question for the ice cyclists

[al78]

I have seen several posts here from people who are managing to get about on the bike in the snow and ice and are actually enjoying it and avoiding falling off. How are you doing it? Are bikes with wide tyres much better at gripping, or are people on studded tyres? I only have a road bike with 23mm tyres and in the village where I live, most of the roads and pavements are under ice and it is impossible to cycle without falling. I am getting fed up of having to walk the first half mile just to get to a reasonably clear road. Cycling to work has been a no-no for the past week due to the fact that I have at least five miles on minor roads to cycle on to get there.

 

[marinyork]

I don't have studed tyres, I have 35mm tyres. In february a road behind here I use for getting on the main road was frozen under proper ice for about 3 weeks. Like you I don't particularly like walking those distances (just as treacherous as foot paths) so I cycle it. It's perfectly possible to cycle over sheet polished glass with those tyres providing the gradient isn't too steep.

I thought about getting studs a couple of times before but it would only really help on the steeper roads. I don't like doing it on 23mm tyres because although it's possible you get too much counter steer on micro ridges and holes in compacted snow.

 

[skudupnorth]

I'm using a mountain bike on 2.1 mud plugging tyres with lower pressures front and rear.The Hybrid with it's slim sliks is tucked away at the moment because of zero grip and of course the ridges in the ice would make it an impossible and dangerouse ride.Saying all that though i do see a fellow cyclists on what looks like sliks riding down Manchester Road past Porsche in Bolton and he seems to cope well enough but he may be running cyclocross tyres,not sure as he is going the other way from Bolton...anyone on here ???
All in all,yes it can be fun and extra smug points are gained by being the only one to get on the works car park and not getting stuck in ice gridlock !

 

[Plax]

I've put the 2.1" knobblies back on the MTB. So far so good. Wouldn't like to go out on 700x23s though - I fell off badly earlier in January on Schwlabe Marathon 700x32s! For me now it is MTB in icey conditions or not at all. It's hard work though, my average speed has well dropped!

 

[mickle]

IRC Blizzards (26 x 2.1) on the Africa Bike at the moment. Tungsten studded ripsnorters! Great tyres in these conditions, they fare best on proper sheet ice.

 

[threefingerjoe]

I'm riding a hybrid with 700x35 Nokian Hakapallita 106 studded tyres. I think this is my 4th winter with them. Deep, rutted snow is a problem, but, rather rare. I have no problems at all on any ice. I can climb any hill that I can climb dry. I can steer. I can stop. Forget trying to maintain your "average speed" though. Remember, you are still on ice, and can't take curves at high speed. But you won't be walking!

 

[HobbesChoice]

I'm riding a hybrid with 700x35 Nokian Hakapallita 106 studded tyres. I think this is my 4th winter with them. Deep, rutted snow is a problem, but, rather rare. I have no problems at all on any ice. I can climb any hill that I can climb dry. I can steer. I can stop. Forget trying to maintain your "average speed" though. Remember, you are still on ice, and can't take curves at high speed. But you won't be walking!

Hi threefingerjoe. How are those studded tyres on the roads that don't have ice? I looked at getting studded tyres but it sounded like they were only any good if there was ice around. If you were cycling on clearer roads they had far too much grip?

 

[Cab]

Also riding a hybrid, but not using specialist tyres.

I deflate the tyres just a little, just a few psi reduction. I go slowly on compacted snow and ice (10mph is appropriate, or more slowly), and take a straighter line through corners; claim your road space to allow you to do so.

Taking those precautions, I haven't come off on ice or snow for years (touching wood now...)

 

[Cab]

Oh, and it isn't the flat stuff thats the only risk; keep an eye out ahead to plot the flattest route over ruts and divots in the ice. Frozen slushy stuff is slippery and hazardous, find the route along the road that is least bumpy, and take special care if you have to cross rough stuff. And as ever, its the same instructions for crossing that as any other hazard; don't do it at a shallow angle, you'll slip off.

 

[lukesdad]

+1 for the mtb with 2.1 tyres still come off a few times though high rural roads ,I have to use them.

 

[Twenty Inch]

+1 for the mtb with 2.1 tyres

Ditto. Put the 2.1 soft nylon mudpluggers on last night, replacing the semi-slicks that I usually run. No probs this morning, one or two occasions when the front and back tried to swap ends, but nothing serious. I'm also running them at lower pressure, as well as cycling more slowly.

 

[Trevrev]

I'm still on Brontrager racelight 32's. Slick as you like.
I've cut through the snow with them, over ice. They've held up pretty good. I'm certainly not going to throw money at a new set of winter tyres.
Maybe i've just been lucky.
Running at 100psi.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

WTB velociraptors are doing the job for me quite nicely...only so far had a little fishtail due to my over-eagerness to pedal out of a slushy junction and forgetting to keep my weight back

 

[u9ge]

I tried 23mm home last night, had a proper scary moment and put my bike on the tube/train. didn't even bother today...

 

[Bman]

Nice fat off road tyres on the MTB. Runing a little softer than usual.

But this weather is still dangerous and unpredictable. As others have said I've been riding much slower than normal, keeping a close eye on the road/path ahead.

My monthly average speed has gone down to 8mph since this snow.