Conference noted::bicycle

>    Does anybody know anything about riding on ice, especially the studded

Have heard of fokes using thorn-proof tubes and hammering roofing nails 
into the tires (from the inside out) and clipping 'em off. Our shop used 
to make bike chains for sale, but I felt they were probably better for 
the "occasional patch of ice" ride than for frozen lake touring. If 
you're really fond of ice there are better things to do with it than 
ride on it... :-)

                                     ken
                                     CLIMBING notes co-mod, hit KP-7!

    But let me explain - last year some friends and I were trekking in the
    Zanskar Valley in Ladakh. Somebody told us that in high winter the
    quickest way to Leh is to walk on the Zanskar River, which is frozen at 
    that time of year, and in fact that is what the Ladakhi's do. So
    somebody came up with the idea of doing it on ATB's, and we spent many
    hours discussing the feasibility of such a scheme. In one of last
    weekend's papers was a contest - the prize a very delectable ATB - for
    the most original idea for an ATB trip. Now I don't think you can get
    much more original than this but I need some hard, technical facts so
    it sound's if I know what I'm talking about.
    
    								Phil.
    
    ps. Have heard of fokes using thorn-proof tubes and hammering roofing nails 
                      *****
    
        what the **** is a foke?

    I have seen "studded" tires made by several ice riders.
    
    The get a tire with pretty gnarly cleats an put one 1/4 inch round head
    wood screw in each individual knob.
    
    Time consuming but you wind up with outrageous traction on ice.
    
    FWIW
    
    bob

I think at least one company makes a studded ATB tire (IRC Blizzard?)

I also remember a recent article in one of the Mtn Bike magazines about
installing your own studs.  They suggested using ordinary car tire studs
that are available or small sheet metal screws from the inside.  The
Ritchey quad tire was suggested as a good tire to use for studding because
of the tread design, put a stud through each side tread 'block'
I am not sure what was used on the inside of the tire to cover the
stud ends to avoid tube damage.  (strapping tape maybe?)

I have never done this, but the traction on ice is supposed to be great.
	Greg

    
    Last winter I spent about six hours building the ultimate winter MTB
    tires.  I used a pair of Fischer Fat Trax (2.02).  Nothing fancy about
    the tires just large square blocks.  Perfect for driving through a 
    stud.  
      I used flat head sheet metal screws which I hammered through from
    the inside.  First though I drilled the smallest hole I could
    through each of the lugs.  This allowed the screws to go straight
    through each lug.  I don't remember the length of the screws but they
    stick out past the lugs by 2-3 millimeters.  
      When they were finished I put an extremely thin road tire between
    the tube and screws.  A Mister Tuffy Liner is not wide enough to cover
    the screw heads on the side lugs.  
      One thing I learned is that screws on the extreme center lugs are not
    needed.  With only 25 pounds of pressure the contact patch is large.
    The missing middle screws add to a more square tire profile and more
    stability.  
      You are not going to believe the traction attained with this setup.
    At the bike clubs skating party last winter we tried to slide the bike
    during hard cornering and failed.  
      
      One last note.  Use stainless steel screws if possible.
    
    							Norm
    
    
      
                                        
    

    I saw this one in a mag a few years ago.  Let the air out of your tire.
    Get an old bike chain (if you don't have one a new chain will do just
    as well. :-)) and put it around the outer circumference of the tire.
    The chain should have enough links that the tire can be nearly fully
    inflated and hold the chain tight.  Then pump up the tire, slowly
    enough that you can check that the chain remains in place.
    
    ed

    I've seen dirt bike riders riding on Lake Boon last winter.  They had
    studs on their tires.  I wonder whether these were production tires or
    home grown versions as being discussed in this note.
    
    What ever the case is, they were really moving.  I didn't really
    appreciate it though, because I was trying to go for a nice quiet walk on
    the lake.