I fell off my bike today. I was merrily cycling along in a straight line then boom, I hit the deck and skidded along the road. I was cycling over fresh snow and can only hazard a guess that I had inadvertantly cycled on compressed snow that had turned to ice and them been covered over with this fresh batch of snow. No damage to myself, as for my bike, it seems ok. One of the cable ties holding my pump holder came off, my SQR block moved (no damage to Carradice, just wet and covered in snow) and I've lost the end cap for my bar end. This annoys me, I hate missing end caps. I didn't notice till I had pedalled off. I might flash a torch on the impact site on the way home on the off chance it hasn't been buried under more snow or crushed by a car. My pride is unscathed as there was nobody about. So onto the subject of tyres. I usually would have put my 2.1" knobblies on by now but I totally forgot about them and have been happily pootling about on 1.6" slicks. I hate the 2.1" knobbles as it feels like it's faster to walk and I always get in a huff trying to swap my tyres over. Would there actually be any benefit in traction with knobblies or would I have fallen on my arse in this instance anyway? I want to know if the trauma of tyre changing is worth it. Also I've seen one person cycling about with one slick and one knobbly. I think the knobbly was on the front. What is that all about? Surely 2 different type tyres presumably different widths is more of a hindrance than a benefit?
Today
- Thread starter Plax
- Start date
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upsidedown
Waiting for the great leap forward
- Location
- The middle bit
Glad you're ok.
I changed my tyres on Monday from 32mm Bonty Racelite Hardcase slicks to 1 38mm Conti Contact with tread and 1 Michelin World Tour 38mm with tread.. The Bontys were at 110 PSI, the Conti and Michelin are 80.
The difference is very noticeable to me. I put the Conti on the front as it is much softer rubber and is part-worn so the shine has worn off. I want more grip on the front to stop a washout which is where the front knobbly in your post comes in i guess.
I've just accepted that it's going to take longer to do the same journey, not much i can do about it.
I changed my tyres on Monday from 32mm Bonty Racelite Hardcase slicks to 1 38mm Conti Contact with tread and 1 Michelin World Tour 38mm with tread.. The Bontys were at 110 PSI, the Conti and Michelin are 80.
The difference is very noticeable to me. I put the Conti on the front as it is much softer rubber and is part-worn so the shine has worn off. I want more grip on the front to stop a washout which is where the front knobbly in your post comes in i guess.
I've just accepted that it's going to take longer to do the same journey, not much i can do about it.
addictfreak
Guru
- Location
- Boldon, Tyne and Wear
Well glad to hear that your ok.
I have not attempted to ride my roadie for over 5 days, its not the thought of coming off and hitting the tarmac. Im more worried about coming off and then being hit by another vehicle.
I was so sick of not riding that I sorted my MTB out this morning, lights on etc. But its still snowing with a vengance here. Compacted snow over at least 2 inches of solid ice in places. So it looks like the car for work tonight.
I was out on my knobblies last year in similar conditions and to be honest it was hard to stay on the bike, even peddling slowly with one foot unclipped. It was funny on off road sections, but down right dangerous on the roads.
I have not attempted to ride my roadie for over 5 days, its not the thought of coming off and hitting the tarmac. Im more worried about coming off and then being hit by another vehicle.
I was so sick of not riding that I sorted my MTB out this morning, lights on etc. But its still snowing with a vengance here. Compacted snow over at least 2 inches of solid ice in places. So it looks like the car for work tonight.
I was out on my knobblies last year in similar conditions and to be honest it was hard to stay on the bike, even peddling slowly with one foot unclipped. It was funny on off road sections, but down right dangerous on the roads.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
You'll have more grip in snow with knobblies, but any tyre will slide on ice if you hit it - your choice ? Other option is, of course, spikes.
Bad luck about the fall - I wouldn't be riding on anything other than studded stuff in this weather.
Bad luck about the fall - I wouldn't be riding on anything other than studded stuff in this weather.
I think I've probably missed the boat with the studded tyres. They've probably gone like hot cakes in this weather. I might have a look when I get home later. Might be worth putting an order in for some, hell they might arrive by next winter :0)
Do the studs wear out too quick on normal tarmac though?
Do the studs wear out too quick on normal tarmac though?
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Here you go Plax:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp
Carbide studs should last longer than the tyre.
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp
Carbide studs should last longer than the tyre.
Sheffield_Tiger
Legendary Member
Riding on Velociraptors at the moment and been quite happy with them even today which was fairly bad
First winter of being clipped in on the snow though certain sections saw pre-emptive unclipping
First winter of being clipped in on the snow though certain sections saw pre-emptive unclipping
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Better than slicks = certainly .............. still if you hit ice ?
I'll be on my posterior again probably. I confess that instead of changing my tyres this evening I dug the car out and went shopping to Tesco instead. Now I'm happily sitting here eating a curry and drinking beer. Ooops.
The neighbours were all out gritting the road when I arrived home this evening which is usually a bad sign, they use all the grit in the box for a start. I might walk in tomorrow if it is bad, it's only 4 miles.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Bad luck mate.
mtb for me today 2.4 conti mountain king protection on the front 2.2 version on the rear. Asymmetry is the new black. Can ride on packed snow/white ice that I can't stand up on but I got off and slid down the 20% hill after the 4WD in front of me went down sideways
mtb for me today 2.4 conti mountain king protection on the front 2.2 version on the rear. Asymmetry is the new black. Can ride on packed snow/white ice that I can't stand up on but I got off and slid down the 20% hill after the 4WD in front of me went down sideways
Even with studded tyres I found it dodgy in places. The problem is the country lanes have uneven surfaces at the best of times. Once you get ice on that even my Marathon Winters were slipping sideways on the ruts and adverse cambers. Not enough to cause a spill, but enough to make me very nervous.
TheBoyBilly
New Member
- Location
- Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
The trains along the coast from Brighton to Shoreham were very few and far between tonight with no idea when the next one would be....so I decided to walk with my Brompton. It was really quite good as everybody was in a good mood in the snow along the main drag but I'd had enough by Aldington (about a mile and a half in) so I decided to give riding the bike a go. A high gear/low cadence did the trick as there was lots of virgin snow to get a grip on (Marathon+ tyres by the way) A couple of slippy-slidies but nothing major but I had to walk the final half mile as it was really icing up. I wouldn't want to do it every day but in it's way it was quite good fun (and got some admiring looks from some pretty girls- I think 
). Good old Brompton.
Bill
). Good old Brompton.Bill
