Got my Dingle on!

Today I did an errand on the Blue Truck (Xtracycle). Afterwards I was going to go back out and put on some more miles. I ended up staying home to get the Cross Check ready for slippier conditions that could happen anyday now. Maybe even tomorrow if we get the 60% chance of snow ovenight. Since I'm not the greatest mechanic, and I usually screw something up in the process, I decided to pass on the riding and use that time to mess with the bike and give myself a bit of extra time so as not to be rushed.

Since my winter commuter in past years is now my Xtracycle I needed a new plan for commuting in ice and snow. No, I don't use the Pugsley for commuting. I don't like to take it out in all the salt and sand on the roadways. The last couple of years I rode the fixed gear Cross Check when the roads were dry and the old Specialized Rock Hopper with studded tires on it for icy/snowy days. Now that the Rock Hopper is the Xtracycle with mostly new components and new paint , I'm not crazy about the idea of taking it out for daily salt and sand duty. It could still get called into duty if my other plans don't work. Back in August when I started thinking about the upcoming winter commuting season I decided to try to make the Cross Check an all purpose commuter. One issue is the fixed gear. I have to ride hills everyday. I can't get up some of the hills in my 41 x 17 gearing without standing. On ice, I can't climb out of the saddle and maintain traction in that gear. I didn't want to give up my fixed gear, so I decided to give Surly's Dingle Cog a try.
Here it is after I installed it this afternoon. Essentially it provides you with a second fixed gear. Designed with the idea of riding your bicycle to your nearest trails and then allowing you to have a lower gearing when you get to the trails. You have two cogs in the back and two chainrings in the front. Both are three teeth difference in size. You can loosen the wheel, move the chain over and have a lower (or higher) gearing without having to change the length of your chain. I thought this could give me a lower gear for days it was slippery conditions during my commute. I also added a rear brake a few months ago to give me added braking control when it gets slippery.

What I end up with is two gears. A 41 x 17 or 65 gear inches, and a 38 x 20, or 51 gear inches.
Above and below is pictures with the chain on the inside position.

And the chain on the outer position. Once again, this is done without changing the length of the chain.
I took it for a test ride today up the hill I start my commute with everyday. I'm not so sure the 51 inch gear will be low enough once there is an inch of snow on the roadway. Only one way to find out. Wait for snow.
I also put my studded tires on. I'll be having some noisy commutes for the rest of the year. I went from 700c x 28mm slicks to 700c x 35mm studded tires. They make some noise! I had to take some time to adjust the fender line to clear these tires. The Planet Bike Cascadia Fenders are supposed to go up to 35mm tires. There is room, but it took quite a bit of tweaking to make sure the tires cleared the fenders.

A month ago I had decided to ditch the Dingle Cog idea for another plan. I wear out the teeth of my chainrings and my chains fairly quick in the winter due to the large amount of sand and salt dumped on our roads. I was afraid the outer chainring would get most of the use and wear. I was concerned that the chain would wear so badly that the 5% of the time I needed to use the inner chainring that the chain would be so badly worn it wouldn't work on the newer unused inner chainring. So I decided to go with an internally geared hub for the winter. I picked an 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub. When I went to my LBS to order, he talked me into getting the 7-speed model to save me a bundle of money. By time he got around to ordering the 7-speed he discovered he couldn't find one. Everyplace he called has been out of them since June (unless I wanted the coaster brake model, which I don't). QBP says they'll have some in by Dec 1st. We'll see. I may just end up going with the more expensive 8-speed.

The nice thing about all of this is the versatility of the Cross Check. It will take thin tires, fat tires with fenders; you can run it geared, fixed, or with an internally geared hub...you pick your set-up, whatever it is and you can do it on a Cross Check. And it's the most comfortable ride I've ever had. I love that bike.

Sunday: 12 mi
November: 389 mi
2007: 7,045 mi