How do you feel about riding when it’s icy?

I like riding in snow/ice, but I just bimble and enjoy the scenery, I don't generally avoid stuff, I just take it easy.

Off-road, I don't mind too much. Although depends where you are riding. Lots of janky, slippy rocks - probably not. Soft woodland and soil, no problem.

On the road - nope. Have had a couple of minor falls on icy roads and don't like it.

I'm good with it... I won't be out today as i've got the end of a bit of lurgy... but i'll be out tomorrow and Sunday in it. Admittedly both will be in civilisation (FoD) and with other people with me.

Sensible. I’m up there next week - would like to take my bike but reasoning that there’s plenty of decent walking to be had from my doorstep. Crashing hurts, especially on frozen ground.

EDIT. Context counts - a local low level ride is one thing. A potentially remote, solo, high level spill is something to avoid IMO.

Wouldnt phase me at all for an off road/MTB ride. I fall off bikes all the time when MTB'ing, no biggie. Just go steady, enjoy the ride, the scenery etc. In fact its often much better riding in freezing conditions than it is when its 10 degrees warmer and sloppy.

If I was roadie, it would be a hard nope. A low side onto tarmac on a country road in the freezing cold could be horrific.

Snow - no issue - take the fat bike.  Ice?  Put on the spike tyres

Sensible? 

But, then there's the Type 2 fun to be had, or more realistically, the chance to get away from the family and sit in the nearest pub,even if it's only a few km ride.

Cheers! 

Yeah, don't mind, it's dry (well, all the water is locked up) and crunchy, I hear what you're saying about sheet ice though and you do have to keep your wits about you - especially if you're on you tod, but yeah; as long as you're warm,  love the frozen days off road. On road? Never in a million years. 🤣

As above, off road, wouldn't give it a second thought, no different to sniper roots and mossy rocks.

On the road I sometimes think I'm overly cautious and consciously move my body weight which invariably ends in me getting it wrong and sliding down the street!

Works ok off-road but avoid the roads. We were out in The Peak on Wednesday night and I felt like using lights in the dark enabled us to see where the ice was. In some places the mud was frozen and much more pleasant than it would have been if not frozen. I ride a lot with dropper down and feet out like outriggers 🙂

I think it depends on the conditions, sometimes it will be completely unrideable.

Definitely safer with more than one and take a Blizzard Blanket and belay jacket.

In the past I enjoyed it. Now, I avoid it. Just last weekend we went down on the tandem when we hit a patch of black ice, thankfully just minor grazing and bruises. Not ridden off road in ice since I kneed myself in the face, breaking the frame of my specs meaning I lost a lens and sliced my knee open, on a frozen night ride. Had to ride home (about 5 miles) and then got myself off to A&E at 11pm as it wouldn't stop bleeding. 6 stitches in the end, got home about 2am. Mid covid as well. Kind of put me off a bit

I had a great day slipping round Whinlatter a few years ago when it was covered in snow and ice.

I agree that I wouldn't push it, and not go somewhere that could require a big mountain rescue operation if I fell off. Especially not on my own.

Low sided off my commuter bike on black ice in similar conditions on the road about a year ago, so am more cautious about that these days.

Frozen forest trails are amazing. Hard and fast like summer. Sometimes even better.

Roads are a no,  high mountain exposure especially solo I would be very wary of.

I go equipped. There is no chance I'd ride without studded tyres on ice, even frost.

I have a spare set of wheels with Schwalbe Snow Studs on for my commute bike. Swapped them out on Sunday as I knew this week would be bad. Wouldn't ride without them as I've had some nasty crashes on ice. Been using them since 2010.

So good, I bought Ice Spiker Pro's for the FS bike. I've not got them on the FS's spare wheels at the moment, but I'll be doing that shortly. Fantastic tyres for ice and snow.

I'm very tempted to get Marathon Winters for the CX bike too - again I've spare wheels.

MTB - wouldn’t give it a second thought.
Gravel - I’d probably still do it.

Road/commute - depends.  Cold but in dry air, probably as the risk of ice is lower.  Humid the day/night before and below zero the morning after?  Nah.  Even though when it’s dry, I might side with caution and take the Gravel bike and lower the tyre pressures.

Hitting black ice on the road was one of the most terrifying things that's ever happened to me on the bike, it just felt like a giant invisible hand had just slapped the bike out from under me, zero warning, nothing I could do about it.

Fortunately it happened so quickly that I didn't even get a chance to take my hands off the bars, which probably saved my collarbone.

Off road is great when it's proper cold, crunchy, fast and oh so pretty.

Frozen beard selfies are always good for extra 'outdoorsman' points as well.

Frozen forest trails are amazing. Hard and fast like summer. Sometimes even better.

Yep agree with that.

As to riding in icy conditions in the Lakes, well we did it BITD but I wouldn't do it now. Memorable descent from Helvellyn clad in Ron Hill tracksters using shoes as outriggers every time we hit a patch of ice.

Lap of whinlatter would be fine roads/fells much higher risk

No issues, was out last night. -3. Bit frosty and puddles frozen over. Its tarmaced paths where i take it easy, much potential for slippage.
When there is a high ice potential i'll use the ice spikers.

MTB = Love it, can generally keep upright on icy patches if I stay loose and off the brakes
Gravel = Fine if I stick to frozen dirt & actual gravel
Road = Nah

Edit: noticed just after posting that I seem to have said pretty much the same as Daffy 😀

Even on Mtbike routes there are often bits of road, so it's something I wouldn't do anymore.
All 3 of my icy 'offs' have been on ice that was under running water.
One of my best mtbiking days was on hard frosty ground, all trails running like a dream, but that's different to proper ice.

Very much depends. Have come off on the road a few times, although you can usually tell the kind of conditions that is likely to happen.
Off-road I usually find is fine, but it can vary massively depending on conditions and terrain. Lots of shiny, rocky surfaces in the lakes, which I guess could be problematic, depending where you are. Compacted snow on well trodden trails can be as sketchy too. Quite rare, but when you get a layer of ice under snow, that can get interesting. You'll  usually get a sense of conditions pretty quickly. Crisp dry trails are great.

Wouldn't ride on icy road or rocks but as said, dirt can be fantastic when frozen

Road, no way - have fallen off a few times and slid down the road on what just looked like a wet road. Luckily no cars around for me to slid under!

On gravel it is okay but I use stupidly narrow tyres so can be a bit lively but don't fall off.

That said, the 'bog o doom' on my commute is starting to freeze over. Can't get across it on slick commuter tyres, but the ice tyres have been fine, although really clogged up on Tuesday. The 'bog' is starting to harden up. Saves a detour !

Finally a topic that STW can agree on!

Off road is fine, on road is dodgy as ****.

Even off road may be a bit dodgy in parts but a freeze wouldn't stop me from going out, whereas I'm not going near my road bike in this current weather.

My wife has ice tyres for a bit of winter fun, they are useful about 2 days a year, but she enjoys those two days.

Definitely a day to take it easy and do a shorter ride that ends up in a pub with a roaring fire.
I like MTB when it's snowy but generally find that it's a slower pace anyway, and I perhaps wouldn't do features I would when it isn't icy. Also much dicking about often ensues in the snow so all good fun.

Agree with the road bike comments though. All I can think of is Bambi on ice

IME, it can be a really different riding experience riding in icy weather.

I would stay off road where possible because of black ice.

Going out early or late can be the best trail conditions as you won't experience the dreaded thaw, but obviously would mean riding in the dark.

Fresh dry snow is fantastic to ride, wet snow is a certain to get you soaked through and freezing cold. Next day snow that has been trampled and has experienced being thawed and refreeze can be very challenging.

If it's dry and cold then this is the best conditions IMO.

I've had one of my most memorable rides a few years ago when on a night ride around the Glentress red route with a pal at night, the snow was light and fluffy which meant there was plenty of grip where it wasn't too deep but where the snow had drifted into deeper areas, it was a lottery of how your bike would handle. Loads of fun, even when you go over the bars.

I've also ridden a natural xc ride from Peebles over the hills and it turned into a knee deep hike a bike in snow. The trails were frozen with deep ruts which were half filled with solid ice. I fell multiple times and was black and blue by the finish. It definitely made me assess the weather conditions a bit more closely after and also not to just push on into ever worsening conditions.

For local snowy rides, I use my half fat rigid singlespeed, it is amazingly fun.

Off road is fine, on road is dodgy as ****.

This +1. I hate riding on road at this time of year anyway. Low winter sun, wet roads, bright reflections. Drivers can't see a bloody thing.

Went for a nice walk yesterday late afternoon, just local and the ground was that lovely half-frozen state - no mud but not rock solid either.
Was at Llandegla last weekend and the first lap of the day setting off about 9.30 was brilliant. Everything frozen. Later laps, everything was thawing and there was a mm of surface water over everything so after staying clean the first lap, the bike needed a visit to the jetwash at the end of it!

