Cable ties make cheap and effective bicycle ice tyre

Imaginative cyclists are adapting their bikes for use on icy roads by fitting their bicycle tyres with cables ties. The cable ties take only a few minutes to fit and provide impressive traction on the most slippery of surfaces.

The cable ties are inexpensive to buy, and can be fitted without tools in very little time.

Ice tyres for 45p each

It is possible to buy tyres fitted with metal spikes, which give a shorter braking distance than the tyres fitted with cable ties, but can cost around £50 a piece.

Cable ties cost about 3 pence each and each tyre needs around fifteen ties. Once the period of cold weather has passed they can be cut away and discarded.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Cyclists tend to be resourceful, but this solution to the problem of icy roads is particularly ingenious.”

The technique is suitable only for bicycles fitted with disc or hub brakes, but last week we reported how a DIY ice tyre suitable for use on any bike could be adapted using pop rivets for less than £2.

Further details are available for free at the excellent instructables.com

• DIY bicycle ice tyres for less than £1.50

• Build your own snow bike

What does your cycle insurance include?

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes free accidental cover (including at race events), personal accident cover, a breakdown service for cyclists and much more.