Winter riding

[RobF]

A minor mud slippage incident turned my thoughts to winter riding.

Neither of my two main bikes is well equipped for muddy conditions as they both have hard compound shallow tread tyres.

I will be riding the same trails as I do now, but experience tells me it will be hard work staying upright after the weather turns.

Tempting as it might be to buy a new bike, common sense is prevailing (so far) and I've decided to go for a change of rubber.

The Rose is not a good prospect, removing the rear mudguard is difficult because wiring for the rear light is fixed to the underside.

Nor is there a great deal of frame clearance for knobblies, or the mud they kick up.

The 20" wheel AVE is my nominated winter bike.

I have ordered two Schwalbe Black Jack tyres which have the tread to do the job.

They are slightly narrower than the existing Big Apples, but that extra bit of clearance will aid mud dispersal and there should be no need to remove the mudguards.

I'm not looking forward to the bad weather, but it will be interesting to see how much extra grip the Black Jack tyres provide.

They are only a tenner each, cheap in themselves, and a lot cheaper than a new mountain bike.

http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/mtb/black-jack/

 

[Croxden]

I still have a desire for a front hub powered bike so I can have studded tyres on for the winter snow and ice. A bit juvenile I know, but that's where my head is at.

Anyone ever done this?

 

[EddiePJ]

I might well have a new set of 26" Schwalbe Ice Spiker tyres up for grabs complete with spare studs and fitting tool. I bought them to go onto the BH, but the BH has now gone for good, never to be seen again. They aren't going to fit the next bike.

 

[SRS]

I might well have a new set of 26" Schwalbe Ice Spiker tyres up for grabs complete with spare studs and fitting tool. I bought them to go onto the BH, but the BH has now gone for good, never to be seen again. They aren't going to fit the next bike.

Never to be seen again?

 

[EddiePJ]

Never to be seen again?

Never to be seen again!

The offer of a full refund on the day that it was destined to go back to Spain, was too hard to resist. I don't generally get attached to things, but the bike did open my world up to e-bikes, and get under my skin. Despite all of the issues that I had with it, I'm going to miss it. I would never ever recommend that anyone buy one though. Annoyingly I am now left with various tyres, tubes, brake pads etc, and no use for any of them.

The good news is that it will be replaced with a product of superior quality, build, and suitability. Watch this space.

 

[SRS]

The refund is great news, like you say it did you a favour and opened up the e-bike world. Shall miss your BH excursion stories.

I'm sure you will find takers for any parts you have that are no longer of use to you.

Looking forward to part 2.

 

[EddiePJ]

Yep, I can't knock the bike for the fun/pleasure that it gave me. Even on the day of it's return, I still felt that it looked great. The stupid thing is that it would have taken so little to have made the product decent, but with the lack of any UK support to speak of, it just won't happen. Even minor design flaws cold have been easily ironed out. Never mind.

On the plus side, I'll now finally be able to come out for a ride with you.

 

[SRS]

Yep, I can't knock the bike for the fun/pleasure that it gave me. Even on the day of it's return, I still felt that it looked great. The stupid thing is that it would have taken so little to have made the product decent, but with the lack of any UK support to speak of, it just won't happen. Even minor design flaws cold have been easily ironed out. Never mind.

On the plus side, I'll now finally be able to come out for a ride with you.

It is a shame that the UK could not assist. Their loss.
When your sorted it would be great to meet up for a ride. Sunshines best but I'll go whatever the weather.

 

[Croxden]

I re-read one of my earlier posts when I said that BH had better build quality than some I had tried. A near miss I think, but it cost me double. But worth it.

 

[D C]

I might well have a new set of 26" Schwalbe Ice Spiker tyres up for grabs complete with spare studs and fitting tool. I bought them to go onto the BH, but the BH has now gone for good, never to be seen again. They aren't going to fit the next bike.

Just to say these are superb tyres, I have a set and they turn ice into tarmac.
Great fun in winter and make a lovely noise!
They don't seem to loose studs either.
Dave.

 

[derf]

A minor mud slippage incident turned my thoughts to winter riding.

Neither of my two main bikes is well equipped for muddy conditions as they both have hard compound shallow tread tyres.

I will be riding the same trails as I do now, but experience tells me it will be hard work staying upright after the weather turns.

