Weather Out There

Last night was some good old fashioned winter riding: cold (28 degrees) and snow. Unfortunately, my bike was already set up for spring, as I removed my studded tires two weeks ago, and I had some pretty plain vanilla road tires on it. The road conditions had a quarter inch of snow, enough that you need to have a treaded tire to maintain control. The ride from downtown to Cambridge was slow and dicey. However, I made it much worse by loading up on groceries at the super market and riding them, home (as I did on Saturday) on my lopsided single front pannier. It was probably about 45 minutes of riding for what normally takes me 20.

When I got home, I discovered (through no fault of my own, I maintain) that the milk I had bought was dripping out of the carton. So I went back to the store, except this time I rode my mountain bike, a Surly Ogre (yes, I own three different Surly bikes). It has disc brakes and 2.3″ tires. It was every bit the snow tank it looked like: when I picked it up from the bike shop, another customer remarked, “I’m looking for a bike that will get me across town in a snowstorm. That looks like it would do the job.” Yes, fellow Hub Bicycle Company customer, that bike will get you across town in a snowstorm. It stopped quite nicely when a Whole Foods customer, berserk for his natural foods, cut me off on Prospect Street (despite my bright light). The only downside was its lack of fenders, even though I own a set that would fit fine.

Weather

I didn’t ride today, but it was in the 20s, with wet pavement. A few folks were out riding: it looked like the roads were generally clear, but the bike lanes were not, so you’d have to have some treaded tires or ride in the traffic lane today.