Tips for riding in ice weather?

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I rode all the way from Amesbury to Yeovil a couple of years ago. I had to defrost the bike when I got to work .........
Its actually quite confidence inspiring to know that you can do it as well.

yep, with fizzwheel on this one, like others say, best bet is to go careful since once you have done it you will feel better for it

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Very true....

Welcome my long lost daughter, shh... don't tell the miss'.

lol i always knew my mum had a dark side!

Originally Posted by scooby2102

yep, with fizzwheel on this one, like others say, best bet is to go careful since once you have done it you will feel better for it

Yeah like I said it wasn’t too bad last night, but I fear I will have to face worse conditions over the next couple of months. Thanks for all of your help guys.... really really appreciated

[KnightRider]

Think the most important thing is to be extra careful when starting out (as the roads around your home will be the worst) and even more careful when you arrive (as you may forget that the small roads are still iced.

I've been out a few times and after gaining some confidence on the major roads I have then forgotten to turn the wick down when turning off of them. Lucky nothing bad came of it!

It's been quite icy down here, I dropped from 4th to second at reasonable speeds coming off the A2 to head to Folkestone and produced a lovely slide which eased me into the corner. Have to say was quite scary, but I got used to sliding the rear about throughout the summer so I guess that's paid off a little.

I hang off like a loon when it's icy and put real pressure on the opposite peg, try and keep the thing from leaning. I also sit much further towards the back of the bike than normal to keep the weight off the front too much as I'm quite comfortable with the back slipping about, it gives plenty of warning, unlike the front.

This post probably doesn't sound like I'm being too careful, but to me it's just not panicking, if the rear steps out a little I'll just carry on as per normal. Have dropped my speeds round corners right down though when it gets much below 3 degrees (can see it on the cars in front sometimes when stopped). It does make you feel pretty good that you're out on your bike in that weather.

I hate riding in the ice ever since I was unlucky enough to fall off because of it (my fault for not riding slow enough though). The longest ride I've done in the worst conditions was Aylesbury to Shaftesbury mostly in the snow, on an RS125, character-building stuff that!

It's no problem if you ride smoothly I don't think, although if you don't have to it's not pleasant so I avoid it when possible.

question - how fast/slow do you go on icy roads?

Originally Posted by startrek.steve

When I used to be a Despatch Rider many decades ago, I got so cold, my lips couldnt move enough to talk coherently at the motorway cafe!

I've had that happen a couple of times, on especially cold days.

Originally Posted by captainsmelly

question - how fast/slow do you go on icy roads?

To what feels comfortable.