Cycling in snow

[drfrank]

Dear All,

I am a daily commuter on my bike but alas the weather has got the better of me and I've swapped the two wheels for my two legs and I now walk the 5 miles or so to work. I did try the bike on Tuesday but after coming off in the first 10 metres I put it back in the shed.

It does amaze me however how many cyclists are still on the road despite the horrific road surfaces (compact snow/ice and powder). I have a road bike and maybe with an MTB I would have a little more confidence but for the moment I'll stick to walking

[anonymous-user]

I've been out on mine each day just for fun but my MTB tyres have just been spinning on the compacted snow and then the bike just stops in the snowdrifts.

Good fun though.

[princeperch]

I've cycled into work all this week.

Took the brompton today with it's slight wider marathon tyres today though, which was a good decision.

If you are on well used roads, even if they arent gritted, you should be ok as long as you take it easy.

[h4muf]

Went out on the cx bike yesterday.

26 mile in the peak's,then mixed it with a pub crawl!

8 pint's on the bike on the way home,road to myself!

700/30 cx pro's cut through it lovely

[Uriel]

You just need a Surly Pugsley.

[Mr E]

MTB is having no problem in fresh snow. Compacted and icy is pretty nasty, but doable.

Braking actually pretty good in powder to be honest.

[r-kid]

I'm still cycling in, I just put mud tyres on instead of the usual slicks. I've not changed my route either so 2miles on road, 9 bridleway & another 1 miles back on road. Its just harder work pushing through the powder.

Only problem I've had is the ruts in the road, where I was heading towards a 3 way (Y shaped) mini roundabout wanting to take the right spur but as most cars had gone left so did my bike. Slid across the roundabout on my arse.

Worst thing is, I did exactly the same thing in the same place back in Feb

[thanetspeedshop]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Yeah what a laugh.

Just been out riding in the snow today, admittedly only a couple of miles each way, and it's right good fun.

Slicks seem to work fine, but I might just fit a rear brake later as stopping was entirely down to the soles of my boots.

[Justayellowbadge]

Took the road bike out a couple of evenings ago, was brilliant.

Crisp and dry, no snow on the ground, it was just coming down.

Snowflakes all around, but just enough grip. Lovely.

[Fetchez la vache]

Still commuting by bike, jut as I did in the snow last winter in the snow.
In fact, I'm feeling wimpy as it was so cold on Tuesday I've just stopped commuting in shorts...

[prand]

I've not had too bad weather where I live to be honest, and I've been commuting to work on commuter slicks all week.

Today we had our first real snow, but the well used roads are fine (not icy). Back streets are dodgy (slippery compacted snow), and you have to watch out on pavements/cycle paths.

So I've been taking it very easy and braking carefully (in a straight line only) and leaving lots of time and space to manoevre, just like in a car.

It might all be different tomorrow morning once it's thawed/frozen overnight.

[Dr S LB]

I have no choice now. We have had over a foot of snow since the middle of last week and my van is stuck. I've riden to work everyday on my singlespeed Kona Humu which has been quite good fun. We also used bikes to get into the stages for the Roger Albert Clark Rally at the weekend as the spectator access roads were all blocked.
All good but ready for some dusty dry summer trails again now.

[shalmaneser]

I used the langster on monday and tuesday, was very sketchy cycling home at 6 in the evening, so rode the commencal in yesterday, which was fine (actually quite fun) but so much more work than the langster!

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Been out on the South Downs on my bike today. Got a few strange looks, but it was great fun and I was suprised how much grip the Nobby Nics gave. I found that compacted snow have the mosst grip as long as it wasn't completely solid and icy. Getting through 1ft+ fresh snow off road up an incline was nigh on impossible!

[Dudd]

No worries here.

I have a choice of a Discovery 1 or the below for my 6km to work;

[Funkateer]

Last Sunday was glorious, anyway!

[darkyoung1000]

No problems here on a road bike with 700 x 25c tyres - Bontrager all weather tyres seem to be doing the trick....although I can spin them up quite easily. I'm taking the direct route though rather than adding my usual extra 7 miles on.

Cheers (and take care all),
Tom

[exgtt]

Cycling into work on the MTB this week, wide bars - proper tyres and brakes are essential to me. Could not imagine riding in the slush on road tyres + clipless pedals + a frame suseptable to major damage from a minor off.

Not many people in my office riding in gave me a boost but seeing road bikes on my commute made me realise there are proper nut jobs out there!!!

Seriously, riding on road tires and you come off - no one to blame but yourself regardless!

[Pupp]

Ventured out on the MTB a couple of times on 1.95 Trailrakers, seemed to cope with most things really well although hard polished black ice on one or two back roads was very precarious (cars completely oblivious of course ). On the trails, no issues at all and actually overheated on one climb due to too many layers

[Dr S LB]

Minus 16 and snowing on the way in this morning. Singlespeed gearing is a little too high for deep snow though and the knees are suffering