Black ice everywhere

Harrybelafonte wrote:

If more cyclists looked like they could smash their heads in, rather than the emaciated lot they are, maybe things would change

Getting further off topic here, but some of the most head-smashing-in -able types I've met fall into the emaciated category. It's a very mistaken, but certainly extremely common, misconception that physical build is a measure of someone's ability to cause others harm.

doozerie wrote: »

Getting further off topic here, but some of the most head-smashing-in -able types I've met fall into the emaciated category. It's a very mistaken, but certainly extremely common, misconception that physical build is a measure of someone's ability to cause others harm.

Indeed. Thug Behram, perhaps the original thug, strangled many of his 931 victims with a cummerbund. Not only that, but his slim-fitting attire looks to be straight out of a Rapha catalogue.

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I'm running scared on my hybrid with the ice and frost these days. Would getting an mtb with spiky tyres be worth it to keep commuting? My big fear is having experienced slips while even going in a straight line that I could easily fall in front of a car or bus.

These would probably fit a hybrid, I have a pair on my cyclocross bike

oops! c_daly already mentioned these

Spook_ie wrote: »

And I suppose everyone is going to complain even more about the roads after you've all torn up the antiskid surfaces etc with them studs....

I think you are confusing bicycle studded tyres with tank tracks. Studded bicycle tyres tear up nothing. Tank tracks do, but those are just for the rainy season bicycle.

Spook_ie wrote: »

And I suppose everyone is going to complain even more about the roads after you've all torn up the antiskid surfaces etc with them studs....

It's true. Some people will whine about anything no matter how farcical.

Spook_ie wrote: »

No I'm just referring to if you run tungsten carbide tips on a surface it's going to damage it to some extent. Tell you what find a nice piece of tarmac and do an emergency braking maneuver, if there's no marking to the surface then I'll believe you, better still do it on one of the antiskid surfaces near some traffic lights

I know exactly what'll happen if I do an emergency braking manoeuvre on a piece of tarmac, my tyre will shed tungsten carbide studs. Tarmac is harder than the (friction) bond between the studs and the tyre, tarmac will win. To suggest that the tyres/studs will do any notable damage to the tarmac is ridiculous.

The most damage that a carbide stud on a rotating tyre will cause will be a faint, if any, surface scratch. If you are concerned about surface scratches then you should tell the council not to casually scatter gravel over the roads, including the excess gravel-type stuff that they leave in place when they put down that terracotta coloured stuff that I imagine you are talking about when you refer to an anti-skid surface. If the road is at risk of damage, it's from cars driving over gravel on it (or people walking on it with spiked shoe covers, the hoors wha').

Incidentally, that so-called anti-skid surface is the exact opposite when they leave excess terracotta material on it (which seems to be standard practice) when they first install it. That loose layer of grit is slippery and dangerous. Such areas of road are also usually flanked by wide painted lines to segregate it from the neighbouring lane(s), and quite often the same paint is used within the segregated area to cover a large area with words like "BUS LANE". That paint seems to be the most slippy material ever invented, even on a wet non-icy day, but in the ice it is extra lethal.

ciotog wrote: »

I tried speaking to a taxi driver about his behaviour recently and got ****ed out of it along with a comment on cycling in the centre of the bus lane (by the US Embassy). I really doubt anything changed with him.

Garda TrafficWatch might help here. Even if the Gardai do not do anything (which in my experience is considerably more often than them doing something), the report will be there for the next Garda to read.

I was furious with a taxi driver recently and shouted a lot (he was entering a roundabout from my left faster than I liked). I found him around the corner, by which time I had calmed down, and we had a short but good chat. He agreed that he was coming in too fast. I said that it scared the **** out of me (and I had my 5 year old on a crossbar seat). He said you couldn't pay him enough to cycle and that I was a bit mad. Hopefully he is a bit more aware now.

EDIT: Sorry for going off topic - I didn't see mod note until after I posted.

As these 28x1.2 Schwalbe Winter Touring Tyres look like they might fit my Sirrus, would it be enough to get one for the rear tyre?

As I don't want to be swapping them with a non-studded tyre, is there much disadvantage to leaving it on all the time?

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Sounds like you need an extra set of wheels.

Even changing wheels each morning would be messy, plus I'm lazy!
Is there a disadvantage to cycling in studded tyres on non icy days?

MB Lacey wrote:

Is there a disadvantage to cycling in studded tyres on non icy days?

Not in terms of grip no, the studs will be pushed into the tyre so that the rubber treads make contact with the tarmac so grip on non icy days is equivalent to that of non-studded knobbly tyres (which is to say not quite as good as slicks, but still adequate). The studded tyres are heavier and roll a bit slower than non-studded tyres so you might be a little slower overall with studded tyres - for my 11km commute, it is a little harder work with studded tyres versus slicks but the difference is not so big as to bother me (and on the positive side, the extra exercise will do me good).

I fitted my studded tyres 2 weeks ago and plan to leave them on my commute bike, regardless of weather, until probably March or so. This was my approach for the last 2 years and it worked out well.

MB Lacey wrote: »

On tropical days like today, does one still cycle with their studded tyres on their mtb/ hybrids?
I just ordered some and dont want to be changing tyres and tubes each morning before I set off for work depending on the weather.
And buying a new bike is not an option

I still took my MTB this morning, hoping against hope that some of the light snow showers we are maybe going to get will stick and make a lovely cycle home.

Probably should have taken the commuter though.

But when I build up the Kaffenback I'll leave that with winter tyres till marchish I reckon. Or at least till we get out of frosty mornings.