Biking on ice can be hazardous to your health, your nerves and your pride.

"[I] was leading the group and suddenly I heard the explosion and the ice dropped out from under me," said Peter Wilda, a member of the Fairbanks Cycle Club. "I'm told I let out quite the yell, OK, scream, as I went down."

Many people bike during the winter for fun and others do it solely for transportation purposes. "It's cheap and a good way to wake up in the morning," says Kari Lovett, a 21-year-old mechanical engineering student and UAF Outdoor Adventures employee, who bikes to school every day even though she has a car.

Besides a helmet, a good item to have is a set of studded tires. Studs help the rider from slipping on ice and possibly causing an accident. "Fairbanks is unique in that you don't need studs all the time (during winter)," said Simon Rakower who works at Beaver Sports. Studded tires are approximately $100 each and can last for many years. If you only buy one studded tire because of the price, Rakower recommends putting it on the front of the bike. Lowering your tire pressure, up to half the recommended pressure, helps the tires grip the road.

Tim Stallard, also an Outdoor Adventures employee, said that his office gets occasional requests for bikes outfitted with studded tires. "Most hardcore riders don't rent because they have their own equipment," Stallard said. Outdoor Adventures does not rent much winter biking equipment and they usually refer customers to Beaver Sports.

When biking at night, or during the dark months in Fairbanks, cyclists are legally required to outfit bikes with a white light in the front and red light in the back visible for 500 feet.

After your outfit your bike, you need to outfit yourself. Since the average biker goes faster than a walking pace, a hat, goggles, facemask and good mittens are essential and help lessen the wind-chill factor.

When you're ready to go for a ride, call up the Fairbanks Cycle Club and they'll tell you where to go and what trails to use. The club meets Sundays at noon at Ivory Jack's in Goldstream.And as Simon says, "It's not a good ride unless you wipe out at least once."