#yegbike commute: still cold at -8°C with slight southwest breeze. Lovely but obscured full moon. Surfaces sti with icy patches throughout. The little folder did pretty well, and the speed was great. But the spikes were still necessary.
Traffic was medium light, and mostly well behaved. A few people out and about, the campfires were back in the inner city.
Great ride overall for this time of year.
#earworm ‘A Quick One While He’s Away’, The Who

I may have lost my mind, but I have put plump studded tires on my summer folder, the mini road bike.
We shall see how the #yegbike commute goes on this craft, but it seems the right choice for this shoulder season in #yeg right now.
I thank @EllenInEdmonton for the tires, and Larry at @bikeedmonton for getting the stem right.
This bike has had a problematic stem/steerer tube since I first bought the bike about a decade ago. The @bikefriday is probably my favourite riding bike, but it has also been the most problematic. I always liken it to my old VW Van - it was my favourite motor vehicle I ever owned, but it was hardly ever working. When it was, it was great.
We shall see how this goes tomorrow.
The Bike Friday is due to a drivetrain upgrade, and I need to order a front stem mount cargo truss from the Netherlands!

#yegbike commute; still cold at -10°C, wind now southwest. Lovely fullish moon.
Conditions pretty much the same as yesterday, still icy patches throughout.
I am tired of the winter, maybe that’s why few people were about in the morning, perhaps everyone else feels the same.
#earworm ‘Let Me Roll It’, Paul Macartney

#yegbike observations and thoughts for this shoulder season.
If one is primarily on the flats and main bike routes, an ordinary summer bike might be fine for this week.
But if you go through some shady valleys and forested paths, probably studded tires are a wise idea.
My treacherous spots are the Scona Hill/99th Street MUP south(up) from the former Old Timer's Cabin.
97th street underpass at the Yellowhead/Calder Train Yards is absolutely horrible with every kind of icy surface. It would make a good study for a Shifter video. Or @geodarcy could try it with his mom in a cargo bike?
Anyway, I have 2 summer folders ready to go, and I was looking forward to this week. But I think the winter beater with studded tires is the better choice for this week.
I did receive a generous donation of 2 20-inch studded tires from @EllenInEdmonton, so maybe 1 of the folders will be attempted later in the week,.

#yegbike commute: still cold at -10°C with light northwest wind. A small amount of light powdery snow overnight covers most surfaces, giving good traction over the icy spots that are doubtless still there. The winter beater bike with studded tires did just fine.
Main roads bare but wet, lesser roads good snowpack. So far everything is great.
Traffic light and well behaved, not many people out and about. Inner city empty!
Not a bad ride, but the season is dragging on.
#earworm remains ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’

#yegbike commute: -10°C is still cold, especially with a chilly northeast wind. Surfaces have icy melt patches throughout, not terrible but studded tires ease the mind.
Traffic medium light, mostly well behaved. Not many people about.
A medium winter ride, but it does go on.
#earworm ‘How Do You Sleep’, John Lennon

#yegbike commute, pm update: enough snow fell through the day that drifts and uncleared paths can be downright skittery, requiring mountain bike trail skills. Some minor roads are beautiful snowpack, some medium roads quite brown sugar mushy. Main roads are okay in the tracks, but any intersection or curve require mindful caution.
Back at work, I had the ladies who enjoy my unofficial hymn sing study the #earworm of the day, 'In The Bleak Midwinter'. They really listened to it as there was an actual snowstorm right outside the large windows. They really like the song, and want to sing it at hymn sing now. Luckily we have a real hymn singing piano player for that, I'll just have to find her the sheet music. I can pick out the tune, but my piano playing makes it sound like a jazz/blues number.
Here is a version that showed me the song - a lady playing it along with a bunch of ghosts only she can see and hear.
https://youtu.be/iZ-tYofndFY