Cable ties as bike snow chains: cheap but risky
Plastic cable ties as bike snow chains: a cheap hack that breaks. Is the risk worth it? An analysis of real-world experience.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
DIY snow chains with cable ties: solution or trap?
Imagine a snowy morning, your bike parked and nothing but slick tires. A trick circulating online suggests wrapping the wheel with plastic zip ties. Cheap, quick, clever. But those who have tried it warn: the ties break frequently.
The idea only works on bikes with disc brakes, because rim brakes would leave no room. The debate centers on which wheel to fit the ties. Logic says the rear, since it's the one that drives. However, the snow experience of someone who has ridden four winters in the Netherlands is emphatic: losing front traction almost guarantees a fall, while a rear skid can be controlled. So if you can only put ties on one wheel, make it the front, and brake with the rear.
The biggest problem is reliability. Comments on the original blog confirm that the ties snap with use. Some ask whether anyone would routinely put ties on their car. The answer is no: for regular use, winter tires are safer, though more expensive and awkward on dry asphalt. Moreover, in countries like Germany winter tires are mandatory for cars, but for bikes there is no such regulation. In the Netherlands, where the bicycle reigns, most people ride on summer tires even in snow.
The paradox is that the most popular bike snow hack is also the one that breaks most often. Until an affordable and comfortable intermediate tire appears, anyone who chooses the bike in winter will have to decide between the risk of cable ties or investing in a professional solution. Or simply wait for the snowfall to pass.
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Imagine a snowy morning, your bike parked and nothing but slick tires. A trick circulating online suggests wrapping the wheel with plastic zip ties. Cheap, quick, clever. But those who have tried it warn: the ties break frequently.
The idea only works on bikes with disc brakes, because rim brakes would leave no room. The debate centers on which wheel to fit the ties. Logic says the rear, since it's the one that drives. However, the snow experience of someone who has ridden four winters in the Netherlands is emphatic: losing front traction almost guarantees a fall, while a rear skid can be controlled. So if you can only put ties on one wheel, make it the front, and brake with the rear.
The biggest problem is reliability. Comments on the original blog confirm that the ties snap with use. Some ask whether anyone would routinely put ties on their car. The answer is no: for regular use, winter tires are safer, though more expensive and awkward on dry asphalt. Moreover, in countries like Germany winter tires are mandatory for cars, but for bikes there is no such regulation. In the Netherlands, where the bicycle reigns, most people ride on summer tires even in snow.
The paradox is that the most popular bike snow hack is also the one that breaks most often. Until an affordable and comfortable intermediate tire appears, anyone who chooses the bike in winter will have to decide between the risk of cable ties or investing in a professional solution. Or simply wait for the snowfall to pass.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (14 replies).
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