Thursday, November 20, 2008

To stud or not to stud

I don't want to sound preachy especially as I know that winter riding conditions vary quite a lot depending on where you live, but as my wife has been saying of late nothing slows you down more than falling.

Some folks live in places where there's no snow at all, some live where snow is all there is during the winter. We live in a place where we get some snow, but a fair amount of ice. What happens is that it will snow, then melt the next warm day and then freeze again overnight forming patches of ice all over the place, often times hidden in the dark or under a fresh dusting of snow. Since the snow from the roadways largely gets plowed into the bike lanes during the winter here, those burms can go through these freeze and thaw cycles for a couple weeks after a decent storm before the coast is "all clear".

Studded bicycle tire
My thoughts regarding studded bike tires is several fold. First of all, I like riding, so if it takes a few minutes longer to ride, thats ok, its not torture its fun. Second I ride for transportation everyday no matter what the weather does, so I treat it like most would a car (do you make homemade studded tires for your car?), third nothing poses a greater threat to me enjoying my bike than crashing or be crashed into (car). For all these reasons, I find the added cost and extra rolling resistance of studded tire a non-issue for the way it transforms my winter riding experience.

Regarding cost, as this is often brought up, I spent $65 per tire last year on my Schwalbe Marathon Winter's, they have around 3,000 miles on them from last winter and I'd venture to guess from the look of the carbide studs and tread that I can get about that much more out of them before replacing. Most decent commuter tires, by the time you factor in their mileage lifespan will work out to about $40 per tire. So assuming you're going to ride anyway, you're probably only going to save yourself $20-$30 over 5,000 miles running any other decent commuting tire. Consequently, if you don't like falling, price really isn't that big of an issue all things considered.

Ian rides his bike in the snow
As for what studs will do vs. what they will not do. They won't make riding on fresh snow over clear pavement any different, nor will they make riding on layers of partially packed snow any different either. This is where tread, rubber compounds and supple tire casings come into play.

What they will do is help whenever there's been either freezing rain or some kind of freeze and thaw cycle as back roads can often do that aren't well maintained or like the morning after a warm day where you get glare ice. They will also make a difference on some SERIOUSLY packed snow that can almost function like ice (the smooth shiny white stuff on heavily traveled roads). Also, that rutted icy stuff that forms on roads regularly traveled but rarely plowed is also prime stud territory. Tires with studs, especially towards the edges of the tires make a big difference.

Lastly, studs won't make it like you're riding on dry pavement, but they will make it all predictable, in my book thats the big difference. You may lose traction if you brake harder or corner faster, but because they bite into the ice, it slows the slip enough that you can make corrections and regain traction. I've even gone so far as locking my front tire briefly and released and regained traction just to see how far I could push it. BTW this little test was on a high stud numbered tire 240 per tire.

And as Peter White says on his page about studded bike tires, don't forget after you've been riding about capably on your studded tires, that you do NOT have studded shoes, and fall getting off your bike ;)

Wishing everyone the very best of traction this winter,

Anthony

10 comments:

kaitlin said...

Where do you live? I am debating getting studed tires but I think Chicago has enough dry pavement days to go without them.

The Stouts said...

I live in Longmont, CO and commute to Boulder, CO.

Depending on the year we can either have a fair bit or almost none at all. I used to have a dedicated beater winter bike with studs and a my primary commuter with standard tires. After a few years of this and a couple surprise falls by the isolated hidden patches of ice, I decided the speed gains just weren't worth it anymore and now run studs on my primary ride all winter long.

I find they slow me down about 5-7% on dry pavement but speed me up more than that when conditions are dicey, and then I don't have to be near as watchful anymore. The most I ever do is change tire pressure depending on conditions (high when clear, low when snowy/slushy).

SiouxGeonz said...

I'm south of Chicago - downstate in Shampoo-Banana. We also get plowed quickly, but the plows don't get everything. After deciding early in 2006 that since we usually had 2-3 days of Real Yuck in any given winter, we got a blizzard on Valentine's Day and I realized that I had shifted from "usually ride" to "basically always ride" and ordered up a pair of the tires made for mostly-plowed-street conditions.

I sold my car in May... and athe next winter we had lots and lots of ice and snow. I was really glad to have 'em.

I'm putting them back on the Gazelle this weekend... so don't be surprised if we start getting snow soon afterwards.

SiouxGeonz said...

hmmm... editing error - I decided *not* to get studded tyres in 2006 - and changed my mind in the cabin fever during the monster snow of VD.

Anonymous said...

I spent several winters living in Maine, working in a bike shop where we were able to make our own studded tires (not with sheet metal screws, but with the carbide studs). They were heavy (great training!!) and made it quite fun to bike all winter.

I now live in (relatively) balmy Victoria, BC and have come to appreciate the convenience of 3 wheels--recumbent trike! It is a great solution and if we had lots of ice and snow, I might investigate studded tires.

Rick Cummings said...

Been reading your blog and I like it. Stumbled across it a while back searching for something and you have been in my rss reader ever since. Today I saw your response that you were in Longmont. Was that your Dig Dummy at Ace Hardware last weekend? First one I have been able to admire in person, looks like a nice ride. Thanks for helping me make up my mind about getting studs for this winter. Nice post.

The Stouts said...

Yup, that was us, we were picking up some groceries next door. I don't know if your thinking of this blog which Richard Masoner owns and a number of folks contribute to or my blog personal blog.

Jon said...

I live in Denver, and commute to Commerce City (about 10 miles), and haven't missed a day since May of last year. I bought studded tires after a ride home, on icy roads, during which I fell down 6 times.

I ran them all winter long, as there were icy patches in the sahde well after regular snowfall ended for the season. It' was a bit hard on the studs down the center of the tire, but the edge studs are still like new.

I have the Innova tires, and I bought them partly because they are advertised as being "restuddable" (if that's a word) using the Innova stud tool and replacement carbide studs.

However, I can find no one who has this tool or the replacement studs for sale. Anybody know where I can find one?

Yokota Fritz said...

Ultra Rob lists Innova studs and tool on his site.

MELI. said...

brrrr. I never take for granted that Im a cali spoiled rider. stay warm out there ice warriors <3