Icy roads

downfader

woodgob wrote:

I won't ride when icy. Came off last year on black ice and landed on my coccyx. It hurt. A lot. I was off the bike for six weeks too. Now I'm nervous as hell in icy conditions so I won't ride at all.

I wondered if I fractured mine. Even a year on I can feel a "difference" when I sit in certain positions. :oops:

joew4ll

I came a cropper on ice on the canal path one morning at 20mph, wham, front wheel just disappeared replaced by a really painful hip for several months - still without my helmet I would have been in a worse state. (and so starts that little argument)

I now ride really gingerly (sp) when it's slippy - ice or grease - and I've made a mistake today by riding in on my carbon bike in the sunshine only to be confronted by really crap weather on the way home - anyone know the damage salt water can do to carbon?

Feltup

Your bike will melt.




Seriously, no problem with salt water and carbon just look at all the yachts, canoes etc that are made from it. Bearings etc is another matter.

The Chingford Skinhead

Greg T wrote:

Steel work in the roads.

Stay off steel work - especially when cornering but just generally stay off man hole covers.

Also Brick work. I often find that brick "paving" when wet and cold is very slippy.

As for not using the front brake... I'd say that you can't not use your front brake but you should recognise the danger of locking it up and losing control of the front end. I don't stop using mine - I am even more "aware" though. Have your threat radar turned up and use appropriate speed for conditions.

No ice this morning but I thought about your advice. Unfortunately the best slalem skier would be unable to avoid steel work on my route - certain roads just seem to have them scattered all over!

Brick work also interesting. Lots of crossings in Hackney and Islington have brick work either side as the road hump + i usually use Lambs Conduit which is entirely brick Looks like I may be on the tube and train, particularly as I'm not the best at balance at the best of times...in fact I need to have a look at my rear wheel again, it's come out from under me twice in the last week cornering and braking - I've stayed on but don't particularly enjoy the speedway sensation

iain_j

I've only ridden on ice once, and fell over in quite a bizarre way. I'd been riding slowly and verrrrry carefully, taking slower back roads to avoid traffic, and all was fine. Coming up to a pinch-point, there was a car coming up the other way so I stopped, put a foot down and waited for him to pass. While I was stood there, one foot firmly on the ground, I thought "not bad this, first time riding on ice, and no mishaps". I then promptly fell over. :shock: