parkbrav

Boston is expecting an ice storm tonight that could result in a glaze of ice on the roads. It sounds like it will be worse west of 128.

xyz

Warning? Wouldn't this be called something else for this group? A big ice storm would be great for riding studs and the roads would be empty.

parkbrav

ZING! Hahaha you got me!

The local ABC affiliate here in Boston showed a pick up truck in Texas (same storm) attempting to drive out their driveway into a sheet of ice. When the truck entered the road way, it completely lost control and started sliding away. Scary. Now attempt that on a bicycle, with or without the studs.

fooferdoggie 

we had a ice storm here in Portland. first freezing rain that melted then freezing rain on top of that. several inches. it was like trying to walk in super soft sand where cars churned it up otherwise you could walk on top of it. but I don't have a bike that can handle it .

pdlamb

I think "warning" means that if you were planning to hop on a bike and ride south to avoid the ice and snow, you're too late.

xyz

With studs it would be no problem. With studs you would have better traction than you would on dry pavement as long as there wasn't a thick layer of snow on top of the ice. Studs rule.

parkbrav

I admit, there is a temptation to over-rely on technology like studded snow tires.

https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/video/...essee-75900098

Consider, for example, the following:

https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cycling/1161182-first-wipeout-season-video.html

Post from the same thread:

xyz

It's so much extra work to ride with knobbies and studs, plus the cold, that I am not going fast enough to worry about that. To me, just riding on them makes it pretty obvious you need to take care when turning, just from the feel. I mean, hitting even a small snowbank when turning can make you become very unsteady, any tight turn has me getting set to detach my foot from the pedal. The snow is far worse than the ice, with a flat sheet of ice you have little to worry about.

Noonievut

Weather forecasts are driving me crazy this winter.

Last night the forecast for this morning was snow (.3-.7cm each hour) before the big storm later in the day. So I figured I couldn’t get out with my non winter ready 40mm tires. Slept in, planned to hike. Well at 8:30am it was snowing lightly but no accumulation so I went out. Had fun but kept it short as I didn’t want to get caught in heavy snow an hour from home. It’s 5pm and still hasn’t snowed. I would have planned a 3hr ride if the forecast = the actual.