Riding in fresh dry powder snow is amazing. As soon as it gets close to zero and it all starts thawing, it just becomes a slushy slippy mess. 🙁

Off road, no issue. Its actually really grippy when its frozen up the muddy paths. On road, no thanks.

Binners, park in Threlkeld, take the Glenderaterra BW up to skiddaw House then down Mosedale and back to Threlkeld on the old road. You'll be absolutely fine on the BW and the path down mosedale. You simply CANT waste this weather when your up there.

Depends on lots of things. I'm considering it today - the lane I would need has a few spots where water seeps onto the road and this can freeze all over the place -but it gets traffic so it generally becomes crunchy slush which can be ridden over on an MTB. Other local lanes are treated. Untreated roads on a road bike at speed though - no chance.

I do have studded tyres to fit when I feel like it though. I don't often, but that's cos it's mild down here.

Off road is often its best when cold and crunchy, turning slop hard overnight. But always watching out for 'boiler-plate' lumps of ice that might create a fall. If in the Lakes i'd consider routes that avoid potentially slippery rock, but otherwise make the most of it and ride cautiously to avoid becoming a MR callout statistic. It's the best of winter riding bar proper snow. I also prefer being on Icy roads on an MTB (when it's to get between trails), as you have a bit more grip and control.

On the road, not fun and pretty dangerous. No chance. Become an Ambulance statistic!

4 deg is my cut off on the road (black ice has a tendency to hang about),  otherwise off road is fabulous.

I have no problem riding when it's cold/icy/snowy, I just tend to plan my route to avoid trails I know to be watercourses or often remain saturated, that could be icy.

My main concern is getting to the trails, either by car or bike when the roads are icy. The best places I ride tend to be in the quieter spots, down lanes which won't have been gritted, so I  tend to head to the locations that will have been gritted and are safer/easier to get to.

As others have said on road - nah been there done that, got the scars.

Off road absolutely, it's like the summer but with added hurting hands. I do make some adjustments though, would try and avoid lots of rocks/rock gardens, and dont push it too hard because I ride alone and don't want to risk crashing and being stuck somewhere in the cold.

Lowey's suggestion is good. Or if you fancy something higher then this is perfect conditions for the north ridges of either Helvelyn or High Street.

They are both gradual, grassy, mossy schlepps which are a nightmare in anything other that a mega drought or a freeze. After a freeze they are immense. So grippy and firm and rideable. If you're up for it you can ride almost all the way to the summits.

I'm thinking about dragging my arse up there tomorrow, but it's just too far from manc....

All I'm good for right now is easy/high cadence road rides, even taking the singlespeed with fatter tyres out was enough to upset my sore hip. So I've got a choice of brisk winter road rides with risk of icy black death, or 100% indoors on the rollers ☹

Will be studying Sunday's forecast verrrrrry carefully.

@lowey - I did that route in June in glorious sunshine and it was dry and dusty. The route I had planned today was to start where we're staying in Troutbeck, down to Matterdale then the Old Coach Road to Thelkeld then back down the other side of the valley. That involves a few miles of Tarmac on really minor roads. I did the same run in similar conditions last year, but not as severe. It literally hasn't been above freezing for a week now. Its going to be sketchy as ****!

This was when I did it last year. IIRC it was -3 when I set off. As I turned on to the Coach Road, having nearly dropped it on the ice 3 or 4 times already, I was really questioning it, then A 'Lets Off Road!' Landy came the other way and I gave him a massive thumbs up as he'd smashed all the ice up down the whole bridleway 😀

Decision made (for today). The phrase 'don't be so stupid' may have been used 😂

We're off out for a walk instead, as its glorious out there, to finish at a suitable pub for a nice lunch. I'll have a look at the riding conditions again tomorrow and Sunday.

Thanks for the words of wisdom everyone. I'm thinking discretion is the better part of valour today. I'd already pretty much convinced myself and was feeling very nervous and worried that may become a self-fulfilling prophecy

I love riding in snow and ice. Have some amazing memories of winter riding in Guisborough Woods (my hometown) and up over the North Yorks Moors with friends.

Same a s many here.... off-road fine, on-road, no thanks. Bad memories.

I do ride locally in frozen conditions but I do get nervous on untreated roads and hence tend to go for shorter local loops designed to stay offroad as much as possible.
If I was in the lakes I suspect the bike would remain wrapped up since I would want to have ridden the area multiple times in gradually worsening conditions so I would have built up an idea of which areas are best avoided.
Its definitely one of the times when I wear pads though.

