Bicycling

Last edited Fri Oct 23, 2015, 05:15 PM - Edit history (4)

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I find fenders help a lot in wet weather and a poncho may be the best bike rain gear (it permits air to flow around your body better then a rain jacket and pants).

In snow, I find regular bike tires are fine, but the cars and trucks quickly pack down the snow to ice and then I have to use my studded tires on my bike.. You can feel the increased roll resistance with the studded tires, but when I have them on my bike I do NOT slip in ice.

I purchased mine over ten years ago from Peter White Wheels in New Hampshire. They lasted ten years for I do NOT put them on till long after the first snow (i.e. I only put them on the bike once the snow starts to STAY on the ground as oppose to melting within a day). In Johnstown some years that NEVER happens, so I NEVER put them on. The last few years, that does not occur till after Christmas but is over by the end of February. Thus I have them on my bike less then two months a year (When I take them off, you really notice the difference in Roll Resistance).

Peter whites sells several different types of studded tires, but unless you are going off road in the road and mud, stay with the tires with the least studds:



http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

If you want to go in the snow and mud, here is a photo of the tire to get:

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Now, as to fenders. if you buy them make sure the WIDTH of the fender is at least 1/2 inch (12mm) wider then your tire. That will give you an extra 1/4 each (6mm) on each side of the tire when it throw gunk up hopefully into the fender. I am presently using SKS Longboard fenders on both my 26 inch Cannondale mountain bike AND my 27 inch Schwinn (the fenders on the Schwinn are for 700 cc wheels, but the 27 inch and 700 cc wheels are close enough for them to work).

Bicycle tires are traditionally measured in terms of their wheels AND nominal tire. Thus a 26 x 2.25 is actually 26 inch in diameter, but if you use a smaller tire, a 26x1.5 it will be much smaller then 26 inch in diameter. Thus the more uniform measurement is the ISO, which is a measurement of the WHEEL only (no tire):

26 inch = 559 ISO
27 inch - 630 ISO
700 cc = 622 ISO

Notice you have 71mm difference in circumference between a 26 inch wheel and a 700 cc, but only a 8mm difference between a 700cc and a 27 inch. That 8 mm is important, the tires on a 700cc and a 27 wheel are NOT INTERCHANGEABLE, but inner tubes for 700cc can be used in 27 tires. Fenders for 700cc wheels can be used in 27 inch wheels.

Now, I have SKS Longboards on both my 27 inch wheel Schwinn (thin wheels, turn down handlebars) and on my 26 inch Cannondale (wide wheels, straight handlebars). Also remember 27 inch wheels are only 8 mm LARGER then 700 cc wheels.

I mention the above for the SKS Longboards for 26 inch wheels are DIFFERENT then the SKS longboard fenders for 700 cc wheels. By different I mean something MORE then the difference in the fender to work with each wheel. The 700cc Longboards go almost to the ground when you include the mudflap at the rear bottom of the fenders. When I take my Schwinn with its 700 cc Longboard Fenders, the mud flaps at the rear bottom of the front fender hits and bends when I am taking the bike down steps. The mud flap end is about two (2) inches above ground.



On the other hand the Longboard fenders for 26 inch wheels will clear any step, the mud flap's bottom.is about eight (8) inches off the ground and I am NOT the only one to notice this difference, it is made in the comment section on the Amazons web site in regards to the 26 inch longboard fenders. The mud flaps at the bottom of the fenders on my Connodale mountain bike NEVER hit the steps when I take the bike down steps.

Peter White sells stainless steel made in France Fenders:



If you install fenders, you have to make sure the fender is as close the tire as you can put them WITHOUT coming in contact with the Tire. The Closer to the tire, the less chance Gunk will get around the fender.

SKS also sells a CHAIN GUARD for "10 speed" bikes. SKS has three sizes make sure you pick one that is larger then the largest FRONT gear. Now, SKS chain Guard has a part that needs to be broken off (it is PRECUT) to permit the cables that controls the front gears to have freedom of movement. I had a problem installing the Guard, for it is designed to be held by the front crankset and I had a problem getting if off. I ended up taking the Guard to my local bike dealer who installed it for a nominal fee (I am a steady customer of his so he takes care of me on minor items like that).

The Chain Guard does NOT completely cover the chain like the old chain guards on the single speeds of my youth, but it has kept the chain from putting grease on my pants legs and that is all I can expect from it.



On the downside, the Chain Guard does make it harder to get to the chain when it gets off the front gears. That does NOT happens that often, but when it does the guard is in the way. You can work around the guard but it does add some seconds to getting the chain back in the gears.