Cycling on Ice - what is the technique?

[Chris James]

If you hit black ice you are goosed, even if you have the best technique in the world.

Studded tyres would be your only hope.

Due to the above you are best sticking to well used and / or gritted roads if it is very icy.

 

[BentMikey]

If you hit black ice you are goosed, even if you have the best technique in the world.

Studded tyres would be your only hope.

Due to the above you are best sticking to well used and / or gritted roads if it is very icy.

Unless you're riding a recumbent trike, that's the other useful way of travelling over iced roads!

 

[fossyant]

Two wheels - slick or MTB just don't grip on ice. If it's a rough road surface then you are ok - eg big chippings, but any smooth stuff...you have no chance....

I've come off more on an MTB in the ice than a road bike - all on tarmac. If you can guarantee your route is on well gritted roads, then you should be fine, just watch junctions and side roads - ride where the cars are - if that means a good secondary then do so.

If you hit ice, then it's a chance that you will stay upright. My estate was a skating rink - even my 1.5 tonne car found it slippy. If you see the ice, and are going straight, at a slow speed, you should get over it. If you are riding briskly, don't see a patch, and are mid turn, then you are off. I've lost a front end 3 times on one ride 1) 30 mph down hill, straight road......front just went.....I slid for ages, luckily early am, no cars. 2) A little later, hit ice again going up hill, off into the ditch - not too fast. 3) - Again slowish speed off onto grass. It was no. 1 crash that did the damage...... gravel rash, torn clothes, scraped bike.

One thing that is dodgy, if you come off in high traffic....

Think about it.....one crash can have you off the bike a whole lot longer than a few days in the car/on the bus.....

Main thing - frosty and dry/sub zero is OK - just watch for damp patches. Wet/sub zero = main ingredient for accidents. I'll ride if it's been dry and frozen, but not if we've had rain/snow showers then frozen.

Be careful !

 

[Twiggy]

I think the key thing to remember on ice is that you have no traction. Don't try to brake on ice, your wheel will lock up and you'll go flying, once it starts gripping again even slightly.

*shakes head*

Having little to no grip is no problem, as long as you aren't relying on it. It's not hard to learn. Even though some never do.

 

[Baggy]

Made my way into work this morning by taking some interesting corners, clipping out of my pedals and trying to stay relaxed and away from the brakes. Stayed upright more through luck than judgement though!

The roads were fine, but the bike paths were shocking in places. We got off on one corner as a couple of dog walkers warned us two cyclists had just fallen off - not surprising as it was completely covered in black ice, walking over it was bad enough.

 

[Twenty Inch]

Unless you're riding a recumbent trike, that's the other useful way of travelling over iced roads!

I'll take the broken hip, thanks - I gave up riding a trike when I was 4. But you carry on, Mikey

 

[Wolf04]

The best technique on ice is to have Nokian studded tyres. Otherwise, don't.

+1

 

[BentMikey]

I'll take the broken hip, thanks - I gave up riding a trike when I was 4. But you carry on, Mikey

LOL! That's only because you don't know how much fun riding a trike is. Your fellow RLJer Lee even bought one recently.

Upright trikes, now they are apparently this: CRAZY. And a good way of landing in the hedge. Repeatedly.

 

[palinurus]

The best technique on ice is to have Nokian studded tyres. Otherwise, don't.

Probably true if the whole area is iced up. I doubt they are so good where there might be the occasional ice patch in a shaded area etc. which tends to be how my icy commutes are.

I just get to know where the ice tends to lie and avoid it or take it easy at those points. I take a route I know and If it looks particularly nasty I'll stick to major roads.

 

[goo_mason]

The most important piece of advice I can give you is....

Don't cycle anywhere near goo_mason!

On the other hand, if you stay a fair distance behind me, you'll be able to tell where you should be getting off and walking by observing where I hit the deck !!

 

[tdr1nka]

Goo Mason, CC's very own Torville & Dean!

 

[palinurus]

It was OK this morning until I got into the carpark at work. It's often those sort of areas that are the worst (sometimes I've got to the bike stand OK but then had trouble walking to the office. They grit the walkways, but sometimes I get in before they've started)

 

[goo_mason]

.... don't use clipless - you'll probably need your feet.....

That doesn't always work - my feet just slipped from under me last year when I had my many offs. I almost did myself a big mischief by practically managing to do the splits for the first time in my life If it was slippery enough for the bike to skite around, it was also slippery enough to get no grip with shoes (even with SPD cleats providing that little extra grip).

My best advice goes contrary to the OP's statement, but the safest thing to do is DON'T.

 

[nilling]

With an off in icy conditions hurts more: it is the speed of the the fall and it is usually a sideways one. Chances are you'll probably not get your hands down quick enough to break the fall thus landing hard on your hip, shoulder and head.

 

[Wolf04]

Goo Mason, CC's very own Torville & Dean!