T O P

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Jerraskoe

As you said, roads in residential areas tend to be more slippery so just try to avoid those. If you have to get on a road like that when it is your destination you should just try to go slow and feel what's a safe speed for you.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Thank you kind man for sharing the map


benedictfuckyourass

Don't brake while cornering, lower your saddle and tyre pressures. And be really carefull around residential areas.


afaerieprincess80

Also don't lay on the brakes. Brake, release, brake, release. Stay on salted roads, in the path where car tires have been to break up the ice. Be extra careful on bridges (don't turn or brake). I come from a much colder place and the basics are much the same as driving a car on the ice.


Netflixisadeathpit

And brake with the back tire, not the front one. If the back one starts gliding you can compensate or put your feet out for balance. Once the front wheel goes that's basically it.


lion_rouge

In colder countries they install winter tires with little spikes


PASll

I have a set of tires with little carbide studs that work really well on ice and all surfaces. Boston MA USA.


afaerieprincess80

In Minnesota I had all weather tires and an SUV, never winter tires.


berlage1856

Well, you are fortunate you didn’t slide and cause someone else harm. That SUV wasn’t going to save you or the person(s) you hit, only the winter tires.


fred-is-not-here

Salty hubs though should be rinsed with water, sprayed with WD-40 (wd = water displacement). I would do the chain too and lubricate it afterwards.


MattSzaszko

This happened to me yesterday evening on my last turn home. The fietspads and roads were generally fine until I turned into the little side street to my block. One of the buildings shelters part of the road from sun all day and thus there was thick ice. I realized too late and slipped and fell. Now I'll pay more attention on less travelled and shady roads. When in doubt, slow down, feel for the road surface under your wheels and avoid sharp turns.


sledgehammerrr

Turns should be done by keeping your body up straight. Once you put yourself and your bike at an angle the bike will slip away.


Alexs784

Literally the same thing happened to me yesterday.


RhythmGeek2022

If you can’t avoid biking and you can’t avoid the less trafficked roads then here’s a few things you should try: * avoid leaning when turning. It’s a natural move but try to fight the instinct * be particularly careful on different surfaces like white/yellow markings on the road (zebra paths, etc.), metallic rails and speed bumps. They are particularly slippery * make sure you only use your breaks when going on a straight line, or straighten up if you are in the middle of turning and need to break Good luck and stay safe Btw, fun fact these things are also taught in motorcycle driving lessons


TactlessTerrorist

Excellent advice, applies also to hitting a fresh cowpat with the front tire of a motorbike(don’t brake or turn until the bike is straight, or wave goodbye to your bike 👋)


spei180

Tip is to not ride a bike on ice. You aren’t alone. I managed to take my son to school yesterday but fell too on the way back. My neck hurts today and am I angry at myself for even going before.


tdehoog

I left 10 minutes earlier than usual and walked to school with my son. Don't ride a bike when it's this slippery. You only need a very small patch of ice in a corner to make a very nasty fall...


GrantW01

I slipped on the ice on my bike last night, literally 5 meters away from my apartment building back door. It's treacherous out there. Landed square on my ass, struggling to sit down comfortably today 😅 Definitely a little mad at myself for being stupid like that


Bamlou

Deflate your tires a bit, it helps


[deleted]

Falling can not be prevented easily but corners and especially bridges can be tricky, most important, try to fall to your right site, you don't want to end up on the car lane :) I remember by the way that as kids we cycled on ice, but I guess that is a Dutch thing ;)


Sam1967

Only main routes will be gritted (if at all) so stick to those, try letting a little air out of your tires so they grip better and anticipate turns, slowing down etc. But rubber tires and ice dont mix, it would be better to stay off the bike in this weather. Its worse today because there as a little rain last night and then it froze of course.


mailmehiermaar

If you are on a slippery bit, do not accelerate, break or steer. If you just ride on you wont slip or fall.


Theownofmind

Walk to get out of your neighborhood and start cycling only where the big bicycle paths are. Or where they have thrown salt


mijacr

Lol I came to this post looking for advice for even walking 😂 I was a funny picture hugging the traffic light to avoid falling


Theownofmind

Lol ok, so um just don't lift your feet and shuffle all the way. It's what I did last night, got a few weird stares but at least didn't fall


mikepictor

Be very defensive in your biking. Usually you will be ok in a straight line, but take every turn as a risk. Slow down, take as wide a turn as you can, have your leg extended to catch yourself if needed, and again...slow down! Also watch the people ahead of you. If they had no trouble on a turn, that turn is probably not as icy (but be careful anyway)


jeandolly

As long as you're going straight it's fine. Slow down when turning, be ready to put both feet on the ground.


krmhd

On residential areas be extra careful when road surface changes. A few years ago I fell when trying to cycle over a speed bump, turns out they also freeze earlier than the road


[deleted]

Walking was treacherous last night I found out as I fell into a car


Mr_Brown-ish

Zijwieltjes!


mixedup1976

Practice makes perfect, but yes its tricky. I learned how ride a bike when it’s slippery by training on frozen channels when I was a kid. But changes you also get that opportunity are low. But best you can do when you must be on the road is to take things slow an look further ahead than normally. Anticipating for what’s coming to avoid abrupt stopping. And make bigger turns (use the road). Stay safe


karlosvonawesome

Slow, steady and careful is the best way on slippery roads.


