When not to fit the road?

ianbar

I just wonder how you all are deciding when it could be getting too frosty to fit the road? Since we ride p and down country climbs areas can be deceptive to what the conditions are actually going to be like. So how d you go about deciding it actually is not a good idea to go for it?

ridley2010

I very rarely stop going out, i just stick to main roads more and more. Last winter we were doing 5hrs up and down the A6. Pretty boring but still got to get the miles in!

cougie

Its up to the individual really.

If there's sheet ice around - I'll not road bike. I may take the MTB bike off road though.
If there's just a bit of frost - maybe I'll risk it, or just go out a bit later, and be prepared to modify the ride if you find it is too slippy out there.

albothegreat

I'm with the babyslapper it's Ok to go out but i would suggest only on gritted main roads. I came off at about 5 mph last year just turning out of my street! :evil:

Monty Dog

A lot comes down to experience and interpreting the weather forecast. In particular avoid roads in river valleys, next to open water or on north-facing slopes / permanently in shadow. Likewise, rain followed by a sudden freeze is the most hazardous and generally means off-road or the cafe!

marcusjb

Getting the winter miles in is always going to be hard - and especially when the icy roads come around. Echo others statements about having to change your normal routes, stick to bigger roads, pay attention to valleys/north-facing slopes etc.

Work on something different - do some intervals on a hill you know is ice-free?

Don't just press on blindly, if you think there's sheet ice ahead, start to slow, I often unclip a let my left leg dangle down ready to act if I do hit ice. It's just not worth the risk, once you hit sheet ice, there's little you can do, you're going to fall off 9 times out 10 - if you've slowed even a little, it's going to hurt less!

Understand that you're never going to be as fast on a given route/stretch as you were in summer and don't try to be - take it steady.

It only takes a small tumble and you're out of action until spring. If it's really icy, do some time on the turbo, down the gym, whatever.

It's not just ice - this time of year is very treacherous with wet leaves - I had two friends hit the deck this weekend, luckily no breaks, just bruises - but it made me far more cautious seeing the first friend hit the deck in front of me - he had to bail soon afterwards as his elbow was swelling.

ianbar

Thank you for your replies. It's all as I thought really but suppose its common sense really. I have a turbo so will try and bash some time on that and probably hit the road in my trainers to keep fit and aim for a decent ride out at the weekend in the middle of the day. I work nights so have tended to ride early morning or late afternoon, which is not really good thing now. Cheers for your thoughts again.

gmacz

Yesterday was the first non cycling day for me and today will be the second.
Everything is white and where we cycle is where the black ice is hiding.
Even mtb is out of action as it was very wet here just before the cold weather and now sheets of ice are everywhere.
Normally about 5 degrees colder here in the glens than the local average.
Just not worth the injury from a fall.
Going to give the new turbo trainer a run with my old mtb.
Rain wind cold etc is no real problem, ice is a real problem.

nhoj

Six inches of snow here, freezing temperatures, gritters and snowplows out. Yesterday it took me two and a half hours to do a route that normally takes me an hour and forty-five. My mileage hasn't dropped, though, and I'm still riding slick 23s. As others have said, stick to the main roads if you can. It's not as pretty, but you'll stay upright. And clean the bike after every ride! You'll probably notice your brake pads wearing down more quickly than usual.

briantrumpet

Fortunately for me the commute into town stays both dry and ice-free most of the time, so at least I get those miles in whatever.

But I learned my lesson on Sunday 9 January this year - lovely bright morning, 2 degrees centigrade - but I didn't allow for the sharp freeze at 4am. Having gone about 15 miles without incident, I went round a corner - still on a main road, and there was sheet ice right the way across the road and I hit the deck. One of many that did so that day. Luckily all I suffered was road rash. Devon County Council is pretty good a salting roads (and publish a map of which ones they do), but the conditions that morning meant the salt was ineffective.

So I'm now more cautious - any chance of ice and I'll either do the main road into town, or stay at home. A combination of the Met Office and a couple of online local weather stations give the info I need to make an informed decision.

centimani

One particular thing to watch out for is those areas of tarmac that are black and shiny, where perhaps a hot summer has melted the bitumen. One of my rides in the countryside has patches of it, usually where car tyres run. I was merrily doing 15mph on that stretch on a mildly frosty but bright morning....bang !!!! straight off, no warning.

Its those shiny surfaces that are dodgy in relation to the rest of the road that has the stony topsurface and is grippy.
Grazed hip, banged elbow.....still managed to get another 30 miles in though

wishitwasallflat

I feel as though I should MTFU and ride anyway but I fell off going v slow last year when my rear deraileur hanger broke and it went into the spokes. It was real slow but I hurt my wrist and couldn't ride for two weeks.

Now if it's icy at all I just don't go out and ride the turbo instead. S88t scared of falling again and getting injured I'm afraid.