Winter Cycling - When is it safe to ride in winter?

My town got an inch or two of snow yesterday . The main roads are all salted and look wet from the melting snow. But I am concerned about black ice since temps are only in the 20's. Is this safe for cycling ? Or should I only venture out after all snow has melted?

Depends on what kind of tires you have and your skill level.

If you have a road bike and slicks on...then maybe not. If you have studded tires...it is time to go ride the bike.

Michael

Nope, just have road tires. They are Kenda road tires for a 20" folding bike.

Wait till it melts.

My biggest problem with slushy roads is the rear wheel fish-tailing or hitting a big patch of snow with the front wheel.

I prefer riding plowed streets that may have a little ice on them, but I wouldn't try too much that without studded tires.

With regular street tires, I normally just wait for some bare or nearly pavement. From past experience, you can do a lot of cycling without mishap if you don't go for any speed records. If you run into a solid icy patch, get out and walk the bike. It'll help your feet warm up :)

With the right set up... always.

The right set up for me equals studded tyres and more often than not, a fixed gear.

With the right set up... always.

The right set up for me equals studded tyres and more often than not, a fixed gear.

I've see pix of your bikes. Nice. Just curious why a fixed gear is better in winter?

I've see pix of your bikes. Nice. Just curious why a fixed gear is better in winter?

I like the control I get on icy surfaces and having studs makes it just that much better... the simplicity of a fixed gear also means there is less to go wrong.

This is a good thing when one is on the road all day and where one's ability to manoeuvre and start / stop quickly is key to my ability to make a living.

This is not to say that I don't have mad skills on a geared bike.

The rear wheel on a fixed gear is also zero dish which makes it much stronger than a geared hub built with the same quality parts... and my bike takes a beating every day.

My boss is a career messenger and is new to winter riding... after chasing me around in the snow and ice he now wants a fixed gear and studded tyres.

And his skills are legendary.

:D

I like the control I get on icy surfaces and having studs makes it just that much better... the simplicity of a fixed gear also means there is less to go wrong.


Interesting. My image of me riding SS (I think I'd start there before going fixed...) is walking up every hill in town. Of course, that might not be a bad thing, since it would give me a chance to warm up the feet.

In winter I ride a 21 speed, but typically only use two of them.

This thread is interesting to me because when I ride in winter, I feel insane and everyone treats me that way. Peds on the MUPs have often greeted me with some thing "Please be safe."

I rode 7 miles this morning over what I thought was light snow. About halfway to work, I noticed I wasn't making a tire track... Oops. I suddenly realized that I was traveling over a bike path so icy that I could hardly stand on it. Still, the ride felt very safe. I took my time and the studded tires on ice gave me lots of traction.

When I got to work, I got more of those furtive, gee-your-nuts looks from my co-workers.

I confess that I'm a pretty safety conscious person. I ride slowly. Seldom take risks. So it is pretty interesting to be treated as a suicidal maniac.

With the right set up... always.

The right set up for me equals studded tyres and more often than not, a fixed gear.

+1

(except I have a MTB :-))

Just curious why a fixed gear is better in winter?Given suitable conditions, all derailleur equipped geared bikes turn out single speed after 10 kms or so. Unless you keep changing through all the gears just to keep cogs, cassette and shifters relatively free from snow and ice.

On the other extreme end, in very cold weather the pawls inside the freehub may freeze, resulting in no-geared bike.

Fixie is a solution to both those problems. Other good solution is internally geared hub, just make sure the lubricant inside is thin enough for the temperatures where you ride.

--J

What I consider safe based on my own experience, skill and equipment has little relevance to you and your situation.
Only you can decide what is safe for you.

I'm trying to remember where I saw them, but someone sells some 20" studded tires. They were on a BMX site. Not sure if they'd fit your folder though.

EDIT: here they are for $31, not bad at all: http://www.pedalpowered.com/servlet/the-42/Innova-Studded-BMX-Tire/Detail

Given suitable conditions, all derailleur equipped geared bikes turn out single speed after 10 kms or so. Unless you keep changing through all the gears just to keep cogs, cassette and shifters relatively free from snow and ice. . . .

--J
So, basically, a fixie is a pre-broken geared bike? ;)

I agree that few commuters really need a 20- or 30-speed bike, but gears are useful when you want a little more speed or a little more power. I think the ideal commuter (winter or summer) would be a three- or five-speed with an internal hub (as you suggest). Now, if I could come up with about $2K of spare money, I could build it. For the moment, I'll just be happy with my Cross Check with too many gears.

+1

(except I have a MTB :-))

My perfect winter bike is also a fixed MTB.

