Cycling UK Forum

I ride studded tyres even when there might be only ten or twenty metres of ice in tens of kilometres of riding.

mjr wrote: ↑30 Nov 2023, 12:22pm

TrevA wrote: ↑30 Nov 2023, 11:42am Around us, the rural bus routes get gritted, as well as the main roads, so it’s possible to construct a reasonable route on gritted roads.

It’s worth checking out your council’s gritting map to see if you can do the same.

+1 to finding the gritting or winter map, but a note of caution: even gritted roads ice over when there isn't enough traffic to work the grit into the surface, so beware when conditions get bad enough that cars can't get out of the side roads.

A few years ago, I made it five villages away on regular tyres early one Sunday morning by following gritted bus routes, then on a straight section, the front wheel lost all grip and I crashed, bruising myself and breaking minor bits on the bike. It was quite a while before a car passed. Most drivers were using other gritted A roads that avoid that village and the one before, buses hadn't started and drivers in the village couldn't get up its hill to the gritted road.

Yes, it’s not guaranteed. I turned onto one of these gritted roads recently and was aware that I was riding on ice, so gingerly stopped and retraced my steps.

Andy Stow wrote: ↑30 Nov 2023, 10:12pm I ride studded tyres even when there might be only ten or twenty metres of ice in tens of kilometres of riding.

Me too.

The consequences of just one fall can be life changing and it's not worth the risk.

I've cycled 207km so far this week commuting on snow and in deep cold (down to minus 12c, with nothing warmer than minus 2c). I'm on my road bike with Marathon Winter Plus and they are very secure, and not too slow. Compared to my summer tyres, riding on winter tyres on a mixture of about an inch of compacted snow and cleared asphalt (on the main road) is about 15% slower.

The other consideration with using something like the Marathons is that they are almost completely puncture proof. You may go a little slower, but having secure grip on ice and minimal risk of punctures is very valuable.

I don't envy you lot in the UK though. The constant freeze thaw cycles are a nighmare and I have a big problem with the fact that Brits won't use appropriate tyres on their cars in winter. Summer tyres are genuinely absolutely useless in winter conditions.

Years ago, we bought a new car (a Citroen C4) and we lived rurally in Scotland. We immediately ordered all season tyres, and whilst they were enroute, we had about 2 inches of snow. We had a curving, slightly uphill 150m drive to our houe and it took 5 full minutes of squirming and sliding to get the car to our house. At which point all the traction control and ABS lights came on and it had to be recovered to Citroen, as it wouldn't move.

Tyres arrived whilst it was at the dealership, they were fitted and two weeks later, we had another 2 inches of snow. The car drove up the drive like it wasn't even there. A few weeks later, I did a hill start on a 10% gradient in 6 inches of slushy snow. No problem.

That's the difference between summer and all season tyres - it's massive. Here in Sweden, almost everyone is on studded winter tyres (those who aren't have non-studded winter tyres - summer tyres are illegal at this time year) and as a cyclist, it makes me feel a lot safer.

Black ice is formed by sudden freezing of moisture in the air on below freezing road. It's black because crystals aren't there to make it sparkle. I don't think ANY conventional tyre will work on it. Studded tyres might, but I don't know that. I've fallen off on it a few times. You could break your hip. My policy is this. I don't ride below 4C.

Absolutely fine on the studs today. Plenty of black ice but not thick, so little risk of it detaching from the tarmac. More chance of falling while walking. Biggest risk is the nuts in cars not driving appropriately for the conditions so I'm glad my road has a kerbed cycleway.

I avoid such conditions… same issues of falling, dangerous drivers more so, and the fact that such conditions are usually coincident with low sun and motorists with poorly cleared windscreens.

hercule wrote: ↑6 Dec 2023, 4:51pm I avoid such conditions… same issues of falling, dangerous drivers more so, and the fact that such conditions are usually coincident with low sun and motorists with poorly cleared windscreens.

Yes, I’ve not ridden for a week and a half due to the icy conditions. It was really dodgy even walking today due to freezing overnight after yesterday’s rain, with plenty of black ice about. Hopefully today is the last of the cold days, though the milder conditions are likely to be accompanied by rain. I was tempted to do a gravel ride along the canal towpath but never got around to it. I’ve been on Zwift today.

