is it me or are the roads super slippy at the mo?

Got out of hospital yesterday
Got out of hospital yesterday after 1 1/2 hrs surgery to repair broken collarbone – couldn’t persuade them to use titanium plate! Came off on route I’ve ridden hundreds of times – 3 month recovery – be careful out there!

700c wrote:Goldfever4

700c wrote:

Goldfever4 wrote:

700c wrote:

Cridge wrote:

I’m running Gatorskins, they are 23’s and they are impeccable, I have dropped the pressure down to 85 but the only slip I get is uphill (out the saddle) and hard on the brakes – I won’t buy a different tyre, yes the roads are more slippery than usual but I can only tell because those I ride with keep slipping and that’s on a multitude of tyres?

can anyone recommend a tyre that does not skid going up steep-ish hills when out of the saddle? or is it completely unavoidable?

I’m really struggling with this at the moment, but to be honest the same problem affects me during summer as well when the gradients get above 15% or so

I posted a topic on here before about this and consensus was my technique was poor – which I’ve tried to work on this by not pulling on the bars, keeping weight back etc, but still get the slipping..

What gear are you in? Sounds like your gear is quite high, cadence low, and consequently you’re putting a lot of pressure at an early part of the pedal stroke.

I’d say you have 2 options, one cheap and one not so – even out the pedal stroke / put your arse back further, or get a pizza dish

Thanks all, for your responses. Gearing is 34X25 at the lowest. Inevitably when the road gets really steep my cadence drops (that could be addressed in part by fitness, I accept) – and hence I feel the need to stand up just to keep momentum.

I think the fact that I don’t get this on a mountain bike would suggest either or both gearing and traction are the problem.

I’m doing the ‘coast to coast in a day’ in June and I know that Hardknott and Wrynose will be a huge challenge in this respect. I am not sure if it is even possible to get up those on a 34X25, let alone without the wheel slipping issue (though if that starts on a 30% incline I know it would finish me off). I am reluctant to change gearing to something like 34 X 28, which would compromise my riding in every other respect, so may have to embrace the ‘walk of shame’ for a few hundred yards!

Couple more thoughts:

-I’ve read that Gatorskins aren’t the grippiest tyre. Maybe try a Continental GP 4 seasons? Similar tyre but supposed to be an improvement (I use the Gators too)
-Have you thought about adjusting the saddle backwards a bit (i.e. putting your weight further back when in the saddle)?
-I can’t see any reason why moving to 12-28 would impair your cycling as much as walking would! (reiterating the point made by someone else)

Re: 700c I did that ride and
Re: 700c I did that ride and used 34×27. I trained hard on 34×25 so I could literally find an extra gear come the big day. I don’t see how it would compromise your riding to switch to, say, 12-27 instead of 11-25. There’s nothing begging for an 11t on that route. Having to walk would compromise my riding!

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:I

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:

I noticed the change a few years back, but since then the roads around here have been consistently slippery as heel when salted.

I think the challenge is additives mixed with the salt to ensure it sticks to the road better… the only challenge is that it is slippery as hell for two wheeled vehicles and horses.

Makes you wonder if the councils who have started using molasses have actually done any research, any risk assessments? I would have expected the roads to have dried out weeks ago with the lack of rain, and many of the ungritted back roads have. The problem is the main routes and more so those on bus routes or industrial parks, which aren’t drying, they are just accumulating more and more oil, and getting more and more dangerous.

Roads are mega slippery at
Roads are mega slippery at the moment. I nearly came off riding my BMX to the skatepark, that’s 2.25 tyres at about 65psi. Whilst I don’t doubt that wider tyres help, and I do have them on my roadie, it’s just plain slipery out there. I’ve really noticed the difference in the car too.

Very slippy at the moment;
Very slippy at the moment; went down on a bend commuting home yesterday (Bath) that I’ve been round hundreds of times. Probably caught a bit of smooth tarmac at the wrong angle. I was a bit miffed as I’ve just switched back to my Hybrid (road bike was just getting too dicey) and put some new tyres (Schwalbe Marathon + 32; old ones were 35) on to be on the safe side. Perhaps they need a few miles to scuff them up a bit. Phenominal hip bruise; bike was fine because I cushioned its fall! I can also recommend Altura Night Vision Jackets and Vaude Pannier/Rucksack bags; no rips at all. Another cyclist and car witnessed it all. Many thanks to the cyclist for helping me up and checking I was OK. The motorist just drove off; hope he/she has a miserable Xmas!

Goldfever4 wrote:700c

Goldfever4 wrote:

700c wrote:

Cridge wrote:

I’m running Gatorskins, they are 23’s and they are impeccable, I have dropped the pressure down to 85 but the only slip I get is uphill (out the saddle) and hard on the brakes – I won’t buy a different tyre, yes the roads are more slippery than usual but I can only tell because those I ride with keep slipping and that’s on a multitude of tyres?

can anyone recommend a tyre that does not skid going up steep-ish hills when out of the saddle? or is it completely unavoidable?

I’m really struggling with this at the moment, but to be honest the same problem affects me during summer as well when the gradients get above 15% or so

I posted a topic on here before about this and consensus was my technique was poor – which I’ve tried to work on this by not pulling on the bars, keeping weight back etc, but still get the slipping..

What gear are you in? Sounds like your gear is quite high, cadence low, and consequently you’re putting a lot of pressure at an early part of the pedal stroke.

I’d say you have 2 options, one cheap and one not so – even out the pedal stroke / put your arse back further, or get a pizza dish

Thanks all, for your responses. Gearing is 34X25 at the lowest. Inevitably when the road gets really steep my cadence drops (that could be addressed in part by fitness, I accept) – and hence I feel the need to stand up just to keep momentum.

I think the fact that I don’t get this on a mountain bike would suggest either or both gearing and traction are the problem.

I’m doing the ‘coast to coast in a day’ in June and I know that Hardknott and Wrynose will be a huge challenge in this respect. I am not sure if it is even possible to get up those on a 34X25, let alone without the wheel slipping issue (though if that starts on a 30% incline I know it would finish me off). I am reluctant to change gearing to something like 34 X 28, which would compromise my riding in every other respect, so may have to embrace the ‘walk of shame’ for a few hundred yards!