Staying upright

[Tin Pot]

If you have to ride in icy weather, use the heavily used main roads - they stay warmer than country roads and are much less likely to have ice after the rush hour has started.

If you don’t have to ride, then don’t. Running is easier to see icy patches and choose routes that are in good conditions.

Or why not try some swimming, heated pools can be quite in the winter and you can see everyone outside suffering too

 

[cyberknight]

If you have to ride in icy weather, use the heavily used main roads - they stay warmer than country roads and are much less likely to have ice after the rush hour has started.

If you don’t have to ride, then don’t. Running is easier to see icy patches and choose routes that are in good conditions.

Or why not try some swimming, heated pools can be quite in the winter and you can see everyone outside suffering too

My thoughts too last week, my commute is either country lanes or if i stick to the main roads as muchas i can then i have a couple of mileson a cycle path ( no other option ) that was uncleared and ungritted , i could see it was compacted snow and ice , plus i commute early before any traffic has been about .
Main roads either side of my village were closed as traffic could not get up or down them , outside our house a bus slid down the road hitting a car and a wall.

Not worth it imho .

 

[Illaveago]

View attachment 387524

That's it " Air Pants!" That inflate just like an air bag when you fall off.

Right I'm off to Dragons Den!

 

[Venod]

Or why not try some swimming, heated pools can be quite in the winter and you can see everyone outside suffering too

Did you mean quite quiet or just quiet ?

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

Like others have said using the main roads that are well used helps reduce the chance of an off definitely. When the roads out of my village are iced up I just walk with the bike till I got the main road. I'd rather add 10 minutes to the journey than risk an off, plus my street is on top of a hill!

 

[wisdom]

I have unfortunately no choice as I have to commute on the bike set off at 0600 but took it very slowly last week.
I try to stick to main roads as much as possible.Side roads are treated with caution where I have to use them.

 

[Tin Pot]

Did you mean quite quiet or just quiet ?

Quite. I meant quiet.

 

[ozboz]

I had a few wobbles last week on the cycle path , got land cruisers on , they are ok but not 100% on ice patches , easy peddling on the corners

 

[Alan O]

[QUOTE 5082734, member: 9609"]So to my question; When the big OFF happens, and at some point it will, do you get much warning or is it pretty dam quick, and is serious injury quite common (I'm under some illusion that I bounce quite well, I did 30 years ago) I do wear my lid at this time of year[/QUOTE]
The couple of times I've come off on ice (black ice), it was so quick I pretty much didn't know about it until I was on the ground. Luckily at slow speed and with no injury.

 

[keithmac]

I walk my bike onto the main road when it's icy, not worth the risk (2 corners on my way out are always iced over and I've been off too many times now!).

You get no warning and it's a quick off, best bet is no steering or braking and try and sally over it if you find yourself on a patch of ice.

Had a very odd moring on Thursday, wasn't that cold BUT all our paths and road were covered in black ice. Really carefully walked kids to school before walking bike out onto main road.

If you can see frozen puddles at the side of the road then be very weary. If I didn't have to commute I wouldn't risk it personally.

Motorcycles are even worse, had to pick and choose times for roadtesting and hold a few jobs up due to ice on the roads (not prepared to have an avoidable crash..).

 

[ColinJ]

I crashed 3 times in quick succession on ice one New Year's Day. Despite heavy falls, I got away with just bruising but I was very lucky.

A friend of mine was not so lucky when she crashed crossing a slippery railway track in the summer and suffered an awful leg injury requiring extensive reconstructive surgery.

I'm not taking any chances these days so I am staying off my bike until the risk of ice goes.

 

[fatjel]

I’ve fallen off on ice last year and the year before. I try not to go out when it’s below freezing now
Seemed safer on my recumbent trike Saturday morning but had some big slides.

 

[Pale Rider]

I crashed 3 times in quick succession on ice one New Year's Day. Despite heavy falls, I got away with just bruising but I was very lucky.

A friend of mine was not so lucky when she crashed crossing a slippery railway track in the summer and suffered an awful leg injury requiring extensive reconstructive surgery.

I'm not taking any chances these days so I am staying off my bike until the risk of ice goes.

i bumped into a friend today who came off on a level crossing in Northumberland while doing the Coast and Castles tour last June.

The sunken rails were at a slight angle and there is a warning to cyclists to take care, although that might just be general.

The riders in front of her rolled the over the crossing OK, she did not.

Suffered a broken wrist and hand injury.

Sadly, despite surgery and lots of physio, it's still not right and she is off the bike for a good while yet.

 

[Gravity Aided]

View attachment 387524

Is the Michelin Man smoking, or self-vulcanizing?

 

[Globalti]

Touch wood.... I seem to get on OK with my amazing Veloflex Open Corsa tyres; they have a very soft compound and a file pattern tread and seem to work like the incredible winter tyres on Mrs Gti's car - sticky and grippy. I stayed upright on Friday morning when my cycling buddy went down with a bang. We turned for home and went to the Green Jersey cycle cafe instead.