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Friday, October 21, 2011

Bikes Comic: What You Need for Winter Biking

Posted by Suzette "the Intern" Smith on Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 12:14 PM

Now that the forever rains have begun, we thought you could use this handy primer on winter biking essentials. YOU'RE WELCOME.

That marsupial joke was a bit much.

Fancy and dry!

 

Comments (25) RSS

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1
I like the last-panel creature, but it looks like a downside-up sloth, and sloths are not marsupials. There is a marsupial, the cuscus, that's similar to a sloth in its habits, but the face and nose are rather different.

http://webspace.webring.com/people/sh/hamm…
Posted by Todd Mecklem on October 21, 2011 at 12:33 PM · Report
2
YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT TIRE TREAD AND BALDNESS. WRONG WRONG WRONG.

"Grooved tread on pavement does nothing to improve traction in the rain, unlike on a automobile tire with a rectangular contact patch. The oval contact patch of a bicycle tire forces water to the sides of the tire, eliminating hydroplaning. Water doesn't build up in front of the tire. Bicycle tire manufacturers put tiny treads on their high performance tires only to reassure consumers who may not understand the way bicycle tires function in the rain."
Posted by Graham on October 21, 2011 at 12:34 PM · Report
3
You have a bald spot, don't you, Graham?
Posted by Todd Mecklem on October 21, 2011 at 12:44 PM · Report
4
Bikes!
Posted by Blabby on October 21, 2011 at 12:45 PM · Report
5
Also, don't you think that tread might at least help while braking on wet surfaces???? Physics pholks?
Posted by Todd Mecklem on October 21, 2011 at 12:47 PM · Report
6
She also called skunk-butt "mud butt." I chased chocolate cake with coffee last night; believe me, mud butt ain't skunk butt.

Very interesting, Graham. Thanks.
Posted by Ooooh,IGotTheItis on October 21, 2011 at 12:47 PM · Report
7
Todd is right. Sloths are placental mammals.
Posted by Tommy on October 21, 2011 at 12:53 PM · Report
8
Graham is correct about tire tread. Rubber compound can make a big difference in wet traction. Tread virtually none.
Posted by encephalopath on October 21, 2011 at 1:04 PM · Report
9
As ridership grows, more than ever, winter means keeping your (helmeted) head up at all times and giving everyone around you even more space than normal to fuck up/act as if you aren't there.

Also, side lights. SIDE LIGHTS. Be a two-wheeled supernova of visibility.
Posted by Commenty Colin on October 21, 2011 at 1:14 PM · Report
10
Actually, Graham is correct here. Physics is on his side.

To quote St. Sheldon: For pavement riding, smooth tires get as good traction as those with tread, sometimes better. Aggressive knobby-tread tires corner very poorly on pavement, because the tall knobs bend sideways under stress.

Tread is useful mostly to let you know when the tire is wearing out. The other dead giveaway is lots of flat tires.
Posted by April on October 21, 2011 at 1:42 PM · Report
11
I dont know much about the physics involved in tires specially made for bikes in rainy seasons, though I should have, but the hydroplane factor is common in F-1 racing, and the change of tires (similar to the bikes described here) works miracles for those speed demon machines when theres heavy rain in the circuit, eventually too when the circuits tracks are just "sprayed" with a coating of water (even more dangerous, different tires).
Posted by Leaky on October 21, 2011 at 1:44 PM · Report
12
@CC: YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT SIDE LIGHTS BECAUSE YOUR WIFE GOT HIT ON THE SIDWAYS. REAL MEN RIDE WITH NO LIGHTS AND WEARING ALL BLACK.

WITH NO HELMET.

ON A TALLBIKE.

ON SANDY BLVD.
Posted by Graham on October 21, 2011 at 1:56 PM · Report
13
has the kinetic lights for bike wheels that was shown here some time ago been tried or used by somebody?
Posted by Leaky on October 21, 2011 at 2:08 PM · Report
14
@ GRAHAM: Why no accreditation for you quote? You just ripped off Sheldon Brown.
Posted by sheldon friend on October 21, 2011 at 3:04 PM · Report
15
I used to think that tires w/ tread (e.g. mtn bike tires) offered more traction, but then my bike mechanic explained that the more contact your tire has w/ the pavement, the more friction you have and the less likely you are to slip. Of course, bald tires are a problem because they may be more suceptible to flats and eventual wearing out, but they won't cause you to slip in the rain. If you are riding on big ol' knobby tires now, I encourage you to get slicks at your local bike shop. They are superior for winter and rain both because they grip better but also because they can be inflated to a higher pressure and therefore you'll go faster with no extra effort. Bonus!
Posted by Jessica Roberts on October 21, 2011 at 3:08 PM · Report
16
Dear Mercury:

If you keep even one intern this year, keep this one.

Yours,

Fruit Cup
Posted by Fruit Cup on October 21, 2011 at 3:38 PM · Report
17
@SHELDON FRIEND: YOU ARE AN IDIOT. I RIPPED OFF SOME SALES COPY FROM PETER WHITE CYCLES. SHELDON BROWN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
Posted by Graham on October 21, 2011 at 3:45 PM · Report
18
@JESSICA ROBERTS: YOUR NAME SOUNDS LIKE JESSICA RABBIT. ALSO, YOU ARE VERY VERY VERY CORRECT. PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Posted by Graham on October 21, 2011 at 3:47 PM · Report
19
@ Graham - Sandy Blvd.? Amateur.

I saw a cyclist *in the travel lanes of 99W* going northbound near the Acropolis, which I passed by going south, yeah, to somewhere farther south in Milwaukie. Farther south in Milwaukie.
Posted by LawyerPepper on October 21, 2011 at 5:05 PM · Report
20
Sorry about that typo earlier. I meant to write: You have a soft spot for bald tires, don't you, Graham?
Posted by Todd Mecklem on October 21, 2011 at 5:09 PM · Report
21
I want sloth fenders.
Posted by bikefor1 on October 21, 2011 at 6:28 PM · Report
22
Please don't use your goddamned flasher light feature when it's pitch dark out. Flashing lights are for dawn, dusk and day time. At night they are for causing night blind seizure to on comers.
Posted by Tom [______] . on October 21, 2011 at 8:36 PM · Report
23
Actually, rain pants are awesome.
Posted by azure on October 22, 2011 at 2:55 PM · Report
24
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Kind Regards,
Posted by jannet watson on October 23, 2011 at 5:16 AM · Report
25
well that spam comment is so ridiculous i think I'm just gonna leave it there.
Posted by Alison Hallett on October 24, 2011 at 4:01 PM · Report

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