josephl@tekigm2.UUCP (Joseph Dean Ludwig) (02/20/86)
I just took my second fall with my bicycle on ice within the last four months. Whereas the first was on an uphill grade with minimal speed, the second was on a downhill at about 20 MPH. The later has proved to be much more painful. I'm amazed at how fast the bicycle slips out from beneath me. Now I don't live in an extremely cold area. What do you folks who commute year round in colder areas do about this problem? I don't want to stop commuting just because it's below freezing temperature. Maybe I need training wheels!!! Joe Ludwig Tektronix in Washington
mancello@acf4.UUCP (Mr. Mancello) (02/22/86)
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 86 23:06:29 est From: mancello (Mr. Mancello) Message-Id: <8602220406.AA11271@nyu-acf4.arpa> Received: by nyu-acf4.arpa; Fri, 21 Feb 86 23:06:29 est To: josephl@tekigm2 Subject: Re: Falling On Ice Newsgroups: net.bicycle In-Reply-To: article <458@tekigm2.UUCP> of 20-Feb-86 15:38 EST /* acf4:net.bicycle / josephl@tekigm2.UUCP (Joseph Dean Ludwig) / 3:38 pm Feb 20, 1986 */ I just took my second fall with my bicycle on ice within the last four months. Whereas the first was on an uphill grade with minimal speed, the second was on a downhill at about 20 MPH. The later has proved to be much more painful. I'm amazed at how fast the bicycle slips out from beneath me. Now I don't live in an extremely cold area. What do you folks who commute year round in colder areas do about this problem? I don't want to stop commuting just because it's below freezing temperature. Maybe I need training wheels!!! Joe Ludwig Tektronix in Washington /* ---------- */ Maybe you should be iceskating to work rather than bicycling. I am assuming that the roads are not pure ice but sprinkled with ice granules. If the road were completely covered with a layer of ice, why would you want to ride on it unless you have a death wish or just like to feel pain. If you are determined to ride in such hazardous conditions, you should use the widest tires possible for your bike, underinflate them for better traction, use tires with knobby treads (like ATB's), and keep more of your weight over the rear wheel. Stay low on your bike with your hands on the drops of the bars (this will increase your stability). Also, if you don't already do so, WEAR A HELMET! It just might save your life someday. -Dom Mancello (cmcl2!acf4!mancello)
matt@utastro.UUCP (Matt Wood) (02/23/86)
In article <458@tekigm2.UUCP>, josephl@tekigm2.UUCP (Joseph Dean Ludwig) writes: > > I just took my second fall with my bicycle on ice within > the last four months. Whereas the first was on an uphill > grade with minimal speed, the second was on a downhill > at about 20 MPH. The later has proved to be much more > painful. I'm amazed at how fast the bicycle slips out > from beneath me. > I grew up in Iowa, so don't flame the Texas origin of the idea. Something you can try (I haven't, but a friend did) is to put tacks through an old, now-unused tire from the inside. In effect, you'd be making an "ice bicycle". Obviously this is a drastic measure. If it's too ambitious or unapealing to you, then I'd suggest you use your brakes so you don't go too fast, and keep your weight just slightly off the seat for improved balance (in addition to underinflated tires). Good luck! -- Matt A. Wood Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712 {allegra,ihnp4}!{ut-sally,noao}!utastro!matt (UUCP) matt@astro.UTEXAS.EDU. (Internet)
wagner@uw-june (Dave Wagner) (02/23/86)
> If you are determined to ride in such hazardous conditions, you should use > the widest tires possible for your bike, underinflate them for better traction, > use tires with knobby treads (like ATB's).... A popular misconception is that knobby tread gives you more traction on ice. Doubtful - if the ice is a smooth layer, and not just broken up crusty stuff, you want as much rubber in contact with it as possible. Treads are of no use unless the surface on which you're riding is irregular enough to afford something for them to grab onto. Have you ever seen tires for motorcycle ice-racing? (which is, I'll admit, a crazy sport.) Dave Wagner University of Washington Comp Sci Department wagner@washington.arpa {ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!uw-beaver!wagner
mink@cfa.UUCP (Doug Mink) (02/24/86)
Joe Ludwig writes in <458@tekigm2.UUCP>: > I just took my second fall with my bicycle on ice within > the last four months. Whereas the first was on an uphill > grade with minimal speed, the second was on a downhill > at about 20 MPH... > > Now I don't live in an extremely cold area. What do you > folks who commute year round in colder areas do about > this problem? I don't want to stop commuting just because > it's below freezing temperature. First, you shouldn't be going 20 on ice, especially if it's not prefectly smooth. We had an icestorm in Boston last week, so I got a chance to practice my ice riding a bit. The most important thing to remember is not to make any fast changes of direction; in this sense, bicycling on ice is not much different than driving on ice. This also means that you should take great pains not to do anything that will cause the automobile drivers with whom you are sharing the road to have to make any quick maneuvers. Riding techniques on rough ice are not that much different from those needed on loose gravel. The bicycle wheels can be pushed in random directions unexpectedly; your job is to keep your direction of travel constant and the wheels turning. If you go too slow, your lack of momentum will allow the bike to be too easily diverted; if you go to fast, the results of a slight slip can be disastrous. My recommendation is to find a parking lot or alley with no traffic and awful conditions and practice on it. As for special equipment, I ride the same 15-year-old Raleigh Grand Prix with 1 1/4 inch Specialized touring tires all year, though in bad winter weather, I replace the toe-clipped pedals with ATB pedals and ride with hiking boots for traction when I need more surface contact to stop. On heavy snow, an ATB has an advantage, but the sport-touring frame's maneuverability is useful in traffic conditions. -- -Doug Mink
