Riding in ice, what are my options

sockky · 2 Jul 2014 at 17:20

I try to avoid ice like the plague. First encounter was when I was 16 on a moped, came off twice in one day! I'm sure I've become a better rider since but I'll still do my best to avoid it.

Luckily I can just work from home in my career if the weather is bad. Which isn't the case for others.

acemastr · 2 Jul 2014 at 17:50

I've come off a 125 twice on ice, don't even attempt it, I could spin the rear wheel in every gear in a straight line that day... looking back I shouldn't have even attempted the roundabout

ttaskmaster · 2 Jul 2014 at 20:20

acemastr said:
I've come off a 125 twice on ice, don't even attempt it, I could spin the rear wheel in every gear in a straight line that day... looking back I shouldn't have even attempted the roundabout

I think there comes a point where a bike can also be too light to remain stable enough.

Your post also reminded me - High gear, low revs, to help keep the back from spinning. Most bikes can pull away gently in 2nd.

dangermouse425 · 3 Jul 2014 at 09:47

Just buy a cheap car. It's not worth the risk.

Fireskull · 3 Jul 2014 at 09:55

This should be renamed "Crashing on Ice, what are my options"

1. Keep crashing as thats all you will do on ice
2. Get a car
3. Other form of transport when its icy.

Woogie · 3 Jul 2014 at 10:12

ttaskmaster said:
I found having the feet down was more of a snag risk and greatly lessened the feel of the bikes. With feet up, I could feel when it was losing traction far better.

Must be personal preference then as I found the exact opposite, I just felt safer knowing I could put my foot down and steady the bike or step off If I felt it going.

ttaskmaster said:
Front brake can be used, just nowhere near as heavily as normal.
Back brake also very gently, but many bikes are prone to fishtailing if you back-brake too heavily on ice as any lean angle is exacerbated.

I used my front brake once and the bike very nearly went from under me and I only ever so lightly touched the front but I do agree that even slightly touching the back made it lock up so glad I was only doing about 5mph and was keeping a good 5 or 6 car lengths between me and anyhing.

ttaskmaster said:
Riding in actual snow is by far the easiest, especialy fresh snow.
After the first day or two, the compacted snow and slush can be fairly easy, but you need to keep the feelers out in case you start to slide. Moving between the fresher areas and the compacted wheel tracks is full of potential slip points.

I agree, Although fresh snow can hide the pot holes and bumps so be careful, I nearly came off due to hitting a pot hole that was hidden and starting to wobble.

Unfortuantely I cannot afford to get the train (£550 a month compared to £200 ish) or other forms of transport on a long term basis so I have to ride come rain, snow, fog or glorious sun shine.

ttaskmaster · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:10

Woogie said:
Must be personal preference then as I found the exact opposite,

Well, in riding with your feet down, you're immediately introducing more drag into the set-up of your bike and these additional points are not exactly fixed. Your legs will move about, which makes them even more unstable and more likely to either upset your balance or drag you out of alignment... the extreme version of which is dragging you right off the bike.

Woogie said:
I used my front brake once and the bike very nearly went from under me and I only ever so lightly touched the front

Depends what you try braking on, however lightly.
Fresh snow is easier than slush and compacted, with the heavy stuff being an instant fail. As well as being very careful with the brakes, you also have to be very mindful of the road surface (ie, what is atop it), as well as being ready to react appropriately when the bike does something you don't want!!!

Woogie said:
Although fresh snow can hide the pot holes and bumps so be careful,

I'd never choose to ride a road under those conditions if I didn't already know where all the hazards were!

Woogie said:
so I have to ride come rain, snow, fog or glorious sun shine.

So what would be your long-term contingency if your bike was stolen, or something?
Thus far, we haven't really had snow for more than a few days at a time in the last decade or so, which would mean you're usually only talking a couple of weeks' contingency. Might be worth having a back-up plan in case of another equally debilitating bike catastrophe, though...

leigh_boy · 3 Jul 2014 at 15:35

why are we talking about ice and cold nes this time fo year...
go out and ride

bloodiedathame · 3 Jul 2014 at 15:55

I always post this pic.

