I feel like a wuss after coming off a couple of times due to ice!

[bernieUK]

Good evening all

I am still a fairly inexperienced cyclist and like a fool I decided to cycle into work yesterday and today. I live in SW London and cycle about 6 miles to Hyde Park Corner. The weather was not too bad, all things considered, but coming home yesterday I skidded on some ice. Came down a little hard. Hands and right shoulder took the brunt. Sore but certainly not seriously injured. This morning - hit another patch of ice and over I went. Hip took the brunt but again not serious at all. No real damage to the bike - just a scrape or two.

So, on the way home today I have to admit I was "gun shy" to say the least. Every mark on the road I was wary of. I am dreading the thought of cycling into tomorrow and feel like a big wuss!

Anyone else come off in the ice? I cannot imagine I am the only one.

Cycle safe everyone.

 

[fossyant]

I have done in the past, hence I don't normally ride - coming off 3 times in one commute, one of which was at 30 mph.....not funny.....bashed to bits.....

That said...I'm riding this time - studded tyres, although keeping clear of roads as they are very bad - i.e. cars sliding.... sheet ice isn't a problem for studded tyres.... ride carefully and you are fine.

 

[neslon]

Last year I was hammering along, thinking about work and going too fast when I took the (black) icy bend. Both me and the bike slide under a bus, which was fortunately stationary. I go round that corner like a vicar now

 

[ianrauk]

just take it very easy, don't push it, especially into corners. Try not to use your front brake as much as you normally would. Keep away from the kerbs and ride in the wheel tracks of the cars.

 

[skudupnorth]

I've ridden all the way through this snow spell as it is just another type of weather to deal with,the only difference i have taken more caution,time and read the road more due to the ever changing condition of the surface.Had a few twitches on the softer,compacted snow which seems to drag the wheels away but the icer stuff has not been too bad.The MTB has helped but i think if it becames a regular occurance(fingers crossed ! ) then studded tyres will be on next years shopping list well in time before everyone sells out
Keep at it,it is far better than being stuck in a box not knowing if the next move will involve slipping wheels

 

[ufkacbln]

I have cycled for some 45 years and am lucky enough to have a recumbent trike.

This is the only way I would cycle in the present weather.

Part of being a sensible cyclist is knowing your limitations and skills.

THe only practical advice I can offer is to try and listen to the tyres. ROad noise changes to a hiss when on frosted surfaces and then goes silent when you hit ice. Not much of a warning, but at least you know not to do anything suddenly

 

[GrasB]

Sounds like you may well be going for it too much, keep things very slow & sedate especially if you've not got studded tyres. Think about quite literally halving your average speed from A to B on normal tyres.

One thing you can do is if you think you're going grab the back brake, this generally means you'll keep hold of the handle bars & slide of bottom half first which is a lot kinder than the front going which is more weight from higher up.

 

[fossyant]

IROad noise changes to a hiss when on frosted surfaces and then goes silent when you hit ice.

Yes I Sh1t'ed myself (nearly) on NY Eve out on a run...... on Mich Pro Race tyres....'hiss' then frost on the edges of the tyres...oh shoot................ I was pushing it a bit......

 

[mcshroom]

You're not the only one. I came off within about 3 metres of the start of a cycle path I usually use. It was up a steep hill so I wasn't moving very quickly but it's kept me on the gritted main roads from then on and walking when off of the gritted stuff.

Problem round here is not really snow, we've hardly had any, but that morning we had a little bit of light sleet which formed almost perfectly smooth black ice.

Just be careful and try to stick to clearer roads. Good luck!

 

[PBancroft]

I came off the other week. I haven't cycled since Christmas, partly because of the ice, and partly because of some people's driving in current conditions.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I'm not even on my bike because I know I'd come off. Anyone who says they've never fallen off in an embarrassing manner doesn't cycle enough or is telling porkies!

 

[MrGrumpy]

Good evening all

I am still a fairly inexperienced cyclist and like a fool I decided to cycle into work yesterday and today. I live in SW London and cycle about 6 miles to Hyde Park Corner. The weather was not too bad, all things considered, but coming home yesterday I skidded on some ice. Came down a little hard. Hands and right shoulder took the brunt. Sore but certainly not seriously injured. This morning - hit another patch of ice and over I went. Hip took the brunt but again not serious at all. No real damage to the bike - just a scrape or two.

So, on the way home today I have to admit I was "gun shy" to say the least. Every mark on the road I was wary of. I am dreading the thought of cycling into tomorrow and feel like a big wuss!

Anyone else come off in the ice? I cannot imagine I am the only one.

Cycle safe everyone.

why even take the chance unless no other option, my bike is in the garage and if its still icey in a weeks time I`ll use the train

 

[Origamist]

Bernie, I live in SW17 - did you come off on side roads or A roads? I have been pushing my bike on the side roads and have been keeping my speed down on A roads (15mph tops).

Try and steer less with the bars and more with your hips. Also try and relax (don't hold the bars with a death-grip), let a bit of air out of your tyres, avoid the front brake, look well ahead for patches of ice, and wear multiple layers to take the sting out of hitting the tarmac - should the worst happen. It may be ethically dubious, but you can follow another cyclist (think of them as heroic pathfinders) and if s/he goes down, you can brake or change direction before you get to the ice! Otherwise, get snow/ice tyres or choose an alternative form of transport.

 

[beanzontoast]

Part of being a sensible cyclist is knowing your limitations and skills.

Hear, hear!

The line between being adventurous and being foolhardy is a very thin one in these conditions.

 

[Trevrev]

You felt like a wuss Bernie,
On Wednesday i battled through the snow to work at 6 in the morning, and it was very very hairy, but i got there in one piece. Just got home in one piece too as it was just starting to freeze.
The following morning, the big freeze had happened, i checked out the roads and thought," F**k it, i'm going for it!"
As i was pushing my bike out the back gates, my wife appeared and gave me the biggest bollocking of my life.
" What happens if you fall off and break a bone?" She yells." You'll be on sick pay!! Think of the kids and paying the bills !!"
So i sheepishly put my bike back, and took a 20 walk to get a lift from a work mate........Glad i did, the roads were awful.
The bollocking made me feel like a wuss...But she was right. It's not worth the risk.
At the same time i felt guilty for not riding in. How weird.

I've ridden on ice quite a few times over the years and been very lucky, but these conditions are severe. I not sure if skill even comes into it on two wheels. Black ice is evil !!!