Pekka TahkolaNov 23, 2022

1000 out of 1200 kids in this school in #Oulu, #Finland, arrive by #bicycle, even in winter. 100-150 walk, rest by ski, kicksleds and car. This day it was -17°C, some days it can be colder than -30°C.

Note that this is only one of the four bicycle parking areas of this school 🤗

#Wintercycling #MeanwhileInOulu

Show threadKarl Voit  Nov 23, 2022
@pekkatahkola How common are spike tires?
Show threadPekka TahkolaNov 23, 2022
@publicvoit About 30% of ppl cycling here use one or two in winter. Among kids even less. Usually there's simply no need for them 🤗
Show threadjnbhlrNov 24, 2022
@pekkatahkola @publicvoit Which is amazing. Anything special about those bikes at all? I suppose they have to be a bit more diligent with their cable services to avoid freezing water blocking them?
Show threadeviloatmeal, resident Death Stranding 2 apologist (arch, btw)
@jnbhlr @pekkatahkola @publicvoit Never really had a cable freeze on me during winter. If there's water (e.g. rain), that usually means it's not freezing, and if it's freezing, then there shouldn't be much liquid water. Especially at Oulu temperatures (I think I saw mentions of -17C and -30C). At those temperatures, all the moisture in the air will have long since condensed down to the ground and frozen. In any case, a little dab of grease where the wire exits the cable helps stop water from getting into the housing. Hydraulic lines with mineral oil should also be fine even at -30C.
Nov 27, 2022 at 5:08pmWeb
Show threadjnbhlrNov 29, 2022
@eviloatmeal @publicvoit @pekkatahkola I currently have some issues with a bike that was probably just stored moist, haven't used it in the rain. But yeah, if it's consistent <0°C, there is very little moisture in the air to make problems. -17°C is below the minimal temperature I've riden, a schoolmate hat nozefreeze at ~ -10°C. I never had any issues like that, but my schooltrip was uphill so I always arrived warm.
Show threadeviloatmeal, resident Death Stranding 2 apologist (arch, btw)Nov 29, 2022
@jnbhlr @publicvoit @pekkatahkola I guess I'm also abnormally cautious with my bikes in the sense that I always store them indoors. My friends joke that I take my bike to bed with me, but it's not too far from the truth, depending on the size of the "indoors".
Show threadjnbhlrNov 29, 2022
@eviloatmeal @publicvoit @pekkatahkola The bike in question is my indoorish stored bike, though indoor is a cellar (could go up to 60% humidity). Most bikes are stored away from the rain but exposed to fresh air which seems to be quite nice. The saddle is cold in the morning, but not wet :-)