It was snowing on the M25, and I was riding in jeans, able to see sweet **** all out of my visor. Then when I got back to my parents house, the roads were all like this. Scary as ****. My feet were down riding on this and obv using front brake. The hardest bit was getting it up onto the drive and into the garage though. Dug a trench but could have slipped pushing the thing at any moment.

SPG · 3 Jul 2014 at 18:54

Done it twice now, 2 years ago when we had that mental cold snap and i got caught out.

You cant ride in ICE/SNOW in the UK. Not allowed to use studs in tyres etc. Put it away for the 2-3 weeks when its really bad and get the bus. Get up earlier and hitch hike (this was actually quite good fun) when i did it for a week when younger, or Walk.

You are asking for injury and only luck will save ye.

wazza300 · 3 Jul 2014 at 21:13

worst part is if you feel yourself slide and put your foot down to save yourself and that too just slides from under you,i snapped a mirror clean off doing that,luckily I saved the bike from hitting the ground

gotta be mad to try n ride in snow,no matter how much experience you have your gonna come off

bloodiedathame · 3 Jul 2014 at 22:57

I eventually came off on diesel, not snow.

thedoc46 · 4 Jul 2014 at 05:58

stay off the side roads.. ive gone down before on black ice, and had to butt shuffle back to the curb just to pick myself up...

as long as the main roads are de-iced, you should be ok, but its risky.

ShakenNstirred · 4 Jul 2014 at 06:33

to be honest I first got on the road in 1981 and haven't crashed on ice ever and I used to ride 365 days a year.
slid off a few times in snow but only bent a few things on the bikes in very slow speed offs

ttaskmaster · 4 Jul 2014 at 12:25

wazza300 said:
gotta be mad to try n ride in snow,no matter how much experience you have your gonna come off

Have you *seen* the people that go to the Elephant Rally??!!

wazza300 · 4 Jul 2014 at 13:51

no,i ride all year round for nearly 20 years an snow is a no go for me

ice ill ride in it but only as a last resort

as for diesel ive never slipped on any

ElliorR · 4 Jul 2014 at 14:05

Most "fun" I ever had riding in snow was riding 30 miles home from work at 0400 winter 1989 on a KMX 125, still my favourite bike as it was my first, 2nd or 3rd gear max both feet down as stabilisers. I took the next night shift off.

Woogie · 4 Jul 2014 at 16:35

ttaskmaster said:
Well, in riding with your feet down, you're immediately introducing more drag into the set-up of your bike and these additional points are not exactly fixed. Your legs will move about, which makes them even more unstable and more likely to either upset your balance or drag you out of alignment... the extreme version of which is dragging you right off the bike.

Not at really low speeds such as 5mph or so which is what I did when it was icy, Not a whole lot is dragging me off my bike at this point besides an angry car driver who I am holding up. My feet were pretty much touching the floor and I found this better. You can get as technical as you want about it, For myself I found this better and advice was asked and was given. Whether you agree personal is beside the point.

ttaskmaster said:
Depends what you try braking on, however lightly.
Fresh snow is easier than slush and compacted, with the heavy stuff being an instant fail. As well as being very careful with the brakes, you also have to be very mindful of the road surface (ie, what is atop it), as well as being ready to react appropriately when the bike does something you don't want!!!

Agreed

ttaskmaster said:
I'd never choose to ride a road under those conditions if I didn't already know where all the hazards were!

It is easy for a pot hole to appear or to simply forget something is there when you are focusing on so many other things, as was the case for myself

ttaskmaster said:
So what would be your long-term contingency if your bike was stolen, or something?
Thus far, we haven't really had snow for more than a few days at a time in the last decade or so, which would mean you're usually only talking a couple of weeks' contingency. Might be worth having a back-up plan in case of another equally debilitating bike catastrophe, though...

The train although this would put me under financial hardship, but no more so than if the bike was stolen and I had to replace it. I had to get the train for 2-3 months when I had my accident last year, It is do-able it just eats any of the expendable income I have so would rather not while saving for a wedding

wazza300 · 4 Jul 2014 at 16:46

ElliorR said:
Most "fun" I ever had riding in snow was riding 30 miles home from work at 0400 winter 1989 on a KMX 125, still my favourite bike as it was my first, 2nd or 3rd gear max both feet down as stabilisers. I took the next night shift off.

I had two of those,i loved em