Be very careful on slippery pavements / black-ice while making your turns!

I need to stay off my bike for at least 6 weeks from 2/6/2012 because I broke some ribs after I fell onto an edge of a curb. I was making a turn on a slippery pavement, maybe black-ice, and I paid a painful penalty.   So, I would like to take this opportunity and use my misfortune as a  warning to all bicyclists about the danger of slippery pavements and/or black ice! My bike slid out from under me in an instant and I was utterly defensless to brake my fall. So everyone, please be very careful while riding on slippery or icy pavements!  Steve   

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Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on February 8, 2012 at 2:51am

I wish you well, Steve. Here's to hoping you have a speedy recovery.

 

I had my first encounter with black ice a couple of months ago. I was blissfully cruising along and the next thing I knew, the bike slid out from underneath me. It's very scary, and luckily I escaped with scrapes and bruises.

 

Or, this could be a PSA for studded tires ;)

Permalink Reply by April on February 8, 2012 at 7:17am

Any tips on how to spot black ice?  Or how to handle your bike while going over it?  Thanks I'm a bike winter newb this very mild winter and have yet to deal with it.  

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on February 8, 2012 at 10:22am

Here is some good advice for riding on ice: http://www.icebike.org/Articles/TechniquesBlackIce.htm

Permalink Reply by April on February 8, 2012 at 10:51am

Thanks Gene!  That article was great!  

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on February 8, 2012 at 11:54am
Heal up. Anyone know the reason why some ice/snow melting solutions make my shoes slippery? It wasn't salt and my shoes kept slipping of the pedals.
Permalink Reply by Ride it like you stole it on February 8, 2012 at 2:12pm

Not sure what you mean, but I assume moisture left from melting snow/ice. Or crushed granules of salt left on the bottom of your shoe.

Mike Zumwalt said:

Heal up. Anyone know the reason why some ice/snow melting solutions make my shoes slippery? It wasn't salt and my shoes kept slipping of the pedals.
Permalink Reply by Ride it like you stole it on February 8, 2012 at 2:16pm

What scares me is button ice(that's what I call it anyway, like button candy)!

Where suddenly there will be small little chunks of scattered ice either broken up or not melted in the road, throwing your wheels in every direction. It kind of reminds me of ripples in an old bike path that you do not see until your on top of it.

Permalink Reply by David P. on February 8, 2012 at 2:46pm

April, As someone else said, 'black ice' is really just...ice. I suppose it's called black ice because, in thin sheets, it often looks more like darker asphalt than whitish ice. The other week, before the most recent warm spell, there was a fair amount of it - roads were dry but with plenty of ice patches around on smaller streets. They are pretty easy to spot when the roads are dry - just look for what look like wet patches, though they tend to be more reflective. 

If it's thin enough that it sort of fills in the texture of the pavement but not much more, then you can roll over it OK with normal tires (and you can walk over it, too.) If it's a sheet of ice and you can't avoid it, shed as much speed as you can before you get to it. When you do get to it, make sure you're pointed dead ahead and, if your bike has a light-feeling front end, keep it as stable as you can. Also, stay light on the bike - no death grip. If there is much of any side force on the tire at the road (whether from cornering or a lot of wobbling), then you'll go down. 

David

April said:

Any tips on how to spot black ice?  Or how to handle your bike while going over it?  Thanks I'm a bike winter newb this very mild winter and have yet to deal with it.  

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on February 9, 2012 at 6:26am
I googled and found a liguid ice melt, corn based so that might be it.

Ride your bicycle everywhere said:

Not sure what you mean, but I assume moisture left from melting snow/ice. Or crushed granules of salt left on the bottom of your shoe.

Mike Zumwalt said:

Heal up. Anyone know the reason why some ice/snow melting solutions make my shoes slippery? It wasn't salt and my shoes kept slipping of the pedals.
Permalink Reply by Ride it like you stole it on February 9, 2012 at 10:41am

Are you talking on the city streets, or business/residential sidewalks?

Where I live, the city adds a liquid mixture to save on salt. It is mixed with salt brine, liquid calcium chloride, and sugar beet juice.




Mike Zumwalt said:

I googled and found a liguid ice melt, corn based so that might be it.

Ride your bicycle everywhere said:

Not sure what you mean, but I assume moisture left from melting snow/ice. Or crushed granules of salt left on the bottom of your shoe.

Mike Zumwalt said:

Heal up. Anyone know the reason why some ice/snow melting solutions make my shoes slippery? It wasn't salt and my shoes kept slipping of the pedals.
Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Parfitt on February 10, 2012 at 1:34pm

 Two words - Studded Tires.  I got Nokians a couple years ago after taking a spill on invisible ice one morning and now swear by them.  I have no problems riding over ice patches with them.  They will be slower than slicks, but make up for it in lack of slickness.  I am resigned to riding slower through the icy stuff.  Winter has its own unique joys.

Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on February 10, 2012 at 1:59pm
Studded tires help. I've used Nokian A10 for several years and there are just enough studs to prevent the fall you described without being really slow.

Marc

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