The joys of winter cycling in Denver
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- In this video I take you on my winter bicycle commute in dangerous Denver. Riding my folding bike in the winter here in Denver can be detrimental to my health and in this video I talk about some of the joys of winter cycling in Denver Colorado.
#wintercycling #foldingbike #Denvercycling
Instagram: / brian_s_downey
Twitter: / anxious_vegan
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very cool night riding. i have found drivers to be a mix bag. some give 10 ft clearance and others seem like they purposely want to get close as possible
Wow! Those are tough conditions. I feel for you on those winter rides.
I love winter riding. I ride my Brompton all over downtown Chicago year-round, so long as there's not ice on the ground. I'm 64 with osteoporosis so I have to be extra careful. I will ride with snow and yes, MrFrescocotone, my commute will typically take an extra 10-15 minutes. Kudos to Brian for riding on ice - please be careful!
Oh, I have crashed many times in the past to even get somewhat of a proficiency riding on ice. I'll try to be careful, but I can't make any promises😀🤷♂️
I will slow down in snow and ice conditions. Its alot better to go slower. I will not go faster than 12mph in those conditions. And I've never come off my bike. I ride a Trek Valencia. With schwalbe marathon plus tyres in the winter. And schwalbe ones or bontrager H2s March to October.
I've ridden in Minnesota winterss also. I stay off the streets as much as possible, will prefer trails & even sidewalks, since it's winter, there's less people and naturally I'm going slower as well, so it's easy to ring my bell to go around the occasional pedestrians.
Godddd what a balls to drive in that winter
Here in the UK the sun is out it's a lovely week it makes a change spring has arrived
No sirry... no sirry! This is a special calling 😅It's one thing biking in the snow... and other thing biking in the snow at night. My brother really said "It can get quite hazardous"... oh yes... we know 😅. Good you were able to stay safe.
Amazing, you are so hard core 😅. Keep safe bud!
Thank you my friend😀👍
Its like Monica's boots in friends where she promises Chandler she will use them all the time,when you get a brompton and promise yourself I will use it in all seasons 🥰😅
I did use it in all seasons in the beginning. Now I have a dedicated bad weather bike. I save my brommie for the fun stuff.
Hardcore man
I watched your video through my fingers, expecting the worst. So glad you managed to stay upright. You’re sitting on top of my hero wall, Brian. Be careful out there.
Good to see you're back in action Brian. It's really interesting to see the streets of Denver from your video setup. You're a lot braver than me riding onthose sheets of ice(40 years ago such a thing would not have bothered me). You really shoul get a pair of BarMitts for winter riding. They'll work quite on both your Zizzo and your S-model Brompton. I believe Chuck at FFB can order them for you. Please, be safe on those icy roads.
Thanks. Thanks for being patient with me. I'm jumping back in the saddle and plan on making many more videos. As far as bar Mits are concerned, I'm sure they work, but I've been ok with my hands staying warm enough so I haven't felt the need to acquire a set.
hey bro, good to see you again. Take care
Thanks😀👍 I appreciate you stopping by.
Glad it melted recently, it's just cloudy, cold and windy now
Yes...hopefully gone for good. I'm not holding my breath though.
Thanks Brian. Be careful.
Thank you😀👍
Cool.
We had today up to 18 degrees Celsius (about 65 Fahrenheit) in Central Germany.
Beautiful spring...
Cheers from Germany
Yes its finally warming up here as well. 😀👍
Hi Brian, great video as always. My wife wants to know how far you have to cycle to Work.
Been a while since I caught one of your vids, good to see you’re still trucking
No thanks to Denver drivers. I swear they are trying to get me to kick my air addiction.😀
You're brave out there in these weather conditions, brother. Stay safe! (Keep Up!)
Thank you...not some much brave...maybe stupid is the right word😀
You're nuts with the narrow tires man! I put 2.15 schwalbe marathon winter plus studs on for winter. Perfect traction... too perfect, ruts kept dragging my rear tire out from under me.
I'm nuts period. 😀😂 if I were same I would just take the bus😀
Hi Brian, thanks for another interesting video.
Can I make a suggestion?
if you are going to stay in that town another couple of years, why not get yourself a full size ebike with 26 inch wheels, and put knobbly tyres or studded winter tyres on it?
Just to be used for that limited period, maybe? It would also make messengering quicker, safer, and a lot more comfortable.
Trying to ride a 20 inch wheel folder for weeks on end in those sub-zero conditions just seems like masochism.
An ebike will give you a little extra power to get through the snow ruts more easily, and if you fit studded snow tyres, or just knobbly off road tyres, it will be safer too.
If you want to put in some hard exercise, you can switch off the motor for a while.
If you're really enjoying the hard-core nature of cycling in snow, then go for it.
I rode in fresh snow many times and quite enjoyed it. But when it all freezes into sheet ice, and becomes dangerous, and when it last for many weeks- I just think that maybe you would enjoy your winter cycling more if you had an ebike with suspension and with fatter winter tyres.
Our cities are alike in a lot of ways. I live in Calgary, Alberta. Can’t say I’ve gone out colder than 14F. But I watch a lot of videos of people in Norway and I gotta say, I need to start getting out more in the winter.
Snow or sunshine, some drivers do make cycling increasingly dangerous, but not all don’t care. So many drivers are messing with phones, screens, texting, speaking texts and commands to infotainment systems, half-high, stoned… so much diverted or divided attention, when driving needs ALL one’s attention. It seems to only be getting less safe for cycling. My mid-western city/metroplex of half-million has nearly ZERO street-riding/bike lane mentality or provision. There are a few bike paths, and mapped rides on the outskirts and beyond on unmarked, two-lane highways (you risk it.) I got a Zizzo Urbano foldie so I can toss it in the car and drive to somewhere safe where I can ride, also I ride for miles around neighborhoods. I do errands and shopping, library, etc, only if they can be reached by back streets - and even then, very carefully. I haven’t yet been able to map a safe enough route to commute to my job. The busy streets and amount of inattentive, time-bomb drivers, are harrowing.
