No more paying $80 for a 700c mountain bike studded tire.
No more worrying about falling or slipping on ice or snow.
No more excuses for gaining five pounds.
The game is up. I have you covered, and it will only cost you anywhere from a Hamilton to a Jackson ($10 – 20 for those who are not from the USA
Tools / Supplies Needed:
For a 700c Wheel:
- 24 ft of Braided Cable. 1/16″ or 3/32″ (I’m sure picture frame wire will work too)
- Braided Cable Clamps x 4 – two for each wheel
- Chain
- Zip Ties
- Adjustable wrench or Crescent wrench
- Needle nose pliers
- Cable Cutter – I used an old pair of Bowden cable/housing cutters from my bike tools. You do have one, right?
Note: You will need a bike with disc brakes for this to work.
Step 1:
Measure your Braided Cable around the edge of where your wheel rim meets the tire. Clip with an extra 2″-4″ for clamping space.
Once you have this piece measured, cut three more pieces to this length.
Step 2:
Measure the length of chain needed to have the chain reach both sides of the rim. Mine were roughly 5.75″ with a 700 x 51/53 (2.1″) Tire. Clip either 32 or 64 sections depending on how spread apart you want the chain.
Step 3
This is the point in which I goofed up. I was expecting to be able to make these tire chains modular enough for quick installation/removal. Nope. Not going to happen… at least not this time. You can see here that I used twist-ties to temporarily hold the chain pieces in place.
What you really need to do is properly space the chains equidistantly between your spokes and ZIP-TIE them into place. Pull the zip ties tight enough to hold well, but not tight enough to make indents into the tire.
Note: I deflated my tires to 10 psi before wrapping/zipping the chain.
Step 4:
Put the wire through the chains on the respective sides of the tire, then pull tight and clamp with the little aluminum clamps.
Note: This took two people do to for me.
Once you are done with one wheel, complete the other also.
All in all this project cost me $10, and about an hour and a half of time (even with twist tie fiasco). I was luck and found 20 feet of chain on sale for $3.00 or about $0.19 a foot instead of $0.50 a foot. 😀
Here is a quick video of me trying the snow chains out the night I made them. Fun Stuff
This is my second video of trying out the snow chains. You turn and move like you are in loose dirt with no slipping. It’s actually pretty equivalent to riding in August.
Other people who inspired me or have made snow chains for their bike:
http://www.icebike.org/Equipment/tirechains.htm
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=578635
Comment if you want to try this, if you have a question, or if you like them!
Greeting from Green Bank (Pocahontas County, WV).
FWIW, for tire chains, I’ve spiral wound cotton rope around the tire. Very quick, cheap, and can be easily removed/reinstalled. I use cotton rope (vs nylon) because it seems to have a nice stick factor on ice. (Nothing like the studded tires I’m sure.)
Hey, Glad to see you representing your county!
I’ve heard of one or two other people on mountain bike forums speak of using braided rope. Do you just tie the two ends together once they meet?
Do you have photos? 😀
I just saw this site, My idea was to use a bunch of 6 inch tie wraps, put a single or double twist on each one, and wrap it around the tire with the little nub near the rim. Easy to install.. of course, ONLY for disc brakes.
Interesting new post. Even better than your previous ones IMHO 😉
[…] Originally Posted by DocWatson Yeah, but I don't think the Streetstrider would like going on the snowy, icy streets in New England. That's why I'm using the elliptical indoors instead of trikking outside. – Clyde There are always options. If I don't keep at it, I'm gonna start looking like the bicycle rider. Snow Chains / Tire Chains For Your Bicycle! WV Cycling […]
[…] think I removed the bike tire chains off the MTB too […]
[…] If you are tempted (I think you should think twice…at least) and you maybe have some old crappy rims around that you don’t like, you can find full details here: https://wvcycling.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/snow-tire-chain-bike/ […]
[…] Snow Chains / Tire Chains For Your Bicycle! […]
greetings from anchorage, alaska!
I’m wondering, do these tire chains interfere with V-brakes? seems like they would. How would I get around that?
I wouldn’t know where to begin to prevent these from interrupting rim-brake use. Sorry~
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[…] wearing a drysuit). You should consider slapping on some studded tires, or at least some DIY tire chains. You might even want to consider (GASP!) riding a mountain bike (or you could just do what […]
lol now theres a cool idea for a bicycle
If you look at car/truck snow chains they fit loose and then have a tension strap running across part of the wheel. This is how I am going to try and make them.
Really good idea and I am going to make some, just wish I could get the bits of chain running down the wheel like on the car ones.
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Life has kind of left me high and dry for motivation to do things with the site. It is difficult to write about cycling when a debilitating knee injury keeps you off the saddle 😦
I had an idea, on my 29er with disc brakes, to use tie-wraps and put a single twist in each wrapping around the tire and leaving the little nub up by the rim. The twisted portion could be under the tread giving a little extra digging action. Hech, maybe even put a double twist int he wrap. I’m trying it january 4th 2014 in Indianapolis Polar bear ride… 10 miles..