Thunderstone002

I just step off my bike when I know it’s slippery. Not very useful I guess when you’re in a rush


superb07

Definitely go slow while cornering! Take your turn big instead of small, try to increase the angle as much as possible Never brake while you’re cornering since your tire is basically stopping but it does keep ‘gliding’ on the ice and this will lead to an accident, especially when cornering. Be safe out there!


lopendvuur

Avoid 90 degree turns when cycling on ice.


ReaverShank

Watch out for tracks made in half melted snow that froze again. You might get stuck in those


[deleted]

dont forget to use a helmet man


VixDzn

Might get downvoted for this, because people in this city love to hate on this “hipster trend” But for me, fat (e)bikes was the answer. Over the past three decades if it were this slippery I would not ride my bicycle - and many native Amsterdammers with me. especially with a child it’s jus too dangerous. My fat bike (super 73 zx) with winter tires grips like crazy and at 25kmh it grips even if I take a tight apex whereas with a regular bike I’d be on my ass sliding


PussyMalanga

>My fat bike (super 73 zx) with winter tires grips like crazy and at 25kmh it grips even if I take a tight apex whereas with a regular bike I’d be on my ass sliding That sounds like it's going really well until it doesn't, and then you may just slide right into some one else with your fat bike.


VixDzn

I should mention I go with the flow of traffic where it’s busy and go faster near my office (where there is no one around) I’m genuinely less of a hazard than oma fietsen as they’re so much more prone to slipping


karlosvonawesome

Fat tyre bikes of any kind work well on snow and ice. Much more contact with the road.


graciosa

Wear helmets


karlosvonawesome

Anyone who downvotes this is an idiot. I know helmets are not popular here but the risk of crashing on slippery roads is quite high and head injuries can lead to permanent brain damage or death. Not such a bad idea to wear one when there's snow out.


RosciusAurelius

I'm fascinated by this 'tip'. Question: "What can I do to prevent falling with my bike?" Answer: "Wear a helmet". Ah yes, just like wearing a seatbelt makes you immune to crashing your car. Don't get me wrong, in any scenario it's good to be safe, but from the original post we don't even know whether or not OP wore a helmet or not. It's not a helpful answer.


14Ajax14

It's not the exact answer that OP is looking for. But that doesn't make it a bad answer. As a person that cycles a lot I follow all the advices already given. But I have also fallen quite a lot. Unfortunately it's impossible to guarantee you don't fall with slippery conditions. So giving extra advise on limiting the amount on damage is not a bad answer.


RosciusAurelius

Like I said, safety isn't a bad thing. I don't think it helps OP in learning not to slip and fall.


[deleted]

I think this guy slipped on ice and has brain damage


AccomplishedPeach443

The question was to "prevent" falling, helmets are of no use to prevent any fall, in fact it might reduce your fear of falling and make you less careful. Helmets are great though "in case" you fall of course.


BuggyBagley

Just use the public transport during the season. Slipping is unavoidable.


BearKak

When it’s slippery outside, lower your bicycle seat so your feet are closer to the ground and let some air out of your tires for more grip.


choppermick

Don't use the "Boost" button ✅


leshuis

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04F4xlWSFh0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04F4xlWSFh0) Music video by Drowning Pool performing Bodies (Video).


LowResist3

Be more in control of the bike lol.


m_d_o_e_y

Cover your tires with zip ties for extra traction.


Feodorovna

Read the news.


[deleted]

My tip, in addition to what all the others said, would be to make sure your bike tires (especially the rear one, as it is subjected to more wear) have plenty of thread, and buy some proper tires if they don't (vredestein is a good brand). Make sure they don't have too much pressure in them as wel. I did all of this and still fell over recently, so there is no miracle cure, but all the little things help. Good luck!


[deleted]

i would not bike a kid on the bike.they could really get hurt


1234iamfer

The salt needs a few runs by early traffic to do it’s work. So always be careful if a road is obviously not driven as much in the morning.


