Singlespeeding in snow - tips? « Singletrack Forum

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Singlespeeding in snow - tips?

29 posts & 28 voices | Started 1 year ago by jonb | Latest reply from Mostly Balanced

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gears

jonb - Member

Before I reach for my geared bike and the comfort of 22:32 for ploughing through snow has anyone got any advice for singlespeeding in snow?

Currently running standard 32:16 and 2.1" tyres. I have fatter tyres but they aren't really knobbly (more like summer race tyres).I can go down to a 32:18 ratio but don't have any spares.

I'm strugling to keep the back wheel from spinning out. Or when I have grip I'm virtually track standing as it's such tough going.

What tyre sizes and ratios do you lot use?

I'm in Newcastle so we are currently measuring our snow fall in feet not inches which is why I'm having so much trouble.

Posted 1 year ago #
darrell - Member

studded tyres are your friend

Posted 1 year ago #
radoggair - Member

get gears on. Bit like saying i have a sports car and a 4x4. Cool, continue using the sports car as much as you want but realise there's a time and a place for the 4x4, and that time is now my friend

Posted 1 year ago #
mocha - Member

What tyre sizes and ratios do you lot use?

4" and 36/19

Posted 1 year ago #
rustler - Member

I towed the kids trailer on my 32:16 this morning.
The classic 2.35 Nev/BG combo.
But we're measuring our snowfall in mm, not feet.

Posted 1 year ago #
thomthumb - Member

I'm strugling to keep the back wheel from spinning out.

you need to sit down more. which unless you have iron knees can mean switch to a lower ratio

Posted 1 year ago #
squish - Member

Mocha

Size isn't everything you know.....

Posted 1 year ago #
peachos - Member

depends really. i rode my SS all throughout last winter and the great thing about it is that you will not suffer any of the effects that freezing temperatures will have on your gears. i was riding in wales at the weekend and realised just how much of a pain in the ass frozen mechs are. and besides, the bits where you can actually ride you'll probably not need gears for anyway.

chuck on some 2.4 rubber queens and you'll be laughing.

Posted 1 year ago #
Sam - Member

measuring our snow fall in feet not inches

Time to break out the xc skis then IMO

Posted 1 year ago #
Coleman - Member

Kenda Small Block 8's 700c x 32.
42 x 16 ratio fixie.
All good fun in the snow!

Posted 1 year ago #
theotherjonv - Member

my tips would be to fall off a lot, laugh every time, and don't expect to cover the same distances at the same speed.

From experience.

Posted 1 year ago #
MRanger156 - Member

I was just about to convert my commuter into a singlespeed! Having second thoughts now.

Posted 1 year ago #
gazc - Member

i'm in newcastle also, finding some reasonably knobbly tyres with custom intalled spikes (1/2 inch steel screws with a dh tube liner in an old panaracer fire 2.1/geax barro combo) working a treat at the moment except for the really deep slushy stuff - been running gears too and preferring the range of gears to control traction more than my usual ss

Posted 1 year ago #
andy7t2 - Member

try the tandem with jerry technique always works for me

Posted 1 year ago #
warpcow - Member

What jonv said times a million

On anything but ice, spiked tyres are pointless (and sometimes worse than that). A good mud tyre is what you need, especially on the rear. Something with high knobs that will dig in and drive you forwards without slipping. Trailraker is a good but narrow option, and I'm finding a Minion DHR to be ok just now too. Keep seated as much as possible, and if you can't do that then try to force back as much weight as possible while you're standing (like hanging off the back when you go off drops, etc, except uphill). Pedal as evenly as possible, and pray.

Your gear ratio is probably a personal thing. I have never had a problem using anything but the 34:16 I use in summer too.

Posted 1 year ago #
matthewlhome - Member

Let a bit of pressure out of your tyres and keep those pedals turning smoothly. Like riding in sloppy mud but cleaner when you fall off!

Posted 1 year ago #
donks - Member

I have had a real blast this morning on the SS. Also got small block 8's on but we only have an inch of the white stuff and no hills to speak of.
Good thing was that the snow was still crisp enugh to give the front loads of purchase but the back slipped easily so it was speedway cornering all the way.

Posted 1 year ago #
skidsareforkids - Member

Last winter i ran 32:17 with 2.1 mountain king rear and 2.5 diesel front at about 20/15psi when riding in snow and it was mega! I rode more in the snow than not and I have felt like a more confident rider ever since!

Posted 1 year ago #
epicyclo - Member

Mostly all said already, but lower gearing, lower pressures, and ride smoothly. Studs a help when there's ice underneath but no advantage in packed snow.

For real snow fun you need a fatbike

Posted 1 year ago #
speaker2animals - Member

Personally I'd go with narrow-ish tyres. I rode home from work this AM at 5:30 and I run 2:1 with Conti Explorer 2.1s (which come up quite narrow). We ain't got a lot of sno here though. 2 inches at most. If you stand bend elbows, nose down by bars and bum as far back as possible. As said when sitting try to keep weight back but be careful of taking too much weight off front, esp on turns so that you don't wash the front out.

Posted 1 year ago #
matthewlhome - Member

After my advice earlier, I went out on the geared bike with tyre pressures dropped. Spent most of the ride in 22:low!

Posted 1 year ago #
igm - Member

32x18 on a rigid 29er with 2" MudX tyres. Fine in up to 8" of snow.

Keep the momentum up. If you let it slow it's killing.

Posted 1 year ago #
crotchrocket - Member

34:16 2.1 trailraker on the rear.
When I'm climbing on snow or mud I actively pull back on the bars and dreive feet forward at the same time as if to force the rear down without lifting the front. Seems to help give me some more grip in the soft stuff or at least get down to the firmer stuff.
Hth

Posted 1 year ago #
scott_mcavennie2 - Member

I switched to my geared bike with the grippy grippy tyres on today.

Gears were slipping around all over the place though after it had been freezing in the bikeshed all day.

Posted 1 year ago #
Macavity - Member

Singleslowing in snow
much like singleslowing in mud, just get off and walk:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2918396511_f37432ab26_o.jpg

Posted 1 year ago #
firestarter - Member

Weirwolf 2.55 at low pressure were great for upto 5" of snow but much more and It's too much on unbroken trails . Had a great ride last nite , pardon the poor getting dark camera pic, the bike stands up by itself

Posted 1 year ago #
andrewh - Member

1.8" Tioga Factory XC
38:14 (but it's flat in Lincolnshire!)

Posted 1 year ago #
chalkstorm - Member

Cannock Chase - 32/18 - Nobby Nics on the back - first sign of slippage on climbs, sit down for a couple of peddle strokes.

Really impressed with the NNs....

Posted 1 year ago #
Mostly Balanced - Member

Skinny tyres will be best for snow. Last week we went out in 4 inches of the stuff and the guy who usually stays at the back was flying ahead of us a lot of the time on his 1.8s.

Posted 1 year ago #