Yet another v-ride

[Steve Strube]

Dec 26th the gloves went on and the bike went out...
I had just finished my conversion and was chomping at the bit to ride this baby!
Onto the road I went...I live on a pretty quite side street.
Started off...front tire was slipping everywhere.
Did I mention I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and that we had had 2 feet of snow in the last couple of weeks...
I gave a second try and tried not to push the pedals as hard. It was only a fraction of a second before I realized that this bike had it's own sense of direction.
Temp was about -5 degrees Celcius ( about 25 deg. F.)
Everyone in the family was watching from the front window...where it was warm...Only I was lauging harder than they were!
It was only a couple of tries before I managed a straight(ish) line.
After about 10 minutes and several fights with the handlebars, I decided to shut it down for the day...I actually never did put any gloves on and I was starting to feel it with the wind chill.
Went out the next day on the local path. The path is about 4 feet wide. Lots of foot hitting the ground action as I kept veering right and left on the narrow path.
Going up hill on a sidewalk was quite a treat as well. Pedal...turn...parked car...foot down.
I couldn't use the snow covered street...too much slippage.

Went on vacation for a week...and got back to slushy streets that are catching cars and making sure they can't go anywhere...the slush is that deep.

So I am relegated to sidewalks for now...good way to force technique. Still having some trouble on uphill 90 deg. turns but it is coming...
They neighbors are getting a good laugh!
And most importantly...so am I!

I can't wait for spring!
Steve

 

[Mark B]

Hi Steve!

Great post and welcome to the forum!

You have the right attitude! Laugh at it now and appreciate it more when you get the wobbles dialed out.

Have fun and welcome again!

Mark

 

[Peder Torgersen]

Hi Steve

It’s good that someone else is also enjoying the winter on a FWD Cruzbike! Winter conditions aren’t the best time to learn to ride FWD. If you learn before or after the winter it’s much easier when you ride on winter conditions. Learning something new can be frustrating at first but when you learn it you get a good feeling. Certain snow conditions as you mentioned are almost hopeless for driving and cycling.
One very good thing that I like about my Sofrider is the seat and the seat height it feels just right for winter conditions. You can put both feet easily to the ground you can’t do that on an upright. I rode an upright for years in winter when there was slippery snow my feet could not reach the ground which is not good. I have much more control now it’s very easy to put one or both feet to the ground with no problem. Going down a slippery snow covered hill on my upright I was only able to put one foot down with my other leg over the bar a very uncomfortable position and with much less control in that position. I could sit on the seat with both feet on the pedals if there was only ice then there was a good grip with winter tires with studs. I also have my feet on the pedals going down a hill covered with ice with my Sofrider.
The suspension is also very good with all the bumps you get in the winter. On my upright I felt much discomfort in my wrists from all the bumps now I don’t have any discomfort so I enjoy riding much more. The Sofrider is also faster than my upright we get many days in the winter when there is no snow or ice on the roads.
I remember my first rides in winter on an upright it wasn’t that easy it took some time to learn. It also took some time to learn to ride the Sofrider in winter conditions and I’m still learning from different experiences. So I’m still able of improving my winter riding technique. One of the good things from life is learning from experience.
I hope you get better riding conditions and look forward to read about your progress. Maybe some of your relatives and neighbors will want to try to ride when they see you can ride?

Peder