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Message started by Stimpy - FSO on 10/19/10 at 14:50:06

Title: On icy road conditions
Post by Stimpy - FSO on 10/19/10 at 14:50:06

This winter sometimes I will have to take my bike to work
because the wifey will need use of the car for work herself.

I have lots of experience driving on harsh snowy/icy conditions
with a car but not a bike, any advice or should I just take the bus?

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by Serowbot on 10/19/10 at 14:55:14

Bus....

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by mick on 10/19/10 at 15:05:28

Every winter in England my Dad would put a side car on the bike ,if you don't have sidecar,take the bus.

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/19/10 at 15:51:45

If you arent certain, get a 10 speed & go play. Then, I expect youll take the bus.

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by Oldfeller on 10/19/10 at 16:00:07

If your legs are VERY strong and can act like outriggers you might be able to take the bike at a very slow speed.

I tried it once, got cocky and found some solid slush ice at a too fast speed.

I don't do that any more.

I found that slush freezes into ice ruts that will take full control of your front tire and there ain't NOTHING you can do about it.

brrrrrrrrrr :( ouchie !!

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by kimchris1 on 10/19/10 at 16:02:38

The bus. I know how hard it can be to drive in these types of conditions even with a 4x4..
I would not even attempt it on a bike.. :) kim

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by Charon on 10/19/10 at 16:28:35

If it is icy or otherwise slippery, don't take a machine that can fall down. No point in asking for trouble.

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by Phelonius on 10/19/10 at 17:11:13

I used to use spikes in the tires.
http://www.bobscycle.com/browse.cfm/4,114852.html?AFF=690FGL
Gives amazing control.
Then I moved to hawaii and don't worry about it.
Aloha

Phelonius

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by Skid Mark on 10/19/10 at 17:55:28

Don't. Ice and bikes do not play nice together. You will get hurt. If it were otherwise, everyone here in the Great White North would ride all year.

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by forrest on 10/19/10 at 18:15:18

I ride year round except if there is ice on the ground.....2 wheels on ice is a certain crash.

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by stinger on 10/19/10 at 23:25:05

If you were really serious about riding on ice, I'd take the bus for sure! The short bus! ;D

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by mpescatori on 10/20/10 at 02:31:02

04233E3A272E570 wrote:

Hi Stimpy, I forget what bike you ride but if you MUST ride, take these pieces of advice:

1) Motocross tyres will get you safely there and back through snow and slush, but are only a leeetle better than plain road tyres on slick ice;

2) Forward controls give NO control, and are the fastest ticket to ER - fit rear controls (ideally, the pedals should be on a vertical with your hipbone)

3) you can make improvised ice studs with steel (or extra-large plastic) zip-ties, clip them on ensuring the fastening knobs are staggered on the tread - Front wheel traction is far more important than rear wheel traction - see flat-track and/or speedway racers.

4) If you need to use your feet as outriggers, flat soles (as in some desert boots) are far better than traditional soles (with heels) because heels get caught.

5) Go softly up the gears and use engine braking or rear wheel braking, forget the front brake !!!

6) A "Look-over" windshield is far better than a "Look-through" windshield - You don't have wipers, do you ???

7) Go to the local BMW M/C dealer and ask to speak to anybopdy with "Elefantentreffen" experience http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_Rally

http://www.zan.it/Eis/foto/slides/PICT5122.JPGhttp://d3bzd59jg0tfcj.cloudfront.net/foto/N/cache/art_21809_3_elefante_07_big.jpg

HTH :)

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by Stimpy - FSO on 10/20/10 at 03:01:53

Thanks for all the input.

I like the sidecar idea.

The roads I would be taking are cleared and salted several times
daily but still frozen runoff patches and curves worry me.

I guess we'll just have to somehow adjust our schedule to share
the car (my car) or seriously take the bus or simply stay overnight
at my hotel on weekends when I have long shifts and there are no
more buses till morning.

Thanks all for setting me straight.

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by mornhm - FSO on 10/20/10 at 08:16:28

Just keep repeating smoooooooooooth.

Seriously, smooth is good, I ride year round, but if I know the roads are going to be covered with ice or snow, I leave the MC at home. I have been caught a couple of times (once came home covered in at at least 1/4 inch of ice from freezing rain), but for the most part checking the weather for the day has worked.

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by 23Skidoo on 10/20/10 at 15:57:47

Only good thing about riding to work in the snow and ice is when you fall off (and you will fall off) you get to save petrol by sliding half the way down the road on your butt... ;)... Came off last year.. the snow wasn't so bad but the ice was rubbish.. a car pulled out of a parked position as I aproached it.. I guess he thought as I was going so slow I could just stop... ooohhhh nooo... front brake wasn't an option.. killed all power tapped back brake and went sliding off down the road.. the **** didn't even stop.. mind you open face crash hat and me swearing my head off might have put him off the idea of stopping..

Title: Re: On icy road conditions
Post by tcreeley on 10/21/10 at 16:45:28

Take the bus.

Too easy to slide under the wheels of an oncoming car.
I've been stuck riding home in 1-2 " of snow- went 15-25 for 6 miles, went down once when I pulled off to the side to let cars by and left the pavement with the front tire.
All you can do is roll - the brake puts you into a skid, leaning and the bike slides out under you. Accelerate hard and the back end slides out. It is the unexpected that makes it unsafe. Go out into a field of frozen lake if you want to play. :)
Take the bus. :)