Assesing The Risk of Ice

[dim]

I don't use front brakes when it's icy .... never ....

I learned that when I used to ride motorcycles

I cycled throughout last winter on Schwalbe Durano Plus tyres (700x25), and luckily I never fell off in icy conditions, this year I'm using a Surly Long Haul Trucker as my winter bike, and I will be fitting new tyres soon (I'm still undecided but may opt for Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 26"x2"

 

[ChrisEyles]

Sliding off the road in a car after hitting a surprise icy patch at 30+mph isn't really safe for you, plus you're much more likely to hurt someone else. It's daft to drive in such conditions. Ice bikes are the only responsible way.

True, and there are definitely conditions in which I wouldn't want to take the car either. I certainly take it pretty slowly, but I've never once experienced any sliding out on ice in the car, despite commuting along the same routes at the same time of day. Not that I have any choice these days, since my commute is about 50 miles each way (first job I've ever had I couldn't cycle to )

I've never ridden on ice tyres, but they sound like something I should look into.

 

[mjr]

I think there is a cheaper version with only two rows of studs in the middle.

I think I've got the cheaper version but the two rows of studs are on the outside/shoulders, which means that if you're running at high pressures, they don't make contact and hitting ice will lose traction until the bike starts to tilt, then bite and regain traction. It works surprisingly well for patchy ice, but if you expect much ice, it's better to use lower pressures and have more consistent traction.

It is about as easy as pushing a tractor though and won't set any high speed records!

 

[dim]

I think I've got the cheaper version but the two rows of studs are on the outside/shoulders, which means that if you're running at high pressures, they don't make contact and hitting ice will lose traction until the bike starts to tilt, then bite and regain traction. It works surprisingly well for patchy ice, but if you expect much ice, it's better to use lower pressures and have more consistent traction.

It is about as easy as pushing a tractor though and won't set any high speed records!

those tyres are snow tyres .... not sure if they are effective for frost and black ice .... I may be wrong though

 

[HLaB]

I came off on ice twice last winter fortunately at only a few mph. One time I stupidly followed our group leader down a road I knew wouldn't have been gritted

The other time I was caught out was when it was raining (too warm for ice

) it was falling on solid ice was like marbles

 

[Pat "5mph"]

those tyres are snow tyres .... not sure if they are effective for frost and black ice .... I may be wrong though

I've got a set of snow tyres too, Schwalbe ice spikers they are calles, basically four rows of studs on knobbies, they are great on ice too, but really hard work.
My commute is only 5 miles, so, all good even in snow.

 

[mjr]

I certainly take it pretty slowly, but I've never once experienced any sliding out on ice in the car, despite commuting along the same routes at the same time of day. Not that I have any choice these days, since my commute is about 50 miles each way (first job I've ever had I couldn't cycle to )

Yes, most of my skidding was done driving commutes of about that distance, years ago. Slowing down helps avoid skids and leaving much longer gaps to the car in front is a very good idea. http://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/988279/how-to-recover-from-a-skid suggests twelve seconds.

But ultimately, when you start to skid and the road is narrow or busy, you're lucky to get away without crashing.

 

[mjr]

those tyres are snow tyres .... not sure if they are effective for frost and black ice .... I may be wrong though

I've ridden over very slippy ice untroubled, but at the lower pressure so all studs in contact.

 

[marshmella]

Very effective, think riding a mini, two wheeled tractor
The other morning I was cycling to work at around 6am, on the non treated path, a pedestrian warned me about the ice ahead, I did not feel any on the bike, could see it though.
Riding over metal can still make you slip.
One does not do extreme angles on icy conditions, but yes, the studs on my tyres run out to the sides.
I think there is a cheaper version with only two rows of studs in the middle.

I've gotta get mine out of the shed and onto the bike. Got away with it so far but icy conditions forecast for later in the week. When do you fit yours?

 

[Tilley]

Riding on snow is generally not problematic just like riding through mud. However if the snow is heavily compacted or has ice underneath that is a different scenario. I once made the foolish choice to ride into Bristol on the Bristol to Bath cycle path some days after a reasonably heavy snow fall. The snow on the track had been compacted by cyclists over the preceding days and had then frozen. It was somewhat like trying to cycle across a railway junction with masses of ridges and hollows. If I had taken to the roads I would have had less of a problem as they had all by that time been gritted and had little or no snow or ice. However at that time none of the cycle tracks were routinely gritted and I doubt that much has changed.

 

[Tilley]

Solved...

As your weight is spread over three wheels do you suffer from a lot of rear wheel spinning and if so do you also get tail end drift when cornering?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I've gotta get mine out of the shed and onto the bike. Got away with it so far but icy conditions forecast for later in the week. When do you fit yours?

I've got a permanent ice bike
Changed it this year, as somehow I've acquired an extra bike , so the new Winters went on the old hybrid, the old ice bike is now the snow bike.
There's also a redundant set of studded Winters, 24 they are, because I can ride teenagers bikes due to be vertically challenged
This set up might change next winter!

 

[dim]

another problem at the moment is fallen leaves (especially if there are many and if they are wet) ...

some of the roads that I commute are thick with fallen leaves at the moment ....

 

[GGJ]

Reading this thread has made me realise I have another excuse for n+1


Ice bike


Not sure SWMBO will be happy about it

 

[Slick]

another problem at the moment is fallen leaves (especially if there are many and if they are wet) ...

some of the roads that I commute are thick with fallen leaves at the moment ....

I was the exact same. Loads of thick brown leaves on large sections of some cycle tracks I use going to work. Caused a few shaky turns as I try and resist using the front brake.