Cycling UK Forum

[XAP]Bob wrote: ↑11 Mar 2023, 9:01am Fit should be ok - the boom is usually adjustable, though at a little over 2m you might need to find the "right" seat for the length of your back (I don't imagine it would be too hard, but I'm not 2m tall).

My experience in helsinki was that the roads don't end up rutted, because the temperature doesn't oscillate around zero degrees in the way it does here.

Good to know. I think that there is little chance of finding one here in Sweden (just not enough people in my area) so I'll either have to pick on up when I'm in the UK, or when passing through one of the countries en route.

The roads are a bit rutted at the moment. We're getting some really cold nights at the moment (the average being about minus 12 this week) but then creeping above freezing through the day. Typical Vårvinter (spring winter), I am told.

Jon in Sweden wrote: ↑10 Mar 2023, 12:29pm I was wondering whether a recumbent trike might be the answer to safe snow riding for next winter?

I've maybe done 1500km on actual snow, and I find it quite taxing.

If I were on three wheels, I think it'd eliminate almost all my anxieties about snow riding. If I slide, it's no big deal. Even if I come off the road, I'd be doing well to hurt myself at the low speeds you do on snow.

Thanks in advance.

No experience of any trike in the snow but I've cycled a fair few miles on two wheels in it. Is the tiring element greater for you more because of the extra concentration you mention or because of the greater physical effort? If the latter, bear in mind that a trike will create up to three times the drag than with two wheels inline.

I've driven three wheeled sports cars in snow and you could feel the extra resistance from creating three tracks rather than (mostly) two, plus a little extra concentration required for placing the path of the extra track when lying snow had frozen. On a trike compared with a bike, there would be two extra tracks to consider.

Biospace wrote: ↑14 Mar 2023, 5:25pm

Jon in Sweden wrote: ↑10 Mar 2023, 12:29pm I was wondering whether a recumbent trike might be the answer to safe snow riding for next winter?

I've maybe done 1500km on actual snow, and I find it quite taxing.

If I were on three wheels, I think it'd eliminate almost all my anxieties about snow riding. If I slide, it's no big deal. Even if I come off the road, I'd be doing well to hurt myself at the low speeds you do on snow.

Thanks in advance.

No experience of any trike in the snow but I've cycled a fair few miles on two wheels in it. Is the tiring element greater for you more because of the extra concentration you mention or because of the greater physical effort? If the latter, bear in mind that a trike will create up to three times the drag than with two wheels inline.

I've driven three wheeled sports cars in snow and you could feel the extra resistance from creating three tracks rather than (mostly) two, plus a little extra concentration required for placing the path of the extra track when lying snow had frozen. On a trike compared with a bike, there would be two extra tracks to consider.

It's just the concentration. I don't mind physical effort at all, but don't like having to think so hard about which line to take and how to stay upright. Given that the roads aren't generally rutted, but that there are patches of ice and loose snow, three wheels would be more secure.

The sudden drop on temperature has had me thinking along the same lines. Freezing fog and frozen roads much less fun on the upright, might the catrike be better?
My concerns are that with less weight on each tyre, will I have significantly less grip?
Also, I seem to remember a Scottish member of the forum who set up an ice trike for winter but decided it didn't work out.

Surely the answer is a fat bike ICE with e assist? Perfect combination. Not cheap 'off the shelf' but second hand plus Bafang mid drive should be cheaper. If you can find a second hand fat tyre ICE. I've seen a couple on UK eBay and was tempted myself.....

belgiangoth wrote: ↑2 Dec 2023, 7:06pm The sudden drop on temperature has had me thinking along the same lines. Freezing fog and frozen roads much less fun on the upright, might the catrike be better?
My concerns are that with less weight on each tyre, will I have significantly less grip?
Also, I seem to remember a Scottish member of the forum who set up an ice trike for winter but decided it didn't work out.

I've ridden the Kett through roads covered in compacted snow using MTB tyres. It's bloomin hard work and traction is a real issue, if I stopped on a hill I couldn't guarantee I'd be able to start again. The 20" wheels (and the fact there are three of them) significantly increase the effort required and traction on a trike will always be an issue.

