Originally Posted by
grizzly59
1) if there is ice around, NEVER use the front brake.
2) let some air out of your tires. 1.75 or wider MTB knobbies with a little less air can work pretty good. Skinny road bike tires are hopeless.
3) ride with your bike upright and your weight centered always. No big sudden movements. Anticipate braking and turns.
4) drop your seatpost an inch or so. Fine tune your sense of balance.
5) nothing works very well on glare ice
All of these... And another little trick I learned growing up in Alaska...set your rear brake to slightly drag...I mean ever so slight (I use the adjusters on my handle because I like a firm, quickly responsive rear brake anyway). The reason for this is simple...its harder for the rear to shear out of on under you (which is actually an attempt to pass the front) if its always slowing, even minutely. Yes, you lose efficiency, yes it wears parts...but yes it works! I only do this on the most glare ice days. I have been ice riding for 26 years now, and lcf for the last 7... Just saying. Its my 2 cents. They are freely given and worth every penny lol