Winter commuting. Is it worth the risks?

[Tynan]

when there actually is ice you can never be sure, other than pushing the bike home in the very heavy snow with lots of ice of last year, I've only ever really had one moment when the tyres lost all grip as I made a very gentle right turn at a major crossroads, an inexplicable patch of ice, slow speed but it's a horrible feeling

and i once had a vauxhall cavalier gently sliding, not entirely forwards, down a very gentle slope with me and a passenger looking at each other wondering what to do

if you're confident that you won't have to corner or swerve on a patch of ice then good, me I'll be skipping the ride if there's any persistent ice, a few days on a nice warm train does no harm at all, makes a nice change

if you don't go, I'd be very surprised indeed if anyone suggested otherwise

 

[fossyant]

If I didn't have the studded tyres I'd car/bus it to work. I've had nasty off's on black ice.

I am lucky I can go most of the way to work off road if needed, and when weather is bad I take at least half my route on the Trans Pennine - to stay away from cars.

Spikey tyres are very very good....scarily so......

 

[avsd]

My rule of thumb is if there is ice on the car I leave the bike in the garage. My route is all cycle paths/pavements with very little main roads so no gritting. I fell off this summer - lost front wheeel in mud and crack a rib - no cycling for three weeks so I am risk adverse.

I have an turbo trainer set-up for the winter and hopefull will get some cycling at the weekend on main roads.

 

[jack cameron]

Take the Bus....................

 

[phantasmagoriana]

This will be my first winter cycle commuting, and I've decided to get some Schwalbe Snow Studs (need to pick them up from the post depot tomorrow, will fit them this weekend) as some of the cycle paths I use don't seem to be gritted. The last couple of days have been a bit hairy on my regular tyres - having come off on the first lot of ice last week, I think I've got over-cautious and have ended up walking quite a lot of the route. I'm not expecting the studded tyres to be a magical solution, but am hoping they will let me ride a bit more confidently on frosty/icy days.

Though this morning, I was surprised at the number of people whizzing past on bikes (didn't see anyone fall off or even slip - how do they do it?!) as I walked a particularly icy stretch...

 

[trichens]

Snow yesterday morning here in East Yorkshire so got train for full trip to work. I usually cycle the last 11 miles or so which is on quiet lanes and farm track before getting to outskirts of Hull. Turned out it would probably have been OK to ride in as Hull was pretty clear.

However I will be taking the train for the full trip whilst the weather is bad as I don't get paid if I'm not at work, so I can't afford to injure myself. The extra distance on train is less than £8 per week so not really worth buying (or making) special winter tyres.

Only thing is I'm already missing the morning ride to set me up for the day, although the dark evenings I'm happy to do without. They mean that I have to do the return trip along a busy road as the lanes are unlit, and the farm tracks are both unlit and full of potholes, which you can't see in the dark. 

 

[Bigsharn]

I love the challenge (if that's what you can call it ! ) I can see from some peoples point of view regarding numpty's on the road and icey stuff it can be a tad scary out there but i just cannot stand being stuck in traffic jams sat behind a wheel of a car so i ride right through and beyond !

This

Though I only have a 4 mile commute, inside the city

 

[HLaB]

The closest I've been to giving it a miss (well I did in a way) I woke up and everything was white at my parents house (its usually brown slush, it gets a lot of snow at times but it doesn't stay white long) So I decided against the 17.5 miles as the first 3miles or so is down a steep back road and opted for the mile to the train station instead. The first 3/4 mile is really flat so there wasn't a problem then I carefully turned on to the steep downhill before the rise to the station. A bit before the bottom of the hill I pulled the brakes, there was black ice below the snow it took an eternity to stop. I thought at that moment 'if its like this tomorrow, I'm going to give it a miss' typical the net day the snow was gone.
Coincidently, I looked on google at the same location and it was a beautiful sunny day and quite warm judging from the pavement cyclist

 

[al78]

Day by day for me, thou it would have to be bad to stop me cycling. Main roads all the way so no probs with respect to that. Also how can people be cold when cycling? I wear shorts base layer and a cheap karrimor water proof and i am more than warm enough.

Well in my case, I am cold for the first three miles coming back from work as it is mostly downhill from the off, so I am effectively exposed to a 25 mph wind in near-freezing temperatures straight after sitting at a desk all day. This evening it wasn't until I was about halfway home (5 miles) before I was properly warm.

What I should do is put another layer on then take it off when I start to get too warm, but I can't be bothered to stop and start faffing around.

 

[Tinuts]

Have to admit, the worst accident I've had (in terms of time off work and lasting after effects) has been on black ice. I'm now very wary of such weather conditions but have bought myself some studded tyres.

 

[John the Monkey]

If you're riding studs for the first time this year (or choosing some) lots of folk seem to recommend this guide at Peter White Cycles;
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

"Riding on ice with studded tires is like walking on ice that's been lightly covered with sand. It's pretty safe. You're not likely to fall unless you do something stupid. You're not going to have the same traction you would have on dry pavement. But you're going to have far more than you would with regular tires on ice. Keep in mind that there's ice down there and you'll be fine. Try to be a hero, and you'll probably pay a price."

 

[Flying_Monkey]

If you're riding studs for the first time this year (or choosing some) lots of folk seem to recommend this guide at Peter White Cycles;
http://www.peterwhit...tuddedtires.asp

His advice is generally sound, but the top-level Nokian ones with plenty of studs are a lot better than riding on sand-covered ice (I use the W240s).

Mind you, I road every winter in the UK for years, and in rural as well as urban areas, and I never needed (or even thought about) studded tyres. I came off a couple of times on black ice when, as a fairly inexperienced cyclist, I was riding a slick-tyred hybrid years ago, but I never came off riding my MTB (heavy-tread tyres, slightly lower inflation than normal). Has the weather significantly changed in the last couple of years, or are all you people being hyper-cautious?

 

[HJ]

Not got studded tyres? Don't panic, here is a useful tip from Seattle, cable ties...

 

[Tynan]

that's rather clever, might get tasty if one the zip ties parts mind

 

[potsy]

I've ridden in all this week on my 23's only had one slight wobble on a bit of frozen over puddle in a cycle lane.
Am having major second thoughts about next week though,4.45am at -5c could well see me back in the car for a few days.
Am still not sure about getting studded tyres,only seen them in 35's and not sure I've the clearance on the hybrid with my guards on.