Last weeks’ snowfall gave us about a foot of dense, wet snow. This was followed by a week of near 0F temps. The result is a maze of glare ice roads and intersections, at least on the residential side streets. Our Saturn has a newly cracked bumper that attests to the treachery of traveling on these roads. This has kept me off the bike for a bit over a week.

Riding in last week’s fresh snow looked a bit like this <– Lots of fun. Quite the contrast from today’s ride. While it was fun, I looked more like an iced-over neon-colored polyester snowman. And instead of getting out the saddle and bombing the snow drifts, I was carefully choosing lines through packed snow and glare ice.

I made it about 4 miles today, about 30 minutes. (Please don’t calculate my avg speed with that info.) I had the energy and  the warmth to go further, but not much. I’m in awe of those who rode 20 miles or more today.

Anyways, I’m hoping this is a good start to the year. While I won’t promise to ride every day, I’m hoping today’s ride will help remind me that sub-zero temps or icy roads aren’t excuse enough to stay inside.

It was a warm evening, and I was blasting down 14th towards campus. I cut left across oncoming traffic, up a grass berm, and slalomed down onto a busy sidewalk. Resting briefly, I assured myself that my actions were okay, because I was on a BMX bike, and the drivers/pedestrians wouldn’t recognize me. 

Even in this dream, however, I used “me” in the collective sense. I am always aware as I ride of the perception I leave with those I encounter. I know well that msot drivers can’t tell the difference between me and the next cyclist they see; I’m judged on all actions each driver has seen by any cyclist, and my actions reflect on the character of the next cyclist seen. Because of this, I try to set a good example by being visible, riding predictably, and, when safe to do so, following traffic laws.

On a BMX bike, I was a different person, a different genre. Not a cyclist, but a punk kid acting rash, reckless, rebelious. I imagined drivers irked by my actions would take it out on the next hoodie-wearing teenager they met. I also imagined I had mad skillz on my Mosh and could grind, jib, and freestyle like a pro. What can I say? It was a dream, and my imagination went a bit wild.

Back to reality, I did take the bike for a loop inside the office today, and showed off my inability to even bunny hop or track stand the thing. Interestingly, the bike grabbed the attention of several co-workers that hardly lift an eyebrow when I roll past my commuter bike. The BMX genre, as I’d imagined, is a different crowd than cyclists like me. I hope the imaginary drivers from last night’s dream don’t take out too much aggression on them!

http://www.cartalk.com/piplayer/cartalkplayer.html?play=09smil.xml

The idea is simple–the gasoline tax keeps prices at the pump higher, thereby reducing demand on foreign oil. Money raised is used to fund more sustainable transportation. The catch? The idea hinges on implementing it _now_, while gas prices are surprisingly low. But who’s going to support or propose a new tax in this economy?

Yet, here I am, eager to drive as little as possible, with my primary motivation being that I much prefer spending time on my bike than in a car. Yeah, I’ve saved a lot on gas this year, but I’m sure I’ve spent it all back on maintaining my bikes. And I have several friends who are similarly inclined to use alternatives to personal motor vehicles. So, it is possible to sustain the desired behavior without radical monetary incentives. My question is, what motivates us? Why do we bike? In adverse weather, leaving early, getting home later, compromising personal hygene, risking drivers’ scorn and vehicle collisions?

I’ll wrap this up now before I get too far off topic.. Anyways, what are your thoughts on this tax idea? Or, how else do we promote behavior changes among commuters? Do we  even need to?

Baling twine
That’s right, baling twine. Why? Because is was available and plentiful. My brother and I used this on our coaster-brake equipped BMX bikes to gain traction in packed and powder snow. My knowledge of this technique was handed down by my dad,  who also used baling twine traction as a kid. Using baling twine for traction is very simple-just wrap the twine around the tire, lacing it through the spokes every 3 inches or so. Effectiveness? Well, pretty darn good, considering the low effort needed to install. Instead of spinning down into a puddle of slush, the tire would churn through the snow and let me get up to speeds of 5, maybe 8mph. This winter ritual ended quickly after upgrading to a Murray mountain bike with caliper rim brakes.

With disc brakes now common on most mountain bikes, this method is once again feasible for many. Check out this DIY tire chain setup.

