Hi everyone,
I’m using a Ninebot Max G30 scooter for half the year, but for the other half, our area is covered in ice and snow. This makes it really hard to ride because the paths are slippery and it’s impossible to navigate with the scooter’s small wheels.
I’m wondering if anyone here rides a scooter in similar icy and snowy conditions. If so, what model do you have? Ideally, I’m thinking about something with larger and wider wheels, and maybe a detachable battery so I don’t have to bring a wet and dirty scooter indoors.
I’m looking for advice based on real-life experiences if possible.
Thanks in advance!
In those conditions, I’d only feel safe on a large tire bike with studded tires.
I put my Max away for the winter.
Not super relevant, but you could consider a monowheel. They have way more surface area with their big wheels.
Suggesting a monowheel would be safe to ride in icy conditions is hilariously bad advice. Especially considering every unit I have seen has had a slick tire which not only is completely useless on ice but on snow aswell.
As for the original question; yes, anything with bigger tires is always better but ultimately what you need especially on ice are studded tires and I don’t think you can get scooter wheels like that. I ride a fatbike year around and I have 4.8 inch wide knobby tires with rubber compound ment for winter riding that I also run with extremely low tire pressure and despite all this there zero traction on ice. Zero. None. They’re utterly and completely useless on ice.
I’ve ridden scooters and fat bikes throughout several winters. You’re definitely going to fall at some point.
I agree re:ice. I honestly was more responding to the snow issue, since you can typically, you know, drive around ice if you can see it, and it’s typically not a feature of deep winters. In my experience, icy surfaces become an issue during transitional periods of weather, and I wouldn’t trust any means of transport to safely traverse them. Even then, as somebody who has fallen off of a monowheel on ice, I’d prefer the superior control over scooters, though not fatbikes.
No offense, but this idea seems kinda sketchy: A monowheel losing grip can be catastrophic and if the battery dies you’re just left with extra weight. Plus, as far as I know, you can’t get studded tires for them.
Eh, I’ve used them in winter extensively. Though a fatbike, as suggested below, is a much better overall option. Compared to tiny tires of an electric scooter, a monowheel is imo superior. Fight me 😸
I’m not fighting someone crazy enough to winter commute on a monowheel lol
😸 🛞
None. Look for a bike with a wheel size where studded tires are available. A bike with fat tires might also work.
I wouldn’t recommend a scooter for winter commuting especially under icy conditions. It’s probably not what you wanted to hear, but a bike you can fit studded tires on would be the way to go. Alternately, walk and use crampons if it’s really icy.
Scooters are not great for icy/snowy conditions because you can’t fit studded tires and cold weather can impact range pretty significantly: Most people I know just don’t use their scooter once the weather gets bad enough.
Personally, I stick to bikes and would recommend either an unpowered bike that can fit thicker tires or an ebike with fat tires. For icy conditions, studded tires are recommended. If you’re only dealing with snow, then thicker tires should do fine.