On group rides in the wet when encountering steep hills my mates tadpole trike really struggles with wheelspin, very low gears and lots of spinning required. On my Kett the drive wheel traction is better (single wheel drive with my weight between the wheels) but the front wheel then crabs badly. I guess a Kett with a diff would be an improvement but you begin to see why the ICE 'full fat trike' is designed as a heavy machine with massive wide tyres, https://www.getcycling.org.uk/products/ice-full-fat/

That said, on roads that are merely sporadically icy, the fact that you cannot fall off makes the Kett a joy to ride

My Kett in the snow. On this ride the brake cables kept freezing up which was *intersting* as I had a steep 800ft descent to negotiate before getting home. With fat tyres (Big Apples at low pressures) and a differential, it gripped without any difficulties though older ones (like mine) have the rear mech dangling beneath the rear axle. A Rohloff or their own “linear” 11 speed transmission would be much better. It also helps that your weight is almost directly above the drive wheels, unlike a tadpole trike.

[attachment=0]CIMG1144.jpeg[/attachment

I had a great ride last year across the Mendips. The smaller roads had field runoff which had frozen across the full width of the road. Any one on 2 wheels would have been off in a second. I lost some traction on the climb up Wrington hill which could have been overcome if I had a studded rear tyre. Otherwise the ride was great fun.

As we are nine months on from the original post I wonder what Jon ended up doing this winter.

How do studded tyres work on standard roads where there is no ice/snow, there have to be times when you are out and the snow/ice ends and you are back to tarmac

Carlton green wrote: ↑19 Dec 2023, 8:42am As we are nine months on from the original post I wonder what Jon ended up doing this winter.

Just studded tyres on my commuting and Gravel bikes. Though we're ice free at the moment so greatly enjoying going much faster on normal rubber

Pinhead wrote: ↑19 Dec 2023, 8:50am How do studded tyres work on standard roads where there is no ice/snow, there have to be times when you are out and the snow/ice ends and you are back to tarmac

You have less grip than normal tyres and they are slow. But they are fine.

Jon in Sweden wrote: ↑19 Dec 2023, 9:00am

Carlton green wrote: ↑19 Dec 2023, 8:42am As we are nine months on from the original post I wonder what Jon ended up doing this winter.

Just studded tyres on my commuting and Gravel bikes. Though we're ice free at the moment so greatly enjoying going much faster on normal rubber

Thanks. I could be wrong but I figured that three wheels wasn’t an easy solution to implement, was expensive and the balance of pro’s and con’s is too variable on personal circumstances. Having ridden motorcycles to work in all weathers I’m too aware of how easy it is to have a fall and so, in icy weather, I’m not cycling anywhere fast and very much limiting mileage - my form of risk management. Of course the right gear helps, is ‘essential’ even, but better safe than sorry, etc.

Jon in Sweden wrote: ↑19 Dec 2023, 9:01am

Pinhead wrote: ↑19 Dec 2023, 8:50am How do studded tyres work on standard roads where there is no ice/snow, there have to be times when you are out and the snow/ice ends and you are back to tarmac

You have less grip than normal tyres and they are slow. But they are fine.

I was more concerned also they wear out (the studs)

Carlton green wrote: ↑19 Dec 2023, 1:33pm
Thanks. I could be wrong but I figured that three wheels wasn’t an easy solution to implement, was expensive and the balance of pro’s and con’s is too variable on personal circumstances. Having ridden motorcycles to work in all weathers I’m too aware of how easy it is to have a fall and so, in icy weather, I’m not cycling anywhere fast and very much limiting mileage - my form of risk management. Of course the right gear helps, is ‘essential’ even, but better safe than sorry, etc.

I am sure that a winter recumbent would be a lot of fun, and quite safe, but it's very difficult to source and rather expensive too. Thus far, I've not had many days where the cycling has been difficult. Only one day so far where I elected to take the car (and that decision was made the night before on the strength of the forecast).

They are really good at plowing and gritting here. It's done quickly and professionally, so many of the issues you have in the UK are entirely absent here.