Completely lost my "bottle"!!

Tiltzey Boy

Had an off about 3 weeks ago, I think I must have hit the only patch of ice in Somerset that day (it was spill off from a narrow country road that was flooded and has wetted over the main road), anyhow, came off, hurt a bit, bent the rear mech and hanger, but luckily I escaped with just a few bruises and battered pride!!

Now the weather's taken a very wintery turn, and there's plenty of the cold stuff stuck to the roads, I rode in to work on my normal commute yesterday and found myself to be really panicky! I mean, really panicky. I've never had a problem before now, and I've had one or two accidents in the past and found that simply getting straight back on the road a good remedy for any post-crash jitters!

Coming home last night was even worse, to the point where I really began to worry at the slightest glimpse of wet stuff, and on top of that, the bike feels really twitchy underneath me now!! I don't know if this is just down to the nerves, or if it's down to the new tyres handling completely different to the old ones, or even if I've done more damage to the bike than I first realised!

Whatever the cause, it's battered any confidence I had, to the point where I alnmost want to put the bike away for the entire winter until all the ice and frost has knobbed off for another year!!!!

What's worse than that is I've even considered switching to a mountain bike for the winter! Now that's when I know something's seriously wrong!!!!!!!!

pipipi

Sorry to hear that.

I'm in a similar position. There are plenty of country lanes round here where the hedges stop the sun from defrosting the road. I think switching to mtb is very sensible if you are feeling wobbly. I'd much rather do a couple of months on mtb than risk a serious injury on a road bike and miss riding completely!

I reckon big heavy bike and thick tyres are quite good training anyway.

Good luck finding your bottle, but take it safe.

Tiltzey Boy

Considering swapping out my 23mm Conti Gatorskins for some 28mm's or even fatter if they'll fit to see if that helps, otherwise it's investing in a CX for the winter maybe?

Maybe a cx with some studded 32mm tyres would be ok?

ShutUpLegs

Dont ride when its icy

Mikey41

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Dont ride when its icy

^^ this.

It's around freezing and below up here just now, but there hasn't been any rain/snow recently, so the roads are fine (don't get cocky though). If/when it rains and then goes under freezing, the bike is staying in the house.

Tiltzey Boy

Thanks for the advice ShutUpLegs, but as me and the missus only have the one car between us and we work 20 miles in opposite directions, sometimes it's unavoidable! I see your point though!!

amaferanga

I've had more problems with black ice this past week than ever. Probably just bad luck, but I had a very hairy moment last week when I hit a stretch of ice on the main A57 near Sheffield and managed to gracefully slide to a stop eventually with one foot down. I then had to walk for the best part of a mile until the road was ice free. Then on Saturday when it was barely even frosty the previous night I hit the deck on a bit of black ice. Not sure what the company that the council have contracted to grit the roads are up to - maybe conserving grit either to save money or expecting a bad winter. But the roads that have been the worst have been 'primary routes' so they should be getting priority. Doesn't bode well really for when the winter really starts and we get some snow.

I'm pretty twitchy as well, but I have to ride to get to work. Just got to try to relax and keep your eyes peeled for anything that looks like it could be ice. When it's as cold as it is at the moment that means that anywhere in shade can be iced up at any time of day.

stueys

Road bikes and ice are not a great combo. If you have to ride then I would be switching to a mtb or CX where you can get better tyre on. And go easy, I came down a descent at jogging pace last weekend, thought my brakes were about to catch fire!

amaferanga

Stueys wrote:

Road bikes and ice are not a great combo. If you have to ride then I would be switching to a mtb or CX where you can get better tyre on. And go easy, I came down a descent at jogging pace last weekend, thought my brakes were about to catch fire!

Knobbly or CX tyres will make zero difference when it comes to smooth black ice.

robbo2011

but you can fit studded winter tyres on the CX or MTB...

I think that's what Stueys is getting at.

desweller

If you have the frame clearance then get some Schwalbe Winter Marathon tyres or Nokian snow tyres. They are fitted with aluminium studs to puncture the ice. Several riders on these forums swear by them in these conditions.

Mr Will

Sounds like the problem is you are tensing up when you get nervous (understandable!), which will make the bike feel twitchy. If you consciously relax your muscles you should find it settles back down.

Mike67

Highly recommend Schwalbe Marathon Winters (I think they have tungsten studs not aluminium).

You'll need a bike with good clearances though (I've fitted them on my 'cross bike) as they're too fat for a standard road bike.

Went out today on them to 'bed them in' as per instructions. Happened across a few large patches of ice though and had no problems at all getting across.
On standard tyres I'd have been tensing up waiting for the thud as I hit the ground

Only down side I can see is they're mighty heavy but if it means avoiding the turbo I'll take the extra weight any day.

Tiltzey Boy

I've been looking at those kinds of tyres Mike, and it looks like a good way to go! Like you say though, I doubt they'll go on my standard roadie, so maybe a CX might have to go on my Christmas list last minute!!!

I'm not worried about weight, I'm already oober-slow, so a few more grams ain't gonna make much difference!!!

Muffintop

Better slow than dead! We had a spot of late snow last year, and going down hill with both wheels skidding was not fun - even at a crawling pace. I remember looking over at the OH's bike seeing both wheels turning, but not at the speed they should have been for how fast he was going down the hill (not very fast). On reflection though I'm much more confident on my balance and am aware of the feel of the bike on the road, so mibbies some gentle practicing wouldn't go a miss.

Mx

navrig

I've a similar problem.

I broke a bone last winter and the previous winter. Both bike related although neither ice/snow related.

I don't commute so have the option of turbo, gym and going for a run rather than risking the bike. As I have a ski holiday booked for end January I am inclined to keep of the bike.

It's cold up here however we do get dry days when most of the road surface is dry but the field drains have a habit of discharging onto the road and freezing a nice think layer of ice, especially on hills and cross slopes!!

sigorman85

I reckon big heavy bike and thick tyres are quite good training anyway.

Good luck finding your bottle, but take it safe.[/quote]





It's sure helped me on my fitness now I have just got a road bike it feels so light an fast