Cycling madness?

[awavey]

I dont think missing a few rides at this time of year is going to tip the balance & suddenly make you an inactive burden on the NHS. its just about being sensible and not taking unnecessary risks on ice with rides at this time of year when the weather is such a big factor.

Ah, here we go, anyone riding when you won't is taking unnecessary risks? It's not just a few rides if you're in the north or east of England or Scotland; you'd miss weeks of riding. Blood chemistry changes significantly after just two weeks, so you would be taking an unnecessary extra risk of being a burden on the NHS.

Everyone knows someone in their local cycling community who went out for an icy ride, and fell off, injured themselves, even if they didnt break anything and were still carrying the pain months later when the days were longer and warmer and everyone else was back in the groove again.

I know more people hit by drivers, some changed forever. Should I stop riding on roads?

plus I dont think studded tyres guarantee you wont slip off on some ice, just that youll be able to ride through most ice, but you still have to be mindful of slip angles & cornering, weight distrubtion, not being too grabby on the brakes etc etc.

No guarantee, but close enough with a little care.

worst case sign up to Zwift, or equiv.

Playing expensive video games is a poor substitute but better than nothing!

I hadnt realised Norfolk & Somerset had shifted so far to Northern climes of late, and you present it like its a binary choice, either you ride a bike outside or you do no exercise

leaving aside medical opinions do differ on how much time off the bike affects you, its just not the case riding on icy roads is the only exercising option for people, there are plenty of alternate ways to exercise in winter, indoor gyms, you can go swimming in indoor pools, you can do what actually alot of my friends who cycle do, they take up park running, or run trails in forests, which actually probably does their long term health prospects better because its the impact exercise that most cyclists overlook by always focussing on just always going riding part.

but look if you want to go for a ride in the ice, go ahead, no ones stopping you. are they ?

and fwiw Ive lost two people I knew well, 3 if we include friends of friends, all road cyclists, all hit by drivers, within the last year and half to 2 years, it absolutely made me question whether cycling on the road was worth it.

[Nearholmer]

Perhaps those two cyclists, like me, started off somewhere ice free and were surprised by suddenly finding themselves in such an icy place.

Besides falling off on ice during one ride, the other ride that made me more cautious was exactly that, and it was within <10miles of home. The ground conditions were hugely different where frost pockets out in the country had held onto patches of ice and snow. On that occasion, no spills, but a puncture that almost didn’t seal, and getting seriously cold while persuading it to do so and pumping up.

Anyway, it’s gone all mild today, and I went out for an after dark spin.

[mjr]

I hadnt realised Norfolk & Somerset had shifted so far to Northern climes of late,

Norfolk is generally colder and drier than much of England, including places further north. When the wind blows in from the north, it can neatly come through the gap between Shetland and Vestland, so there's nothing between us and the Arctic! Even so, it feels very much like we've had fewer ice days this winter than we used to.

Somerset is generally warmer and wet. Fog is a bigger winter problem there. And the salt it picks up that eats bike parts.

and you present it like its a binary choice, either you ride a bike outside or you do no exercise

leaving aside medical opinions do differ on how much time off the bike affects you, its just not the case riding on icy roads is the only exercising option for people, there are plenty of alternate ways to exercise in winter, indoor gyms, you can go swimming in indoor pools, you can do what actually alot of my friends who cycle do, they take up park running, or run trails in forests, which actually probably does their long term health prospects better because its the impact exercise that most cyclists overlook by always focussing on just always going riding part.

But all those other activities are either dull as ditchwater and/or need travel to get to them anyway, and if you drive on ice or snow, then you're a bigger danger to others as well as yourself, which is basically unethical.

but look if you want to go for a ride in the ice, go ahead, no ones stopping you. are they ?

It feels like some people are trying to nag others into stopping riding on ice, similar to how some tried to nag others into stopping riding during the pandemic, based on some irrational reasoning.

and fwiw Ive lost two people I knew well, 3 if we include friends of friends, all road cyclists, all hit by drivers, within the last year and half to 2 years, it absolutely made me question whether cycling on the road was worth it.

Sorry for your loss. I hope something was done.

[maanderx]

To the moderators. I think this thread has generated enough comments. Please lock it.

Thank you,

[bikepacker]

To the moderators. I think this thread has generated enough comments. Please lock it.

Thank you,

Have to agree, it has gone way off topic

[peetee]

One of the redeeming things about falling on ice is that road rash is minimal. Still hurts, though.

