Withdrawal from missing the commute and black ice

[cbgb]

I am sure there are many cyclists like me that feel awful when they miss the normal day to day routine commute. After cycling all year i decided that the conditions last week were just silly due to the wet ice / general weather conditions and ended up taking the car. Cant believe how much i have missed the commute. I braved the weather again on Bank Holiday Monday and went to work although very slippey out and loads of black ice. Missed again Tue (weather far to bad, although i did make an effort at 6am but couldnt get into the shed to get the bike because the locks were frozen solid). This morning i got out of bed at 6am looked out of the window and thought "GREAT the ice has thawed out". Big mistake. I cycled through the wet then suddenly found my self on top of a long section of black ice. Didnt see it coming until i was on top of it and from there the inevitable was going to happen. I stayed upright and tried to move to the side of the path and on to the grass when both wheels just went and i had no control at all. Landed on my hand which just slipped forward and i had a heavy impact on my left chest. OWWW! that hurt. Proper bruised my ribs (i think, possibly cracked something but i am sure i would know about it if it was broken?)
Anyway, the point is you cant do anything if you hit black ice. There is no way i could have stayed on the bike. I was travelling in straight line, not going fast and realised that once i was on top of it i was coming off. Do i in future continue to risk injury by commuting when there is a risk of ice or should i take the car and be misrable and put on weight?

 

[ELL]

Look at it this way. Things could be far worse if you hit black ice when driving a car.

 

[palinurus]

How many days a year can you not ride due to ice? (probably not enough to require buying new trousers)

I normally do ride but I can be pretty sure that most of my route will be ice free- there are some short bits I can walk if it's dicey.

Otherwise there's studded tyres if you frequently ride on ice- in my case I'd not use them enough to justify the expense since mostly the roads are just wet in winter.

Were you on a cycle path by any chance? I avoid them if it's likely to be icy, main roads are much more likely to be free of ice. My local council has a map of the roads which are gritted on their website which is useful. Bus routes are a good guide of where the gritters generally go.

 

[palinurus]

Give the shed padlock a quick squirt of WD40 during cold spells- stops it freezing up.

 

[cbgb]

I have different routes for different times of day depending on weather and traffic. This morning i chose to go half on road and half cycle path. The ice was on the cycle path in a unlit park. I was on top of the ice before i could see it? I use a hope vision so my visability is ok but its difficult to see black ice in the day light never mind 6:30 am.

 

[palinurus]

I have different routes for different times of day depending on weather and traffic. This morning i chose to go half on road and half cycle path. The ice was on the cycle path in a unlit park. I was on top of the ice before i could see it? I use a hope vision so my visability is ok but its difficult to see black ice in the day light never mind 6:30 am.

Cycle paths are terrible if there's likely to be ice. They are (almost) never gritted, plus drainage isn't something that seems to be considered very often when cycle paths are made.

 

[cbgb]

The ice appeared to be compressed as if the kids had been sledging on it. Even the grass to the side of the path were rock haed. Everywhere else was ice free!

 

[palinurus]

The ice appeared to be compressed as if the kids had been sledging on it.

That isn't considered when cycle paths are made either. When snow has been compressed to lumpy ice and then gets a layer of water on it it's nasty.

 

[ianrauk]

If you have cracked any ribs you sure will know about it. Pain for 6 weeks minimum and a need to dose up on co-codamol and forget about getting a decent nights sleep for a while.

 

[benborp]

Consider as well that the consequences of a fall could keep you off the bike for months. How much weight and how much grumpiness could you accumulate in that amount of time?

 

[hackbike 666]

Consider as well that the consequences of a fall could keep you off the bike for months. How much weight and how much grumpiness could you accumulate in that amount of time?

Quite a bit as I still would have to go to work.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I have been off the bike 3 weeks now, after almost 6 months non stop,
must get back on on Monday as I have already put 7 lbs back on !

Although eating 24 Forrero Roche in 1 hour did not help, but they were nice !

 

[potsy]

I have been off the bike 3 weeks now, after almost 6 months non stop,
must get back on on Monday as I have already put 7 lbs back on !

Although eating 24 Forrero Roche in 1 hour did not help, but they were nice !

Snap Kev,7lbs in December but am still worried about ice on Monday so might leave it another week.
And mine is Lindor chocolates not fr's

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Snap Kev,7lbs in December but am still worried about ice on Monday so might leave it another week.
And mine is Lindor chocolates not fr's

Too right mate, plenty of monthe ahead for the bike, its too risky to risk breaking a bone or a bike

 

[fossyant]

It's not looking good for next week is it.

Hoping the roads are dry, but will keep an eye on it over the next two days.