A timely reminder of risk

[moorfield]

I came off my bike this morning on a nasty downhill patch of black ice, a route I cycle down at speed normally without incident every day. A few scrapes and bruises and a cracked helmet but otherwise ok.

Don't forget to protect your heads, and your portfolios!

M

[UncleEbenezer]

Ouch. Sympathy. When I've done that, the bike and my clothes seem to fare worse than me.

Tuesday I saw ice, stuck mostly to the main roads, went very slowly when off the main roads.

Last night I walked into town (about an hour each way). Long, fairly steep downhill stretch on the way home, and I definitely didn't fancy that on a bike after sampling the conditions about six-ish as cold and clear night. In the event it had clouded over and was warming by the time I was heading home.

I'm slightly bothered about salted roads in winter, and the damage that can do to a bike.

[Ashfordian]

I go by the 'fridge rule'* for riding when there is risk of ice.

"If it is warmer in my fridge than outside I don't take the bike"

It is not worth the risk of an off IMO.

*unless I have the option of spiked tyres

[rockdoctor]

I came off my bike several times over the last year, from losing grip going round a corner.
I had also noticed my front hydraulic disk brake was a bit 'juddery', but it only recently occurred to me that the two were linked - the judder was the brake grabbing the disk and briefly locking up. That was causing the skid on slippery surfaces and the tumble.
I fixed it yesterday just by taking the pads out and turning them round.
I feel a right idiot - and my knee, shoulder and thumb continually remind me of this!