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Trying to decide which bike I will be less likely to die on tomorrow morning's commute, it's going to be an icy -3 I reckon.
Road bike with 25mm tyres or 29er with 2.4 ardents?
What will have more traction on tarmac?
I'd take the mtb and put flats on it.
First Choice, Car then train then walk then bike, then crawl on fingers then bus.
The MTB will have much larger contact patch, 50psi vs 120 psi.
In fact why not just phone in sick.
Don't have a car unfortunately, start work at 7, so train would mean leaving the flat at 5.30 - the bike takes 20-30 mins, although I would like to arrive in one piece. Maybe mtb then.
Phone in sick and then go out for a mbr 😀
On a serious note if i'm out for a training ride on the road this time of year I normally take the cyclocross bike, feel I have more chance of staying on if its icey or just muddy from farmers chucking it down on the back lanes.
And not much slower than the road bike.
i think i'm going opt for the mtb over my commuter tomorrow. Don't fancy slicks on ice.
Be careful! Neither MTB nor road bikes have [s]much [/s]any grip on ice. Don't let the big contact patch and lower pressures lure you into a sense of false confidence.
Thanks chaps, I'll see how I feel in the morning. I really don't want to end up under a lorry!
Any bike with Snow Studs or Ice Spikers? They really work!
I believe that slicks are marginally better on ice, but it's not a noticeable difference: if you hit ice, anything without studs will be utterly hopeless. Contact patch is largely irrelevant.
The more relaxed position of the MTB may make you feel more confident, but I can tell you from painful experience that the confidence isn't justified.