A nice walk and a pub is a pretty good alternative!

I only road ride these days and am quite cautious when it comes to ice- more so than most, judging by my Strava feed on cold days.

I live in the city and am conscious even when it says 2degrees here it probably means 0 to (-1) out in the lanes in the country. I think the danger is often the never-in-the sunlight patches of road or corners of lanes that are perpetually in the dark under tree cover etc and so pretty much never dry out even when everywhere else looks totally fine.

I also only ever really go riding early doors and never start later than 7am which I guess means its an ever present threat when the temperature drops compared to people who can head out in the middle of the day.

Having said all that it doesn't worry me too much and if I'm training for something specific I'd go out and stick to big roads or avoid know risky areas but I like running pretty much as well as I like cycling so most of the time it would be a pointless risk when I can just go for a run instead.

I haven't ridden for a few months now (early summer).  No rush to restart in the ice. I had a fall on ice that took 3months of physio to heel up a few years ago.

I will get out again soon I think. Maybe a dry/crisp day for motivation purposes.

we've only abandoned a ride due to ice once, where everyone had a little lie down in the first 500m of downhill from a carpark, trying get back up the hill on sheet ice was hilarious and resulted in many new swearwords being invented. 

so MTB, yep not a problem, gravel likewise, roads with ice no way at all as I don't trust drivers at the best of times, never mind if its icy! 

What size are Schwalbe Marathon Winters, and are they tubeless please?

With my ~240 studs per tyre 45Nrth Gravdal tyres, the ice itself is not an issue, rock solid grip.

I feel briefly like I’m Tommi Makkinen, before feeling rather sheepish.

War stories time. I fell off on Wednesday on the (road) club ride.

All good until a 10 mile section of muchos ice. The person behind me fell off with a hell of a clatter and I braked to stop and help and fell off 😕 Had I carried on, I'd have been fine. As it is, no damage to me or boik for a change. It's usually not so benign...

The problem is, the roads were wet on Monday before all the cold nonsense and now it's frozen but you can't tell what's ice and what's water (classic black ice territory). We'll probly cancel the club ride tomoz as we can't be breaking people for sport...

I feel briefly like I’m Tommi Makkinen, before feeling rather sheepish.

Not a bad comparison now that DMACK (maker of WRC rally tyres) has bought Suomi Tyres tyre factory which went bankrupt during spring. I hope can sort occasional quality issues and continue making studded tyres.

Schwalbe Ice Spikers are very squirrely in loose snow but work well on hard pack and ice.

Just remembered a road ride my pal and I did a few years ago, we took cx bikes with knobbly tyres. It was brilliant, and the cafe in Dunkeld was bliss.

I get the trikes out.

I stick to salted roads, the others near me looked treacherous today!

I don't get too excited about MTB when it's icy either  

Off road is fine, on road is dodgy as ****.

Yep, and the frozen ground makes a nice change to the usual winter slop.

I did a 300km audax last weekend, it hit -4 at one point, but felt safe as it had been dry. Just the odd patch on the lanes. I had ice in my bottles and my gears froze!

Italian alps in 2019.

Despite the snow at the top, the temperature was above zero and the roads were dry. Even managed to persuade the local hotel to open to serve us hot drinks.

Same as everyone else. Off road fine, road or paved routes, not a chance. 

Had an off last year on a paved canal tow path hitting a patch of black ice and nearly ended up in the canal! 

My mate just broke is fibula and dislocated the tibia from the rest of the ankle, 2 days ago. 

I suspect he now wishes he had not been so keen on riding when it was icy 🤔

Marathon Winters come in most sizes. 30c is about as narrow as they go. The 'plus' has extra studs.

For me... it depends.
Road bike is an utter no-no.
Mountain bike... OK providing it's actually off-road. I'm quite cautious if there are road sections.
I did come off the Mountain bike on a snowy/ compacted road 2 decades ago, not fast. But still smacked my head and (coupled to a kayaking incident a couple of months later) damaged a disc in my neck.  Felt like hot water running down the inside of the jacket sleeve and my hands felt like they were on fire. (That was a result of the trapped nerve).
It prevented riding for about a year.
I got away lucky in hindsight.

Off road fine, on road no thanks.

It was -1 and frosty on my commute today. Crucially the road was all gritted.

I was in the Lakes Tuesday/Wednesday. High fells in perfect condition; frozen bog, granular snow and frost giving good traction.
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Just remembered a road ride my pal and I did a few years ago, we took cx bikes with knobbly tyres. It was brilliant, and the cafe in Dunkeld was bliss.

