Forum menu
Been riding and commuting a lot on negative or very close to 0ºc temperatures since moving to Switzerland. I end up using mostly my Impacts Sam Hill, which I got in ate 2019. I was pretty amazed by their sole durability, showing very moderate wear after that time, despite relatively intense use (average 3 rides per week over 3 years). However, something weird is happening now.
The colder the temps are, the stickier they seem to be, but wear also seems to have accelerated dramatically over the last few weeks. When I head out for a ride very early in the morning at -3 or -4ºc the shoes get stupidly sticky, to the point of being uncomfortable.
My theory here is that in the cold the rubber is not sticking, but rather hardening and letting the pins digging in, explaining both the locked in feel and the accelerated wear.
Anyone ever experienced something like this?
Aluminium or magnesium pedals? They'll be sticky if it's cold.
Your theory is 100% correct. The colder temps will make the rubber harder and more brittle. The rubber won't deform so readily and the pins will rip bits off. It is the same with "Summer" car tyres in the cold.
There is a reason why rock climbers go to Peak District gritstone when it is frosty...
Depends a lot on the rubber mix. I recall that Sma Hills and Impacts have different rubber compound than most 5.10 shoes.
I was surprised, as I was assuming the pedal grip would be worse in the cold.
Honestly, looking at them I wonder if they're going to last a month under these conditions