Well, it dropped below 32 degrees this morning. I was debating if I was driving or taking my bike to the train. I decided to ride. My hesitation was not due to the cold but due to potential Ice. I have never ridden this time of year and I am so afraid of it. There were a few spots on the road that looked wet. so I almost stoped before proceding.

How do you guys deal with sub 32 degrees as far as ice is concerned??? Am I being overly concerned?:eek:

Did it rain? Or snow then melt recently? If not, where is the ice going to come from. Watch for the low spots and areas where snow melt runs across your path. keep the bike going straight as you cross an icy section. Watch for slippry wet leaves too

black ice is big one to watch for.
if you've got some humidity in the air it forms on the pavement and solidifies.

not running your tires super high is a good thing, also, taking corners with some patience is another. And stay off the brakes! If you've got any ice and you touch the brakes in a corner you're begging to go down.

When it gets really bad like some of our 1' plus snows out here i just used my 29" single speed and ran it soft. It was a blast in snow. A bit sketchy at times but you only live twice! Fat winter tires are recommended and if you can, a CX bike is better for it.

Well, it dropped below 32 degrees this morning. I was debating if I was driving or taking my bike to the train. I decided to ride. My hesitation was not due to the cold but due to potential Ice. I have never ridden this time of year and I am so afraid of it. There were a few spots on the road that looked wet. so I almost stoped before proceding.

How do you guys deal with sub 32 degrees as far as ice is concerned??? Am I being overly concerned?:eek:

It's been below freezing most nights for a couple of weeks here. I saw my first visible ice forming on ponds just this AM. But there hasn't been any rain or snow that has been able to stay on the road so the road rides much like summer until that happens. You've likely got lots of riding left before ice becomes an issue. Unless it's a good solid freeze, fall leaves are more dangerous than a little standing water.

If you are really afraid of it, drop some coin on some studded tires. They will mitigate a great deal of the risk. The downside is the cost and the rolling resistance.

Scot

I check the thermometer every morning to get an idea of whether there may be ice. If so I adjust my level of caution accordingly. If there will only be small occasional patches of ice I just ride carefully over them, not changing speed or direction until I'm past them. If there is a lot of ice or snow I put the studded tires on and have fun - I love commuting in that stuff when the studs are on.

I have a seperate wheelset with the studded tires so that I can just swap wheels depending on the conditions. It was a real bummer to wake up, realize that it snowed or got icy over night and then wrestle with the tight beads of my studded tires in a freezing garage at 6am.

We get black ice. It's taken me down a couple times, usually years apart, after I forget about how to deal with it. After that I remember & it's not such a big deal. In case you don't know, black ice is the sort of ice I think the OP is worried about. The streets are basically dry, but have occasional, thin, nearly invisible ice patches. Biking in these conditions is just fine so long as you don't take ANY corners at speed -- meaning that you go through corners slow enough that you are completely upright - not leaning through the turn. With that one precaution I find that can ride in black ice conditions with no problems. (There might be an occasional slip, but not enough to take you/me down).

I really question the value of studs on bike tires. In a car there is enough weight on it to fracture the ice and hopefully dig in. On a bike thats a bit questionable. Having a good tire that handles wet conditions mud/snow with a softer rubber i'd think would provide much better traction.

Switch to the Mt. Bike...

Different definition of black ice in my neck of the woods. Black ice up here is generally referring to condensed water that has dripped off of motor vehicle exhaust systems while they move and wait in traffic. The water vapor freezes on the road surface. It's generally worst at intersections since many vehicles stop and drip in the same spot repeated times. Then other vehicles polish it smooth with repeated passings. It's black because of the dirt off the car and tire polish job. Then you get a nice overnight dusting of fresh snow on top of it, not enough to plow or call out the salt trucks and walla, instant bike trap. Polished patch of ice surface that looks just like all the rest of the road. Studs make all the difference in this circumstance.

Scot