I set up an old mtb with a 3 speed internal hub and found that this was an excellent winter bike in that it kept running smoothly at -40 temperatures...

I lubricated the hub with synthetic oil and also lubed the bb with the same oil which made a huge difference in it's cold weather performance..

So, basically, a fixie is a pre-broken geared bike? ;)

I never got the one-speed theory. I use a far wider range of gears in the winter than I do in the summer.

Some of my parents' freinds were concerned for me riding home in the evening at 35 degrees. They seemed to think I'd slip on the ice. I don't have snow tires though, as I don't live in a seriously snowbound area.

I never got the one-speed theory. I use a far wider range of gears in the winter than I do in the summer.
Going up slick hills, I find that lower gears give me a lot more control. They allow me to apply even, steady pressure.

My town got an inch or two of snow yesterday . The main roads are all salted and look wet from the melting snow. But I am concerned about black ice since temps are only in the 20's. Is this safe for cycling ? Or should I only venture out after all snow has melted?

An inch or two of snow is unlikely to give you any serious problems. Don't worry about what kind of tires or gears you have. Just go ahead and ride.

I've run all winter long for quite a lot of years without studs or a fixed gear. All my
bikes are winter beaters. On my days off, I tend to ride through the alleys a lot
picking up the groceries etc. They have a lot more ice and I was really cautious,
slow and tense crossing it at first. After a winter or 2 though got quite comfortable
and relaxed. It just takes a little practice.

Of course that might not happen for everyone. One person at work asked me one
time "What do you do for pea gravel? would narrow tires help? I keep falling on it."
Ice is a lot slicker than pea gravel and if I had a problem with the gravel I would
never even try the ice.

Simple sig site bicycle article is mostly about winter biking in Calgary with a bit of
entertainment thrown in.


I set up an old mtb with a 3 speed internal hub and found that this was an excellent winter bike in that it kept running smoothly at -40 temperatures...

I lubricated the hub with synthetic oil and also lubed the bb with the same oil which made a huge difference in it's cold weather performance..

That is really good to know. I pretty consistently notice a bit more effort needed
about 15 C below freezing and always thought it was the grease. (Not driving an
internal hub though so can't use your solution.)

Nope, just have road tires. They are Kenda road tires for a 20" folding bike.

I ride a folding bike with 20" Kenda road tyres too :)

I think that only you can answer the question as to whether or not it's safe to ride. Go out on a quiet road and ride very carefully. Be prepared to fall off. Pay attention to how the bike feels. Do you feel safe? Would you feel safe with cars around? Would you feel safe making all the stops and turns on your cycling route out on the road?

Through the autumn I've been fretting about getting studded tyres for the midwest winter. I've told myself that I'll get the studded tyres when I no longer feel safe on my commute with the Kendas. So far, I'm still riding on the Kendas. I've ridden on ice covered and the salted roads you mentioned with no problems. But I ride very differently and pay much more attention to the feel of the bike in these conditions. I take things very easy and ride as smoothly as possible with no sudden movements. However, my route is straightforward and easy with only a handful of turns. Also, I don't ride in the winter if it's raining or snowing.

How I decide to ride:
1) Stand beside bike.
2) Push sideways on it to see if the wheels slip out to the side.
3) If it doesn't slip too easily, then I jump on and go.
4) If it does, take the bus or the car with a little sadness in my heart.

What I ride:
FIXED - Because it gives me more of a workout.
SLICKS - Because I can't be bothered to change tires or wheel-sets when there's snow.
WITH GUSTO - Because winter riding is awesome.

Plenty of responders here with more ice/snow riding experience than me but I've got to ask the OP what he considers "safe"? Do you mean "as safe as dry-road riding"?

I consider winter riding less safe primarily because motorists are more prone to lose control. I accept that increased risk, try to ride a bit more defensively, and ride anyway. Around here with the temp bouncing above/below freezing like a yoyo, patchy black ice is my nightmare and a guaranteed crash without studs.

its safe when ever you feel comfortable. if the front loses traction or the rear kicks out, just roll with it don't try too hard or you will over correct and eat it.

i keep my seat post a little lower so i can brace my self if i start to lose it. a good rule i follow is to keep my bike perpendicular to the road as much as possible. if your bike is washing out you are leaning too much.

i recently rode for 12 miles on roads that were totally covered in ice from beginning to end, studded tires never let me down. if you have a set of them theres not much that can stand in your way, given you have the motivation to go outside.

as for gears, i have a hard time keeping my bikes shifting properly when it's 80'f let alone -40'f ... single speed it is.