Tips for cycling in snow, ice and slush

Many of Britain’s commuter cyclists are continuing to ride to work throughout the cold snap, but as freshly fallen snow begins to turn to slush, which can add to the slipperiness of underlying ice, cyclists are being urged to take extra care.

Cyclists show all the grit

Whilst cyclists themselves have not been short on grit this winter, cycle paths in many areas have remained covered in snow.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Other European countries do a good job of maintaining their cycle paths throughout the year, but cycle paths and pavements in Britain rarely get the gritting they deserve.”

“It’s in part a reflection of how car travel is prioritised over cycling and walking.”

The following tips can help you fare better on slippery roads than many motorists:

Top tips for cycling in snow

Top tips for cycling this winter	Learn to cope in snow and slush
Stay warm	Keeping your head, hands and knees warm will help you stay alert and relaxed. Cyclists of old used to stuff a newspaper down their fronts to keep out the cold – if you are ever feel in need of an extra layer give it a go as it is surprisingly effective.
Get knobbled	In countries where winters are hard and long, cyclists invest in metal-studded tyres, but in Britain it is more practical to go for an off-road, knobbly tyre or just settle with what you have already – as long as it is not a slick
Play it straight	Try and keep your bicycle as upright as possible during turns. If you bank into a turn in slippery conditions you will be more likely to exceed the limited grip of your tyre
Sit back and enjoy the ride	Keeping your weight as far back as possible minimises the risk of your front wheel sliding from beneath you – at the same time your rear, driving wheel enjoys more grip with a little extra weight over it.
Brake time	Use your rear brake to carefully test how slippery the road is and use the front brake only in a straight line
Put your back into it	Motorcycle couriers steer partly by shifting their position in the seat. They use it to make quick turns, but steering with your hips in this way is a useful tip for cyclists in slippery conditions as it minimises abrupt movement of the handlebars
Get to know your snow	Fresh snow offers a surprising level of grip for cyclists, but beware of slush and areas of ice covered by only a dusting of powder.
Tank tracks	If all else fails, buy a kit that replaces your bicycle’s rear wheel with a caterpillar track designed for use on snow and its front wheel with a ski blade! Read more