Agattu is great bike for cycling in winter

 

I've really tested my Agattu this winter. Even with temperatures below -10 deg. C. the motor/battery has plenty of power to make my 5 mile cycling commute sweat free and fun.

 

You need studded tyres if you want to stay upright. My last set of Nokian studded tyres cost £80 but they lasted 10 years too. Normally studded tyres mean a lot more work for the cyclist (more rolling resistance), but for a pedelec it just means lower top speeds and less battery range.

 

http://www.friflyt.no/article/images/52530.jpg

 

Of course ice/snow means lower speeds, staying well away from cars and wearing protective gear for when you fall off. In addition you get a lot of people telling you how crazy you are, but I think the car drivers are crazy sitting in the car queue while I zoom past getting both a light work out and some fresh air. If conditions get too bad I can always lock up my bike and walk, whereas the car drivers have to stay in the queue.

 

http://www.hassall.no/galleri/thumbs/7542.jpg

 

Regards,

 

--LazyViking

Edited January 7, 201016 yr by LazyViking

 

You need studded tyres if you want to stay upright. My last set of Nokian studded tyres cost £80 but they lasted 10 years too. Normally studded tyres mean a lot more work for the cyclist (more rolling resistance), but for a pedelec it just means lower top speeds and less battery range.

 

If only we could be sure of snow every year, we could do things the Scandinavian way and have spare wheels with studded tyres already on and swap to them every winter when the snow arrives, since studs are so good in these conditions.

 

Of course we often go more than a decade with no snow at all over much of the UK, so only an option for the very rich.

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I wouldn't have thought that a 'tread' would make any positive difference on a motor vehicle on an icy or powdery snow surface. If you haven't got studs or snow chains (which effectively cut into the surface) what you need is surface area in contact with the road, as the recesses in a tread would either clog up with snow or not contribute materially on an icy surface.

As mentioned by others a better tread can help and many snow and ice car tyres have no studs.

A better explanation here:

All Season vs. Winter (Passenger Vehicle): The Difference Between Wintertime Gripping and White Knuckle Snow Slipping

Dog trailers are used elsewhere, I've seen photos of St Bernards towing them in Switzerland.

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I'd see dogs pulling a trap many times in France in the Forest of Cerisy near where I lived. The dogs seemed to love it.

I'd see dogs pulling a trap many times in France in the Forest of Cerisy near where I lived. The dogs seemed to love it.

 

Thanks lemmy. I think all dogs love anything that involves going somewhere or coming back. A neighbours dog scratches furiously at the outer front door in a mad rush to get out, then does the same on return in an equally mad rush to get back in.

 

A bit like some keen e-bikers in cold weather.

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i've been out and about in the snow lately. i think having an electric bike makes a massive difference. when riding on churned up slush i quit pedaling and just use the throttle to propel me allong whilst sticking my legs out like ski's. you end up slipping and sliding all over the place but you don't come off. it's like having a 4 wheel drive bicycle its really tuff on the arms though.

 

i have wrapped nichrome heater wire around my handle bars to keep my hands toasty and warm, gloves are just not enough. my bike is kept in the unheated conservetry and the temperature is around 1*C. my range has taken a massive dent. the cold weather has really affected my batteries and pushing through snow makes matters worse. the first time out in the snow my range went down to a quater of what it usually is before the BMS cuts out.

 

every time i bring my bike back in the house i have to brush off the snow or it will flood the conservatory! skidding and sliding down hills sideways more than makes up for these hardships tho

Edited January 7, 201016 yr by monster

Excellent bonzai scene Chris, Well done. Itching to get out on my Rush Trek, but can' t bring myself to put it in harms way.

Edited January 7, 201016 yr by Marky T

I braved the elements today and took the Alien out for a spin to the local Co-op for emergency supplies Great fun, had to learn a new riding technique to get through the rutted icy stuff but managed 6.5miles without mishap.

 

Interestingly, I thought to myself that without a throttle I'd never have been able to manage it!

Edited January 7, 201016 yr by NRG

...Interestingly, I thought to myself that without a throttle I'd never have been able to manage it!

 

Absolutely, that IS one up on the crank drive system

A bit like some keen e-bikers in cold weather.

