What is it about this winter?

Touch wood, I've escaped winter pretty lightly in the past only meeting black ice twice up the top of big hills (why I thought to go there ). Limiting leaning, lowering tyre pressure, not slamming on the brakes and sticking to main routes have touch wood got me by. That said for the last two winters I've been down in the flat lands of Peterborough and IIRC I've only seen ice once! Up north at this time of year I would go on shorter training loops round a local housing estate's main road or stay in if I thought there was a chance of ice certainly not venture that bit further like I do down here.

No3 for me. My hip is still a bit sore 6 weeks after my tumble. I'm trying the lower tyre pressure approach and just taking it easy on the cornering; decided aggressive cornering wasn't going to speed up my ride and not worth the risk of an injury. You don't get any warning; one second you're riding along and the next you're spread over the tarmac.

I'm like Simon E, just plain avoid cycling if there's ice. I don't have studded tyres and don't have a bike with enough clearance for them so it'd be too much of an expense for the few weeks of the year that it's required.

There'll be plenty of time to cycle in the summer! On icy days I spend a bit more time with my kids or doing something I don't often do like running, or going on the turbo rather than going out and constantly worrying if I'm going to be coming home with broken bones. Broke my thumb last year, it took ages to heal and it's still not right!

I'm not complaining about my nads not being frozen this winter!

This AM I took a corner wrong and it was pavement or fall off, I chose pavement, the tyres refused to grip round the bend.

Video: http://youtu.be/T9NAF94kHzQ rather boring really!

Last winter, the Ice got me: http://youtu.be/uu21XT4p7O0 - The whole bridge was ice, it didn't get me until I tried to turn.

Winter before that: Guy in front not so lucky, I nearly ran him over because I couldn't brake on the ice: http://youtu.be/o3ID33xKCsc

I agree with the comments about rider error. Yes the roads are terrible, pot holes, grease, oil, standing water and in some cases black ice, however I think the biggest difference is probably our not adjusting to the conditions, and indeed over cautiousness.

The autumn weather was ace, and I think the transition from pleasant cycling conditions, to acceptable conditions with rider adjustments has been really quick, quicker than normal and people are still riding like its summer.

From personal experience, I've never known a winter where I've worn the thermal socks and overshoes so little and I'm struggling to believe we are now well into January

@Jimmy ... nice piccie .. Titanio ??

+1 the over-compensating ... did just that after a tumble on
the frosty/black ice a couple of weekends ago now can't
ride in the wet for toffee

Maybe there is a lot of rider error, sorry. But you know the roads are like this, would it be acceptable to keep crashing your car and saying the road was oily, the wind was blowing the rain was heavier than yesterday. The answer would be no. I think a lack of care and attention could be attributed to a lot of the spills, not all, but a lot.
Also if you have had a bad spill then I have found through friends that it then becomes a self- fulfilling prophecy, as people ride a lot more stiffly, are over cautious, which cause them to fall again...look at wiggins in the Giro!

Yes I have had some heavy serious spills and can say they were all my fault, as I have over confidence in my limited abilities, however i don't suffer with the post fall blues. I just get back on when fixed and then ride with a lesson learned.

O_o

You're all doing it wrong, clench your arse and land on it!

I am sitting here writing this recovering from a broken hip sustained last Sunday due to a fall on black ice. I am off work for at least six weeks. In part it was my fault, but I was being careful, but also down to the fact that I went out as the weather had been horrid the week before and was to be horrid the week after! I am hoping that when I can get back on my bike I won't be too mentally affected by what has happened.

So my theory is people riding when they perhaps shouldn't to make the most of the good weather

I fear it will only get worse as the early part of 2014 progresses and it gets colder.
I went out on my road bike for the first time in weeks and within a mile I bumped into the flashing blue lights of the police warning drivers of sheet ice on the roundabout (thank goodness they were there, it was like an ice rink).
A couple of miles on my back wheel twitched out and that was it, homeward bound for me as aside from the danger, it was not enjoyable.
Given the spills you have had, I applaud your courage, especially with the roads as they are.
Here's to a safe 2014.