The first thing was a jerk encounter on Thursday. The roads were bare, there were 2 empty lanes, no other cars on the road, and I had my helmet/led lights on. Yet he decided to honk the horn at me. What was I doing wrong? Oh well...I kept on peddling. At least he didn't yell at me.
And today, even though we got some fresh snow, I decided to bike to work. It was frozen this morning and the side streets were really bad, there was sheer ice with water on top. I realized that it was bad as I was biking down one side street, but couldn't stop and get off the bike for fear of slipping. I went on to another street..and down I went! I wasn't going too fast because of the ice, but I still went down good. There was a car coming on my lane so I quickly picked myself and the bike up and went on to the sidewalk. The sidewalk was more icy then the road! I was resigned to walking the bike to work as there was no going back, but the sidewalks were so bad that when I got to the main street that I ride up to work on, I decided that it would be safer to ride on the road then to walk on the sidewalk.
Going home, it was good going. Slushy and wet, but I was ok as I was wearing my full rain gear in anticipation of getting soaked. I am ok, I just have a sore bum. I need good studded tires I tell you! Don't have any yet. Do they help on melting sheer ice?
Sounds like a crazy biking day. Recently I was just thinking on how those big bike trikes are probably the best things going for icy roads.. At least its melting!!
ReplyDeleteI'm fortunate as I don't think I've ever received the "pointless honk" from someone yet.
ReplyDeleteI think it was three years ago when I last fell off during the winter. I took a corner too fast and hit a patch of ice. Fortunately it was in a parking lot well before anything was open.
Yesterday however I was down a side-street that was covered with slush, and a car was coming towards me, so I moved over to the side but the whole rear of my bike moved in the opposite direction. Didn't fall but proves how tricky side-street slush can be.
I actually find riding slightly faster through slush helps. Whenever I slow down I lose traction.
Gotta love the pointless honking...
ReplyDeleteI've also considered getting studded tires, or even making my own -- there are good online DIY tutorials online -- but haven't gotten to it. And now I think the worst of winter may be over, here, but who knows. I know I keep getting out there.
Be safe but keep riding :-)}}}