riding on frost,

[terry_gardener]

basically is it hard to ride on frost, is there anything you have to watch out for.

 

[Hacienda71]

It is not hard but the risk of falling of is hugely increased. The only tips I can give are stay on gritted roads. Be very cautious particularly on corners, try to corner slowly and as upright as possible. I rode through the last few winters on frosty days on 23c skinny road tyres with no offs but stayed on well gritted routes and took a bit longer.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Common sense really. Go careful, be smooth on braking, don't lean the corners as much as normal and be ready to put a foot down. You'll save a fall more often that way than trying to control a frosty skid

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If you're riding on an ungritted road you may find that the road is very slippy in the car tyre tracks where any ice has been compacted and polished.

Studded ice tyres are available if you are often likely to be riding on icy roads.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

As over the previous responses but I would say treadier or knobbly tyres depending on your bike rather than pure studded, however, that may be just my preference.

If a road bike, check the wheel and frame spec, you may get decent treaded or slightly knobbly up to 25/28mm.

If cyclocross, def go for 35mm knobbly (I gave these on mine and great so far this winter).
If hybrid or MTB, def go for 35mm or greater knobblies.
For the road bike or cyclocross, drop the tyre pressure slightly if very icy. Slower but safer.

 

[terry_gardener]

it is a hybrid cube nature pro 2014 with Schwalbe Smart Sam Performance 44x622
http://www.cube.eu/uk/bikes/tour/nature/nature-pro-men-black-anodized/

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

As over the previous responses but I would say treadier or knobbly tyres depending on your bike rather than pure studded, however, that may be just my preference.

If a road bike, check the wheel and frame spec, you may get decent treaded or slightly knobbly up to 25/28mm.

If cyclocross, def go for 35mm knobbly (I gave these on mine and great so far this winter).
If hybrid or MTB, def go for 35mm or greater knobblies.
For the road bike or cyclocross, drop the tyre pressure slightly if very icy. Slower but safer.

Knobbly tyres will give good grip in fresh snow but if anything will give less grip on ice than a more road oriented tyre due to less rubber in contact with the road.

 

[sittingbull]

Smooth on the brakes and try not to brake on corners.

Instead of 75/25 % front/rear braking I'd go for 50/50 %, or even less on the front.

 

[Easytigers]

Stay in the saddle on climbs to keep weight on the back wheel...otherwise you may find the back wheel spinning and you not getting anywhere!

 

[ufkacbln]

This is NOT a head phone comment!

Learn the noise your bike makes on the road, and listen to the tyres it will change to a low "hiss" when on frost and be silent when on ice

This gives you a more accurate idea of the surface you are on

 

[cyberknight]

Stay in the saddle on climbs to keep weight on the back wheel...otherwise you may find the back wheel spinning and you not getting anywhere!

Did that once ,a car overtook where an ice patch was so I ended up wheel spinning and then doing the clip less dive.

 

[FindingMozart]

Frost I haven't encountered much problem with, black ice however is always to look out for. Usually around puddles, where the spray from car drivers have scattered across the road becomes black ice very easily, and will bring you down.

 

[eevvee]

Frost I haven't encountered much problem with, black ice however is always to look out for. Usually around puddles, where the spray from car drivers have scattered across the road becomes black ice very easily, and will bring you down.

+1 on the black ice warning.
I hit a patch of black ice early December - and I'm still taking the strong painkillers and have another X-ray on Monday.
It was a fine clear morning with the sun just rising, however the ice patch was under some large trees with branches overhanging the road, ...no warning I went down with a very heavy tarmac contact. On my way back into town the gritter was heading out...too late for me.

New helmet, new gloves - however although I was cut and bleeding ( forehead,shoulder, arms, hands, right thigh) my winter top an tights were not torn (scuffed but still ok).

It has made me more wary of going out in very low temp conditions, particularly as further along on the route I had planned for the day a car also hit black ice and unfortunately the driver did not survive.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Knobbly tyres will give good grip in fresh snow but if anything will give less grip on ice than a more road oriented tyre due to less rubber in contact with the road.

I understand your point and that's what's great about this forum, we can disagree without giving off verbal.
Personally since going knobbly in early 2010 and each winter since, I've never had an off - well, not ice related anyway.and, that's been on heavy snow, light snow, slush, frozen slush, freezing rain, solid compacted and iced over snow, black ice, hoar frost and normal frost.
That has been on my MTB and now on my cyclocross.

All down to differing techniques and experiences.

 

[biggs682]

This is NOT a head phone comment!

Learn the noise your bike makes on the road, and listen to the tyres it will change to a low "hiss" when on frost and be silent when on ice

This gives you a more accurate idea of the surface you are on

couldnt agree more