RIDING IN THE SNOW

[ds06nomad]

Once. And hopefully never again. As the snow on the road melts, the dampness brings up the oils on the road and there is also "black ice" to watch for. This is a patch of ice over the road's surface that you can not always see because it's basically a "sheet" of ice matching the color of the roadway. Traction is like riding on an ice rink that has just been Zambonied, ie, ZERO.

The only time I've been "down" (and it was on my former bike, thankfully) was at 3mph on a "seemingly clear" road with snow on the sides. The bike's front tire simply slid away. I actually was able to remain standing on my 2 feet. The bike slid away from me to the right; I went left on my feet.

Also VERY difficult to lift a bike with no foot traction should you go down (but not out). This is why I recommend NOT riding on snow... or even right after snowfall when the ice is just beginning to melt. VERY dangerous, even at "walking" speed.

Ride safe,
Daryl

[beezer]

Cruisers and snow = bad things man

[dantama]

I've ridden in about 4 inches of snow successfully. Unless you are the type that needs challenges, I wouldn't recommend it.

To do it, go slow. The slower you go, the more upright you can corner. If you pictured a graph of available traction when riding in the snow, there would be almost nothing left for on the graph for anything beyond straight up riding. You won't be dragging floorboards in the snow around corners, and keep going.

Don't do anything sudden either. Even at parking lot speeds, where you can turn and still be mostly vertical, don't make sudden movements. Make them slow and gradual.

Stops and starts are slow and gradual too.

If done that way, you can go for many miles in fairly deep snow 4-6 inches, but I don't recommend it.

[flightdoc]

thanks for all the info. I have no plans on riding in the snow. but wanted to know what to do in case of.

[dank]

I've been in snow once. It started snowing when I was 200 miles out. Don't think there is any safe way to do it. But slowly certainly is important. Below freezing I also find you have to be really careful about going under overpasses since water drips down and can cause icy patches. I think any time the temperature is below freezing it is a big risk. All it takes is one icy patch on a corner or where you need to brake and you are down.

[dantama]

I agree with dank's post. I wouldn't ride on ice, no way, no how. Snow isn't nearly as slippery as ice.

[jussmatt]

ds06nomad is dead on with the comments about "black ice". Being outside of Houston, TX. winter weather isn't something that we worry about, much less snow! But once it starts to get around freezing, we definately get hit with "black ice". Scariest part is, you don't know it's there till you're right in the middle of it!!

Just something for us Southern Riders to think about... Ride Safe Everybody!

[donoller]

looks like my old 49 indian warrior

[oldbiker]

I need to get a pair of the snow skis so they can rot in the garage next to the hang glider.

[Top Cat]

I need to get a pair of the snow skis so they can rot in the garage next to the hang glider.

Man I wish I knew, I just tossed out two pair along with boots and poles. They were rotting in my garage next to my golf clubs. You could have had them oldbiker