Advocacy & Safety - Down but not out....

Well I suppose it was a little bit unlikely that I'd go from being a non-cyclist to 1000 miles without an accident, but as I'd managed 930 I thought I was in with a chance....

I learnt a couple of lessons this morning....

It was dark when I set off from Faversham and as the BBC weather page had suggested temperatures were going to be above freezing I wasn't at all worried as I cycled along. Six miles out of Faversham I climb another hill and round the bend into a white landscape (well white with black :( roads). It was well below freezing. Now I've cycled along this road in much lower temperatures without any problem, however yesterday it had rained hard, and field run off had been heavy. I discovered that there is a big difference between a frosty dry road and a recently wet road...

I saw the ice and was ready the first time I felt my rear tyre sliding out from underneath me. I dropped the bike and skidded along on my bum without any real problem. Now if I'd been sensible I'd have headed the 6 miles back the way I came and caught a train - I'd have probably only been half late for work...

Instead of which I let out a little pressure (slime tubes make this a little messy) and carried on....

I didn't even see the next lot of ice or feel the slide start, one minute I was pedalling slowly, the next I was on the road. This time the bars hit the ground with more force and my four cateyes ended up spread over the road, along with my pump, water-bottle and broken toe-clip....

I've managed to assemble three lights out of the parts of the four, new toe-clips weren't too dear. The pumps okay, and I think I can jury rig a new mount with velcro. Sadly the new saddle has a gape that means replacement (just as it had softened up from the first 100 odd miles). The pannier saved my derailleur, and I can't see any damage to wheels or frame.

At least I've learnt to be extra careful/avoid riding the day after rain if the temperature suddenly drops. I've also learnt to take a couple of degrees of what the BBC predict/read from the nearest met. station.

A jarred and slightly stiff knee, mean I'm not going to be commuting this side of the weekend but it could have been worse...

Richard

Good to hear that you`re all right, to bad for the saddle :(
I had a similar experience on my tour, it was a frozen off road track, but i could get off my bike in time and managed to use the gras on the side of the track.
I wish i brought my skates with me!

Whenever you take a spill like that, check for bent cranks. If the pedals feel a little uneven as they turn, the crank arm may be bent inwards, and the pedal spindle pointing off-axis.

Everyone needs an educational spill. Mine were on sand (9yrs old)and on ice (15), then due to a freakin equipment accident (aged 36).

One you know how trecherous ice can be, you can add it to your paranoia watch list. Ice lurks in hollows, in tree shade, in sunny spots under a film of water. There are days when it is simply too icy to bike. Now snow is another matter altogether, and much more fun.

Originally posted by toolfreak
Good to hear that you`re all right, to bad for the saddle :(
I had a similar experience on my tour, it was a frozen off road track, but i could get off my bike in time and managed to use the gras on the side of the track.
I wish i brought my skates with me!

Fortunately the saddles are still on offer, so it's not too bad. It's a pity they haven't got them with Kevlar sides, it might have saved me from breaking in a new one...

Richard

Originally posted by MichaelW
Whenever you take a spill like that, check for bent cranks. If the pedals feel a little uneven as they turn, the crank arm may be bent inwards, and the pedal spindle pointing off-axis.


Thanks - the way my knee is stiffening up, I can't see me riding it for a few days, so I'll have time to check it over :( I think the exploding toe-clip took most of the force out of the fall... Thinking about it the v-brakes probably protrude slightly and might want re-aligning as well.


Originally posted by MichaelW

One you know how trecherous ice can be, you can add it to your paranoia watch list. Ice lurks in hollows, in tree shade, in sunny spots under a film of water. There are days when it is simply too icy to bike. Now snow is another matter altogether, and much more fun.

The annoying thing is I do check the BBC's webpages each afternoon and they didn't show temperatures dropping below zero (from the sounds of sirens I think a few motorists were caught out by the lack of gritting on even the major roads), and of course with Faversham being at sea-level I don't tend to get the problems until I've climbed several metres and I'm halfway there...

Are there any pointers as to when to expect icy roads rather than just frosty roads? I'm assuming if it's been dry for a week then it's probably 'safer'?

Thanks again

Richard

Originally posted by Richard D




The annoying thing is I do check the BBC's webpages each afternoon and they didn't show temperatures dropping below zero (from the sounds of sirens I think a few motorists were caught out by the lack of gritting on even the major roads), and of course with Faversham being at sea-level I don't tend to get the problems until I've climbed several metres and I'm halfway there...


Richard

I never rely on the weather reports now. If I look out the window and see frost, I think twice about riding as from experience this means a couple of parts of my commute with black ice problems.

Glad to hear you're not hurting too bad Richard.

Get to know the micro-climate of your route. Weather forcasts are way too coarse to predict rogue ice.
Note the elevation, aspect (facing sun/in the shade) and degree of exposure or shelter.
On my 2 mile journey into work I pass from sheltered hilltop to exposed N facing slope, cold sheletered hollow, sheltered S facing slope. The temperature range defeats any single clothing combination. Rolling down the hill on a cold evening, I can really feel the depression in temp as I reach the bottom.
When cars winscreens are free of ice on my street, they may be frosted solid in the cold hollow.

Originally posted by Richard D
I learnt a couple of lessons this morning....

As do we all. I hope you have a swift recovery.


Originally posted by Richard D

It was dark when I set off from Faversham and as the BBC weather page had suggested temperatures were going to be above freezing I wasn't at all worried as I cycled along.

I don't follow weather forecasts out of anything other than curiosity anymore. They get it totally wrong as often as they get it right, and you have to wonder about some of their temperature recordings (recorded at The Spit here on the Gold Coast, consistently 3-4 degrees cooler than everywhere else). They really aren't worth the hassle.


