I hope it snows, it snows and snows this winter ........

[Crankarm]

I suspect we won't be needing the snow tyres this winter. Who has bought a canoe ?

How about a full set of waterproof panniers such as Vaude Aquas or Ortlieb rollers, each pannier with an inflated car tyre tube inside and a paddle?

 

[Crankarm]

I have just recieved an envelope of 80 studs from Schwalbe UK. Very quick delivery. Now I just have to re-fit three where three came out.

 

[Crankarm]

Have now replaced the 3 missing studs - 2 rear, 1 front. It wasn't that easy, thin neck pliers and a thin electrical screwdriver with a smoothish tip to avoid cutting the tyre to help push the stud in. I don't want to have to do this too many times as it is a real PITA.

 

[Norm]

I got 75 studs though yesterday (Saturday) and I only contacted them in the early hours of Friday morning. I've yet the embrace the pleasures of fitting them, though I'm glad that I also only lost 3 during the bedding in.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Got my spare studs yesterday too.
Silly question, Crankarm did you remove the inner tube before replacing the missing studs?

 

[Crankarm]

Got my spare studs yesterday too.
Silly question, Crankarm did you remove the inner tube before replacing the missing studs?

Inner tube? The tyres are currently off the rims. I found it really hard to get the first replacement stud back into the tyre. I must have struggled for about 30-40 mins almost reaching the point of "Oh f***k it!" return the tyres to the shop and get a refund, but a few minutes later the first stud miraculously went in and the second didn't take quite so long maybe 15 minutes and the third a bit quicker still, but it is still an ar$e ache of a job. I wonder how long they will remain place or how many of their bretheren will make a break for freedom? I was thinking that perhaps Schwalbe could improve the tyre construction to stop them coming out by having a Kevlar or fine metal mesh band through which they all push which is in turn bonded into the tyre beneath the tread which may stop them coming out like they currently are prone to. At the moment the only thing that holds them in is the rubber of the tyre surrounding the stem of the stud being narrower than their wide base. If the surronding rubber becomes mis-shapen eg underload, then it is obvious they can and do come out. A little more thought and design like I suggest by Schwalbe might solve the problem.

 

[potsy]

Glad it's not just me that found fitting them a pita, I did read somewhere else about 'how easy they are' to fit, got another technique to try later so will report back

 

[cnb]

Being a little softie regarding riding when its icy i now have some schwalbe marathon winters..After my 12 mile ride in to work on Sat/Sun..I'm now converted..Great grip and a confidence builder...Although no control over the daft buggers in cars driving too fast for the conditions..

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Hold the stud in a good pair of pliers, end on I.e., the carbide along the axis of the pliers towards the pivot. Then get a really good grip and insert half of the mushroom head into the hole....then twist the other half of the mushroom head into the tyre. I've done all my replacements with the tyre on and inflated.

You do need to have a death grip at all times whilst gripping the stud.it does get easier after the first few.

Hope that helps.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Hold the stud in a good pair of pliers, end on I.e., the carbide along the axis of the pliers towards the pivot. Then get a really good grip and insert half of the mushroom head into the hole....then twist the other half of the mushroom head into the tyre. I've done all my replacements with the tyre on and inflated.

You do need to have a death grip at all times whilst gripping the stud.it does get easier after the first few.

Hope that helps.

Great, cheers!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

A bit pants in the slush the winters? Or was it my imagination this morning?
On ice they are great, but today I had to dismount twice because the back tyre wouldn't grip in the snow slush to get me propelled forward.

 

[fossyant]

A bit pants in the slush the winters? Or was it my imagination this morning?
On ice they are great, but today I had to dismount twice because the back tyre wouldn't grip in the snow slush to get me propelled forward.

No it's not you Pat, it's the tyres - there is a limitation with the Winters in snow and slush. You'd need a MTB tyre like Snow Studs or the crazy ice spikers.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

No it's not you Pat, it's the tyres - there is a limitation with the Winters in snow and slush. You'd need a MTB tyre like Snow Studs or the crazy ice spikers.

He he: there is no limit on the N+1 one needs!
.... googles for prices ....

 

[Norm]

No it's not you Pat, it's the tyres - there is a limitation with the Winters in snow and slush. You'd need a MTB tyre like Snow Studs or the crazy ice spikers.

Indeed, this is the flip side of the Winters being usable on Tarmac. They have relatively short & flat studs which will find some sort of purchase on ice and frozen snow but fresh snow needs a longer spike or a fairly aggressive tread pattern.

 

[Hawk]

I find going along ice on studded tyres really disconcerting. You hit the smallest ridge and enter a micro-skid lasting 1/10th of a second and moving your front wheel about 2cm sideways before it grips again and yet I have the horrific image of me falling face first as a result.

There's a dead-end road that doesn't get gritted near my house which is always a good "bike handling" warm up on my icy commutes; thought I'd pick up some speed this morning as practice. Hit a small bit of slush that altered my course by about 5 degrees towards the kerb, I was too terrified to steer back towards the middle of the road...