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.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
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
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:)
Roads, hate it. Offroad, it depends on the ice really and also on my mood. I've had some great rides with a whole lot of scary ice, just being careful and picking lines and basically getting joy out of making it work and getting away with it. But other times it's just frustrating. I guess a big thing is the climbing, I'm way happier taking a risk on a descent than on a fireroad up!
Did used to have ice spikers but the number of times I actually had the right tyres on the right bike, or guessed the conditions right, was so slim.
Club has cancelled all road rides again this weekend.
I've fitted the Snow Studs to the gravel bike and hoping for a little play in the forecast snow.
Crack on I say. Everywhere round here has been grippier this week than the usual winter slop. Got some PR’s on the downs. (Pic at lunchtime today) 
Came off on road riding in a straight line not touching brakes or even accelerating, just a slight camber did it, busted up knee and rear derailleur (£200 di2). Today in BPW was the fastest and grippiest I’ve ever seen it, just perfect. Unfortunately my rear shock shat itself chucking me off so I’m lying here with a busted knee and ankle wondering how I’ll get to work. Self employed of course. Tits.
Its just not worth it especially when you are the wrong side of 60
@jkomo - heal quickly fella. Also being self-employed is a factor in my own personal risk-aversion. Anyway… snow forecast today! Riding in fresh snow is bloody great fun!
@vlad_the_invader - it does seem pretty unanimous 😂
So, we’re all calling @binners a big girlchild?
I reckon we can call him names without bringing gender into it.
It’s ok. It’s a phrase I used to describe myself in my original post.
It’s ok. It’s a phrase I used to describe myself in my original post.
Wasn't my point but never mind.
