Originally Posted by
BobbyG
After a two week hiatus I finally got back on the bike and rode to work, but...had to turn around after a mile and a quarter. Even with studded snow tires the snow was too deep and the ice was too lumpy. I could have made it but it would have taken 2 hours, and I only had an hour. So I returned home and drove. But at lest I had the gumption to get up and give it a go. Here's the video from the ride:
https://youtu.be/tXZCNTPoV2E
You chose the wrong tool for the job. I can't see your bike directly in your video (a link or embedding the video would make it easier to see) but I can see from the shadows that the bike is a rigid bike. Rigid bikes and ruts don't play well together. The wheels get trapped in the ruts and you can't countersteer to get out of them. You are just stuck until you either hit the end of the rut or you crash.
A better tool for rutted ice and snow is at least a bike with front suspension. Rear suspension helps with traction but a front suspension fork does wonders for control. I've used all kinds of forks in winter riding over the years and even the worst is better than a rigid fork. I currently use an air/oil fork which works down to at least 0°F and is perfectly happy at more moderate temperatures.