Ice Ice Baby

mattitheowl

Nearly had a big off today. Hit a bit of black ice on a climb and the back end came round faster than a strike from a diamond back. I absolutely crapped myself and my heart rate went up from 165 to 188 in about half a second. Luckily something innate saved me and I hung on to it. But what on earth do you do in this situation? I'm still pretty new to road biking so still learning the ropes.

Other than that though managed to tap out my longest ride to date and most climbing.

ShutUpLegs

Don't ride when it's icy

ianbz

Sound advice from ShutUpLegs!

lawrences

Ride when it's icy. Just don't fall off.

smidsy

There really is nothing you can do if you hit ice. Avoid breaking or making sudden changes of direction etc. but other than that you are a passenger.

As SUL states it is best to avoid ice in the first place.

alihisgreat

Ride on routes you know very well -> this means you'll know generally where the danger areas are.

Sticking to main roads can be a good idea too.

Cleat Eastwood

In this weather too, gravel and moss can cause slippage - in the rubbish months I avoid all the muddy lanes where small ice pockets can form - one day of failing to meet a challenge isnt worth a fewweeks nursing a bruised a-hole.

declan1

mattitheowl wrote:

My heart rate went up from 165 to 188 in about half a second.

I didn't know that was possible.

slowmart

Limited opportunities means riding in conditions less than ideal. Winter riding invariably means ice, rain and detritus left on the road. Narrow country lanes with a low sun mean that ice will stick around a bit longer that you would hope.

There is nothing you can do if you hit ice other than try and relax and don't touch your brakes.

Being aware of the conditions if you decide to ride is your best defence. And wet drains/manhole covers and highway markings are equally as dangerous as ice.

mattitheowl

declan1 wrote:

mattitheowl wrote:

My heart rate went up from 165 to 188 in about half a second.

I didn't know that was possible.

Neither did I but it nearly made me lose my breakfast.

It was on a main road and a well trodden path of mine, it was totally black too hence why I never saw it. I think it was just in the shade from the sun and was running out of a field or something.

chrisaonabike

mattitheowl wrote:

I absolutely crapped myself and my heart rate went up from 165 to 188 in about half a second.

I can never crap that fast. Always takes me ages. Thank gawd for all the cycling mags in the bathroom.

Camus

mattitheowl wrote:

my heart rate went up from 165 to 188 in about half a second. But what on earth do you do in this situation?

Ensure you have a syringe/needle of pure adrenaline in jersey pocket/saddle bag to administer directly into the heart.

NewTTer

You must have been climbing really really fast for the back end to come around going up hill!

ShutUpLegs

Bare in mind for every 1000 ft you climb the temperature drops 2 degrees.

danlikesbikes

Camus wrote:

mattitheowl wrote:

my heart rate went up from 165 to 188 in about half a second. But what on earth do you do in this situation?

Ensure you have a syringe/needle of pure adrenaline in jersey pocket/saddle bag to administer directly into the heart.

Why :?:

If his has just done the 5p 50p dance and scared himself his body has just created its own adrenaline increasing his heart rate by injecting yet more he is going to go beyond the red zone and into the dead zone