maariano@watdaisy.UUCP (Marco Ariano) (02/24/86)
My suggestion is don't ride on ice. I quit after having two spills in a week. If you insist though, (and you've *got* to try), I have a few other suggestions. - Don't make any sudden movements at all. You've got to anticipate things long before you're forced to deal with them. You've basically got *no* lateral traction. - Take corners *very wide*. They're the killers. Don't even *think* of touching your brakes. Slow down before you need to. Spill #2 was on a corner and I fortunately slid into to the other lane before the oncoming car reached me. - When there's a cold frost on the road be *extremely* careful of manhole covers and lines painted/stuck on the surface. You won't believe how fast your bike slides out from underneath you. Spill #1 was caused by a manhole cover. Somehow I avoided head injuries on the curb (no helmet). - Wear a helmet. - The worst surfaces are ice sprinkled with fresh snow (sp #2) and freezing rain. Deadly. Read a book. Marco Ariano but hey, sometimes you just gotta say 'What the ...' road when
keith@hp-pcd.UUCP (keith) (02/25/86)
I did about the same thing back when I was going to Oregon State. There was a short downhill before the driveway to the dorm. Unfortunately, there was a patch of ice in the driveway. I was quite amazed to find myself without a bicycle under me. The result: seven stitches in my chin. Since then, when the temperature gets below freezing, I'm just REAL careful. I go slow on corners, watch out for shady spots, etc. With the patchy ice conditions that we get around here it's the best thing I can recommend. Keith M. Taylor HP Portable Computer Division Corvallis, Oregon
putnam@steinmetz.UUCP (jefu) (02/26/86)
In article <460@uw-june> wagner@uw-june (Dave Wagner) writes: >> If you are determined to ride in such hazardous conditions, you should use >> the widest tires possible for your bike, underinflate them for better traction, >> use tires with knobby treads (like ATB's).... > >A popular misconception is that knobby tread gives you more traction on ice. >Doubtful - if the ice is a smooth layer, and not just broken up crusty stuff, >you want as much rubber in contact with it as possible. Treads are of >no use unless the surface on which you're riding is irregular enough to >afford something for them to grab onto. Have you ever seen tires for >motorcycle ice-racing? (which is, I'll admit, a crazy sport.) I have an ATB which i attempt to use in the winter, and seeing as how the local climate tends toward chilly in that season, there is a lot of ice and snow around. The knobby tires by themselves are not much help. This is true even for irregular ice most of the time (though certainly smooth ice is much worse). Local bike shops suggest wood screws driven through the tires (from the inside ! :-), but i havent tried this yet. My general inclination is to suggest avoiding roads when there is likely to be ice on them. Not only is it difficult to control a bike well on ice, but it is also difficult to control a car well, and the way most drivers tend to treat bikes makes it doubly hazardous. I wish i could say otherwise. -- O -- jefu tell me all about -- UUCP: {rochester,edison}!steinmetz!putnam Anna Livia! I want to hear all.... -- ARPA: putnam@GE-CRD
grr@cbm.UUCP (George Robbins) (03/04/86)
> Since then, when the temperature gets below freezing, I'm just REAL careful. > I go slow on corners, watch out for shady spots, etc. With the patchy ice > conditions that we get around here it's the best thing I can recommend. > Keith M. Taylor HP Portable Computer Division Corvallis, Oregon Actually riding on ice can be a lot of fun if you are prepared and can find a route minimally frequented by automobiles. The biggest trick is to learn how to maintain a very neutral pedaling/riding attitude and be prepared to fall gracefully. You only have so much traction on ice and any unbalance, thrusting, leaning or careless braking will deposit you on the ground. * Avoid Cars * Practice Riding Style * Wear a Helmet (do as I say...) * Practice falling (relax, don't get tangled) * Wear Padded, tough Clothing and gloves * Pick you route (all ice is ok, patches suck) * Avoid Cars * Avoid Cars Of course I also prefer riding at night... -- George Robbins - now working with, uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|caip}!cbm!grr but no way officially representing arpa: cbm!grr@seismo.css.GOV Commodore, Engineering Department fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)
putnam@steinmetz.UUCP (jefu) (03/10/86)
In article <22@cbm.UUCP> grr@cbm.UUCP (George Robbins) writes: >Actually riding on ice can be a lot of fun if you are prepared and can find a >route minimally frequented by automobiles. Yup. I decided that i was going to officially (personally) decide spring was here when i could bike the bike path from Albany to Troy (NY). So spring was here on saturday (despite the 18 degree (F) temperature). However, it was all snow and ice with a few places where the sun actually got to the dirt and made mud. It would have been _possible_ on a road bike, but was work even on my ATB. I only fell twice. In one place there was about a hundred yards of sheer ice, flat on both sides and with a kind of small glacier in the middle. Getting across that without falling was a minor triumph. >The biggest trick is to learn how to maintain a very neutral pedaling/riding >attitude and be prepared to fall gracefully. You only have so much traction >on ice and any unbalance, thrusting, leaning or careless braking will deposit >you on the ground. Which translates to : keep your wheels going in the same direction at about the same speed (remember Newtons law), dont pedal energetically (too much weight shifting), turn _very_ carefully, and _RELAX_, you probably cant do anything anyway. >* Avoid Cars >* Practice Riding Style >* Wear a Helmet (do as I say...) >* Practice falling (relax, don't get tangled) >* Wear Padded, tough Clothing and gloves >* Pick you route (all ice is ok, patches suck) >* Avoid Cars >* Avoid Cars You forgot : *Avoid Trucks *Avoid Cars -- O -- jefu tell me all about -- UUCP: {rochester,edison}!steinmetz!putnam Anna Livia! I want to hear all.... -- ARPA: putnam@GE-CRD