Inspired by the recent UK cold snap...

A thin strip of red coloured rubber (or Skid mark) around the circumference of your bike's front tyre. The rubber responds to changes in temperature by changing colour (like those carzy t-shirts that you could get in the early nineties).

When the temperature of the road's surface drops below zero (or maybe a couple of degrees to be on the safe side) the strip turns blue. And you are alerted to the possibility of ice on the road and can ride accordingly.
-- jamieb, Jan 29 2004

I thought friction, heated not cooled, i thought.
-- skinflaps, Jan 29 2004


Alternatively you could fix something to the handlebars that changed colour when the air temperature dropped below 3deg C as that's the threshold for ice formation that most car ice alert systems use.
-- oneoffdave, Jan 29 2004


I don't think the stip on the tire would work that well since the friction the tire produces would cause variable tempratures depending on how fast you were going. But it might not matter that much if its just a ball park figure.

But instead of the strip, why not have a temprature sensor mounted on the frame of the bike (somewhere where your body heat won't effect it too much) and have a little LED mounted on the handle bar that lights up if its really cold.

But that's a bit too complicated... so I like oneoffdave's idea.
-- Rudical, Jan 29 2004


Even if the friction was not an issue (which it is) just how is the rider supposed to see the strip?
-- nomadic_wonderer, Jan 29 2004


Will friction really be an issue? With tyres inflated to 70psi there's not much rolling resistance and is the force require to keep you moving at 20-25mph enought to cause much of an increase in temperature? Even if it does, would different speeds (within the normal cycling range) cause sufficiently different cahnges in temperature that you couldn't accommodate it by altering the temperature at which the compound changes colour?

[oneoffdave] Your idea would work I suppose but there are a couple of issues. First, it wouldn't look so cool. And second, as I'm cycling to work there's often quite a significant difference between air and road temperature I'd have thought as the sun hits the dark tarmac.

And [nomadic_wanderer]... it runs around the outside of the front tyre so should be perfectly visible over the handlesbars.
-- jamieb, Jan 29 2004


// Alternatively you could fix something to the handlebars that changed colour when the air temperature dropped below 3deg C //

or install a handlebar thermometer.

My personal method

1. Get sled out.
2. Push it along. Does it glide?
3. If it glides, its sled weather, it's icy
4. If not, get bike out.
5. Go up park. Anyone coming?
-- jonthegeologist, Jan 29 2004


I prefer the studded tyre approach. If its too warm for ice, then alright ... if its icy out, then alright ...
-- Letsbuildafort, Jan 29 2004


[jamieb] I know nothing of bikes. so if you say the biker can see it then i believe you!
-- nomadic_wonderer, Jan 29 2004


this is very similar to an idea in the Automotive section.
-- SystemAdmin, Jan 29 2004



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