Riding in icy conditions
Discussion
I bought myself a Raleigh Mustang Sport the other month. Been meaning to get out on it and now I have some time, the weather is getting icy.
What's the opinion of experienced folk on here about riding in icy and very cold conditions. Just avoid or go out but take it steady?
The bike is a 'gravel' bike so the tyres are a bit wider than the usual road bike stuff. They only inflate to 60 psi too.
Ok to ride or dust off the turbo and stay in the garage?
Oh yes, I have spd pedals which are spd one side and flat pedal the other. Could just use the flat side.
What's the opinion of experienced folk on here about riding in icy and very cold conditions. Just avoid or go out but take it steady?
The bike is a 'gravel' bike so the tyres are a bit wider than the usual road bike stuff. They only inflate to 60 psi too.
Ok to ride or dust off the turbo and stay in the garage?
Oh yes, I have spd pedals which are spd one side and flat pedal the other. Could just use the flat side.
I'd dust off the turbo if there's ice on the roads because it doesn't matter what tyres or pressures you run, if you hit black ice on a corner you're coming off. Obviously you'll do less damage if you're riding slowly, but riding slowly isn't going to give you much of a workout or training benefit, is it ? You might as well have an hour on the turbo instead.
I won't normally ride with snow on the roads either, although on a mountain bike with a decent set of tyres and some care it's an option. Off road in snow is fine, it even cuts down on the amount of mud you pick up
I won't normally ride with snow on the roads either, although on a mountain bike with a decent set of tyres and some care it's an option. Off road in snow is fine, it even cuts down on the amount of mud you pick up
As above, don't do it. I've tried it and massively regretted it each time. Has resulted in my worst "near misses" including a van wing mirror clipping me whilst stationary on the verge. Can only assume that he hadn't cleaned his screen properly and was blinded by the low sun. It's not just the ice on the ground.
If you MUST go it when it’s icy* then keep the route flat AF, start as late in the day as you can, stick to busier (gritted) roads and ride roads you know get plenty of sun. Stay out the shadows, ride VERY easy and hope for the best.
(*) or keep to the turbo/MTB. Risk elimination and all that
(*) or keep to the turbo/MTB. Risk elimination and all that
frisbee said:
I commute in all weather so I'll ride in snow and ice. I'll switch to the mountain bike and take things easy if its icy.
Its fairly rare to be both wet and cold in this country though.
Same here. I've bike commuted all winter (Mon-Fri twice a day) Cant say I have had a problem - If anything my bike handling is much better then it used to be and I now know what roads/areas/spots get most slippy. The snow and rain aren't bad really (you still get some traction with those and can ride to the conditions). Its the black ice that I find REALLY difficult (its hard to see it and practically has NO grip at all). So I go at half pace when theres been rain overnight and its less then 2C....Its fairly rare to be both wet and cold in this country though.
Its not bad at all... as long as you have the right clothing and decent winter tyres.
Edited by BenGismo on Sunday 4th February 16:31
Fresh snow can be hard work. If you have to ride over ice/icy ground, try not to turn suddenly and try to plan your direction changes in advance - understeer (possibly leading to an off) will be frequent otherwise.
I've had wheelspin on knobblies when climbing ungritted frosty/icy lanes but that was easier to deal with than understeer on the flat from ice.
I've had wheelspin on knobblies when climbing ungritted frosty/icy lanes but that was easier to deal with than understeer on the flat from ice.
BenGismo said:
frisbee said:
I commute in all weather so I'll ride in snow and ice. I'll switch to the mountain bike and take things easy if its icy.
Its fairly rare to be both wet and cold in this country though.
Same here. I've bike commuted all winter (Mon-Fri twice a day) Cant say I have had a problem - If anything my bike handling is much better then it used to be and I now know what roads/areas/spots get most slippy. The snow and rain aren't bad really (you still get some traction with those and can ride to the conditions). Its the black ice that I find REALLY difficult (its hard to see it and practically has NO grip at all). So I go at half pace when theres been rain overnight and its less then 2C....Its fairly rare to be both wet and cold in this country though.
Its not bad at all... as long as you have the right clothing and decent winter tyres.
Edited by BenGismo on Sunday 4th February 16:31
I had an incidence a few years back on black ice. I fell off which in itself wasn't much of an issue, but the car that locked up behind me and continued to slide towards me on the ice was. Managed to roll out the way up a curb but the bike got punted down the road into another car, cracking the forks. Proper wary of ice now.
another ‘all-weather’ commuter here. If the snow is properly thick, then I’ll switch to the mountain bike. Otherwise, I stick to my purpose-built commuter bike and just take it carefully.
My commute is mostly car-free but there are some lovely off-camber bridge-related corners which collect slipperiness and thrust it at the unaware.
My commute is mostly car-free but there are some lovely off-camber bridge-related corners which collect slipperiness and thrust it at the unaware.
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