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General Category => Magic Pie & Smart Pie Discussions => Topic started by: DirtyGinge on January 05, 2011, 09:45:42 PM

Title: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: DirtyGinge on January 05, 2011, 09:45:42 PM
Hi All
well, don't know if you know or not, but we have had a bit of a bad winter in the UK

Still, no reason not to cycle my 40 mile round trip ( man or mouse stiff upper lip and all that)

Anyway, the way I go to work is 20 mile one way through remote unsheltered country( no lights, no people, just cow)
there is an 8 mile section that is always the coldest around ....5C lower than anywhere else ( record this year -17C)and the ice pack has been severe this year...still being an "enthusiast" ( translate=man in shed with bike and beer)

i decided to build these home made snow tyres

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlHDMC6rj0E

they do make a massive difference....if your stupid on them, then you will slide, but for average cycling, 15 mph on packed ice not much problem...

still, wasnt sure if they really made a difference, so during a minor thaw, took them off and replaced with schwalbe marathons ( normal use tyre)

had to walk 1 mile back just to get back to tarmac, as I just couldnt stay on the bike..fall fall fall, dirt. they do seem to make the difference in ice between on the bike and off....simple...

just make sure you do back them off with good tape as in the video, otherwise they will pinch the tube and cause punctures

hope this helps all ;)

regards


Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: GM Canada on January 06, 2011, 03:17:58 AM
"enthusiast" ( translate=man in shed with bike and beer)

Hahaha, can I relate to that! What a great video as well!

Gary
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: MonkeyMagic on January 06, 2011, 01:42:20 PM
The guy in the video is an Aussie for sure
I'm thankful I don't have snow!

Gary, do you get snow where you live? I think I remember you saying somewhere you weren't using your wheels due to weather


Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: Hardcore on January 06, 2011, 02:08:09 PM
I think it snows in Canada :)
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: DirtyGinge on January 06, 2011, 03:16:19 PM
yup not my video im afraid, an aussie in Japan, now thats got to be entertaining to watch :)

still, thought it was easier than pics to share the message ;)

regards
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: GM Canada on January 07, 2011, 04:47:28 AM
The guy in the video is an Aussie for sure
I'm thankful I don't have snow!

Gary, do you get snow where you live? I think I remember you saying somewhere you weren't using your wheels due to weather



Here is a picture out on the road today, it doesnt snow much here compared to other parts of Canada that have already had snowstorms of over 1 meter in one day. I also Included a picture of Lake Louise in the summer and you can still see alot of snow in the mountains.

Gary
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: DirtyGinge on January 07, 2011, 07:09:34 PM
I must say gary, that lake looks sweet   :)., msut be good summer cycling
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: MonkeyMagic on January 08, 2011, 11:35:02 AM
um thats snow dude ;)
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: Hardcore on January 08, 2011, 01:11:14 PM
um thats snow dude ;)

to whom do you refer to with dude :P
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: Andrew on January 08, 2011, 01:47:48 PM
there's not one American posting on this thread so the word dude cannot be used! - Fact! :D
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: Hardcore on January 08, 2011, 01:51:07 PM
dude isn't just for americans, I hope
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: MonkeyMagic on January 08, 2011, 02:34:42 PM
Andrew is taking it personal because he must own a dude ranch lol
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: Andrew on January 08, 2011, 04:42:30 PM
no dudes on my ranch, just dudettes! - what ever that means i'm not sure :D

Anyway dudes, i've got some spare old knobbly tyres, it could be a tempting activity to do over several dark evenings

Thanks for the Link 'Ginge
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: DirtyGinge on January 08, 2011, 06:41:36 PM
no worries :)

Im sure you all, like me, don't want the a%% hitting the deck....but I do like my winter crispy cycling

A real snowy cycle is almost as good as a warm spring morning for me, just the stopping problem is different

Got the dual pies yet andrew ?, my second finally cleared customs today.......soldering iron time :)
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: GM Canada on January 08, 2011, 07:26:54 PM
no dudes on my ranch, just dudettes! - what ever that means i'm not sure :D

Anyway dudes, i've got some spare old knobbly tyres, it could be a tempting activity to do over several dark evenings

Thanks for the Link 'Ginge

Dude and Dudette have been two fun names for my kids since they could understand the term. My daugther even used to say "I'm not a dude, I'm a dudette!"

Gary
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: GM Canada on January 08, 2011, 07:50:20 PM
no worries :)

Im sure you all, like me, don't want the a%% hitting the deck....but I do like my winter crispy cycling

A real snowy cycle is almost as good as a warm spring morning for me, just the stopping problem is different

Got the dual pies yet andrew ?, my second finally cleared customs today.......soldering iron time :)

WooHoo! Prepare to smile!  ;D

Gary
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: GM Canada on January 08, 2011, 07:53:05 PM
there's not one American posting on this thread so the word dude cannot be used! - Fact! :D

Actually I never really thought about that before. I wonder why, Im sure its a big Ebike Market.

Gary
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: Hardcore on January 08, 2011, 08:40:35 PM
America is on ES (endlessphere)
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: Andrew on January 08, 2011, 09:09:17 PM
no worries :)


Got the dual pies yet andrew ?, my second finally cleared customs today.......soldering iron time :)

watch this space....,   pie number 2 has arrived, a small issue to clear up with GM China which is in the process of being rapidly resolved,, and then as you say there will be soldering and splicing to do. I'm quite excited :)
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: DirtyGinge on January 08, 2011, 09:24:51 PM
Good news

One thing to watch ( and its not a sales pitch!! :) ), is that if the battery pack reaches its max current capacity,( or the wiring for that matter) the voltage drops substantially, leading to slower speeds, hence why I went about building my own battery packs...but on short distances this should be fine on one pack...im sure like me, with 2 pies you are only planning to accelerate half as much for the same effect hehehehe ;)...
if im wrong ( or my battery was just too cold) please feel free to correct anyone :) ( its the honey wine !!!!!

regards
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: GM Canada on January 11, 2011, 08:56:49 PM
um thats snow dude ;)

Two feet of snow in the downtown core. See picture below...




























Gary
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: MonkeyMagic on January 11, 2011, 09:01:10 PM
Well you know what they say about big feet....


Big toes
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: MonkeyMagic on January 11, 2011, 09:02:39 PM
a small issue to clear up

Hey wat happened with your tasty pie!!?
Title: Re: My UK Winter snow experience----home made snow tyres
Post by: Andrew on January 11, 2011, 09:47:15 PM
a small issue to clear up

Hey wat happened with your tasty pie!!?

as with my first pie kit there is a problem with the rim. if you remember, the first rim I got had a 3 inch rip in the rim.  The new kit i've had drop ship from China via Gary had a crack in the rim where a spoke had been over tightened.  several spokes were already loose on the other side of the rim and where the crack is the wheel rim is pulled in so it's not round either.  Gary was on the case within a hour of me emailing him, and a new rim and some spare spokes are currently in transit. I 've been really unlucky with  the wheel rims.

At least this time I made the educated decision to go through Gary :)

I've tested the motor and trottle and without load the front motor/wheel seems to spin faster than the rear. It feels really strong and fast. 
Hopefully I will get the new rim in the next few days and will then pay someone to respoke it and get it true and round

Andrew