Black ice/oily road surface, no grip, face in the road

woodyonthebeach

Feltup wrote:

woodyonthebeach wrote:

Ice defeated me this morning. Had to get the train but the walk from the stating was just as bad.

Couldnt get any power down no matter how gentle I was when I starting off. Tried a different bit of the road got a little further down and stacked it.

F*** This!!!!!!!!!!!! walked home and changed and became and mindless commuter on the train

Hmmm A4 seemed OK bit of wheel spin near Winter Hill and the hairpin was taken at the slowest pace I have ever done it, got to the car park and it was covered in ice. I think I have been lucky, dreading the ride home now.

I didnt even make it to the A4 this morning. Heard of some bad spots from a couple of mates of mine who were just heading to bed as I was heading to work.

I quite like my bike and me in one piece at the mo.

Feltup

Strangely it felt a lot warmer and there was little frost on the roof so thought OK will give it a go having stayed off for the last few days. Hopefully the ride home will be uneventful as I like my bike too!

itboffin

I'm about to set out on a short training ride and I know at the end is one hell of a steep downhill of the 40mph+ variety and I like to stay alive.

What's the general consensus on fatter tyres (Conti 1.3 sports contact) in these icy conditions, worth while or false sense of security?

joew4ll

I've had to rethink my routes to stick to the roads that I know have been gritted and still it's been "entertaining" for the last few days.

Evenings have been fine for me, but then I'm in Devon so it's almost tropical down here!

In the past though, I've stacked it in the same place 2 years on the trot, no matter how slowly I approached the tiny corner, smack ow hobble hobble back on straighten lights and get to work, great fun!

As for deisel, I work on an industrial estate and I piss off all the drivers by going round the roundabouts at a snails pace when there's even the hint of moisture it's so treacherous - still better than walking the bike the last bit or driving the whole way like a lemming. (not that there's anything wrong with lemmings you understand... they just have a tendency to unthinkly follow the lemming infront, whatever that one's doing)

greg66_tri_v2.0

itboffin wrote:

I'm about to set out on a short training ride and I know at the end is one hell of a steep downhill of the 40mph+ variety and I like to stay alive.

What's the general consensus on fatter tyres (Conti 1.3 sports contact) in these icy conditions, worth while or false sense of security?

It all depends on the rider. But for you, itb, I'd say go as narrow as you can. Really, really narrow. And smooth. Any tread will just give you imbalance and instability. The less tyre contact you have, the less ice contact you have.

And go fast. Really fast. That way if there is some ice, you'll be past it before you realise it's there.

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

woodyonthebeach

Greg66 wrote:

itboffin wrote:

I'm about to set out on a short training ride and I know at the end is one hell of a steep downhill of the 40mph+ variety and I like to stay alive.

What's the general consensus on fatter tyres (Conti 1.3 sports contact) in these icy conditions, worth while or false sense of security?

It all depends on the rider. But for you, itb, I'd say go as narrow as you can. Really, really narrow. And smooth. Any tread will just give you imbalance and instability. The less tyre contact you have, the less ice contact you have.

And go fast. Really fast. That way if there is some ice, you'll be past it before you realise it's there.

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Bloody hell mate you must have the balls of tungsten carbide. To be fair good point well made

c12345

I've been sticking to the A4 reciently too. (Reading - Slough) Its fine mainly cause of salt, and getting warmed up by the cars. Apart from where side roads join that is: water has been driven onto tthe main road before it froze. Still taking it proper steady though.

always_tyred

Greg66 wrote:

The less tyre contact you have, the less ice contact you have.

I'm sure there is a flaw in this reasoning somewhere. Let me see - oh yes, the coefficient of air is even less than ice. That might be it.

Narrow tyres = smaller contact patch = higher pressure on road surface = more likely to cause ice to melt under tyres.

That's better.

itboffin

Greg66 wrote:

itboffin wrote:

I'm about to set out on a short training ride and I know at the end is one hell of a steep downhill of the 40mph+ variety and I like to stay alive.

What's the general consensus on fatter tyres (Conti 1.3 sports contact) in these icy conditions, worth while or false sense of security?

It all depends on the rider. But for you, itb, I'd say go as narrow as you can. Really, really narrow. And smooth. Any tread will just give you imbalance and instability. The less tyre contact you have, the less ice contact you have.

And go fast. Really fast. That way if there is some ice, you'll be past it before you realise it's there.

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Thank you G66 for those kind words, I see all that charity work you've been doing has really paid off.

FYI I took the "fat" option, today was the first time on the hybrid in 4 months and I'm sad to report I simply don't like it any more.

I almost came off twice due to forgetting I didn't have drops and every time I looked down at the front wheel I couldn't help thinking jeez look how massive those 1.3 tyres are, the upright riding position now feels wrong and what's with all those gears, they didn't help me go any faster, slower if anything. hydro disc brakes took some getting used to again, a couple of scary instant stops :?

Previously mentioned hill was taken at 32.5mph with both brakes on, not a pleasant experience, it's a bloody good job no one was riding behind me

roger_merriman

my big heavy hybrid is less troubled by ice than quick thin old red, and i suspect it's more to do with the bike, it's a much more steady platform. you really have to be trying to upset it.

clipping wet manhole covers even if turning it might just twitch, and probably dent the manhole as it's darn heavy old thing.