WHAM!!! My First Wipeout
11-23-15, 05:07 PM
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WHAM!!! My First Wipeout
I'm riding my Trek 820 to work every day, just a short 300yds down a steep hill and can manage a zippy little 45-60sec from my porch to the service dept back door. This morning was my first try at ice. We had about 1-2" of snow and no way was I going to walk or drive. Did pretty good going down the hill but when I entered the parking lot it was ice rink slippery under the snow. I tapped the brakes and the back wheel went out from under me. WHAM!!! The benefit of heavier clothes absorbed the hit and all was well. I havent hit the pavement in 16yrs. My co-workers sure got a laugh. 
11-23-15, 05:35 PM
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Phew, luckily it was the back tire and not the front! Given your location, I'd recommend studded tires. (Good ones with carbide studs so they'll last you many many years.)
(Good ones with carbide studs so they'll last you many many years.)
11-23-15, 07:26 PM
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Glad all is well. Being horizontal on the pavement is never pleasant, especially when others see you.
11-23-15, 07:31 PM
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Studded tires are on my list. On my lunch ride up the hill, pavement was clear and I was grinning.
11-23-15, 07:32 PM
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11-24-15, 05:08 AM
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That’s a pretty definitive statement @zonatandem of Tucson, AZ, though I know you used to be in Michigan. Were studded tires available back then? 
There’s a nice current discussion about the pros and cons of studded titers on this Commuter thread, ”Wrong bike this morning.”
11-24-15, 05:55 AM
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11-24-15, 07:37 AM
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and a weight lifter it would seem you have the stud part down, what gives?Bill
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11-24-15, 08:18 AM
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Glad your Ok hasn't snowed here yet but it will soon I am sure. You need one of these good speed down the hill take the corner like Bobby Orr.
11-24-15, 10:42 AM
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Your post brought me a smile, remembering about myself many years ago. I "lived" on my bicycle and snow and ice just slowed me down.
I remember wrapping wire around tires and rim in a crisscrossed manner to gain a little traction!
It helped but I still had spills but they didn't hurt like they would today! !
I remember wrapping wire around tires and rim in a crisscrossed manner to gain a little traction!
It helped but I still had spills but they didn't hurt like they would today! !
I'm riding my Trek 820 to work every day, just a short 300yds down a steep hill and can manage a zippy little 45-60sec from my porch to the service dept back door. This morning was my first try at ice. We had about 1-2" of snow and no way was I going to walk or drive. Did pretty good going down the hill but when I entered the parking lot it was ice rink slippery under the snow. I tapped the brakes and the back wheel went out from under me. WHAM!!! The benefit of heavier clothes absorbed the hit and all was well. I havent hit the pavement in 16yrs. My co-workers sure got a laugh.
11-24-15, 10:56 AM
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My most visible crash ever? January, 1975, Ann Arbor. Pulled into the road between the East and West Engineering buildings. Not salted. It was between the 8:00 AM and 9:00 classes. Probably 100 students close by. And Wham!! (But far from the first or last.)
Ben
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11-24-15, 11:38 AM
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11-24-15, 11:40 AM
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11-24-15, 11:59 AM
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Isn't it amazing how fast you go from vertical to horizontal when you skid on ice?
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11-24-15, 03:02 PM
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11-24-15, 03:13 PM
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I rode on ice and snow a lot back when I still lived in St. Louis but (like you) when I fell there was no damage done since I had so many clothes on to ward off the cold.
What surprised me (in addition to the super-quick horizontal/vertical change) was how far my momentum took me after I hit the ice! All kinds of fun and good challenges back when I was young(er).
Rick / OCRR
What surprised me (in addition to the super-quick horizontal/vertical change) was how far my momentum took me after I hit the ice! All kinds of fun and good challenges back when I was young(er).
Rick / OCRR
11-25-15, 06:07 PM
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11-25-15, 09:52 PM
#21
Still learning
You actually can recall it was 1999 the last time you keeled over? Wow!
Glad you're ok and it wasn't the Colnago. I was riding Sunday night to go for a workout. There was some ice on the side of the road, but with little or no traffic, I just rode the crown of the residential road to avoid the ice patches.
Glad you're ok and it wasn't the Colnago. I was riding Sunday night to go for a workout. There was some ice on the side of the road, but with little or no traffic, I just rode the crown of the residential road to avoid the ice patches.
11-26-15, 08:04 AM
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11-26-15, 08:10 AM
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You actually can recall it was 1999 the last time you keeled over? Wow!
Glad you're ok and it wasn't the Colnago. I was riding Sunday night to go for a workout. There was some ice on the side of the road, but with little or no traffic, I just rode the crown of the residential road to avoid the ice patches.
Glad you're ok and it wasn't the Colnago. I was riding Sunday night to go for a workout. There was some ice on the side of the road, but with little or no traffic, I just rode the crown of the residential road to avoid the ice patches.
