As we discussed this in our meeting last night, I was asked to post ……….

In the UK – and in London winter weather is rarely bad enough to make cycling impossible. But when we do get snow and ice, it affects us disproportionately compared to countries that are well used to it

As we are not used to cycling on snow and ice, we are not likely unless we are long in the tooth cycling wise to have the skills or equipment to make it easier.

So  – safety first. Bus routes etc are likely to be gritted, but backstreets and cycle paths rarely are. so change your route to work to suit.  And you may need to walk your bike to a gritted through-road before getting on it.

If you’re worried about staying upright, leave your bike at home and travel by other means for a day or two. a fall on ice can put you in A+E at the end of a long queue as folk often go down hard and seldom have time to react. Even if you ordinarily don’t wear a helmet, we think it is worth putting one on for icy days for just that reason.

Riding in snow is easier with bigger wheels and fatter, lower-pressure tyres. The bigger ‘tyre footprint’ provides traction and enables the tyres to sit on top of the snow better, a bit like snow shoes. Prominent tread-lugs on the tyre help to keep your wheels turning. If you have a mountain bike, use that instead of your normal commuter. Reduce the pressure to the minimum figure printed on the tyre sidewalls and off you go.

Cyclo-cross bikes, touring bikes and fatter-tyred hybrids are pretty good in the snow too. They have moderately wide tyres that can be run at lower pressures, and they have bigger clearances between the tyres and the frame than road bikes, which collect compacted snow under the brake callipers and at the bottom bracket. (This is also a problem for any bike with close-fitting mudguards.) Small-wheeled bikes such as compact folders struggle to make progress in thicker snow.

It’s harder work pedalling through snow. Use a lower gear so that you can pedal easily. If you have to stand up to pedal, you’ll have less weight over the rear wheel so you’re more likely to spin it. Aim to remain seated. Bike handling isn’t as erratic as it is on ice, but bear in mind the riding-on-ice advice. You can still slip and it’s possible to (literally) snow-plough the front wheel if you turn suddenly.

If the snow is falling, make sure you’re visible to drivers.

Watch for for ice whenever the temperature dips near zero, not just below. if you can see you breath  in the air take care!  and there will be very local differences e.g. higher or more open is colder and there are dirferences if a particular bit or road is north facing or in shadow. And you cannot see black ice!!  Try to remember anywhere you’ve encountered ice before, as it tends to reoccur in the same places.

Compacted snow can also be slippery. Freshly fallen snow is different. Traction is okay with wider tyres, although it’s hard going. The main problem is that you can’t see what the snow hides. A pothole? A kerb? Don’t feel pressured by motorists to squeeze into the slush or deeper snow towards the edge of the road; take your lane when necessary.

Concerning staying upright, allow more time for your commute so that you can cycle more slowly, reducing the risks and consequences if you do encounter ice. Cycle as smoothly and predictably as possible, with no sudden jerks, sharp turns or hasty decelerations.

Concerning steering, If you find yourself on ice, aim to keep going in a straight line if you can. When the front wheel can’t grip, you can’t steer. Avoid using the front brake on ice. If the front wheel is turning, it has some traction – albeit not much. If the wheel locks, it will start to slide and you’ll immediately lose control.

You can slow down by gently applying the rear brake. The rear wheel may break traction and start to slide, but it is possible to control a rear wheel skid. If the back end starts to slew around, put a foot down speedway-style.

It’s quicker to get your feet off the pedals if they are ordinary flat ones rather than clip-in pedals. If there’s snow on the ground, it’s also easier to get your feet securely onto flat pedals. Snow compresses into ice around shoe cleats if you walk on it, making it awkward to engage the cleats with the pedals.

Finally we will be sharing places where we have seen ice on twitter @southwarkcyle

First up is the water burst on Homestall Road by the school!

Thanks to  cyclescheme and Cycling Weekly from which some material here was taken