That first picture represents some of the best winter rides I've ever had, most recently in the Bathgate Alps funnily enough in 3" of snow!

not a chance on road. I was commuting on wednesday and the combination of heavy traffic and glistening black road surfaces completely freaked me out.

Don't mind off road on frozen trails, but I'm reminded of the time a few christmases when I came off hard on the road section coming down to chapel stile from loughrigg terrace. There may have been tears.

@fossy ta, I managed to find the sizes on the Schwalbe site eventually. Do you know if they can be run tubeless?

I don't think they are tubeless compatible @kramer. They are very puncture proof (I'm using the older Snow Stud version for commuting).

Schwalbe website doesn't show tubeless on them. The Ice Spiker Pro is apparently tubeless ready.

We use it to go explore areas that are often a bit too squidgy but are rock solid now.
Apparently it is -8 currently where we are headed tomorrow.

Pretty similar to everyone else, would much rather be off road than on. Although I've definitely taken the risk more than I should. Have a hole in one of my Rapha jackets from a crash on black ice

The pics above remind of a memorable commute. Commuterised gravel bike on marathon plus tyres. Beast from the East, March 2018, Wilson St in central London (Moorgate). The middle of London!

Great conditions around Peebles now. Snow north of Tweed but not so much in the south. Was out today, Cloich way and did fall off. Mud lurking under the snow. Fat bikes and mud eh

Love these conditions

Beautiful ride.

The only time I've come off on ice was when commuting about a decade ago on a fixed bike (it was February IIRC). I tumbled once directly outside my front door, not a problem,but went over again hard on a roundabout ~15 miles later having gotten up before the west berks gritter lorry driver...

Never been a problem off-road really and most main roads are normally fine, I think that one day on a fixed bike helped me moderate my approach to winter riding though, I take it much easier on paved surfaces (and have a freewheel now) as that's where you're likely to hit proper slippery ice IME...

Looked out the ice spikers last night but after a look at the long term forecast decided not to fit them. If it snows heavily, it will likely do so around Jan/Feb or whenever, so at that time I'll fit them.

In the meantime I'll just take it easy on turns.

The ice spiker pros I have are better suited to snow covered ice, and just plain tarmac, even with a bit of ice here and there arent going to make riding them that safe.

A few years back I came off on black ice on the way to work , luckily the Artic driver behind me anticipated it and stopped before he ran me over 🥺looking back and seeing that big radiator grill looming over me properly shit me up ! 

Lovely in the woods today , glorious day.

Because I used to commute by bike I have always done it.  No other real option

I did give up halfway to work once and caught a taxi - 30mph headwind full of sleet.  It was horrid.<br /><br />

Two very snowy winters here I rode all winter - amusing myself overtaking cars and using the snowbanks at the edge of the road for wee jumps.  Studded tyres are amazing things

i will ride anywhere really in any conditions.

30 odd years of commuting give you a bit of idea.    dont make any sudden sharp movements, dont brake hard, try to ride on the white stuff, ride between car tyre tracks, stay off anything that looks polished.

icy fatbike rides are good fun, had one yesterday no worries, and GFBD tomorrow, so will be out early for a long one.

BITD when I actually commuted to work, I'd generally do it year round. One memorable morning it was (supposedly) -15°C and it was fine - obviously a bit chilly, but road and bike paths were gritted so fine to ride.
It was definitely more problematic when the temperature hovered around -3 to +3 and damp.
Another commute in those circumstances: I rode out of my garage and got wheelspin just climbing up the road camber to turn. The bike went back in the garage that day and I got the bus into work...
But, as just about everyone else has said, some of the best rides have been on snowy and/or icy days (or night, for even more fun)

dont make any sudden sharp movements, dont brake hard, try to ride on the white stuff, ride between car tyre tracks, stay off anything that looks polished.

+1. I sorta developed a sixth sense about where to find grip in icy conditions or off road but it's mostly about keeping loose. As soons as you tense up, it's over! 😯

got wheelspin just climbing up the road camber to turn.

I had that on my ride home from work on Wednesday night.

Just got an email to say my 200km audax tomorrow has been cancelled due to a yellow weather warning for ice. Not sure whether I am relieved or disappointed.

Frozen rock hard trails can be really fun to ride. Sheet ice not so much. Had a bad crash at about 25mph on black ice on my road bike which has kind of put me off, bruised/possibly fractured ribs hurt for a long time!

MTB in the snow can be fun and if you avoid the slop from the thaw it cleans your tyres up lovely:)