Cycling in icy/snowy conditions

[passionate off roader]

Does anybody attempt it? If so, how do you get on and how can you avoid going over?

A few weeks ago my wheels went from under me while cornering slowly on a frosty patch of smooth ground. Hurt leg slightly, but fortunately nothing worse.

Then a week or so back I tried cycling in the snow - which was ok as long as the snow was undisturbed, but as soon as I cycled into a rutted or partially rutted bit, where the cars had been, I found myself having great difficulty keeping control and had to give up and return home.

Any tips, or should you not ride at all in these conditions?

Asking especially as freezing snowy conditions are forecasted from Sunday onwards.

 

[Raboa]

Hi, I use Schwalbe winter tyres, deflate them 10psi than max tyre pressure i.e from 65psi to 55psi.

They work in snow / light ice, if thick ice you need their spiked tyre.

They are heavy though, I up my keep current to 70% on my BBS02 when using them.

 

[WheezyRider]

I've cycled once this year. I took the back roads, thinking I would ease myself back into things after the Christmas break. But the road hadn't been salted. Got to a bend and it was like an ice rink and went straight off. landed heavily on the handle bars and cracked some ribs. So I'm waiting for the warmer weather.

I don't mind cycling on fresh snow, but ice is a nightmare.

 

[D C]

I've cycled once this year. I took the back roads, thinking I would ease myself back into things after the Christmas break. But the road hadn't been salted. Got to a bend and it was like an ice rink and went straight off. landed heavily on the handle bars and cracked some ribs. So I'm waiting for the warmer weather.

I don't mind cycling on fresh snow, but ice is a nightmare.

I use Schwalbe Ice Spikers which don't slip on ice and hard packed snow.
Frozen deep ruts though are pretty dodgy and will take your front wheel off sideways.
You can get away with just one on the front wheel which is how I started but best if fitted to both wheels.
I've been using them for a few years and find them easier and safer than walking

 

[WheezyRider]

I use Schwalbe Ice Spikers which don't slip on ice and hard packed snow.
Frozen deep ruts though are pretty dodgy and will take your front wheel off sideways.
You can get away with just one on the front wheel which is how I started but best if fitted to both wheels.
I've been using them for a few years and find them easier and safer than walkingView attachment 40649View attachment 40650

What are they like on tarmac? Where we are it's rare to get any snow and there's only ice on the road when the council haven't gritted.

For some reason I also don't feel confident on slippery surfaces on one of my bikes, whereas my other bike feels a lot more stable. Not sure why that should be.

Looks like we'll be getting a fair bit of snow tomorrow...

 

[D C]

They are okay on tarmac though a bit noisy, they sound like you're riding over breakfast cereal.
I guess the tungsten spikes will wear more quickly but the huge grip gives the confidence to ride over ice without fear of sliding on bends or under braking.
It's best to make sure that when you dismount it's on a non icy patch as you tend to forget how slippy it really is.
In the second picture the road looks clear but it was around minus 7c and there was lot of black ice out of the sun.
I have them fitted to my hub drive bike for the winter and only use them during icy weather which is quite often the case in these parts.
If you are only riding on tarmac an ice spiker on the front would perhaps be enough so a spare front wheel may be the best system, one that's easy to swap to suit the weather, it's almost always the front end that slides and then you're on the ground.

 

[Raboa]

I use the winter tyres in cycle paths both on tracks and tarmac, they are fine. Care has to be taken going over pavement slabs, just go at a low speed. As mentioned, they do sound like Rice Krispies, I have not tried the spiker tyres as the winter tyres are sufficient for my needs. They are the usual marathon pain to put on just have tea and cable ties handy. I know somebody who bought a cheap spare pair of wheels and fitted these as to use when needed.

Spikes Reader

<span style=font-weight:bold; font-size:12px; color:#000000>REDUZIERT AUF DAS WESENTLICHE.</span><span style=font-size:12px; color:#000000> Auch mit der halben Menge an Spikes bietet der Winter exzellente Kontrolle auf glatten Eisflächen. Nur in extremen Kurvenlagen ist ihm sein großer Bruder...

www.schwalbe.com

Snow and ice: spiked tires!

If you start to slide on the bicycle on a frozen road, then it's too late. The fall is unavoidable. Only spikes can prevent this! Because it is only spikes that provide a firm grip. Therefore, Schwalbe offers no 'simple winter tires', but only 'winter tires with spikes'.[nbsp]

www.schwalbe.com

 

[Edward Elizabeth]

Yes, I do. As an MTB trainer it's one of the few opportunities to practice certain recovery techniques. It'll be counter-intuitive to the untrained, but riding clipped in gives you better control and allows slides to be recovered by pulling on the inside pedal ina manner that simply isn't possible on platform pedals (it's something that really needs demonstrating tather than describing).

Apart from which, if I only rode a bike in good weather in the UK I'd hardly ride at all.

 

[WheezyRider]

Years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about it. I used to live in a country where -15 C was normal in the winter. I carried on cycling and I didn't have winter tyres or studded tyres. I had boots I screwed home made studs into and if I was about to lose grip I'd quickly stick a boot down and recover- most of the time. I did bash my knees a few times and eventually I started wearing knee protectors as worn by in line skaters. The skin freezing on your face was another thing you had to look out for.

 

[passionate off roader]

I've cycled once this year. I took the back roads, thinking I would ease myself back into things after the Christmas break. But the road hadn't been salted. Got to a bend and it was like an ice rink and went straight off. landed heavily on the handle bars and cracked some ribs. So I'm waiting for the warmer weather.

I don't mind cycling on fresh snow, but ice is a nightmare.

Yes, that's the problem. Round here the main roads were clear, it was just the estate roads and shared pathways that were an issue.

Great suggestion from others about the spiked tyres, but I reckon I'll just leave it until the cold spell is over. Safer that way.

 

[passionate off roader]

Years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about it. I used to live in a country where -15 C was normal in the winter. I carried on cycling and I didn't have winter tyres or studded tyres. I had boots I screwed home made studs into and if I was about to lose grip I'd quickly stick a boot down and recover- most of the time. I did bash my knees a few times and eventually I started wearing knee protectors as worn by in line skaters. The skin freezing on your face was another thing you had to look out for.

Yep, I've noticed that even at just above freezing point. The air may be calm when standing still, but as soon as you start cycling there's an increasing windchill factor. So decent thick clothing and gloves are essential. Plus maybe a balaclava to protect your face.

 

[soundwave]

global warming needs to fkn hurry up

 

[jimriley]

Treated myself to spiked tyres. Great. Pics of the pennine bridleway, Littleborough. In places the track was covered in smooth ice.