Ice

[marooncat]

Again looking for advise from you experienced guys...

The last two years by now my bike would have been tucked away for winter in the garage till the clocks changed again but this year I am wanting to keep going as long as I can (not saying right through a Scottish winter though !!)

Anyhow, this morning was the first morning I came across ice .

I have two options to cycle to work, a 5.3 mile route almost all along a cycle path, really nice through fields, along a burn etc or about 4 miles along the main road which I do not enjoy, the surface is rubbish and as well as contending with the HGV's flying past there are two big roundabouts to do right turns at.

Obviously the cycle path will not be gritted at all during winter whereas the road is (hopefully) more likely to be done. I do not really want to have to cycle along the road regularly (do it if I have to get home quick or something) but I am wondering if I am stupid to consider using the cycle path knowing that there will be ice on it. This morning the first patch I hit caught me by surprise as I was not expecting it (was in a shaded bit whereas till then had been on open path where the "sun" had been) but then on I was going slower and keeping an eye out for patches and did not find it that bad - but was I just lucky??

 

[swee'pea99]

I will (and do) ride in gale force winds, pissing rain, hail, snow, you name it. I don't do ice. Period.

 

[4F]

With you 100 percent.

 

[elvisparsley]

Don't do it, unless you like falling over, in which case, yes of course go ahead

 

[marooncat]

Bite the bullet and ride on the road where it is gritted. Have known people to have some really bad falls riding on ice.

Think that is what I will be doing.. espically having just seen the forecast for tonight/tomorrow morning.

 

[louise]

The gritters are out here

 

[mickle]

IRC Blizzard tyres with tungsten studs are available for mountain bikes. I kid ye not. I have a pair and they are spectacular.

 

[mickle]

Or.. could ye no hassle the local authority to grit the cycle path?

 

[HF2300]

For the large part will it be fairly predictable where the ice will be, and therefore reasonably avoidable?

Mickle, aren't studs illegal in the UK?

 

[Mortiroloboy]

I fell off spectacularly twice last winter...ICE...Don't do it, BLACK ICE is the worst.

 

[ASC1951]

hassle the local authority to grit the cycle path?

I'm not sure how they would do that. Are there mini gritter they could trundle along in? You couldn't realistically expect someone to jog back and forth with buckets of rock salt.

I would go on the road. As to the roundabouts, there is nothing wussy about getting off and crossing two roads on foot, if it makes you feel safer.

 

[wafflycat]

Of course, the real answer is...

...ride a recumbent trike!

Great fun. Three wheels, low centre of gravity, incredibly stable on icy roads. When WMnr was studying for A-levels, he'd cycle the 26-mile round trip most days. When it was icy, he'd use my recumbent trike. Far, far safer on icy roads than a 'normal' bike.

 

[marooncat]

Came along the road this morning and it was not as bad as I feared. Made myself cycle well out of the gutter which seemed to help with cars not flying past so close to me. Did both roundabouts ok but will prob consider pushing round them in the future if they are busy.

The first mile or so of the cycle path is not that well used (it is part of one of the national cycle routes) and I doubt very much the council will grit it. They might grit the ones nearer my work (they do have a wee gritter for paths) but I can not see that being done before I go to work in the morning.

 

[byegad]

I rode last all through winter on my ICE trike. Appart from loss of traction on hills and taking it steady as I could lock both front wheels by looking at the brake levers it was good fun. I used to avoid ice like the plague on two wheel though.

 

[fossyant]

Stick to the road if you can. If really ICY then don't ride. I probably lost about 3 days last winter to ICE, that's it. I can walk to the main road before getting on the bike, and then stick to well used roads on the way to work.

I've come off on ICE in the past, and it's not funny, especially at speed - I was lucky, early morning, not much traffic...but 3 wipe outs on the way to work was painfull.... and shredded most of my clothes...