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http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4432&page=2#post-277017
These are the tyres I bought about 4 weeks ago. They are sized in american/german not in metric. Very good prices have 3 for next year. I am on my third and a bit back tyres this winter. However I guess 3 will do for next year if a more normal winter.
Soooooo, its November I'm sure all our thoughts are now turning to Christmas the inevitable deep freeze.
In past years I've managed without either by walking or public transport, unfortunately neither options are great now.
Is the Marathon Winter the only game in town anything else worth considering (cheaper).
Going to put them on my 26" mtb and keep the crosser for milder days.
Steveo, what route are you taking? If you are only a short way from main gritted roads then you could manage on a MTB with some soft rubber and low pressure in the tyres.
I used to commute from East Craigs to the city centre in all weather with no studs. It was only when I started going out of the city that I moved to studs.
Tram path to Balgreen, Balgreen to Roseburn round the path then NEPN to Granton.
The road alternative isn't particularly appealing but I doubt much of that route will be treated
the wisdom of Dave: http://mccraw.co.uk/schwalbe-marathon-winter-review/
I'm on my second pair of Schwalbe Snow tyres. The first pair lasted 3-4 years with a fair amount of use over the winter. I have them on a second bike so I can take my tourer/commuter if it is dry/warmer.
The Schwalbe Snow tyre differ from a typical studded tyre in that they have only 2 rows of stubs, on the outer 3/4 of the tread. You inflate the tyre as you would a normal tyre and you ride on the non studded centre tread, and the studs only come in as you corner. On snow you can deflate is required to increase the tread contact to include the studs.
In the past I've been able to get a pair cheap, at ~20 a tyre. This isn't bad considering my audax tyres are ~£45 each and last a year and a half of audaxing.
I have not used Acycles but they have them for ~£25 a tyre currently. Not sure if they are based in UK or China with a UK web address. Shipping page indicates Royal Mail etc... so maybe UK based. I say this as I've bought things before from companies claiming to be UK based but the goods take 6-8 weebs and come on a slow boat from China.
https://www.acycles.co.uk/schwalbe-winter-active-rigid-tyre-9900.html
These have 700 x 35 where as everywhere else only appears to have 26 x 1.75.
https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/components-c9/tyres-c125/winter-tyre-p11077
For 20" wheels, I recommend Brilliant Bikes, although they seem to be out of stock: https://brilliantbikes.co.uk/8-tyres/983-schwalbe-marathon-winter-42-406.html
DaveC
I believe ACycles are actually based in France - so hopefully will arrive a bit more quickly than if they were coming on a boat from China - as long as you order before Brexit...
Hold on 10+ degrees next week :)
I never bother with studded tyres as I can't be bothered with the hassle of constantly changing tyres. Mind you I was envious of anyone that had them this morning as I cycled rather slowly and often with one foot slightly skimming the deck ready to stop a fall.
Acyles is in France I had studded tyres delivered from there 2 years ago. The last studded tyres had were from Bike discount, Rose bike also has studded tyres.
If order from Acyles they are metric sized. Rose bicycles have the sizes in German ( inches) rather than metric. Chain reaction also had a tyre in German (inches) but mainly sells in metric sizes.
I have 3 winter tyres but if put them on now won’t be enough to last the winter. I had to buy them in German sizes (inches rather than French metric) bought them in march . Currently there appears to be few winter tyres about Chainreaction and Wiggle sold out, Bike discount still had some last time I looked and Acyles and Rose bikes. The prices seem higher than this time last year.
Just about to order a pair of these. They're the 100 spike ones Dave mentioned above, I reckon they'll be fine if I take it easy.
Any one a pair while I'm getting an order from Rose?
Actually found them on eBay for £20 a pair so unless anyone is desperate for a order from Rose I'll order from eBay.
I have used those for 3 years they seem fine to me but I corner slowly even when the road was too snowy for cars had no incidents. The only trouble i had with those as with my snow studs had in 2014 is the back studs come through. I am nearly 19 stone and load my bike panniers up a lot. This year I bought 2 marathon winters mine just arrived yesterday. I did not choose marathon for better grip but hoping the back one will do more than 500 miles before studs coming through. Still have 2 of the 100 stud type for a back up.
Cheers ed1 that's reassuring.
Meanwhile in Banff you can get rebate on buying studded tyres for your bike
https://twitter.com/Banff_Town/status/1067880441317810177?s=19
"Really? Oh, that Banff. That makes more sense."
My thought process.
Looks like frost Monday night into tues morning
Fear not friends I have appeased the weather gods for a short time.
I fitted my studded tyres yesterday though need to find a couple of long bolts for the mtb pannier rack.
Up thread there was chat of beading in the spikes, is there any reason this can't be done by taking it easy on icy days? My default state on the mtb is slow.
Steveo, that is what I did and after 2 or 3 years all my spikes are still in place.
^ Just go easy on the brakes for a bit. Hard braking is what tends to rip the studs out.
cheers chaps.
Just wondering whether putting a studded tyre on the front only would be a good idea? I have a set of spare wheels with marathon winters (32) but it's always a hassle swapping them out quickly due to the rear on the studded wheelset having a differenly spaced cassette..
@edinburgh87 - that's pretty much what I did. I figure the front is the important one and, as you say, much easier to swap. Was glad of it this morning.
Put mine on last night - Like @urchaidh, I have them on 2 old rims so the theory is that I could switch them in and out on the hybrid. Unlike urchaidh, I tried to swap both meaning that the chain doesn't engage particularly well with the different cassette, brakes need modifying as the rims are different sizes, mudguards need adjusting as they barely allow room for larger tyres etc. So maybe more trouble than it's worth.
Bodged it enough to get going today, but lots of things not quite right, so more work tonight.
On the plus side, today is the last commute of the year, 2 more days WFH and 4 weeks (enforced) break.
Thanks both, could have done with doing that this morning!
Zero studs missing from last winter's front tyre and 24 missing from the back, which only took forty minutes to replace but which removed my enthusiasm for fixing the geared bike's seized front brake, dark rear dynamo light and loose rear mudguard flap. I wonder if the special tool for replacing studs is any good at rootling out big chunks of glass from the holes? Pliers are good for that, but frustrating to insert the studs with.
@Paddyirish - that's exactly the problem I have with switching the wheels around, glad it's not just me! Spikes on the front only are good for steering and stopping, but you need them on the back wheel for going uphill on the ice ...
I do have a spare front wheel with studs. Used three times in three years?
Should I:
1: Fix the geared bike prior to adding spikey tyres, by:
a: fixing the seized brake (by replacing it with one I prepared earlier)
b: finding the problem with the rear dynamo light (probably a broken cable - I have spare wire and a spare light)
c: drilling and bolting the flapping rear mudguard flap
-or-
2: Just put the spikey tyres on the singlespeed?
I'd personally go with the single speed but I'm a lazy bike maintainer at the best of times. Putting on the studded tyres is a job in itself as far as I'm concerned!
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