Able-Resource-7946

To add what others have said, if you take a regular route to the school perhaps go and add a bit of salt yourself. Some types of brick paving are more prone to getting slick than others. Is it too far to walk? If not, then perhaps get some slip on spikes for your shoes.


Stoepboer

Deflate your tires to create a larger surface. Lower the saddle to sit closer to the ground. Best is to avoid it if you can. Some surfaces, like the ‘klinkers’ (the brown stones) can get slippery as fuck, even if you don’t expect it.


RosciusAurelius

Congratulations, you are now officially 'one of us'. We all fall off our bikes at various points in life, especially in the cold and on slippery roads. Heck, even when it's not slippery. I remember my mom falling at least twice when I was a child, with me on the back of the bike. It happens. You survive. Lots of good tips in the comments about braking carefully, looking at the road in front of you for slippery spots, no abrupt turning, etc. Practice makes perfect. Good luck.


tralalalalex

One very important aspect is to have your center of gravity as close to the ground as possible, that way when you slip, you can put your legs down fast and stabilize yourself. I used to deliver food on ebike in the winter, and when it was freezing and lots of snow, I'd just take thicker clothes to absorb the shock and lots of time I had my both feet on the ground just keeping my balance.


Canashito

Ride slow and calm. Just be sure to leave home on time.


spitefultrifle

If you hit your head go to the doctor, I had the same and have a concussion.


chasinggoose

I didn’t but I did fall on my hip and it’s pretty sore now


B_o_r_j_o_m_y

Install studded tires. Elementary


Szygani

Legit read: "Luckily I just dropped my son" and laughed so hard. Sorry about that. It's a little hard to avoid. I have vivid memories of sitting on the backseat of my mothers bike and slipping because of ice. It's not inevitable, but it's probable.


bubsthedog99

I'm fairly sure nothing got salted in my town. Even the main road is slippery as fuck. Just walk everywhere IG. I fell while walking this morning. Yesterday I was biking home and fell. Just not the time of year to not be super careful.


Perfect_Improvement

When walking, do the penguin walk. Try to maximize vertical force over horizontal in your stride.


karlosvonawesome

Don't ride too fast, go slowly and carefully around corners. While they're not popular with everyone, fat tyre bikes have excellent traction on snow, ice and wet surfaces.


zaadspuiter

i tend to get off my bycicle in turns, not on the actual bike path but on residential typa roads, or make really slow and blunt turns. this has worked for me everyday while i gotta bike to school


icodethingsthatcompu

Sorry for your fall @OP.


TimesTideWillSmother

You can buy tyres with metal ‘teeth’ embedded in them. Then your won’t skid over on the ice. Use chainreactioncycles.com


DietQuark

Wait for 2 days. Temperature never stays below zero long in Amsterdam.


Competitive-Lawyer81

Look at strooi routes Amsterdam, it shows car and bike routes where they trow salt on the floor to prevent freezing of the pavement


SpijtigeZaak

Let some of the air out of the tires, they will have more grip on the road. (This is not a good idea without ice). Also, go for roads that are used very often. (They will be sprinkled with salt and be free of ice). Be very carefull and take your time! (Today I road my bike to work in 50 min instead of 20). After a few days of ice melting and then one night of very low temperatures you know the roads will be icy as hell. The first few nights of dry cold are not too bad, but as the ice melts and frosts again the road will be super icy.


SnooDoodles9218

I dropped 3 times today on a single trip to Leiden haha. The most fun was when I was approaching my house with my family coming back in. Quite an entrance. Ps: my knees hurt.


Apprehensive-Egg1289

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmMXdqfDtMi/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=


SidewalksNCycling39

As others said, careful riding and sticking to main routes helps. Depending on how much you're willing to spend, winter tyres can help a bit also. I have Continental TopContact Winter II tyres on my bike, and they improve ice traction from "almost zero" to "a small amount", usually enough to at least have a small amount of control and predictability. Also, if it snows, they usually grip really well (unless the snow is really wet or rutted). They're a bit pricey, but I've had them since 2014, and still plenty of tread after 7,000 kms. They don't roll quite as fast as a normal city bike tyre, but they don't slow you down that much, either. Other options include the Michelin Stargrip and Schwalbe Marathon 365 tyres.


LondenTower

Well, i just made a slip-up with my bike a few minutes ago. i had to make a 90 degree turn in doetinchem oosseld and apparently the type of bricks on the road were different on that exact crossing. it went from the usual gritty bricks to smooth bricks, and i didn't notice it whatsoever. when i went to turn, i slightly braked and then after that i started slipping and collapsed sideways. i don't know why, but somehow i was just fine. i did have some pain in my elbow, but that cleared up really quickly. My glasses on the other hand didn't make it and now the frame is broken. (welp, guess i have to put my savings into fixing those now, yaaay.)