ice + bike = *******
Discussion
Cheap bike....
Best option is an old 70's/80's racer.
I bought one recently from an old giffer round the corner from me (no pickup costs!) £35 for an old carlton -(ok a few pints) but it works and is fairly clean and straight.
I have massively improved it with £15 worth of second hand bits, all in all not a bad old shed now, but is still essentially disposable.
If you're lucky you might get one with an expensive frame (531) that the seller has failed to notice.
Best option is an old 70's/80's racer.
I bought one recently from an old giffer round the corner from me (no pickup costs!) £35 for an old carlton -(ok a few pints) but it works and is fairly clean and straight.
I have massively improved it with £15 worth of second hand bits, all in all not a bad old shed now, but is still essentially disposable.
If you're lucky you might get one with an expensive frame (531) that the seller has failed to notice.
I feel your pain, out for a Sunday am xc blast, and had 3 off's in 22 miles, that's a record for me.
Front wheel wash out on ice on the road at a corner right at the start before the sun was truly up (cue right ankle cut to shreds by the chainwheel and a bruised left shoulder), then one slow one on the rock hard rutted tractor tracks, then another in the tractor tracks but a great deal faster on a descent sent me over the bars and into the bushes for a reasonably soft-ish landing, suffering from a cricked neck, bruised right shoulder and distinct lack of confidence in my new tyres and my riding abilities.
Front wheel wash out on ice on the road at a corner right at the start before the sun was truly up (cue right ankle cut to shreds by the chainwheel and a bruised left shoulder), then one slow one on the rock hard rutted tractor tracks, then another in the tractor tracks but a great deal faster on a descent sent me over the bars and into the bushes for a reasonably soft-ish landing, suffering from a cricked neck, bruised right shoulder and distinct lack of confidence in my new tyres and my riding abilities.
OneDs said:
I feel your pain, out for a Sunday am xc blast, and had 3 off's in 22 miles, that's a record for me.
Front wheel wash out on ice on the road at a corner right at the start before the sun was truly up (cue right ankle cut to shreds by the chainwheel and a bruised left shoulder), then one slow one on the rock hard rutted tractor tracks, then another in the tractor tracks but a great deal faster on a descent sent me over the bars and into the bushes for a reasonably soft-ish landing, suffering from a cricked neck, bruised right shoulder and distinct lack of confidence in my new tyres and my riding abilities.
without studded tyres, its not skill that decides whether or not you come off on ice or not! If you aren't on a trail, its not the impact between you and the ground that is the main concern, it is whether the car coming behind can stop on the same ice, or whether it will go straight over you. Had a close call last winter and won't go out when its icy, which is annoying at the moment because today is the first day in weeks I have been able to get out and I am still 45 miles shy of my 4000 mile target for the year.Front wheel wash out on ice on the road at a corner right at the start before the sun was truly up (cue right ankle cut to shreds by the chainwheel and a bruised left shoulder), then one slow one on the rock hard rutted tractor tracks, then another in the tractor tracks but a great deal faster on a descent sent me over the bars and into the bushes for a reasonably soft-ish landing, suffering from a cricked neck, bruised right shoulder and distinct lack of confidence in my new tyres and my riding abilities.
zebedee said:
without studded tyres, its not skill that decides whether or not you come off on ice or not! If you aren't on a trail, its not the impact between you and the ground that is the main concern, it is whether the car coming behind can stop on the same ice, or whether it will go straight over you. Had a close call last winter and won't go out when its icy, which is annoying at the moment because today is the first day in weeks I have been able to get out and I am still 45 miles shy of my 4000 mile target for the year.
I don't blame the tires, it's just you lose a bit of confidence in them and yourself irrespective as if it was you or your tires fault. They were brand new on and that has also contributed a bit as I'd gone from 2.1 - 2.4's in the aim of getting more contact patch and grip in the gloop, but the gloop was solid even after a couple of day's of +5 day time temps.Given the weather forecast I suggest you get some rollers or a turbo trainer on the way home, you'll knock the 45miles off tonight.
Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 15th December 12:33
OneDs said:
zebedee said:
without studded tyres, its not skill that decides whether or not you come off on ice or not! If you aren't on a trail, its not the impact between you and the ground that is the main concern, it is whether the car coming behind can stop on the same ice, or whether it will go straight over you. Had a close call last winter and won't go out when its icy, which is annoying at the moment because today is the first day in weeks I have been able to get out and I am still 45 miles shy of my 4000 mile target for the year.
I don't blame the tires, it's just you lose a bit of confidence in them and yourself irrespective as if it was you or your tires fault. They were brand new on and that has also contributed a bit as I'd gone from 2.1 - 2.4's in the aim of getting more contact patch and grip in the gloop, but the gloop was solid even after a couple of day's of +5 day time temps.Given the weather forecast I suggest you get some rollers or a turbo trainer on the way home, you'll knock the 45miles off tonight.
Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 15th December 12:33
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