Wide rims

[los]

Hello,

I recently started biking to work in the snow (in Kentucky, which is starting to have 2-4 in snow). I have heard that wide rims (2-4 in. wide) are optimal, since they would decrease the slipping problems that I have with my ultra-skinny road bike tires in snow/ice conditions.

I was wondering where to buy them, are they hard to find?


Thanks in advance,



Michael

[X-RAY]

try the custom chopper style bicycle guys such as cycles us. the only limit on width is your bikes frame.

[trevgbb]

will they fit your fork and brake set-up?

[DaveM]

If you bike has "ultra-skinny road bike tires" it's pretty unlikely that you could fit 2-4" rims on it.
You may be able to fit "cyclocross tires" which are basically knobby tires for road bikes. But again, you still need to make sure you have enough clearance for them to fit.

For really slick conditions, there are studded tires that have little spikes to give you grip on ice.

What a lot of people do who are hard core about riding through the winter is to get a beater mountain bike. It will have bigger tires with knobs already and will save your nice road bike from the exposure to bad weather, road salt, etc.

[los]

@davem i've been debating whether to buy a walmart special or try craigslist for the beater.

[DaveM]

You'll probably do better with something used that was of decent quality. Those walmart bikes are real junk. But of course, depends on what is out there listed for sale.