Damn, buzzman, that's fantastic advice! Thanks for taking the time and trouble.

Avoid smooth ice (AKA black ice) if you can, but sometimes you can't so I'll add a couple tips that have helped me when it comes to controlling a ride on ice. This is what is known as the Zen of ice biking:

1. Handling a bike on ice is almost the same as handling a car. Try to "do nothing." Maintain a straight and steady course. Try not to steer or brake. Just ride it out, and let the bike slow by itself, which can take a long time. As soon as you're going slow enough, keep in mind that you can put your foot down if you do need to stop.

2. When you're riding in ruts in ice, always look at the rut itself, not at the ice on either side of the rut. (Mountain bikers know that the bike tends to go wherever you're looking, so look only where you want to go.)

3. Similarly, if you think about falling, you will fall. So think instead about staying upright.

4. Don't overthink the ice. Your body knows ice better than your brain does. Keep a relaxed grip on the bars and try to keep your muscles loose. Let your weight shift and your hands steer without any conscious planning.