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he he he

Snow covered Britain

 

Satellite image of Snow covered Britain

Interestingly, I thought to myself that without a throttle I'd never have been able to manage it!

I've found the throttle to be a big help, sometimes as soon as I start pedaling the back wheel starts to slide sideways. Not too great on the slush though as I have found myself going too fast and aquaplaning, I need the extreme Nokian tyres for that!

Studded tyres on bicycles

 

While I have studded tyres on my bicycles, my car has no studs. This is because a bit of sliding in a car is no problem. It won't lose it's balance because it has four wheels. On a bike you really need this extra grip.

 

Studded tyres are most useful when there is frost/ice.

 

I've living in the UK, and would highly recommend studded tyres for e-bikers who cycle all year round.

 

One fall and the damage to you and your bike could cost you more than the cost of the tyres.

 

--LazyViking

How right you are.

 

Sarah Archdale: Cyclist Recsued From Snow After Motorist Colin Dodds Spots Her Bike Light In York | UK News | Sky News

I wonder if they had been reading yehuda moon comic (which had a very similar storyline..)

Blimey........She looks a bit touched to be honest:D

I wonder if they had been reading yehuda moon comic (which had a very similar storyline..)

 

No I think it's a genuine story. Nice to see she survived because it could have been very sad tale.

 

"I am lucky; I am not paralysed or anything – I have just missed out on 12 hours’ pay"

 

Injured cyclist Sarah Archdale rescued from snow in Bramley Garth, Burnholme (From York Press)

Edited January 8, 201016 yr by Barnowl

While I have studded tyres on my bicycles, my car has no studs. This is because a bit of sliding in a car is no problem. It won't lose it's balance because it has four wheels. On a bike you really need this extra grip.

 

Studded tyres are most useful when there is frost/ice.

 

I've living in the UK, and would highly recommend studded tyres for e-bikers who cycle all year round.

 

One fall and the damage to you and your bike could cost you more than the cost of the tyres.

 

--LazyViking

 

Finally got fed up with the useless trains this morning and thought about something like marathon winter tyres - not so much for the snow but the ice afterwards. However as you can imagine, everwhere is sold out and no idea when there will be any more stocks coming in.

 

No I think it's a genuine story. Nice to see she survived because it could have been very sad tale.

 

I didn't think the story wasn't genuine, what I meant is that literally day before there was a very similar storyline on this US comic (like a surreal sitcom about a bike shop)

 

Last Call | Bicycle Comics - Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery

 

I'm glad for remote working and VOIP today (built 3 voip exchanges using Asterisk so even got phone extension at home and my direct line routed here instead of my office for today)

these are by Michelin for cars and trucks...maybe I should send vid to TFL and Boris...... they can spend some of the money from increased fares on something to keep the buses running:rolleyes:

 

unlike some similar ones these are approved for Alpine regions. its a prototype in vid. ones on sale now are a little different approx £80 a pair

 

Edited January 8, 201016 yr by eddieo

Well, I decided to get away from the snow - no electric bike here but it is 30C by the pool in Capetown

On BBC news last night they had a piece re European weather (similar to us) And a clip from Germany with loads of people riding around on bikes in deep snow. If this turns in to a yearly event I will have to either get a cheap bike with snow tyres or a set for my bike......going stir crazy:eek:

 

we normally get some winter sun as well, Goa last year and heading to Thailand this Easter.......Noticed on 50 cycles site you can hire kalkhoff e bikes in Phuket...Now if the driving is anything like in Goa, which I suspect it is. you wound need your head examining!lol

Edited January 9, 201016 yr by eddieo

Well, London today is yet again covered in reasonably deep snow....Looks like we are in for a long winter.

 

main roads at a standstill this morning, my son had to walk to school, and local councils have the cheek to blame others as usual for their lack of foresight regards salt/grit provision.

I think the chaos locally is even worse today, all schools closed and yet 2 miles away in the next county they are open Accidents all over the place and the traffic is terrible....really, really getting fed up with this but no doubt I'll be out on the bike later

No snow in Cambridge and all the old stuff has cleared. Temp this morning was 3oC

 

EDIT lmao it just started snowing

 

Only very lightly though

 

 

Jerry

Edited January 13, 201016 yr by jerrysimon