Cycling on Ice - Tips Please!

Bowling_4_Gold

Hi,

Due to recent weather conditions, some of the (according to the council) 'minor' roads are blanketed with up to an inch of solid ice because they havn't been gritted.

I have to get up very early in the mornings and do about a 3-4 mile cycle with regular stops. Annoying thing is, I can't stay on my bike! - no matter how subtly I turn the handlebar, the back always manages to kick out and I end up on the road.

Please, does anyone have any tips on how to overcome this problem? I have let air out of the tyres, and tried cycling a lot slower, but still doesn't solve the problem.

Thanks in advance

ariba10

There is no safe way!

If you want to stay alive. Don't cycle on ice.

Bowling_4_Gold

ariba10 wrote: »

There is no safe way!

If you want to stay alive. Don't cycle on ice.

Fair enough! I guess it'll be walking for the next couple of days then

Thanks anyway

shown73

I've always found cycling infinitely preferable to walking, because the pavements are lethal, but roads tend to be clearer. I use the least pressure possible on the pedals, try not to use brakes, if possible, and after that its all down to balance. Slow progress, but I get there eventually. Car drivers don't like it, but we all have to share the roads. I wouldn't be so brave though if it wasn't early, when there is only light traffic.

sebdangerfield

I know it sounds daft and overkill for the commute to work but I use snow tyres! I mountain bike alot and snow gives some of the best fun! It's never easy to cycle on snow and add in cars too and it can get a bit daft but I have the tyres for mountain biking and use them for the commute a few times a year. They're not strictly for snow, more ice but they're better than nothing and available from here

http://www.snowbikers.com/snow_tyre.html

shown73

That's great, didn't even know they existed. It's not overkill if it saves a broken collarbone, or suchlike.

tomstickland

I've cycled over loads of ice on my mountain bike. As long as you don't lean more than a few degrees and don't turn too hard you can balance on it.
I'm not sure how, just have to balance the bike properly.

computershack

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

Please, does anyone have any tips on how to overcome this problem? I have let air out of the tyres, and tried cycling a lot slower, but still doesn't solve the problem.

Thanks in advance

Err, how about not cycling? Just a thought seeing as it is apparently so dangerous you can't even stay on your bike. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

zartub

tomstickland wrote: »

I've cycled over loads of ice on my mountain bike. As long as you don't lean more than a few degrees and don't turn too hard you can balance on it.
I'm not sure how, just have to balance the bike properly.

to GOD SMARTASS !

tomstickland

It might be the tyres. I don't know.

angeltreats

I cycled to and from work for years in all sorts of horrible weather, but after one particularly sore and slightly embarrassing fall, I gave up bothering on icy days and took the train instead. It's just not worth the risk.