Riding on water ...
 

A couple of years ago, I ventured out on a lake on foot because I saw snow-mobile tracks on it. I figured, if a 400# machine can run on the ice, certainly it can take my weight.

I've got the Nokian 294s so that I could ride pretty much any condition. But I'm pretty psyched about getting out on lakes and riding laps on my mountain bike. The question is, when is it safe. I intially figured once I saw the snow-mobile tracks, it would be safe to go. THAN, I heard about these yahoos who hydro-plane snow-mobiles on WATER!!!!

So if snow-mobilers, can hydroplane over water, isn't it reasonable that they can hydroplane over weak-spots in the ice. Are those tracks necessarily so safe to follow in as a snowmobiler will fly over a weak spot where I may linger a little longer.

Those with ice-biking experience, please advise. Is it safe when the ice-fisherman are out, or do they have a good nose for weak ice and avoiding it ???

Final question, has anyone turned a creek into their winter bike trail??? I thought that would be cool. But no doubt it would have to be REALLY, REALLY cold for this to be safe.

Ice biking is one of my favorite things to do, but its impotant to do it safely. Stay off the creeks, running water is not safe to bike over, onless it has been super cold for a long time. I suspect that many creeks would have bumps, branches, and other obstacles even if the ice was thick.

As for lake safety, you can be sure that its safe if a truck has gone out first. If there are ice fishermen on the lake, just go out there and ask them how thick is the ice. You'll certainly be safe getting to them, unless there is a flow of water, where you hit the ice.

Sheer ice can be challenging even with studs, if you're turning or going fast. Snow can make riding difficult or impossible, if it's thick. 2- 6 inches can be fun and give you a workout. The only time I use the lakes as a shortcut to work, is when there is a thin layer of snow, which adheres to the ice. Then I feel comfortable riding as fast as I can, because of the added traction.

If you live where it gets really cold, and you know the ice is thick and safe, ride out to the middle of a lake late at night, for a beautiful, peaceful experience.

It probably is a little early to be out on ice, unless you live way, way up north.

It you see an ice house on the lake, you are fine.

Well yes, of course it's too early. I'm talking for January.

I'd want to see car tracks on the ice. Snowmobiles can skip open water at speed. You can't. Ice fisherman can be remarkably stupid,lucky, or have taken a different route entirely. You should use better methods. Fresh auto tracks are your surest bet. BTW: Today marks the first commute of the season where the Mississippi River was frozen shore-to-shore. I took the bridge.

Do you ever take the river??? I don't think I would ever be daring enough to ride over the the Mississippi River. Of course, it's not so big up in Minnesota as I've seen it in St Louis.

No. It's plenty big and plenty dangerous here. Not to mention the fact you can never predict under-ice water currents (which affect ice thickness).

Yeah, be extra careful on rivers. I fell through ice on th Grand River after walking safely on it for weeks in supercold weather. If you ever do fall through, crawl out on the same side you walked in on, since you know the ice there will support you. New ice should be at least 4 inches thick for foot travel. Snowmobiles are supposed to wait for 5 inches. My guess would be that you need thicker ice for bike riding, since the weight is distributed on a smaller area (bike tires compared to footprints).

Here are some other safety tips I found:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.html

Actually, I think that it's more a function of base than pressure. On foot, you shift your balance from foot to foot placing all your weight in one location. On a bike, your weight would be distributed rougly evenly over the wheelbase.

The record for stock snowmobile on water is 15.7 miles.
As an ice fisherman I can say there is no such thing as perfectly safe ice, but have driven vehicles in excess of 12K lbs on the ice.
Things to remember;
snow cover insulates and slows ice development, plowed roads on the ice will be thicker than the ice nearby.
Know your body of water, places to be wary are springs, inlets, outlets, vegatation.
Rivers are very dangerous due to moving water. Ice thickness can vary from safe to minimal in a very small area.
If you see Xmas trees, branches etc on the ice they will be doing one of two things. Marking a safe road or marking weak/danger spots. Depends on local custom.
A GOOD 4" of clear ice is what I would consider to be safe for my personal foot travel. My opinion is a bike would be the same as on foot. Smaller contact patch than a boot, but spread over a larger area.
At the end of the season the ice is usually good but the landings get torn up from traffic and salt and it's hard to get on.
Watch for fishing holes and don't run over anyones tip ups or other fishing gear.
Pedestrians still have the right of way (around here anyway)

When you're riding around note where you see lots of fish on the ice or good action and tell the guys on the other side of the lake that they're slaying'em on the other side.