Comments on: No Studs

By: the curmudgeon

the curmudgeon — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:39:59 +0000

They do indeed work exceptionally well in the snow, as it is in Maine. Myself, and a good amount of other cycle commuters in the Greater Portland area use them from November through March, most years. But, as always, you're only as safe as the boneheads who “share the road” with you who think 4-WD is a magic substitution for winter driving skills.

By: Christa

Christa — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:18:02 +0000

These are great! Love the photo of the women with the red hat. And cycling the dog.

Wish we had snow here in southern California.

By: ubrayj02

ubrayj02 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:56:08 +0000

I took my daughter and wife for a ride in the front of my WorkCycles bakfiets today. It was pouring down rain in Los Angeles (we had a lot of flooding all over the area and the powerlines got taken out in our neighborhood for a spell). These photos remind me that I'm not alone!

The wife and baby were fine under the Clarjis Covers rain shield. I got soaked (wind was too harsh for an umbrella and I didn't dress for rain at all) but still it was a beautiful ride.

When the weather is worst, a good Dutch bike comes shining through the fog, snow, and rain.

By: dottieCHI

dottieCHI — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:11:14 +0000

Great snow pictures.

I want studded tires in Chicago because if I fall, I most likely fall under an SUV, bus or truck. Need the extra insurance.

By: daveschlabowske

daveschlabowske — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:58:59 +0000

I rode year round, every day no matter the weather here in Milwaukee for many years without studs, even though we get lots of snow and ice that stays for months (similar to Chicago mentioned above). My wife rides on a Dutch style bike without studs, but only a couple miles. Then two years ago I fell twice, once on black ice I could not see in the dark and once in daylight on ice under a light powder of snow. I separate my shoulder both times and had to ride one handed for weeks after. I now ride Nokian studded tires on my “ice bike” (an old Schwinn) when there is ice and it gives me a lot more confidence. They really do work well on ice. I don't think they help much if at all on snow though.

By: Annekeoosterink

Annekeoosterink — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:21:56 +0000

Honestly, I didn't even know there were studded tires… :D Meaning; no, we don't use them. :P

By: álvaro

álvaro — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:27:54 +0000

BTW, I should take some pictures of het bos covered in snow in the morning. It's stunning.

By: álvaro

álvaro — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:23:18 +0000

yeah, I've had people asking me if I used studded tires (none live in NL). I can imagine they could come in handy in Sweden or Finland, but not really for the snow, rather for ice-covered roads.

Over here, is just business as usual :) and I love it!

By: André

André — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:51:02 +0000

Love the shots! Take care biking in the snow! :D

And there´s people on the canal in the last pic lol

By: oldfool

oldfool — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:18:50 +0000

Just hang in there. This too will pass.

By: oldfool

oldfool — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:18:18 +0000

Just hang in there. This too will pass.

By: Sigrid

Sigrid — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:00:25 +0000

Lovely, just lovely. I enjoyed the high ratio of men and dogs. How refreshing! :)
The umbrella shot is an instant classic.

On no on the blogosphere issue! All the more photos to take…

By: Green_Idea_Factory

Green_Idea_Factory — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:15:54 +0000

Over and over and over, every story about snow in the USA and Germany I see is like 70% cars screwed up, and 30% kids and animals having fun.

By: Steven Vance

Steven Vance — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:05:15 +0000

“A complete destruction of order.”
That's what I keep hearing.

In Chicago, snow plowing is a science, and when you mess it up, residents get mad and the head gets fired (actually just demoted and replaced). That's what happened in the winter of 2008-2009 when the commissioner of the streets/san department thought they could be more labor efficient by ignoring side streets (unless major event). Well, people weren't too happy and it wasn't as labor efficient as they thought.

By: Steven Vance

Steven Vance — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:03:16 +0000

I don't use studded tires; I've never felt a need to use them. I've gone out several times this winter (no job means less riding) and have ridden through the snow (see video). Some people have been asking ME about getting studded tires. I just say I don't. I wouldn't mind riding someone else's bike to see what it's like. Like you said in the second sentence: "Take care." That's what I said in my blog.

By: Portlandize

Portlandize — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:48:06 +0000

No worries Marc, I'm pretty sure we'll all stick around :D

This is a great reminder that the bicycle and your own two feet are the most efficient and reliable means of transportation in all weather (not to mention snowy pictures are just beautiful). Snow in Portland means a complete destruction of order on our roads. We had 3 inches one evening, and peoples' 40 minute commutes turned into 5 hours of sitting on roads and freeways not moving.

Many who were traveling by foot or bicycle, however, generally had a pretty nice time of it (my ride took about 10 min longer than usual), it didn't really change too much for most of those people (except in spots where people abandoned their cars in the middle of the road and you had to swerve around them, sometimes causing slipping). It was kind of surreal – seeing abandoned cars, people just completely unable to move their cars any further because they were stuck on hills or whatnot, and then seeing news stories well into the evening of people *still* sitting on the freeway not moving an inch. That evening and next day, police were all tied up towing abandoned cars. Kind of post-carpocalyptic, you might say :)

http://www.portlandize.com/2009/12/snowy-cyclin...