Riding on black ice

[iceratt]

I lived in Minnesota when I was in my twenties, and never woried about ice that was black, white, or any other color. If I fell, I'd just pick myself up, and get going again. Now that I'm in my fourties, I really don't want to fall. I put one foot off the peddle and slowly roll over the spots that I think will be particularly slippery. If the bike goes down, I am likely to not go crashing down with it.

Do any of you have other ways to deal with this stuff. I thought that maybe I should get studded tires. Do they help substantially on black ice?

[mike]

Studded tires will help immensly. You won't even hesitate on ice if you have studded tires.

If you don't have studded tires, the best thing you can do on ice is 'nothing at all'. Don't pedal, don't brake, and don't turn. Just coast through it. Oh, well you CAN pray while you are at it. That sometimes helps.

[Gojohnnygo.]

If you are not going to use studded tires lower the tire pressure.
We have a few winter cyclist here that have tried studded tires and hated them.I guess it all depends on the rider.
For me I use a Nokian 106 on the front for commuting/MTB.
I have had a few times were it would be nice to have a rear studded tire on a steep climb or something off camber.

[iceratt]

thanks for the idea, guys. I think I'll check out studded tires. In the mean time I'll just go easily and slowly ovwer the black ice, hoping that there isn't a tilt to it that will bring the bike down.

[pinerider]

In the mean time I'll just go easily and slowly ovwer the black ice, hoping that there isn't a tilt to it that will bring the bike down.

My biggest problems with black ice have been when you can't see it. My winter commutes are in the dark both ways, so the black ice kind of blends in. Last winter only saw 2 capsizes due to black ice - The first was on my street as I turned out of my driveway (skiff of snow covering the ice) and the second was crossing a sidewalk during freezing rain (road salt kept the ice off the road, but not the sidewalk).

It is truly amazing how quickly you can go from vertical to horizontal on black ice!. I have studded tires this winter!