On 1/7/2018 11:35 AM, wrote:
On Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 12:28:40 AM UTC-6, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
Just wondering if when it's known that there can be black ice on the roads if anyone here wears a helmet or other protection (such as elbow pads) that they'd not normally wear when the roads are clear. Do you?

Cheers

If there is a chance of black ice, or any ice or slick condition, I use carbide studded tires on my bike. With studded tires, ice is irrelevant. Studded tires have perfect grip on ice or anything else. I use normal helmet and lots of winter cycling clothes when using studded tires. So I have two, three thicknesses of clothes to protect my body if I were to fall. But with studded tires, you can't fall.

I agree that studs make ice (mostly) irrelevant. (See what others have
posted about uncontrolled larger vehicles in the vicinity.) But you
/can/ fall with studs, I've done it, though I haven't on "just ice."
Deep snow /over/ ice, that's another matter. This is a pretty rare
condition around here.

When the snow is so deep, though, the fall is more likely to cause
embarrassment than injury.

I swap in a studded front wheel when there's a chance of black ice on my
commute. When ice/snow are more certain, stud both wheels.

Amusing tale:

Long ago I was commuting in Colorado year round. Made my first set of
studded tires. Toodling to work on the studs, there was a stoplight
where the crossroad was steeply crowned. My light turns green but
there's a car creeping to a stop on the crossroad. I wait.

Car slows to walking pace and starts to slide, then slides to its right
toward a very tall curb, which it impacts with the bumper, "thunk".
/Then/ I proceed, feeling smug.

Mark J.