rumrunn6

ouch! happens quick, right? bruised hip is better than a broken wrist

btw, looks like you fell to the left? ;-)

mcours2006

Yep. The bike separated from me after falling. I've had a few falls this winter at low speeds. Three in one day, but it was a nasty storm day when I was on a trail next to a recently plowed road. The snow plow truck had sprayed some big chunks of hard packed snow onto the trail. I was slowly trying to navigate through this 'mine' field. Twice I fell over after hitting a big chunk of hard snow. No harm done. The third time was on my own driveway, again, hitting some thick unplowed snow bank.

It's been a tough winter so far.

Amt0571

I had a similar experience twice. On the same ride.

The fall was like my bike had disappeared from under me and I fell on my ass. It hurt so much I couldn't sit for a week.

Don't want to repeat it.

mcours2006

fify.

wolfchild

In my experience low speed crashes can sometimes be worse and more painful than higher speed crashes...I went down on ice twice on new years day ride earlier this year. I was riding my mountain bike with drop bars and no studs on a snow covered gravel road with ice underneath the snow. The first time I went down I was moving at about 20 km/h and I had my hands in the drops when my front wheel slid out and I went down on my side. This first crash was very smooth and didn't hurt at all....My second crash happened when I was going much slower, had my hands on the hoods, and I was standing on the pedals climbing an incline, when all of the sudden my front wheel slid out and I went down. This second crash really hurt, I hit my knee and sprained my wrist a little.[/QUOTE]

srestrepo

I have experienced where the front wheel will slip a bit when leaning into turns. I've also experienced this awful "grabbing" phenomenon when I ride near the painted lines on the road especially if the lines are raised a bit. It's like the studs want to climb the line and it pulls the bike up and over. If it helps any, I ride 35mm schwalbe marathon winters with the 4 rows of studs.

I've also experienced a low speed fall riding up to the guard shack at my job in front of a line of cars ready to scan my badge and ride under the toll gate as it rises and having the bike fall out from underneath me. I fell against the window of the guard shack (imagine this as comically as you like). And people ran to help me up. It was embarrassing to say the least.

Other than frozen ruts and deep powder, these studded tires are phenomenal. Do take the advice I've learned from this forum, play with your pressures. They make a big difference.

BobbyG

Thanks to this thread I rode my studded winter bike today since temps were expected to hover around freezing and some moisture was expected. My snow bike is big and heavy, but with the Nokian W106's pumped up to 70psi, 5-above max, they roll on the dry even better than at 65psi. Still sound like rice crispies to me.

rumrunn6

haha yup

Korina

FYI, steel Treks have their fans (I have two); you might try flogging it in the C&V forum before CL.

madpogue 

Maybe for local sale in Chicagoland. But the 700 was Trek's entry-level hybrid BITD. Bulletproof commuter potential for sure, but wouldn't fetch enough to justify the shipping cost.

Korina

denada

trek multitrack has cult following in chicago. will be easy craigslist sell. maybe not during february though.

Miele Man

What I do in winter is at night I go to a park or schoolyard where they built a temporary outdoor ice rink. I have soft material on my 26" x 2.125" knobby tires. Once at the rink I let some air out of the tires and then I practice riding on that black ice. I commuted all my working life in Toronto Canada and I never fell on ice and I credit it to having practiced riding on ice early in the winter season. Good quality tires with a grippy tread compound are needed. BEWARE cheap tires as the compound used for the tread of those freezes and the tire then acts like an ice skate and you have very little control.

Cheers

wolfchild

I've ridden over patches of ice with regular knobby tires made from softer rubber, but I still get a little nervous every time I do it. Riding with studs gives me a lot more confidence and it feels very secure. Sure you can still crash with studs but there is no question that they work very well and provide a lot of grip...Regular tires can very easily slide out especially when turning, cornering or leaning during turns, studs always give that extra security in those type of situations....One thing I always wanted to try is to see if siping regular tires would increase traction on ice.

mcours2006

I agree. There's been patches of ice on the MUP all this week, but because I'm traveling in a straight line over it, there is no issue. In my OP, I was slowing down and at the same time turning left. Both counted against me on that patch of black ice.

Miele Man

I've often wondered what a soft compound 26" x 2.125" slick tire would be like on ice. I know that my old Michelin Pro 19mm Slicks had surprising grip on ice or hardpacked snow that was glazed.

Cheers

Archwhorides 

Studs are absolutely effective unless you are making hard turns on ice or riding on rutted refrozen ice. My commute is too tense if I'm riding 3-season tires on ice; I like the peace of mind that studs impart. This winter I'm riding 45 NRTH Gravdal 4-row studded on a Pedelec bike and am very happy - the modest electric assist overcomes the added rolling resistance of the studs nicely, which is all I desire. I switch to my regular light hybrid commuter bike when the roads/paths are clear.

Archwhorides 

I liken my studs on dry pavement to a mobile meat grinder. It's so noisy on the downhills that pedestrians step aside far in advance of my arrival.

rumrunn6

just put your pads on before you try

Miele Man

Back in the mid-1980s I rode 19mm Michelin Hi-Lite Pro Folding slicks on ice and was amazed at how well the gripped. I imagine that a similar compound in a 2.125" or 2.25" slick tire would have fantastic grip.

Cheers

rumrunn6

I would dare you, but I like you ...

BWB

A set of studded tires for your main bike -- or, hell, a set for your *three* favorite bikes -- is still cheaper than an ER visit.

davei1980

Yassssss

+1,000,000

I have had conditions go from "ridable/snowy slush" to "impassible" in less than 1 day because the crap on the road froze solid.

I don't have studs ATM but I run 3" knobby tires which are VERY capable on ALL surfaces... except ice...

MikeTé

Lower the pressure in the tires, CX-style. That allows more rubber contact, studs still grab. The sidewalls are so stiff on my (40mm) Winter Marathons I can ride 30 psi in the cold.

MikeTé

Every winter, I ride the length of the Rideau Canal skateway, about 7km one way. (I have to do it at night, bikes not allowed). Even on fresh re-surfacing (BIG Zamboni), no slipping. I don't do any CX whipping-around, though....