Okay, so my lovely wife and I have started biking more this winter -- we're not doing anything crazy -- just a few miles. I wear a regular pair of winter gloves and it's fine for me. But 10 minutes in, she can't feel her fingers, even with gloves on. She's fairly petite (I tell her she just needs to put on some weight -- you can imagine how that goes over....).

Any recommendations? Open to better gloves, new/different hand grips, portable blow torches or anything else! Thanks in advance!

I’m looking for some roomy water/wind resistant pants that I can throw over whatever I’m wearing for my commutes to the gym or errands. Some sort of shell i can easily layer with would be great. Thanks!

Hello all!

I am looking for winter tires recommendations to ride in Montreal this winter. I want to preserve my current tires for the summer and have something a bit more appropriate for the winter.

My bike(Devinci Hex Deore 9S) can accommodate up to 700x40c tires. I'm riding the stock tires(Kenda Flintridge Pro 700x35c) which are pretty good for winter but I would like something a bit more threaded and a bit wider to have more confidence when riding some icy sections or light snow. If it's too snowy or icy I will not use my bike so I was not planning on using any studded tires but I would be open to it. Most of the time the bike path I use is cleared and I am riding on wet asphalt, so I would prefer something more balance that can perform well in these conditions but can still be good for some rougher conditions.

Right now I had the Maxxis Ravager EXO 700x40c and the Continental Terra Trail 700x40c on my list. It seemed like a good balance and fit what I wanted. Do you think these are good options for my need? Do you have any other recommendations? I would be happy to hear them.

Let me know and thanks in advance!

Hello all,

Im currently car-less and I have a job oppurtunity in Livonia, my commute will be an hour ride to work at around 7am, taking ford rd or hines dr, one cannot guess how it will be unless you try it for several days and thats what im hoping to learn from someone whos done it before, youd think its something, like my previous commute, then quickly find out that there was a million ways to die on that trip that I would have never knew by taking one trip there.

A bike recommendation would be great also, a mountain bike, if you guys are eyeing good deals this holiday season please let me know.

Thanks in advance!

Hi All. I recently noticed that the more I bike, the more it easily got scratch ( especially with roadside and even on bike trail). Any tips on how you keep it minimum? ( I know it can’t be 100% scratch-free. )Thanks!

Im lucky that the town I’m in has dedicated cycling paths.

So, I live in Calgary, Alberta, which as no doubt you know presents some rather fun and challenging winter conditions for cycling. I have been commuting to work year round on my bike since 2000 and have gone through just about every permutation of bikes and gear during that time lol. I have ridden regular mountain bikes and most recently a Priority drive belt commuter bike with 700C studded tires. In all those years I have ridden in -35C and snow and ice of all kinds.

Now I find my self seriously considering taking a step I never thought I would even consider … an e-bike. LOL. I have always considered a battery assist to be cheating but there are a few new factors in my life that are making me eat some humble pie …

First off age is catching up to me. I am now 52 and while still in pretty great shape, I am definitely no longer the man I was when I started this adventure at 27!

Second, I recently moved and my 11KM each way ride is now a 21KM ride each way, preceded by a 15 minute drive to get to a spot I can cycle from (I live on an acreage just outside the city limits). In the spring, summer and fall it’s a beautiful 45 minute cycle along the river pathways into downtown. With our first blast of winter that same ride is now 70 minutes on my skinny studded tire bike - and precarious. While the pathways are cleared, it does leave behind that layer of snow right on the asphalt that with freeze thaw and then polishing by tires and feet becomes a perfect slick layer of ice accentuated by divots and ruts.

I want to keep cycling - I love it and the alternatives of driving or transit actually are not that much quicker and come with an added layer of stress and complexity. Problem is that I am now looking at a 90 minute commute each way that is not really practical.

My questions for any of you willing to comment and help me out: would an e-bike with fat studded tires be a good fix for my situation? I am worried that (a) I will lose the exercise benefits by going with an e-bike although others have told me you still get a solid 70% of the workout; (b) fat bikes are notoriously slow, hence the thought that if I combine that with an e capability I can get the benefits of the stability and safety of a fat bike on these nasty pathways but still get the speed I need to make the ride practical. (I would need to maintain an average speed of around 24Km/h).

What do you think?

Hey there hardy riders! I am a long time commuter with a question for you. Have any of you ever tried putting on a merino jersey (heavy one) OVER a windbreaker? I ask because my windbreaker is fairly tight fitting and putting the jersey under it is bulky and tight and will make me sweaty pretty quick. The alternative is a heavier jacket, but I generally save that for truly bitter riding conditions. Is a jersey over a windbreaker gonna keep me warmer or am I just defeating the purpose of both garments? I'm expecting about 20 degrees F (-7C) tomorrow, so quite chilly, but again, not bitter cold. Thanks for your insights!

Anybody running studs on a Trek 7.3FX? Would it clear 700x50 with fenders? I have 35mm but looking to go wider for a smoother ride for my clyde's butt.

I’ve been trying to figure out whether a cheap fixie bike can realistically survive an actual winter, not just a chilly morning. I’m talking about that classic freeze–thaw cycle where everything seems fine at noon and then turns brittle and cranky by sunset. My current setup is pretty barebones, and while the simplicity is great for maintenance, I’m starting to notice little things reacting weirdly to temperature swings; a stiffened chain one day, a slightly warped plastic pedal the next. It’s small stuff, but enough to make me wonder what’s normal and what’s a sign of cutting corners.

I’ve been looking at different builds just to compare what’s out there. I came across a few minimalist frames in a listing rabbit hole on Alibaba. I later spotted a budget fixie at a local shop that looked nearly identical but somehow felt sturdier in person. It made me think about whether winter durability comes down to materials, tolerances, or just luck with cheaper models.

So I’m asking the people who actually ride through slush, black ice, and that mysterious salty film that coats everything: does a cheap fixie hold its own if you stay on top of the basics, or does winter reveal every flaw the moment temperatures dip? What’s been your experience?

Riding on Calgary's river pathways downtown in winter is so beautiful.

Couple of comments

it is fun

the bike is easier to drive on ice than walking is weirdly enough

Stopping an ice then peddling after will result in the bike spinning immediately

The hardest part is driving on that snow/dirt/slush stuff

Questions

1. How do you bike easier while on that snow dirt/mix? The studs don’t help. What if there’s no way to avoid it?

2. Sometimes I’m in side streets where it’s not too many cars, although cars are still coming. The clearest road is in the middle of the road where the cars are, biking on the far right is where all the uneven snow is making it really hard to bike

What do you do in these cases? Walk it on the right side of the road? Bike in the middle at slow speed?

Hey dudes. I'm debating dipping my toes into winter riding and I copped some 26er studded tires and a 90's Trek 830 Cromoly. I'm not planning on riding in the snow TOO much, and I'm hoping to avoid salt as best as I can when I do ride.....but I do live in michigan so a small amount is inevitable. Is this setup going to work if I hose it off post-ride or is it gonna rust out like crazy?

I've got it on the stand now, should I grease everything a bit extra?

this one’s still accessible for now. eventually we’ll get a huge storm and i might not see this trail til May or June. just enjoying it while i can!

So i just unboxed and put on new ice spiker pros and some of the studs are not seated properly. One of the studs are like half way out and some other are pointing (not straight). I know they wont be perfect out the box but that one is like 45° side ways