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since the temperature was last above freezing. I've done 574km in that time, all on studded tyres. No sketchy moments at all, even in todays heavy snow showers.

The Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus is to be recommended. Fairly quick (for a studded tyre) and will keep you upright in nearly all situations. The only thing that will get you is rutted ice (flat black ice is no problem, but ice with a camber is an issue). It's not great in deep snow though, to be fair. You want a more open tread pattern for that (which I have on my gravel bike).

I continue to switch to continental top contact winter tyres each winter. Had them on the commuting bike for about a month now. I find them great. I have yet to encounter sheet ice on them, but they seem to cope with everything else very well.

I have no experience of studded tyres but no other tyre will give you an advantage with black ice. Don't go out if it's around,

alexnharvey wrote: ↑6 Dec 2023, 8:05pm I continue to switch to continental top contact winter tyres each winter. Had them on the commuting bike for about a month now. I find them great. I have yet to encounter sheet ice on them, but they seem to cope with everything else very well.

I found I span out at 8-10%, directly uphill on sheet ice, when I took mine out for a test ride when I first got them (about -5°, so dry ice).
They ride enough better than the Schwalbe Marathon Winter that I rarely bother with the studded tyres these days.

When it's icy, the most important thing is to pay careful attention to the state of the road, and ride cautiously if you think you may be on or about to go on to ice. Cautious may mean cornering at not much more than walking pace, and avoiding any actions that may cause a skid or wobble, such as braking or looking behind. If you aren't cautious, and ride like it's dry, you can come off even with studs.
Back in the day (1990s) I used to ride all winter with Gatorskins, and very rarely came off. It was icy quite a lot more often than it is these days too.

horizon wrote: ↑29 Nov 2023, 1:25pm AIUI the options are (after having checked the overnight temperatures the night before):

1. Don't ride (which is difficult given that this situation can occur on lots of days in the winter)
2. Ride but with care and foresight (and therefore more slowly) and possibly lower pressures.
3. Non-studded winter tyres with better adhesion (still with care though?)
4. Lightly studded tyres (e.g. Schwalbe Snow Stud)
5. Fully studded tyres (e.g. Marathon Winter)
6. Buy a recumbent

7. Ride on the main roads. Obviously not the ideal option for most of us, but better than falling off on icy back roads.

I would have thought riding a few hours later in the day is going to negate a significant number of days when there's ice here and there. I've ridden in -6 air temp during the day including some on back roads but most of it with not that much shade and it was particularly dry.

Riding further toward centre of the lane (close to centre line) as much as possible on roads that have shaded areas could help also.

This from mattsccm seems to be best advice, I've never ridden with studded or 'winter' tyres ever, slicks all the way and reduce the pressure, be prepared to dismount and walk a bit.

mattsccm wrote: ↑29 Nov 2023, 6:33pm Low pressure, soft rubber slick or near slick gravel tyres plus care and experience. All help plus a bit of discretion.

SwiftyDoesIt wrote: ↑20 Dec 2023, 11:20pm I would have thought riding a few hours later in the day is going to negate a significant number of days when there's ice here and there. I've ridden in -6 air temp during the day including some on back roads but most of it with not that much shade and it was particularly dry. [...]

It would need to be particularly dry. Usually, ice remains until the air temperature hits 4.

"Riding a few hours later" isn't a great solution when the rest of the country doesn't stop for ice. Well, until it does and then cyclists adapted to cope with ice are one of the few things still moving!

Well I'm back from my trip along the coast of southern England (Cornwall to Brighton via the Isle of Wight). I put on my 20" Marathon Winters (fully studded) before I left. There was indeed some snow, sleet and some ice on the journey but mainly it was cold sunshine and dry roads.

What I find in our southern climate is that if the weather is very cold it is usually dry and there is little surface water to form ice. Once the rain comes, the temperature goes up and the ice still doesn't form. We don't generally get the snow and ice conditions experienced further north in the UK.

However, although I was on the trains for much of the journey, at each overnight stop or change of train there was always the prospect of ice around the corner or forecast for the following day. That it didn't really materialise didn't bother me - the tyres stayed on for the trip and the only downside was an almost imperceptibly heavier, slower, noisier bike. What I did get of course was peace of mind and knowing that I could continue the journey whatever the weather.

PS It's worth noting that studded tyres aren't quite so secure on the polished-tiled concourses of railway stations!