Tempting as it might be to buy a new bike, common sense is prevailing (so far) and I've decided to go for a change of rubber.

The Rose is not a good prospect, removing the rear mudguard is difficult because wiring for the rear light is fixed to the underside.

Nor is there a great deal of frame clearance for knobblies, or the mud they kick up.

The 20" wheel AVE is my nominated winter bike.

I have ordered two Schwalbe Black Jack tyres which have the tread to do the job.

They are slightly narrower than the existing Big Apples, but that extra bit of clearance will aid mud dispersal and there should be no need to remove the mudguards.

I'm not looking forward to the bad weather, but it will be interesting to see how much extra grip the Black Jack tyres provide.

They are only a tenner each, cheap in themselves, and a lot cheaper than a new mountain bike.

http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/mtb/black-jack/

strictly for what its worth I recently replaced cheap tyres on a 28 wheeled bike with schwalbe marathon plus Tours - they have more tread, but are smaller diameter - 1.4 versus 1.5 - it makes a huge difference in my neck of the woods to the way the bike absorbs shocks from small bumps and manages big potholes - it's now a much harder ride and potholes feel a bit more life threatening. if I could do it over it would be balloon tyres every time

 

[Croxden]

strictly for what its worth I recently replaced cheap tyres on a 28 wheeled bike with

I would have been happy with just two wheels, but 28 is going a bit to far in my opinion.

 

[derf]

I would have been happy with just two wheels, but 28 is going a bit to far in my opinion.

yes, let's just say I have a bit of a weight problem...(ok, seriously, size 28 wheeled bike)

 

[Deleted member 4366]

strictly for what its worth I recently replaced cheap tyres on a 28 wheeled bike with schwalbe marathon plus Tours - they have more tread, but are smaller diameter - 1.4 versus 1.5 - it makes a huge difference in my neck of the woods to the way the bike absorbs shocks from small bumps and manages big potholes - it's now a much harder ride and potholes feel a bit more life threatening. if I could do it over it would be balloon tyres every time

Do yourself a favour and get a Suntour NCX.

 

[derf]

Do yourself a favour and get a Suntour NCX.

i bet they're good, sadly even in germany wrong side of £60 http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/suntour-sp12-ncx-suspension-seat-post/aid:614120, but will keep eye open..

 

[triumph_st]

i bet they're good, sadly even in germany wrong side of £60 http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/suntour-sp12-ncx-suspension-seat-post/aid:614120, but will keep eye open..

https://www.bike-components.de/de/Suntour/SP-12-NCX-Sattelstuetze-p31627/?xtcr=6&xtmcl=suntour ncx

http://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,110;product=84027;lang=2

 

[derf]

https://www.bike-components.de/de/Suntour/SP-12-NCX-Sattelstuetze-p31627/?xtcr=6&xtmcl=suntour ncx

http://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,110;product=84027;lang=2

many thanks!

 

[JamesW]

I still have a desire for a front hub powered bike so I can have studded tyres on for the winter snow and ice. A bit juvenile I know, but that's where my head is at.

Anyone ever done this?

I read a few years ago about a dutch guy who when the winter came rather than wait for winter tyres to be available in shops just put tie wraps around his wheels alternating sides.

here it is:
http://www.dutchbikeco.com/_blog/Dutch_Bike_Co_Weblog/post/Seattle_Snowpocalypse/

Seems a great Idea and I was thinking about doing it myself last year until I realised that it will only work if you have disc brakes. (Otherwise it will shred the V-brakes and be guaranteed to throw you off!).

I want disc brakes on my next bike just for this reason!!

James

 

[Croxden]

I read a few years ago about a dutch guy who when the winter came rather than wait for winter tyres to be available in shops just put tie wraps around his wheels alternating sides.

here it is:
http://www.dutchbikeco.com/_blog/Dutch_Bike_Co_Weblog/post/Seattle_Snowpocalypse/

Seems a great Idea and I was thinking about doing it myself last year until I realised that it will only work if you have disc brakes. (Otherwise it will shred the V-brakes and be guaranteed to throw you off!).

I want disc brakes on my next bike just for this reason!!

James

Thanks for that, I may try it. I recon we usuly get snow a couple of weeks after New York has it. Seems they have had some big time, so watch out.

 

[JamesW]

If you do let me know. It might be worth me just getting new front forks for the suspension and this if it works!