying two new tyres of yet-to-be-chosen brand; suggestions welcomed (see below)
    c) putting one of those winter studded tyres on the (front?) and putting the good Marathon Plus on the rear
    d) something else

    I've always thought my commute from Dunf to Edin wouldn't lend itself to a studded tyre; the distance and varying surfaces/temperatures/conditions would shred a studded tyre would it not? I don't fancy swapping wheels either. If it was proper snowy/icy then i'd get the train.

    I'd much rather a no-nonsense, p******e-proof(ish) tyre that gave me confidence for 90% of the commute; the 10% that might be icy in patches of my commute, i would adapt my cycling speed to try and minimise falls.

    * I am certainly no mechanic

    Posted 8 years ago #

37. Beano
    Member

    oh and I did discover the n+1 rule. I now have 2 bikes and counting... :-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

38. panyagua
    Member

    @Beano

    This doesn't answer the question you asked, but I'm willing to offer you a spare 32mm Marathon Plus with plenty of life left in it, for nothing as long as you are willing to collect from Dalgety Bay. I actually have two, if you decide to change both tyres.

    Posted 8 years ago #

39. chdot
    Admin

    Just a reminder that Beano started this thread with a post that included -

    "having not cycled in 15 years, i'm fair enjoying it"

    Posted 8 years ago #

40. Dave
    Member

    I used to commute Newington to Dunfermline and when it was bad weather we just took the car. (Going the other way around I'd be more keen on the train, since the traffic is mental).

    The rest of the time the bike is a bit more enjoyable to ride, as studded tyres are pretty slow. Also the studs have a limited lifespan running on dry tarmac, so for that kind of mileage you might find you wear them out before you've got your money's worth on the occasional wintery day.

    Personally I'd say studs come into their own where you really want to be able to ride all days, e.g. if there's no alternative transport option or you're just hopping around town.

    Posted 8 years ago #

41. Beano
    Member

    @panyagua - thanks for the offer. I actually can't remember whether i have 28's or 32's on lol; i will check tonight when i go home. It might be that i have 28's and they only *just* fit under my SKS narrow mudguards so a 32 may be too wide. will let you know.

    @chdot...still enjoying it and only last Friday hit 3500 miles for 2015. Given that this year saw the birth of my second son and month-long paternity AND countless sleepless nights...that ain't too shabby :-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

42. Beano
    Member

    @dave - yes i think a studded tyre might be too much. hadn't thought of the 'speed' factor. much slower and it wouldn't be as attractive for me to cycle (an hour give or take 10 mins each way is enough for me!)

    Posted 8 years ago #

43. paddyirish
    Member

    @Beano- great effort this year. Back to teh n+1 rule.

    Was talking about this to @hankchief this morning - I am setting up 2 bikes for the winter - a "cold" bike for use when there is ice and a "mild" bike for when there isn't. I'm not going to make any predictions about which one will be used most...

    Studded tyres cost me about 5% extra time (3 mins in the hour) on a similar commute to yours last year (I start in Dalgety Bay), but because I didn't have anything else the studded tyres only lasted the one season before they started puncturing my tubes from the inside. Hopefully they will last longer with the new set-up. The deal I got from Planet X meant that they cost the equivalent of a week's train ticket and IMO was well worth it.

    Posted 8 years ago #

44. acsimpson
    Member

    I'd agree with the 3% rule being about right. I actually think long trousers are a greater time penalty than the studs. I converted to studs after one day attempting to cycle along the high bit of the A90 path on a frosty morning. It was very slippery and I met several experienced riders who had fallen.

    My studs haven't yet caused a puncture and look fine for another season but I only rode about 2 days a week through the winter.

    P.S. Congratulations on joining the second child club. A club I have just joined myself |-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

45. gembo
    Member

    Studs good if route not gritted. I have a spare front wheel I swap if icy enough. Was hardly on last winter or winter before. Given cutbacks the gritting of bike paths may stop?

    Posted 8 years ago #

46. dougal
    Member

    I had studs on all last winter after a couple of spectacular falls. Weather cleared up fine after that and to the best of my knowledge all I really achieved was a pleasant rumbling noise as I moved from point to point.

    Posted 8 years ago #

47. wingpig
    Member

    I only removed my rear studs in February when one worked through to puncture the tube (but only because the normal tyre was handy) and only stopped using studs on the front when I stopped using the sparebike in March, when it became a spare again rather than an only-working. I bought some tyre-lining tape in a sale somewhere which shall be implanted wherever the studs go, as they'll fit on this winter's proper bike.

    Posted 8 years ago #

48. Beano
    Member

    @panyagua - it is 28's I have on the bike and even then they are a tight fit so 32's no good. Thank you for the offer though.

    still not convinced on the winter tyre. IF you had one winter tyre would you put it on the front or the rear? If you stick it on the front it might be an option to buy a cheap front wheel and fit the studded tyre to that. I *could* manage swapping out a front tyre before a morning commute as that would be simple to do...couldn't be bothered faffing with a rear though.

    Posted 8 years ago #

49. Chug
    Member

    Just to throw another option into the mix - I've currently had a set of Conti Top Contact Winter fitted to my commuter for the last couple of weeks. They are non-studded winter tyres, using the same technology as winter tyres for motorised transport. They seem to roll reasonably well (compared to M+) and seem pretty grippy. Appreciate the real test in Jan/Feb is yet to come...

    Could be an option for those, like me, who are not wanting to change wheels/bike depending on the weather.

    Posted 8 years ago #

50. sallyhinch
    Member

    re front and back - if you only have one, I think you generally put it on the front as you're most likely to go down steering rashly on a patch of black ice, but it won't help you on an icy climb. It's very disconcerting to be pedalling upwards and feeling your back wheel slipping backwards as you go...

    Posted 8 years ago #

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