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From: putnam@steinmetz.UUCP (jefu)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Falling On Ice
Message-ID: <662@steinmetz.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Feb-86 06:54:00 EST
Article-I.D.: steinmet.662
Posted: Wed Feb 26 06:54:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 01:33:59 EST
References: <458@tekigm2.UUCP> <5490011@acf4.UUCP> <460@uw-june>
Reply-To: putnam@kbsvax.UUCP (jefu)
Organization: GE CRD, Schenectady, NY
Lines: 30

In article <460@uw-june> wagner@uw-june (Dave Wagner) writes:
>> If you are determined to ride in such hazardous conditions, you should use
>> the widest tires possible for your bike, underinflate them for better traction,
>> use tires with knobby treads (like ATB's)....
>
>A popular misconception is that knobby tread gives you more traction on ice.
>Doubtful - if the ice is a smooth layer, and not just broken up crusty stuff,
>you want as much rubber in contact with it as possible.  Treads are of
>no use unless the surface on which you're riding is irregular enough to
>afford something for them to grab onto.  Have you ever seen tires for
>motorcycle ice-racing?  (which is, I'll admit, a crazy sport.)

I have an ATB which i attempt to use in the winter, and seeing as how the
local climate tends toward chilly in that season, there is a lot of ice
and snow around.  The knobby tires by themselves are not much help.  This
is true even for irregular ice most of the time (though certainly smooth
ice is much worse).  Local bike shops suggest wood screws driven through
the tires (from the inside ! :-), but i havent tried this yet.  

My general inclination is to suggest avoiding roads when there is likely 
to be ice on them.  Not only is it difficult to control a bike well on
ice, but it is also difficult to control a car well, and the way most
drivers tend to treat bikes makes it doubly hazardous.  I wish i could
say otherwise.  


-- 
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