Sheetmetal screws
This method is an adaptation from dirt bike experience, and also handed down by my dad. I remember admiring his Husqavarna’s winter tire, which had at least 300 sheetmetal screws distributed heavily across all of the tire’s lugs. That tire could rip apart ice like is was soft sand.

A few years later, I was inspired to ride through the winter up in Houghton, MI. I spent an evening carefully driving small sheetmetal screws from the inside-out of my front tire (a Panaracer Dart, IIRC). A second tube, carefully duct-taped into place, protected the tube from the screw heads. The result was pretty impressive; a knobby tire with 1/2″ of threaded screw sticking out of every lug.

This tire worked great for the loosely packed snow on the campus roads. The screws quickly wore down, but still had a lot of bite even when flush with the rubber. My best memory of that setup? The loud helicopter-like FFZZZZVVVVZZZZ sound that tire made on bare concrete–that got more than a few pedestrians to get outta my way!

Carbide studded tires
A.k.a. the “right way” to do this. I first ran a Nokian studded front tire last winter on my fuji POS. It worked amazingly well for keeping my bike upright through the slippery stuff. This year, I’m rockin’ a pair of Schwalbe Snow Studded carbide tires on my Cannondale H400. Amazing stuff, I tell ya. I now have the traction I need to keep spinnin’ this winter. If ony I could maintain the momentum to get on the bike each day… 

That evening, she quized me about my laziness. “Missed your alarm again?” she asked. Nope, I replied, and explained that I felt a cold coming on and didn’t want to push myself. “Wow, I’m impressed,” she replied, sincerely, “I didn’t realize you’d put your wellness above a chance to ride.”  At that point, I was fairly content with my decision. But now, three days into a self-imposed biking-ban, I wonder if I’m over-reacting. 

I own and drive a car, but I often consider how’d I’d manage with a car-free lifestyle. This week would’ve been a challenge. Even my mixed-mode commute requires 12 miles of cycling (And 8 on the train), and to take the bus would require over 2 hours each way. A car-free lifestyle would trigger a much lower “call in sick/working from home” threshold than I currently have. Maybe this would be a good thing; maybe I shouldn’t be here potentially sharing cold germs with coworkers. But I fear it’d also promote the perception that “car-free” is sub-par, unprofessional.

Alternatively, I could’ve biked through the symptoms and hoped for the best. My fear is I’d prolong my recovery from this cold, and probably worsen it’s severity. Maybe next time I’ll try this approach, just to validate my theory. Oh well, until I recover, you’ll just have to deal with one more car on the road.

As a budget concious cyclist, I’ve become good at gearing up at non-cycling retailers. I’ll never admit it, but I get most of my cycling clothes at Marshall’s. This weekend was no exception. As my wife was taking full advantage of Coach’s clearance at the Albertville outlets, I made side trips to the House’s outlet store (warm snowboarding helmet (twitpic) – $30) Reebok (reflective running jacket – $22) and Marshall’s (Bolle goggles – $25)

I did spend market price on one thing this weekend. A new pair of Schwalbe Winter Marathon studded tires. You see, I recognize the added value in buying a quality product that serves as critical a job as one’s tires. This is doubly-important in winter riding, in which traction, reliability, and visibility can’t be compromised. Yes, I know this, and I spent my money accordingly.

I’m lying.

I totally cheaped out and bought 1 $40 Innova studded tire.

20 minutes later, I’m home, inflating my newly-mounted tire while listening to “Marketplace Money” on MPR. The pressure gauge is struggling to reach 60 psi when a gunshot rips through the basement. Or a ruptured tube, perhaps; they’re just as loud. (twitpic) The bead of the Innova had jumped out of the rim, allowing the tube to expand and explode. I try again with a new tube, this time inflating more slowly. Same problem. Aargh. I dismount the tire and study it a bit. A stud falls out from the gentle prodding of a fingernail. AAARGGGH.

A quick phone call to the bike shop corrected the issue – I ordered the Schwalbe’s, and confirmed they’ll take back the Innova. The shop owner was very accomodating, considering I’d called him after hours on a Sunday. (tweet)

So yeah, I’ll be commuting to work tomorrow studless on icy roads. I’ll be fun, but I’ll just remind myself how much more “fun” it’d have been to replacing a blown tube at 20F.

Almost forgot–First Post!