The ice got me this time

[Pauln]

Was out riding this morning, thought I would go a little later than usual to let the frost go. Had done a lovely 17 miles or so with only 5 left to go and the lanes started to appear more icy. Took it really slowly then went over what I though was a wet patch but turned out it was a sheet of ice. Went down sideways really fast, fortunately I wasn't going along very fast, only a little bit of road rash and a slightly sore neck from my shoulder hitting the ground swiftly followed by my head. I always wear a helmet and this is the first time it has come into use, so glad I had it on otherwise my head would have hit the tarmac. Had to walk quite a lot after that because of the ice. It seems the rain from the last few days here has frozen over into large sheets of ice.

No lasting damage done though and only a scrape to one pedal and a little one the rear mech. I think it might be time to dig the turbo out, or stick to main roads and take my chances with the traffic.

 

[Arsen Gere]

It's always worse after it's been wet. I had similar bother where water had been lying. The cars going through it turned it to slush. I got through in a tyre track at the bottom of a descent. No crash though.
Take care for a couple of days as tomorrow you might be a bit more sore. I usually keep off the roads when the temp is below zero and it has been wet but it looked dry here so I took a chance. I'll give tomorrow a miss.
I was sore for 3 months after hitting a steel pin they put in the paths to trip up blind people at crossings.

Lets hope this thread does not run in to a helmet debate

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I was sore for 3 months after hitting a steel pin they put in the paths to trip up blind people at crossings.

I wondered for years what those pins are, apparently they are waymarkers or something else to do with mapping. Seems inconsiderate to me; bod No.1 puts a stud in the ground, bod No.2 comes along and paints a circle around it with spray paint for bod No.3 to come and hoik it out and repair the surface!

 

[Arsen Gere]

I wondered for years what those pins are, apparently they are waymarkers or something else to do with mapping. Seems inconsiderate to me; bod No.1 puts a stud in the ground, bod No.2 comes along and paints a circle around it with spray paint for bod No.3 to come and hoik it out and repair the surface!

That would be the normal use for pins. In sunny Newcastle the council spent a fortune laying huge paving slabs which did not have edging at crossings for blind folks. So they put loads of metal studs in to the ground specially using massive drills to cut 2cm holes in 10cm think stone.
The pins attract moisure and rubber on wet steel is useless. I had to pick up an old woman who had slipped on them one morning. I complained to the council but did not even get a response. Probably because of the huge expense and they look nice.
On weekends they often bring a drunken lass in high heels to the ground too. They are like ice when wet and they are wet when you don't expect it. Something for cyclists in the area to be aware of.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

That would be the normal use for pins. In sunny Newcastle the council spent a fortune laying huge paving slabs which did not have edging at crossings for blind folks. So they put loads of metal studs in to the ground specially using massive drills to cut 2cm holes in 10cm think stone.
The pins attract moisure and rubber on wet steel is useless. I had to pick up an old woman who had slipped on them one morning. I complained to the council but did not even get a response. Probably because of the huge expense and they look nice.
On weekends they often bring a drunken lass in high heels to the ground too. They are like ice when wet and they are wet when you don't expect it. Something for cyclists in the area to be aware of.

They sound awful! It's bad enough down here in warm and clammy Suffolk when they try and posh up some bits of road by paving them with bricks!

 

[Pauln]

Lets hope this thread does not run in to a helmet debate

Ah, yes, didn't want to start that!

 

[Crankarm]

You need studded tyres such as Schwalbe Marathing Winters. Some would say you need them more than a helmet.

 

[Banjo]

Was out riding this morning, thought I would go a little later than usual to let the frost go. Had done a lovely 17 miles or so with only 5 left to go and the lanes started to appear more icy. Took it really slowly then went over what I though was a wet patch but turned out it was a sheet of ice. Went down sideways really fast, fortunately I wasn't going along very fast, only a little bit of road rash and a slightly sore neck from my shoulder hitting the ground swiftly followed by my head. I always wear a helmet and this is the first time it has come into use, so glad I had it on otherwise my head would have hit the tarmac. Had to walk quite a lot after that because of the ice. It seems the rain from the last few days here has frozen over into large sheets of ice.

No lasting damage done though and only a scrape to one pedal and a little one the rear mech. I think it might be time to dig the turbo out, or stick to main roads and take my chances with the traffic.

I rode to work very carefully this morning ut all was good. Not worth dicing with ice. Cold after wet is a big no no for me.Had a fe3w frights in recent years .Settle for a spin on the exercise bike now when sub zero.PS Glad the bikes OK

 

[Tigerbiten]

You need studded tyres such as Schwalbe Marathing Winters. Some would say you need them more than a helmet.

Better still get 3 wheels, you don't fall off when it's icy.
Plus you can drift the corners when there ice around ........ :P

 

[Pauln]

Better still get 3 wheels, you don't fall off when it's icy.
Plus you can drift the corners when there ice around ........ :P

That sounds like fun.

 

[Crankarm]

Better still get 3 wheels, you don't fall off when it's icy.
Plus you can drift the corners when there ice around ........ :P

Cheaper to get some tyres suitable for the conditions. Trikes don't do it for me anyway.

 

[Drago]

You need studded tyres such as Schwalbe Marathing Winters. Some would say you need them more than a helmet.

I've bought a set on your recommendation, but I think there's sonething wrong with them cos they don't fit on my head

 

[EltonFrog]

I've bought a set on your recommendation, but I think there's sonething wrong with them cos they don't fit on my head

You funny bugger.

 

[ClaudeH]

Reading this thread last night clearly jinxed me. Went out early this morning and all fine on the bigger roads, turned onto a country road and within 500m went down on ice. Of course I should have turned around at that point but it was a new route and I thought the icy bit would pass. I landed up having to walk for 2km on an icy road falling over twice more (funny how cycling shoes not really designed for ice) until I got to a bigger road again. By this time I was shaking from the cold.

Not one of the ten most fun things I have done this year.

 

[Amanda P]

Encountered ice yesterday, but managed not to fall down. Got to work, read this thread.

Came to work on my other bike today, which has studded tyres on. It's slow, but I'm here unbruised.