Cornering on ice

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After today’s catastrophic field test, I have advice for the safest way to corner on sheet ice:

Don’t.

9 replies
  2. Stefan says:

    Hi Lee,
    You have a great site that I visit often. I hope the twins as well as the rest of your family are well.
    I run store bought studded tires on the rear and home made studs on the front (#6 x 6/16″ sheet metal screws around 240 of them) I can do endos on sheet ice if I grab too much front brake. But the rear tire only has studs down the centre, so if I lean past a certain point (not very far) it is an instant and generally violent wipe out.
    Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
    Stefan

  3. leelikesbikes says:

    Sounds like it’s time for side-studs!

    Yeah man, maybe it’s time to try studded tires around here:

    I just made the same mistake on a trail ride. Bam bam bam down the rocks, brake hard then try to square a turn into the next rocks. But noooo …. sheet ice! BAM TO THE GROUND!

  4. Eric H says:

    Some advice for after you wipe out and are sliding toward a tree stump or rock…….take the tree stump, I lucked out and hit a rotten one…..with my head and shoulder! Thankfully it blew out of the ground instead of taking my head off.

  6. Lou says:

    I winter ride a fair bit in upstate NY. One idea would be to have 2 sets of wheels for winter. Use regular tires when the snow is good. Take that old set of wheels you don’t use any more or the ones off your other bike and build up a set with some good studded tires (Nokian is a good brand to look at). The studded tires are heavy but its the only thing that will provide traction on ice. Wearing pads keeps you warm too 😉

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Lee Likes Bikes says:
    December 21, 2009 at 10:16 am

    […] You’d think I already learned my lesson. […]

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