Originally posted by Richard D

At least I've learnt to be extra careful/avoid riding the day after rain if the temperature suddenly drops. I've also learnt to take a couple of degrees of what the BBC predict/read from the nearest met. station.

If you haven't got slick tyres, get some. They handle slippery conditions much better than any of the alternatives (we have problems with oil slicks when it rains out here).

If you haven't got slick tyres, get some. They handle slippery conditions much better than any of the alternatives (we have problems with oil slicks when it rains out here).

I'm running semi-slicks (inch-wide slick centre - knobbles on the side, that only touch the road on cornering).

Fortunately I'm only a little stiff this morning, but unless I get time tonight to give the bike a thorough checkover I'll save commuting until Monday. I rode it from the station last night without any obvious problems, although I confess I didn't feel overly comfortable on the bike - nerves I guess.

Richard

Hi Richard,

After doing three body plants in 2001 made a resolution to reduce said number in 2002.

re: cateye lossage: Assure bicycle attachment by using a leather toe strap around the light. You probably have loads of them lying around, they work great (scattered my light's batteries the first fall, AND broke the attachment too...)

re: sliding at ALL...get yourself some nokkian studded tires. I've yet to fall (well...not much data yet, only riden 4 times on them) but they seem to be fairly fast for knobby tires, and they definately reduce the pucker factor when riding at speed on snow & ice. I'm VERY happy with them, and they should last a few (I'm hoping min 6) seasons at least.

Don't forget, if it gets REALLY nasty, your main concern should be roll elimination, i.e. not falling.

ride safe,
Tom

Do Nopkian studded tyres work OK on normal non-frozen roads.

Do Nokkian studded tires work on normal roads?

Well, ya sure, ya betcha! (it's not Finnish, but it's up north...:))

I'm waiting for the Ben Hur model to come out...

Seriously, though, I've not really be using them on snow and ice, but it's nice to know that the traction is there when you need it (and don't EXPECT to need it)

Most of my commute is nice and clear, (the tires run just great) but I've got a couple of spots with ice (bridges & parking lot) and I've not fallen (touch wood) yet.

ride safe,
Tom

Originally posted by Tom_The_Bikeman
Do Nokkian studded tires work on normal roads?
.....
Seriously, though, I've not really be using them on snow and ice, but it's nice to know that the traction is there when you need it (and don't EXPECT to need it)

Most of my commute is nice and clear, (the tires run just great) but I've got a couple of spots with ice (bridges & parking lot) and I've not fallen (touch wood) yet.

ride safe,
Tom

I must admit I'd thought of them a bit like chains on cars, only for use on snow or ice, and not clear tarmac. I suppose 'dry' tarmac must wear them a little quicker, but they might be worth running with for a couple of months of the year.

I assume they'd also be okay for light off-road use as well?


Richard

When you ride studded tyres on dry pavement, not only do you lose a lot of traction, but the studs wear very quickly.

I didn't cycle in today - (I want to have a chance to thoroughly check it over in daylight, and give a slightly bruised knee a bit of time to heal), but walking from the station to work I almost went over on a patch of ice, I'm obviously going to have to forget about heading to work when the temperature drops... ;)

Again the weather forcast suggested a minimum temperature of 5 degrees C. I think I'll buy an exterior thermometer and keep it outside the back door, I can always knock a couple of degrees of the reading to allow for frost pockets on route.

Richard

I had my first fall on ice a week ago. Never saw the ice and went down in a microsecond. Scratched up the rear skewer and the left shifter, but no permanent damage to myself. I will be much less pig-headed about going out regardless of the weather. The part I hate about falls is that I usually manage to ruin a piece of expensive clothing. This time I put a hole in the sleeve of my windbreaker. Cursed myself while gingerly riding home.

Where does ice form? In the evening after a sunny day, watch for ice on the downslope from the edge, particularly on roadways that cross a hill diagonally rather than straight up. Spring is actually worse for ice than winter, especially in the morning.

I ride the Nokia Mount & Grounds and find them to be fairly quick on the dry pavement. I simply accept that to have the studded tires I need at multiple points on my ride I will have "excessive" wear. To be able to regularly commute, you have to be prepared for varying conditions, and I refuse to change tires every mile to optimize for the conditions. The studded tire let's me ride knowing that I'm prepared if it starts to snow or freeze up while I'm at work. If I'm going to commute regularly, I have to be prepared for unpredicted weather changes.

Jean Beetham Smith.

Commuting pioneer. :D

back when I raced, we had a saying..."Skin heals"

I had a tublar delaminate in a criterium, causing me to go down HARD at speed (I was even second at the last lap...<sigh>) and I was more unhappy at the loss of my wheel than the large loss of skin.

Then again, I was poor at the time...<g>

cheers,
Tom

Originally posted by dougc
The part I hate about falls is that I usually manage to ruin a piece of expensive clothing. This time I put a hole in the sleeve of my windbreaker. Cursed myself while gingerly riding home.

I managed to trash a goretex jacket when a car spilled me. I got a full (>100%) compensation from the driver, but I dont like to wear really expensive stuff if I dont need to for that reason. A cheap windbreaker works just as well, if not better than expensive goretex when its not raining.
At least in winter, you usually wear several layes between your skin and the road.

Originally posted by MichaelW


I managed to trash a goretex jacket when a car spilled me. I got a full (>100%) compensation from the driver, but I dont like to wear really expensive stuff if I dont need to for that reason. A cheap windbreaker works just as well, if not better than expensive goretex when its not raining.
At least in winter, you usually wear several layes between your skin and the road.

I was lucky in that the road was so icy I just slid along on my backside without clothing damage. I do have more than one jersey with the odd dirty lube stain on though...

Richard