Holy ICE-in-apex!

Re: Holy ICE-in-apex! (doocatiboy)

You should really put the tire chains on if your going to be riding in that kind of weather Good job on the save.

Re: (JAGrantJr)

202W along the Amawalk reservoir between Croton Falls (near Mahopac/Carmel) and the Taconic.

Yeah, you really need the liners - the gloves are too bulky and while the liners don't keep your fingers super warm they take the cold edge off and keep them comfortable rather than frozen.

I'm on the UES and ride every wknd if I'm not wrenching and the roads are tolerable, though after last night I'm less inclined to ride around sustained freezing/subfreezing temps - never know when that ice is going to be in the next bend.

Shoot me an email. I ride with a few other guys at least in the warmer months (I'm one of two with heated gear), all on Ducs or their other bikes, but who are they kidding - they always prefer the Duc

Ducatidave @ gmail.com

Re: (doocatiboy)

Didnt your momma ever tell you to use sheet metal screws? Them bad boy's work great for the ice!


Nice job keeping it right side up, but I must say, you ant right son riding in 23 degree weather! Hell my snowmobile dosnt even want to come out and play at those temps!

doocatiboy,

Good job you kept your wits and saved it. Did you see the ice and know it was coming and therefore you could prepare? Or was it like "oh crap I'm sliding"? You said you corrected it. Do you mean you let it correct it itself, you pulled on the bars, relaxed your grip, or what?

I ask because....

This happened to me with gravel in June 2004. I hadn't let my guard down because I had seen gravel twice on the route earlier. However I was just starting to get into the faster area of the route. The spot where I wrecked was shaded by trees and I had my tinted visor on. It was a left hander but barely any lean at all. Anyway when I hit that gravel all of a sudden the bike was sliding like yours was. Unfortunately for me since I had no warning since I didn't see the gravel I was in like total shock while it was happening. I had assumed when it was occuring that I was sliding on the ground already. Looking at leathers afterward and thinking about it I don't think I was. Therefore I think the bike was basically sliding along and I just let go at some point thinking I had to to save myself. Thinking back I regret being in "shock" or whatever you call it. If I wasn't in like "shock" I think I coulda tryed to correct the bike. To this day I think about that.

Re: (grendels_arm)

Sonofabitch I am going to kill someone - I just spent entirely too much time replying and then my connxn packed up on me and I lost my reply

In short I think you're right: if you can avoid shock/disbelief/relying on hope/whatever name you give it and instead keep your wits and THINK you'll fare MUCH better.

I had a splitsecond warning which gave me a moment to mentally prepare. I relaxed my grip but gently exerted force (rapidly) on the bars as I interpreted was needed based on the bike's and bar's behavior. I nearly got tossed each time the bike began it's recovery from each impending lowside.

I once got berated for sharing this on another board that generally argued I was stupid for spending time practicing the following rather than practicing avoidance: I'd practice lowsiding my mountain bike on ice (on which I could slide and not worry about rash and asphalt) to reduce my inhibitions to a getoff. I believe if you're not somewhat prepared what to expect you're more likely to go into survival mode and not think about how you can help yourself. I.E. your apprehensions take control, you're in shock. I have no doubt that's what helped me get through this without major incident

Damnit my other reply was more exhaustive and elaborative but I haven't the patience to retype.