Winter cycling in Michigan

Hello and Welcome,
Today I decided to see if the "Road Warrior" would perform well in winter conditions.

The snow is very icey. The temp was 20 degrees F or -6.6 degrees Celsius. Our road is mostly hard-pack snow and the main road has been plowed and was mostly free of ice. The shoulder is for the most part unpaved and very icy. I don`t normally ride the shoulder unless I`m on a mountain bike and in the mood for some bumps and ruts.

It might not look like it, but I was a little over-dressed for the weather. The wind was calm today. The ride into town is "for the most part" a slight up-hill grade. About half way into town I stopped to cool-down a little. I`m glad I grabbed a water-bottle on my way out the door.

That`s my "Who the %#@& are You Honking At" look. I grew up in Metro Detroit and I think I developed "the look" as a defense mechanism. It also tends to come-out when I am looking at a camera. So I guess you could also call it my "Hurry Up and Take the $%&@#% Picture" look. Some jerk-wad blasted his horn at me on my way into town. Some of the misinformed people around here don`t know that, Bikes Are Traffic! After getting horn-blasted at, I usually follow the look with the "Your Number One" signal. Using the appropriate finger of course (: NOTE: I am not talking about a little "Here I am" toot on the horn. That does not bother me.

I like Michigan much more in the Summer. Although the cold, crisp and pollen free air of winter is hard to beat. Back to the bike. It rode nice in the powder snow last time out this winter. But this icey snow is a little trickier. It felt like it wanted to go sideways. So I stayed in the tire tracks till I got to the main road.
For rain or slush I would need a front mud-guard and a rear fender. I may add both if I decide to keep this bike. And I will be keeping it for a while, since I sold my MotoBecane. Or at least till I finish the Raleigh Technium

If you want to order Kenda gum-walls for a Raleigh Sports (27 X 1-3/8) do not order the K23. You want to order the K40. Although the description of the K23 sounds like it will fit. It will not replace the Raleigh 27 X 1-3/8 with 37 X 590 ISO. As the K23`s ISO is 37 X 597 (too big). And Thanks to the people at Niagara Cycle Works for getting this all sorted out for me today. You know the real mark of a good supplier is how they treat you when something goes wrong. And Niagara cycle takes care of their customers. I don`t remember the name of the "product tech" I spoke to today (sorry about that)but he was very helpful. And agreed that the information printed on the tire is a little confusing. Also thanks to Cheryl in customer service who always returns my calls. So check them out at http://niagaracycle.com/

Till Next Time, RIDE SAFE and Remember to always RESCUE, RESTORE & RECYCLE!
Cheers,Hugh