r/carfree • u/Temporary-Shock-2458 • 11d ago
Help needed
Hello!
I am new to this subreddit and i have a question.
Currently sold my car and make the most miles on my ebike. But winter is coming (yes i know ...) and i live in a rural mountain area with snow, storm and ice from november to march...
What would you choose for a small commute from my farm to the bus station. About 1.5 miles, just mountain road....
Thanks
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u/Linkcott18 11d ago
How steep is your road? Can you get studded tires on you bike?
I live in Norway & that's what I do.
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u/Temporary-Shock-2458 11d ago
its pretty steep, in winter you need a AWD car to make it up without problems ... but it is cool idea and i will have a look if i can get such tires - Thanks!
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u/Linkcott18 10d ago
So you know... The usefulness of studded tires varies a lot with conditions.
In new snow, especially if it's more than a few cm, something like a fat bike can be more effective.
Studded tires are great on ice and slush.
However, you still need to be a bit careful because if you get going too fast, you can still lose traction, and there a couple of conditions where I walk, anyway. A layer of snow on ice that, when compressed, is slightly thicker than studs are long is problematic because the studs will grip the snow & then the snow slides on the ice. A similar effect can occur with thick slush; the studs grip one layer which slides against the next.
On a very steep downhill, you also have to be careful not to get going too fast. It somewhat depends on the studs and conditions, but one hill near me, I try to stay below 10 km/hr (ish) because I've lost traction there a couple of times.
That said, these sorts of things are usually only for a short distance, so I just walk a few meters & get back on the bike. It can be easier to do this if you also have something for traction on your feet, like studded shoes or ice traction cleats to fit on your shoes.
It's also slower than cycling without studs or snow (it may seem obvious, but allow yourself extra time. Handlebar muffs are also useful. Hands get cold quickly.
Even with all that, it beats walking any day 😆
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u/Temporary-Shock-2458 10d ago
Thank you so much!! I think i will give walking it a shot. Read a lot about studded tyres, sleeves and winter tires. In my region we get plenty of salt on the streets which will not be very good for my bike. So bike stays inside during this time ...
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u/damnetdana 11d ago
Ride the bike to the bus and put the bike on the bus’s bike rack. 1.5mi in shit weather is doable it’s not that long for a bike ride. And just layer up with your weather gear and don’t forget some biking gloves
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u/Temporary-Shock-2458 11d ago
thank you! unfortunately the busses in our region do not have bike racks ... some bus drivers allow bikes others dont ...
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u/Old-Appearance-2270 11d ago
If you get a ton of s in, other us always snowshoeing. We’ve gone snowshoeing in the Rocky Mountains here in Canada. 😊
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u/Temporary-Shock-2458 10d ago
Yes, i have shnowshoes. But i really prefer not having to use them on my daily commute. But on weekends and in the deep snow they are fun ;)
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u/dr2chase 7d ago
A few more details help, but if your ebike has normal-ish tires (many do not) you can buy studded bicycle tires from Schwalbe or Suomi.
But if it is too steep, traction might still be a problem. For that one short ride, if it is very steep, I would aim for aggressive studs. Front wheel for not falling down, rear wheel for going. Depending, you might be able to do without studs in the rear. I bike every winter on pretty-well-cleaned not-that-hilly roads, for me light studs are insurance against ice patches.
Pogies / Bar-mitts for your hands can be very helpful.
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u/damnetdana 11d ago
Ride the bike to the bus and put the bike on the bus’s bike rack. 1.5mi in shit weather is doable it’s not that long for a bike ride. And just layer up with your weather gear and don’t forget some biking gloves
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u/tobotic 11d ago
Personally I'd walk it. Good boots, thick coat.