Glad to see you back, how’s your Brompton holding up?
Brian you should put a studded tire on the front wheel at the least. I was on pure ice on big apples when the bike kicked from under. May have broken knee cap. Then i put on front stud tire. I have a video on ice rink, also have a video with the three tracks from my trike on ice.
I'm going to make a video soon explaining why I don't use studs anymore soon. I feel your pain about your knee. Mine look like roast beef and feel like rusty door hinges with all the times I've crashed.
i used to be one of those drivers until i became an avid cycler. lol. now i'm much or empathetic and can understand the perspectives of both sides. with that being said, when i cycle, i try to let the cars directly behind me pass because they're obviously faster and if i don't it's going to make the roads extremely congested. maybe it's just me since i live in nyc.
Hi Brian, glad to see you around here again! One question: how long does it take you to commute in normal conditions vs to when you do it in such harsh winter ones?
35-45 min depending on traffic and wind.
I've ridden through snow and ice many times. But I will be dressed like robo cop. Helmet. Elbow pads and knee pads. Thick motorbike gloves. The whole shebang.
I guess adding tye radical design trailer will make it a stable ride
I don't know? when I have my trailer hooked on it doesn't feel that different. But maybe it is more stable?
@@ibikeunfolded it should as there 2 more wheels at the back to support you..
@@kanikasingh889 the hitch/latch on the radical designed trailer is designed to spin 360 degrees. A normal trailer connects and doesn't spin so it probably would hold you up more.
It's the same when you're a skilled snow driver. The problem is the unskilled drivers. Never ridden my foldy in snow. Hard enough work on pavement! Someone should make training skis to mount on either side. Stay safe.
I know what you mean. I think most people around here got their drivers licence from a crakerjack box😀👍
Great video your usual high standards. It seems either very cold or very hot in Denver. A note from the UK Brompton has recalled all electric models due to wheel lock-up injuring riders.
You need to fold that bike up and throw it on a plane to FLA for a special video series.
Sounds like a plan😀
I drive a semi truck and have pretty much the same experience with 4 wheelers and other semi trucks. Alot of people are inconsiderate drivers. I walk home from where I park my truck. Some of my route doesn't have street lights or sidewalks. Just a white line letting the cars know where the asphalt ends and the mud begins. At night or poor weather conditions I'll wear a high visibility vest and some sort of light. Would be nice if we could incorporate some or all the rules of the road of the Netherlands. Motorists are responsible if the hit a cyclist there.
Wintersports :) a fatbike tire would be nice in those conditions.
True, but a fat tire bike wound not be good for my apartment. Makes a massive mess during the winter months. I know....i had one.
@@ibikeunfolded I have 3 bikes in my flat two of them are ebikes one with 20 in fat tyres have to clean it after every ride in the winter.
Just curious. How many times have you fallen on average in a typical winter. I guess it depends on how much snow you get. Do you get funny looks from drivers and people when you ride your bike in the winter?
Wow that is a real winter weather, I think you did very well not to hit the dirt at least once. The car drivers are very poor the world over I can vouch for that very few know or are prepared to overtake a cyclist correctly and I also think too many do know how to overtake a cyclist safely but just done care to. Be careful out there.
Are those bricks in your backpack? Lol. It looks so heavy
Oh it's really heavy. Two laptop computers and a whole host of other things for work.
Also, does Denver not know it's officially Spring? I grew up in that kind of climate/weather. I loved it as a kid but not so much as an adult.
Denver weather is schizophrenic and doesn't know what it wants to do from hour to hour😀
I used to drive for a living and what I realized is drivers don’t care about anything, period!
True..😂
*Some* drivers. As a responsible, loving, caring driver, I care. As do very many.
You can get away with it for for awhile but eventually a price will be paid. I fell in January and tore a tendon was on crutches for 5 weeks. No shame in owning a car.
What worries me more than drivers who don't want cyclists on the road is distracted drivers. Only a true nut would want to hit a cyclists. I've had many issues with cars getting to close to me but it is the distracted drivers that are the real problem. In the last 15 years distracted drivers have become the real problem out there. Just stop at a red light in a bike lane and look over to your left and you'll find someone looking down at their phone. These people are the most dangerous and not the rage full drivers that hate cyclists. Neither is good but I don't know too many people who want to hit a cyclists on purpose. I'm sure they are out there but a driver with a cell phone is the number one problem that cyclists face today.
Brian, I love that you ride through anything. However, there is no shame in folding it up and taking an Uber when things get THAT bad.
Take care!
Believe me I working on alternative transportation ideas.😀
For your cold feet which you talked about in a past video ...
ua-cam.com/video/gg690atqKEI/v-deo.html
Edit : I realize now this will not work for you since you are vegan ( the sandals might be ok ? )
I ride to be seen by riding wearing a reflective vest. A high density bright flashing tail light. There are old and bold cyclists. No such thing as an old bold cyclist.
The car supremacy mindset is real. I biked in the winter in upstate NY. There was no bike infrastructure. I didn't even know what bike infrastructure was then but bike/ped infrastructure won't save you from careless, stupid, bad drivers. I was hit by a guy in a minivan while in a crosswalk a few yrs. ago.
I was hit by a lady in an SUV downtown and it broke my pelvis in two places. She was probably checking her Instagram😀
Hey Brian what panniers are you using? Thanks!
They are Ortlieb gravel-pack waterproof- the smaller size.