Risky, Riskier and Riskiest...riding when it's frosty?

[ny biker]

Sorry to hear about these crashes. While the amount of snow and ice might not be enough to justify studded tires in some places, at least getting grippier tires and lowering the tire pressure should be some of the precautions to take. +1 on OakLeaf's caveat.

Pll, is this your first experience with snow in DC? Did it blow your mind compared to Chicago? Two inches and the whole area is paralyzed. I'm at home today, never even tried to leave the house because I would not have been able to get out of Arlington.

On the other hand, they've started plowing the MUTs here in Arlington as of this winter, and from photos I saw on twitter I think they cleared them before they cleared the roads.

I've crashed in mud on paved trails in the past -- it was no fun trying to clean the dirt out of that road rash -- and the other night almost fell while walking in a crosswalk after it rained, thanks to the slippery white painted stripes. I've also had problems with black ice while out walking in winter -- my "safe" alternative to cycling in this weather. It's easy to think you can handle the conditions until experience tells you otherwise.

I hope your husband recovers well, Apple Tree.

[salsabike]

That is a cool tool, Eden--thanks!

Wishing all the wounded well.

[AppleTree]

That is a cool tool, Eden--thanks!

Wishing all the wounded well.

Definitely some good info there thanks Eden. Thanks TE friends for all the well wishes...he just got home from the hospital today, will be over 2 months before he can even THINK about getting back on the bike. But thankfully, not feeling much pain or side effects from anything.

He's not young, but definitely very low body fat, which might have made the fall worse, no cushioning there at all. Me on the other hand, ha ha. He thinks he held his breath when he fell too, might have caused the lung to pop. Did have touring tires, he was riding his Surley bike, but not much you can do when you hit the ice with any kind of tires I guess.

There was an interesting discussion on TE a few months back about being more risk averse as you age, and I know it is true for me. I don't want to FEEL fragile, but I am aware that my body IS fragile. But also resilient!!

Stay safe everyone!

[pll]

Pll, is this your first experience with snow in DC? Did it blow your mind compared to Chicago? Two inches and the whole area is paralyzed. I'm at home today, never even tried to leave the house because I would not have been able to get out of Arlington.

I was here last winter, too. My friends from Chicago joke about how dangerous 1 inch of snow is in DC... It's cute. For the most part, I walk to work, so I had no problem getting to the office.