winter commutes

[kikzen]

howdy

ive got a sirrus (which can go pretty quick ) for my commute. i was wondering about what to do for icy commutes though, because of the skinny tyres (28x700C).

i mean, i can feel slipping when its really wet (i dont like slowing down round corners). its on the stock tyres - but is it worth changing up to something a little more grippy for the winter time? if so does anyone have any recommendations?

i commuted 2 winters ago on an MTB, but kinda took the tube a lot more when it was REALLY cold. i want to plough on through the winter this year.
(by the way, im based in london so not really expecting blizzards or particularly hazardous conditions, but id like to know that i could cope for most of the winter).

cheers!
x

 

[BentMikey]

If it's wet, slow down. The saying for motorcyclists is that there are old ones, and bold ones, but no old bold ones.

 

[snapper_37]

If it's wet, slow down. The saying for motorcyclists is that there are old ones, and bold ones, but no old bold ones.

+1

I have set my MTB up with some nice conti slicks for the winter but, like BM said, just slow down. IME, knobbly thick tyres are no safer on ice anyway.

 

[HLaB]

I don't know how, but touch wood any time I've met ice on my Sirrus I've always been going uphill, slowly. I experienced similar slipping to you but I don't know if it was more to do with my bike set up/ lack of weight on the rear wheel. So I replaced the Nimbus with narrower but grippier conti 4 seasons back in Jan and I've not had a problem since. Having said that I no longer use the Sirrus for the commute, its my winter club/ training bike. I moved closer to work and bought a cheaper/ heavier Ridgeback Velocity that's got mammoth 37 or 38c tyres.

 

[Dayvo]

Yes, slow down, and let some air out of your tyres (just a touch) as you'll get a better purchase on the road with 'flatter' tyres in wintery conditions.

 

[snapper_37]

Hmmm...

...don't really get frost / ice on the ground in London. Not over the last few years, anyway. Never been an issue for me.

I also use a Sirrus with 28 tyres.

Wet things worry me these days, as I have got (relatively) faster. Wet leaves, wet lines, wet oily patches and stuff.

What the others said above - just slow down a bit if need be.

Good advice. In the midlands, we do get frost/black ice etc. I have taken a fall on road tyres, slicks and knobblies so take care out there, everyone. Like COG said - wet leaves etc.

 

[neslon]

howdy


i mean, i can feel slipping when its really wet (i dont like slowing down round corners).
cheers!
x

In which case you are going to come off if you hit ice, regardless of what you have fitted

 

[threefingerjoe]

We get ice and snow in my area. I run a good carbide-studded tyre in that kind of weather. I've never fallen with them. Yes, they're heavy and slow, but they allow me to ride to work on days when I otherwise couldn't have. I have them mounted on an extra pair of rims, and only use them when I need them. You still have to use your head when riding on ice, though...can't go into turns at high speed. It sure is fun climbing icy hills, though!

 

[PBancroft]

i mean, i can feel slipping when its really wet (i dont like slowing down round corners).

Then you will probably hurt yourself. I don't mean to sound patronising, but ride as you would expect other people to drive - pay attention to the road conditions and hazards, and the hazards include the weather.

If you hit ice going round a corner real fast, remember that what may stop your slip could be other traffic.

 

[DJ]

My advice! again forwhat it's worth!
I remember last winter I used a mountain bike in cold and snowy conditions, I am cosidering leaving my road bike at home on days like that this year and doing the same again!

Went slowly as well, cos if I went fast and fell off it would probably hurt!

Just ordinary pedals no clips or clipless systems either, so I can stick a leg out if I have to!

So far so good have'nt ..............................

No, can't say it it's bad luck!

 

[J4CKO]

I am really looking forward to a proper snowy day, a long shot in the UK these days but I have my MTB wheels ready to fit to my Hybrid with the big knobblies ok, you score triple Hard B4stard Points for a snowy day.

 

[BentMikey]

Knobblies don't count, only studded Nokian tyres.

 

[John the Monkey]

Ice is no fun at all - personally, on a day like that I leave the bike at home, even though that means a 40 minute walk and getting the train all the way in.

 

[BentMikey]

Or a recumbent trike in the snow and ice - one poster on urc told how his normal commute took 1.5 hours instead of the usual 45mins. 45 mins to get to work, and another 45 minutes doing handbrake skids in work's car park.

 

[Nigeyy]

I'll be honest -come the winter, I stop commuting. I just hate ice, and more than that, I just don't trust other car drivers around me when there are icy conditions.

Though my case might be a little different -in the winter over here you are guaranteed some snow and ice, as well as temperatures around -10'C. In the winter I pray for heavy snowfall so that I can cross country ski and snow shoe -other than that, I tend to use the basement and trainers.

*If* I had studded Nokians (very expensive, can't afford them!!!) and *if* I could use a bike path all the way to work, then I'd probably do some winter commuting -but there's not, so I don't.

Out of interest, I'm clearly a huge big Wendy Wimp, check out:

http://www.icebike.com