Oh yes.
The one time an icy road got the better of me was the fastest I’ve ever moved on a bike. The bike went sideways with both wheels and I hit the road so rapidly it was like gravity had tripled!

[Carlton green]

Some CTC members this morning (Sun 12 Jan 2025) near Upton-upon-Severn.

CTC members near Upton-upon-Severn.jpeg

That’s the original post and it invited comment on the picture. Maybe the thread has drifted, but as is oft’ the case useful comment has been voiced and the rest is (imho) quite tolerable.

I’m still inclined to think that recreational or joy riding on ice is both daft and irresponsible - please find your joy and exercise another way - but have been helpfully reminded that those that need to travel by bike in icy weather can usefully use studs to help them. Posts have also reminded us that winter rides starting off in ice free places can, and sometimes do, end up crossing icy places; sometimes we arrive at unanticipated hazards and have to manage them as best we can.

Lock the thread? Well, it might have drifted but it’s easy enough to repost the OP (as above) and so encourage others to return towards it.

[CyberKnight]

We have, and I’ve become much more cautious since falling off doing it two years ago, and realising how a bit of a giggle could turn into a bit of a burden on the NHS very easily. That’s age for you!

Even a quick errand that I had to do earlier involved picking my way round/through a lot of very frozen bits on the paths I used - particularly dodgy where a pond has overflowed, then frozen to thick “glass” across the path.

I am the same , after 3 operations for various things in 3 years i am a lot more cautious .

[Carlton green]

We've all done it.....

We have, and I’ve become much more cautious since falling off doing it two years ago, and realising how a bit of a giggle could turn into a bit of a burden on the NHS very easily. That’s age for you!

Even a quick errand that I had to do earlier involved picking my way round/through a lot of very frozen bits on the paths I used - particularly dodgy where a pond has overflowed, then frozen to thick “glass” across the path.

I am the same , after 3 operations for various things in 3 years i am a lot more cautious .

It’s interesting to hear from someone who, from necessity, cycle’s to work - not a short journey either - in extreme weathers and sometimes takes time off rather than go out in really poor weather.

In snowy or icy weather there was a time when I’d either walk to work (rather than cycle) or take a day’s leave; when you’re dependent on good health you literally can’t afford to risk it. These days I might fit different tyres, but then I didn’t know of any (better tyres) or otherwise better ways of doing things.

[brumster]

The answer everyone is missing here is a Trike

Or ( and?) Spiked winter tyres - ie, Schwalbe winter marathons.

[mattheus]

The answer everyone is missing here is a Trike

Just because we're not discussing it here, doesn't mean we haven't considered it and rejected it!

[CliveyT]

You don't need ice, just a bit of spilled diesel and misty rain will do it. Front wheel went around the corner, back wheel was having none of that and insisted on carrying straight on.
Before that was a pothole in the dark and rain, before that was a schoolgirl for whom talking to friends was more important than checking if someone was coming the other way. In fact it must have been 20 years of so since I last came off on ice, and I remember saying that morning that I wouldn't need the studded tyres that day because it was thawing.

I suspect the PF has an even more evil twin and if she wants you off then she'll find a way

[gregoryoftours]

Studded tyres add a huge amount of predictability to riding in icy conditions, you are much less likely to come off than fall while walking on frost/ice. You do have to be aware of the risk of sharing the conditions with other vehicles though. I'll often pull out of the way if cars are approaching from behind. But as someone who wants to cycle year round without having to think about alternative travel arrangements I find them really useful.

It is slightly inconvenient with the faff of riding them when conditions are mixed or when the snow/ice disappears, and the swapping them on and off.

[mjr]

In snowy or icy weather there was a time when I’d either walk to work (rather than cycle) or take a day’s leave; when you’re dependent on good health you literally can’t afford to risk it.

Indeed. Once you have a couple of chronic illnesses, if you are having a good health day, you've got to go into work, because you don't know how many more you will have. Life is too short not to cycle because of some frozen water. Studded tyres rock!

[fastpedaller]

Having looked at my weather station this morning and seen 12 C, I decided to go for ride. Only after donning my cycling gear did I notice the sensor for the weather station was in direct sunlight! Temp was only 4C. Anyway, I was committed, so off I went. After just 5 miles the front tyre was punctured. It took a lot of effort and about 15 mins to get the tyre off, so I expected a similar time to get it back on after I'd put in a new tube - I was therefore not surprised, but freezing cold and only just managed it. I'd never previously experienced trouble with getting this tyre off or on before, so can only put it down to shrinkage/lack or suppleness due to the low temperature. Not sure I got much from today's ride. At least it wasn't icy.