Black Ice

I was discussing the merits of studded tires with a couple of friends last week. I argued that I wasn't going to get studded tires for my road bike. My reasoning was that if it was snowy and icy, I shouldn't be out on my bike - It is just too dangerous. They countered that studded tires were literally a life saver, particularly on black ice, which could appear unpredictably even on milder winter days.

This past Sunday evening it rained. Then, the temperature dropped and the rain stopped. Monday morning was clear, but it was cold. The conditions were perfect for black ice. The roads through town had been graveled, so my tires had something to grip as I made my way cautiously to the Chipman Trail. I hoped in vain that by the time I got to the trail, the temperature would have risen enough to melt the ice. The instant I turned onto the trail, however, my tires hit the icy pavement, and I was down in a matter of seconds. I banged my hip - it's still sore two days later. My bike went spinning on its side as if it were on an ice rink. Several other bike commuters were caught unawares by the black ice as I had been. One fellow was riding a recumbent. The lower center of gravity helped him navigate the slippery trail. The rest of us weren't so lucky. I saw people walking their bikes along the side of the trail or simply leaving the trail altogether and finding other ways to get to work.

I thought about calling Lysa to rescue me and drive me to Pullman. I decided instead to brave the trip. I figured that if I didn't make any sudden stops or turns, I would be ok. What really saved me was that the temperature eventually rose and melted the ice. The pictures in today's post show the trail at the end of my trip. Some of the ice on the trail can still be seen although much of it had melted by the time I took these photos

How I wished I had studded tires!

So today I took the plunge and bought a pair. I also bought a second pair of wheels so that I could leave the studded tires on the wheels and just switch them - wheel and tire - when needed. The whole set up - studded tires, wheels and cassette for the back - cost a pretty penny. However, the cost is minimal when I consider the harrowing alternatives. For instance, there was a terrible accident in Pullman last week when a biker slipped in the snow and slid under a bus. Slipping on ice on a bike is totally unforgiving. The two wheels slide out from underneath, and the rider is down in a heartbeat. I was fortunate that I went down on the trail away from cars, buses and other vehicles.

Wind Advisory

Last Monday when I biked to Pullman at 6am, the National Weather Service posted the following: Breezy, with a west wind around 29 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Yikes! I was biking during a wind advisory - straight into that killer west wind. It was still dark when I started out from Moscow. I knew I was in trouble the moment I clipped into my pedals. The wind whistled through the spokes on my wheels, and I felt myself buffeted by the gusts. The winds were so strong that at times I was nearly knocked off the bike. The trip took me about an hour and left me completely spent. Fate was not on my side later that evening when I rode home. The winds had died down, and the beautiful tailwind I had looked forward to all day eluded me.

Tuesday's weather provided a biting, cold ride - Then came the snow. It started Wednesday and continued off and on through Saturday. I took a picture of the trailhead in Moscow and have included it in today's post. One brave soul's tracks could be seen on the trail. I chose instead to drive.

Some of my biking colleagues and I are experimenting with rideshare. It is a bit tricky coordinating our non-regular schedules, so we are trying to be flexible. I rode with a colleague on Wednesday, and I have promised to repay in kind after the Thanksgiving break. I have mentioned in earlier posts that we share a car in our family of four. Thankfully, Moscow has a couple of bus routes. We use the East Route to get to the University of Idaho. The bus trip back from the university passes through downtown, up Third St, and over on Hayes. We hop on the bus at various points along its route.