What would you?
I've got cold weather kit for both
Mtb all the way. On the road you’re out in the open and going faster for more windchill. Plus tarmac could have black ice.
Mtb you’re often sheltered a bit on the woods / less windchill / less likely to slide off at speed.
Plus mtb is always more fun anyway. Road is just for fitness for me or where I haven’t got time to go anywhere decent to mtb.
MTB every day. Frozen ground off road is great!
MTB for me. I don't fancy slick tarmac.
Me, If it's very first thing in the morning then MTB, I've been on the deck one too many times riding in icy conditions on the road.
Went out this morning. Trails are prime, roads are icy in places. MTB.
How much do you trust your local gritting teams? And will they cover all the roads you intend to be riding?
The scariest part of any MTB ride round here in these conditions is the lanes to get to the trails.
Fell off on the 4 minute ride to work this morning, I wouldn't be going on the road if I had a choice!
@tall_martin I’ve just messaged you if you fancy a play off road tomorrow!
I’ve got cold weather kit for both
But can you fit a sleeping bag in your jersey pocket?
MTB every time. Lovely to have the soft ground frozen. Less likely slip off. Less likely to be run over if you skip off
MTB every day but especially in these conditions.
MTB!
Mtb. Tarmac hurts more.
Trails were fantastic first thing this morning, nice, fast and dry. The roads on the other hand…..potential death trap. I spun out my rear wheel on the road climb to the trails. I’d not be trusting the grip of my road tyres.
Frozen trails are the second best thing to dusty summer trails. Sub-zero temps don't always guarantee they're going to be frozen though. If it's been sub-zero for a few days you're probably mostly good.
Sub-zero temps can also dry the roads out and make any patches of ice easy to spot. It can be a good time to ride both ime. If the roads look wet, take the MTB, otherwise its a game of Russian Roulette.
Frozen trails are the best, frozen roads are a nightmare. MTB all the way!
Frozen Gravel FTW 😉
There will be black ice on the roads at -2 (there was still black ice in sheltered places at +2 this afternoon, ground temp is usually 3deg lower than ambient temp after all, traction control on my van intervened a few times!) and you're asking whether to ride on road or off...? Seriously?
Anyone who goes out on the roads in these conditions and hurts themselves has no sympathy from me... I despair at society some times!
That's a lot of consensus!
Thanks 😃
Road, the trails are too crispy crunchy for you I want them to myself
I would rather fall off off road than on road and have fallen off on black ice a few times and don't want to do that again.
Road, the trails are too crispy crunchy for you I want them to myself
😃
I'm bottling it. Too many of the tracks and trails have a covering of compacted snow, or are coated in ice hidden under a dusting of snow, and I have Sale v Ulster to watch this afternoon
Hovering around zero here but yesterday was warmer and sleeting/drizzling so the previously frozen trails have thawed into a slushy icy mess.
The roads meanwhile are filthy with salted freezing cold puddles and, on the side roads, a few icy patches.
Not ridden all week. 😥
Zwift for me. Roads are an ice rink, I don’t have an MTB, and my gravel bike doesn’t come for another couple of weeks.
Zwift also, after 2 broken collarbones in the last 4 years I’m in no rush for another
I'm not one for victim blaming but if you go out on the roads today, you'll deserve every portion of hospital food you get next week. Just don't.
Mid Somerset , must have had rain/ sleet during the night , roads like ice rinks , ain’t going anywhere any time soon if at all today .Easy decision came off on black ice riding to work a few years back , luckily the guy driving the Artic behind me could see it coming. That was after staying on the main road to avoid country lanes I normally rode .
Evesham. Snowing nicely, unless your wife has to get to work along roads that haven't been gritted or plowed...
Turns out the Merc is worse in the snow than the Beemer was.
I’m not one for victim blaming but if you go out on the roads today, you’ll deserve every portion of hospital food you get next week. Just don’t.
For some of us, these are normal temps all winter, so it's a choice of riding your bike or not riding your bike for several months of the year. There's always some risk but you get to know what conditions are likely to lead to trouble and when it's relatively safe. Just being being cold shouldn't put you off going out.
As for the road/MTB thing, I think every time I've been off on the ice, is when linking up off-road sections. Which for most people is essential unless you drive somewhere specifically. And let's face it, if the roads are really that bad and you get in a car, you're then not just putting yourself in danger, you're also putting other people in danger.
It's the thought of a car slithering into me that keeps me from riding on the road when it's icy.
Roads are icy locally, plus full of salt, so I'd be on the commuter MTB with studs for a blast, if my lungs weren't still farked after covid a month ago !
One of my road riding mates sent us a picture of his shiny new ti road bike on Thursday and asked if anyone wanted to join him on a ride to christen it yesterday….
We went mtb. Even the gravel guy borrowed his son’s old boardman mtb rather than take his kinesis atr
It was ace and I’m going out again today. Lovely winter wonderland conditions here in Sheffield
@fossy Aren't you located just up the road from Prestatyn? I bet it's lovely around Llanasa, providing you have winter stud tyres to stay upright. But besides the odd stretch like Dyserth Way, relatively flat roads are few and far between as you head inland from the coast, they can be a killer even without Covid lung damage!
I think it's important to get out and experience the icy weather somehow but I am also afraid of broken collarbones. A bit of time on the turbo then out with the kids to stomp on icy puddles I think.
Tried to mtb in sub zero black ice conditions today. It was lethal anywhere that didn't have complete tree cover. Gave up after an hour and a half.
Might take the trike out after a dog walk. Road of course 😉
YouTube and ps5.
MTB is in the lounge till at least April.
And never road obviously.
Glad I was on the MTB. It was a bit frosty and -1 according to the Garmin.
The ride to the trails (4min) saw 4 people cut me up! That's some grumpy Christmas's shoppers/ still drunks I'm glad I didn't bump into!
@n0b0dy0ftheg0at We've a caravan in Gronant so not there at the moment - We live South East Manchester, just a short ride into the Peaks.
It's blooming lumpy around Llanasa once you head inland.
Running.
No way I’m riding a bike in this weather but 13 miles on some trails when running was amazing.
Go for a swim, the water is warmer than the air temp
2 and a half hours later, emerge from the garage and it’s white over…
Went for a walk in the hills above Hayfield. High up was maybe 2-3" of wet, but fine, snow, saw a few tyre tracks in it and a couple of riders once we were up on the tops.
Lower down was just mud and slush.
Park run yesterday round oakwell. MTB round oakwell today - was cold though - struggled to get warm - should have gone somewhere with bigger hills. Nice a dry though not much in the way of ice. Commuting tomorrow could be tricky. Not much snow in West Yorks - not near Leeds anyway.
I went out on the Mtb but the roads all looked quite clear. So very cold though. Stopped for a very welcome hot chocolate at Wimpole Hall.
@oldnpastit Did you go through the gate to get to the cafe? Would hate to have to pay entry on a ride
@grahamt1980 did not pay to get in, I think you only pay if you drive, just cycled round the new gravel track and then down the big(small!) hill on the western side.
