keiron curtis

I've been commuting now for a couple of years, perhaps I've been lucky in the past, but currently I'm on the sick from work, with a banged up knee and shoulder, as a result of a spill on some ice. How do you guys fare? I had no idea the ice was there, and in an instant, I was slapped unceremoniously and painfully to the ground. What could I do to prevent this happening again?

Sixty Fiver

Studded tyres will reduce the likelihood of black ice taking you out... front wheel skids are nearly impossible to recover from.

You can make our own studded tyres on the cheap and they work really well.

noteon 

Heal up fast.

You'll get different opinions about the necessity of studded tires, but if you can afford them, I don't see why you wouldn't want a pair. The situation you described is exactly what they're best for.

I don't know what brands are available in the UK, but here's an informative US website:

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

keiron curtis

Thanks Sixty Fiver, for the advice, I'll look up how to make studded tyres for myself, I'm very apprehensive about riding my bike in any sort of frost, at the moment, I'm getting a little too old for front wheel skids, a week off work is too costly. Does anyone else in the UK use studded tyres?

stomppow

Hey 65er, I have a few questions about your homemade studded tires, as I'm currently running schwalbe ice spiker in front and snow stud in back, and they were a little expensive!

How do you assure the studs are well supported within the rubber, so that they don't recess and start popping your tubes? What kind of screws/rivets/nails??? do you use? Thanks!

dlester

I feel your pain. My left shoulder is all buggered up right now from doing the same thing. Ironically I was at work, in the parking lot, when I took my spill. I had been careful all the way in and it wasn't until I decided I 'had made it' and let up my guard. Last corner, bang.

I am still able to ride. I would probably pee down my leg if I fell on that same shoulder right now though.

buzzman

It was about 30 years of falls just like the one you described that convinced me to finally buy studded tires. I don't know how long ago they became more regularly available but I resisted for a while.

I don't know if you're losing any wages for your lost work but I'm sure the cost of a set is less than a couple of days of work.

Heal well.

mstrpete

I would add (along with my best wishes for your speedy recovery) that I try to make a point of using the back brake more when temps are near freezing. I have found that rear-tire skids are much more manageable than front-tire skids, and I of course learned that the hard way.

Sixty Fiver

I place the studs so that they are put through the lugs... mountain bike tyres are easier to stud than road / cross tyres.

The DIY tyre also has a tyre liner to prevent the screw heads from abrading the inner tube and causing flats which I have never experienced with DIY studs.

Godwin

I think studded tires in Wales might be a little overkill, usually a bit of practise handling the bike goes a long way. Like mstrpete says, lay off the front break as much as possible, also slow way down before you turn and take the turn as wide as possible, don't make any sudden turns or breaks, if you hit a patch of ice, go with it, maintain your momentum.

crazybikerchick

Was the ice hidden by snow/other? I find that "black" ice is usually still quite visible because the pavement is shinier. If you see ice and have to go over it I find just coasting and going straight works best, steering, braking and accelerating can cause spills on ice.

Sixty Fiver

Making Your Own Studded Tyres

The problem with black ice is that you can't see it and it is not always an option to go straight through an icy patch... Murphy's law dictates that when you have to make an emergency manoeuvre that is when you will find that patch of black (invisible) ice.

JusticeZero

Studded tyres. They really are that good. I don't evn notice black ice with them on, while steering and braking and all that. They're a bargain, compared to missing work or having to heal up from broken bones frm going down on ice. Get some of the ones with carbide studs.

keiron curtis

Thanks for the advice Godwin, but sadly I was wiped out before I knew anything about the ice, can't ever remember hitting the ground so hard.

ItsJustMe

Studded tires. If you have any chance of hitting ice, studded tires. You never know when you'll hit it.

My biggest problem when I have the studs mounted is that if I stop and get off the bike, I've fallen before because I didn't realize that it was that slippery.

The only times I've ever fallen when I had studs on was due to deep, rutted snow (in excess of 6" deep) which just throws your tire to the side and there's not a lot you can do about it. on the plus side, falling in 6" inches of snow doesn't hurt.

ItsJustMe

I looked into making my own studded tires and decided it was silly. By the time I get to the 3rd winter, they're actually more expensive even if my time is free, because a proper studded tire has carbide studs which essentially do not wear out. If you make your own, you will have to replace the screws at least once a year.
Really if you just take it easy, I think you can get by with just a studded tire on the front. I wouldn't recommend it, personally I really need both, but if you really rarely hit ice, at least having the front studded will keep you from having a really bad crash. If the rear goes out on you, you'll probably just land on your butt (instead of your face/shoulders/collar bone)

Sixty Fiver

" I looked into making my own studded tires and decided it was silly. By the time I get to the 3rd winter, they're actually more expensive even if my time is free, because a proper studded tire has carbide studs which essentially do not wear out. If you make your own, you will have to replace the screws at least once a year."

My diy studded tyres are going into their third season and still have their original screws / studs that still have plenty of life left in them.

They have in excess of 6000 km on them.

ItsJustMe

Good to know. The two people I'd talked with that had made them said they had to replace their screws at least once a year. Maybe it's possible to DIY them successfully.

Still, $100 for a pair of Nokians is cheap for me. Even the $130 for a pair of Marathon Winters isn't breaking the bank. And I've got too many DIY projects on the burners already.

JonathanGennick 

Studded tires are great. Buy them; don't make them. And buy two -- you want equivalent traction front and rear.

Nokian makes studded tires in a variety of sizes and tread patterns. Schwalbe makes some good ones too.

Once you have them, you might find yourself searching out ice on purpose to ride on. I know I do. I've a lot of fun on mine.

You do still need to be careful though. Even with studded tires, you should take it easy on the corners.

huhenio

.... facing the snow for the first time now.

Taking the camera with me ... and a cellphone ... and morphine. <<<-----jk