Snow/Ice advice urgently needed!

[Sam Kennedy]

I'm posting this from school, after a pretty dodgy commute here. I had to walk the majority of the route to school, and when I was on the bike it was pretty dangerous.

I was thinking of letting some air out of my tyres to give better traction, is this a good idea? they are 23mm road tyres, what would be the best pressure to run them at for snow/compacted snow/ice?

cheers,
sam

 

[Kestevan]

Thin road tyres are not ideal on fresh snow, they can cut through slushy/wet stuff OK, but fresh snow compacts down and doesn't give you much to work with underneath.

It doesn't matter what pressure you run them at on ice - Unless you're using studded tyres you'll still be on your backside

 

[e-rider]

there is a simple answer to this question - 23mm road tyres will never be safe in snow and ice whatever you do to them; you will have to change your bike or walk/catch the bus.

Get a MTB and fit schwalbe ice spiker pro tyres - riding in the snow/ice will then become the most pleasurable experience known to man (or woman).

 

[Norm]

It's been forecast for the past week.

The "best idea" may have been to have prepared for it in advance rather than seeking urgent advice after it arrived.

Road tyres won't be good at any pressure. MTB tyres are ok on fresh snow but nothing other than studs will work on ice.

 

[fossyant]

My advice.

Ice - any bike tyre = no good.

Fresh Snow - MTB will grip fine. Road bike - hmmmmmm

ICE/Compacted old snow - MTB generally OK, but you'll come off on any icy bits. Road bike - forget it.

ICE/Slush/Snow - Studded tyre - time for some fun.

Oh, and if you are a chav on a BSO, you'll have no problem staying upright, even on a frozen lake..........



If it's generally dry (road conditions) then walk your bike to the gritted main roads and you'll be OK (if careful). If the roads are 'wet' then be very very careful as this is where you can get black ice, even on major routes.

If you've got snow, and don't have suitable 'tyres/bike' then walk or take public transport.

Factor in, a few days off the bike, or a few weeks off with a broken bone ?

That said, I'm one of the smug gits who invested in spikey tyres last year.

 

[summerdays]

Oh ... doesn't sound good.... how much snow have you got and how far to travel?

 

[Maz]

Snow? What snow?

 

[palinurus]

Oh, and if you are a chav on a BSO, you'll have no problem staying upright, even on a frozen lake..........

That's true. Last winter they were riding OK on pavements I had trouble walking on. I don't get it.

 

[palinurus]

Although running the tyres at 10 psi must help.

 

[monkeypony]

If your bike has the clearences for then then a pair of marathon winter tyres will see you right. Very ride-able at high pressure and plenty of grip on the slippy stuff when you let some air out.

 

[gbb]

Any chance of snow (like today)...the roadbike gets put away and the hybrid comes out. I certainly wouldnt set off to work on 25's, let alone 23's.

 

[e-rider]

check out youtube for some frozen lake riding using schwalbe ice spiker tyres (and it's on ice not snow) - impressive grip!

wouldn't want to fall through the ice though - might damage the bike!

 

[BentMikey]

Or get a recumbent trike. One chap on usenet commented how his usual commute of 45 minutes took him an hour and a half in the ice and snow. Why? 45 minutes to work as usual, and another 45 minutes in the office car park doing massive skids and spins.

 

[palinurus]

Or get a recumbent trike. One chap on usenet commented how his usual commute of 45 minutes took him an hour and a half in the ice and snow. Why? 45 minutes to work as usual, and another 45 minutes in the office car park doing massive skids and spins.

I have the same problem with my 'cross bike, which is my usual snow machine. Up early and off to the park before the dog walkers mess up the snow.

 

[ufkacbln]

Or get a recumbent trike. One chap on usenet commented how his usual commute of 45 minutes took him an hour and a half in the ice and snow. Why? 45 minutes to work as usual, and another 45 minutes in the office car park doing massive skids and spins.

I have had that problem!