snow bike

Bicycles for campers, rvers, or just riding around where ever you are

Postby Sabby » Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:03 am

Cool! So do you run a lower PSi on the tyres when riding on snow, or ice? Is it a special rubber, like the older Specialized super 'tacky' tyres?

So do you ride long distances on the snow? Or shorter free ride type of stuff?
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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:55 am

Our ice race tires do not have special rubber, they are regular mountain bike tires. We choose tires that are narrower and rounder, than what we would use for trail tires. We put our own screws in, there is nothing commercially made with the same grip The screws in the tire in the photo are used for steel stud [2x4 construction].

We drill a small pilot hole from the outside to the inside of the tire.. mostly so we can get the screw placement accurate. Of course the longer the screw [to a certain point] the more grip.. but it also takes more horse power to turn them over. Also to long.. or even too long in comparison to the thickness of the rubber, and the screws will squirm to much.

In this case we run fairly high pressure. I run about 60psi.

Image
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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:06 am

Originally our trail tires were homemade also. To start with we, again had no other option. In this case we wanted as wide and square a profile, a tire we could get. We were riding on packed snowmobile trails.. and their hardness varied. Again we used nothing special for rubber. and again we used our own screws.

Then Nokian studded tires became available. They were quite pricey.. and we were all hesitant to buy them. Finally one guy purchased them.. and all of a sudden he was riding faster than us. :o So we all had to buy a set.

The Nokians were much lighter than our homemade tires. They used small car tire like studs. They did also use special rubber. They don't grip anywhere near as good as our homemade tires, but it is rare to need that on the trail.

We would perhaps run a little lower pressure with either trail tire, than we would in the summer.

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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:23 am

The new fatbikes like the Pugsley.. have HUGE tires on them, and wider rims. The whole bike is build around these. The frame needs more clearance for these tires, and the bottom bracket needs to be wider so the chain can clear the tire [and to keep the chainline in line. 8)

I don't have much experience on these yet, having just received our bikes last week. These bikes are supposed to be able to ride in fairly deep soft snow, and on snow that is not as packed. These do use lower air pressure. I am not sure exactly what range I would use.. maybe 8 to 10 psi
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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:30 am

Image
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Postby toypusher » Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:45 am

Fenlason wrote:Image


Is that a pic of yours?? If so, is that a lake or river, or just a open area?
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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:48 am

not my photo..

we had a few Pugs in the area before ours, but I have not been out with them... and we don't have those conditions yet this season.. it has been warm here.. :(

but it does look like they are on water... :D
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Postby mikeschn » Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:37 pm

Fenlason wrote:Image


That's a mean looking tire.

I remember the last time I tried to ride on the path in the snow. It was like impossible.

The snow slowed me down to a crawl.

And of course the wheels slipped like crazy.

And the wheels wanted to slip out from underneath me, to the side...

But I'm not sure those screws are the answer.

Maybe I'll ask Santa for some studs. I'd put them on my Crosstrail!

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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:13 pm

mikeschn wrote:
Fenlason wrote:Image


That's a mean looking tire.

I remember the last time I tried to ride on the path in the snow. It was like impossible.

The snow slowed me down to a crawl.

And of course the wheels slipped like crazy.

And the wheels wanted to slip out from underneath me, to the side...

But I'm not sure those screws are the answer.

Maybe I'll ask Santa for some studs. I'd put them on my Crosstrail!

Mike...


yeah... those tires are for clear ice only.. they are a little aggressive for anything else...

http://www.conti-online.com/generator/w ... ke_en.html

something like this would be a good all arounder for you.

or you could get a Pugsley... :D
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Postby mikeschn » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:22 pm

Fenlason wrote:
or you could get a Pugsley... :D


Sure, I'm coming to Maine to test drive one of those Pugsleys you just got...

Not!

I will check out those Nordic Spike tires though...

Mike...
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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:28 pm

mikeschn wrote:
Fenlason wrote:
or you could get a Pugsley... :D


Sure, I'm coming to Maine to test drive one of those Pugsleys you just got...

Not!

I will check out those Nordic Spike tires though...

Mike...


My Pugs came from Minnesota a bit closer to you.. and I bet you have a local shop that has them.. or had them..
glenn

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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:30 pm

There are other good choices in tires.. they were just the first ones I came across to give you an idea....
glenn

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Postby mikeschn » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:35 pm

All the 700c tires I see are 35 wide. Is that wide enough?


http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main ... rrency=USD


I have 40mm wide on my Crosstrail right now... Seems that I should be at least that wide...

I'd be riding on an unplowed trail... do I need studs on the side?

Mike...

or do I need this after all...

Image
Last edited by mikeschn on Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Fenlason » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:39 pm

mikeschn wrote:All the 700c tires I see are 35 wide. Is that wide enough?


http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main ... rrency=USD


I have 40mm wide on my Crosstrail right now... Seems that I should be at least that wide...

I'd be riding on an unplowed trail... do I need studs on the side?

Mike...


hmm I would guess you will be trying to cut through the snow vs float on top.. and in that case the narrower should be better.

I am not sure what you are asking about the studs.. :thinking: should they be on the side of the tires? ...

I will also check to see if I can find wider..
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Postby mikeschn » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:42 pm

Glenn,

Since I am not on a plowed road... do I need studs on the side? See below...

The trails don't really have ruts in them, so I guess the answer is no.

Mike...



Nokian 700c Hakkapeliitta W106 35mm Studded Rd Tire
$49.99

Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106

700c x 35mm with 106 carbide studs
4 mm tread depth

The 35mm should fit any touring, hybrid, or cyclocross bike. Awesome tire for potholes, snow and ice on all roads. This is the mother of all winter commuting tires!

Even though the 700c Hakkapeliitta W106 has only 106 studs, they are positioned just where you need them for riding on a road that gets plowed. Plowed roads don't develop deep icy ruts, so you don't need studs towards the sides of the tire to get you out of a rut.

The 700c Hakkapeliitta has all of the studs in towards the center of the tire. It's the perfect tire for snow and/or black ice on good roads.
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