noteon 

Lots of treacherous ice north of the boat basin or so, all the way up to the 160s, with some decent passable stretches breaking up the walking. Studs recommended. I don't know what it's like above that.

(And I use the term "walking" in its loosest interpretation.)

Stacy

It 6 o'clock and i just got back from Fairway. Maybe it melted a bit since you posted?

Sure there's ice north of 90th Street, particularly that part that goes down and through the tunnel to the esplanade from 90th to 103rd, but it was rideable with my usual Armadillo All Condition tires - even with a small pack of groceries on my rack and a camera in my bag. Just take it a bit slow and avoid the edges.

I read on another forum that the hill behind the Little Red Light House is covered with ice. That might require a bit more than my standard tires

noteon 

Aw, man...I wish I'd known at 5:00, when I was deciding whether to ride back home. I took the train. At least I know it'll be OK tomorrow evening if everything doesn't freeze up again.

This morning there were long, broad glassy sheets of ice, obviously snowmelt that refroze while streaming across the pavement. My least favorite cycling surface without studs.

Stacy

This afternoon were were wet spots that streamed across the pavement and a good coating of no-snow in the middle. I'm not sure I'd want to ride in these conditions after dark though. Last year I hit a mound of ice in the Cherry Walk section that I never even saw.

noteon 

I upgraded my headlight this year, mostly because of the Cherry Walk, so that actually sounds like a good reason to mount up...

Stacy

I usually catch the Greenway at Houston and ride north. Winters past, there were times when I couldn't get more than halfway up the hill around 83rd Street. There can also be a bad patch right where the path enters Fort Washington Park near the Sewage Treatment Plant.

The nice part about days like today is the parks are absolutely beautiful and you practically have the Greenway to yourself. I only saw an occasional biker till I got south of Chelsea Piers.

noteon 

I was passed pointedly by a girl on a Nishiki road bike, wearing a messenger bag. No fenders; that bag's going to rot in a matter of weeks. I passed her again when she stopped to walk it gingerly over some ice I knew was OK to ride on.

I love snow and ice riding, but I haven't been able to afford studs for my new bike yet. Maybe this paycheck, he said, not convincing anybody.

Stacy

Not me. I also ride without fenders (due to a stripped bolt that's stuck in one eyelet) but I rarely pass anyone in this kind of weather. Another time when I was doing about 15mph on Cherry Walk I hit an ice ridge and the bike went airborne. Since then I've kept my speeds down till the Greenway is entirely clear of ice.

By the time you have the money for studs, and actually get them on the bike, the snow will melt and temperatures will be back in the 40s

sukram

grumble grumble... greenway commuting envy... grumble grumble...

noteon 

I know, I know. I know. I know. Shut up.

noteon 

As of tonight, the pavement north of the Little Red Lighthouse is not passable without holding your sliding bike with one hand and chipping ice with a Park Tool screwdriver to make a foothold at the steepest part with the other.

Up to that point, the only thing to watch out for is the bit by the bollards just above Riverbank State Park, which is easily walked.

Stacy

Well that's going up. How about toboggan bike on the downhill?

noteon 

I almost had toboggan bike on the uphill. Think I'll wait until the temperatures rise for a day or two before trying again...