Slipping on Ice

With proper thick ice like we had a few weeks ago, it is as difficult to balance as riding on a tightrope.

Cars with 4 big wheels cannot grip on the stuff what hope has a bicycle?

With a short flat stretch, you can try and skill/balance yourself across with lots of concentration.

But most roads have a slant so you will be gliding sideways into parked cars, if you try to turn right to correct. BAM! You are down.

I myself went down three times during the icey stint, all riding straight ahead, and two of those times were on a mountain bike. It did not help in the slightest.

i went down just before christmas on a road that was covered in black ice: i was going straight (no leaning) but trying to slow down for the junction that was about 20 metres ahead. it didn't hurt but the scary thing was the car behind me. it braked - and skidded too, right into me. fortunately, no injuries (in fact, my bike went partly under his car then bounced off his locked wheel, ripping away his mudguard!) but it was kinda scary. i admit i haven't been out so much during the cold patch because of this - i'm not afraid of me falling over, i'm scared of the idiot drivers who speed cos they're in their nice warm cars and don't realise how dangerous it is.