Am I a man or a mouse ?

[Ste T.]

Then that makes me a man then. I love the cold, the colder the better. Just put on the required number of layers and off you go.

It was minus 7 here this morning and I couldn't wait to get out.

Mind you all this bravado is because I am a ginger. This is like hibernation in reverse. Come the summer you will find me scurrying

from one bit of shade to the next clutching my pound of cheese

 

[BentMikey]

It's probably OK if you stick to main roads tbh,are you on your skinny tyred bike?
I'm going to get the hybrid ready for Tuesday and if it looks OK out there I'll risk it.
-6c though,any water leaks and it's gonna be lethal,I nearly came off last week on one such patch in a cycle lane near work

There's a strong lesson in risk assessment there. Cycle lanes in this weather? Madness, stick to the big roads that are gritted and where there have been lots of cars driving.

 

[laertes]

Only a lot of ice puts me off - came off once 18 monthas ago and was lucky to have no more than a bruised bum. Otherwise not too worried about temperature (although London has been luckier than some parts).

 

[Banjo]

Cold doesnt worry me excessively. Some steep ungritted bits on my route do though. Happy to be a mouse for now

 

[Jezston]

Walking from the station to my house on the way home tonight it was safer on the gritted roads than the icy pavement! I shall be riding in tomorrow come what may.

 

[400bhp]

Made it in on the bike.

Most of the roads were fine apart from a couple of side roads and a bridge i take when approaching central manchester (they were glistening white with frost). Just a question of slowing right down and keeping upwards as much as poss.

Cold out there but with enough layers it's fine.

 

[DrSquirrel]

-7.2 when I woke up, -8.5c when I left...

23mm tyres no ice

Looooovely weather.

Walking from the station to my house on the way home tonight it was safer on the gritted roads than the icy pavement! I shall be riding in tomorrow come what may.

Same happened in town last year, other people got the idea and were walking up the road too... obviously certain motorists hated pedestrians using their "road tax" paid gritted roads for "free".

 

[Browser]

I cycled in this morning to prove a point, said point being "If you want to cycle in in this weather, DON'T do it on 23mm Schwalbe Blizzards!!!" I only fell off once, about 50 metres from my house, must've hit a patch of compacted snow/ice witha slight turn on the wheel and down I went. Sensibly, I had remained unclipped and was so layered up against the cold I didn't feel a thing.
I was muttering to myself about being stupid enough to not buy a 'cross bike to commute on, but I've done it now so can't complain. The rest of the year the Tif is absolutely perfect for me, but if I'm going to do any more snowy commutes I think I might have to drag the ali-framed P.O.S. MTB out of the lean to, get some cheap mudguards and a rack and press it into service.

 

[Waspie]

Against my own better judgement I decided to attempt to commute to work today. Took the mountain bike with a snow stud tyre on the front. Nearly fell of several times in the space of 200 yards as the snow was just too deep. Got the bus instead.

Did see several hardy cyclists on the main roads in the centre of Edinburgh, fair play to them considering my bus nearly got stuck a couple of times.

 

[Jezston]

"If you want to cycle in in this weather, DON'T do it on 23mm Schwalbe Blizzards!!!"

Why'd they call them Blizzards then?

 

[Jezston]

Was -4 on my way in this morning. Had to take a layer off as I was getting hot. Reckon I'd easily handle ten degrees lower.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Was -4 on my way in this morning. Had to take a layer off as I was getting hot. Reckon I'd easily handle ten degrees lower.

What was the wind speed, and your speed too?

I put an extra very thin layer on top today (so thin 2 base layers and my aldi top) and ended up sweating a bit, although my arms were the coldest part (but not at all bad, or uncomfortable). I do have arm warmers, I think im gonig to have to mix in a bit... it is a bit silly having 3 layers everywhere for different places that get different temperatures.

 

[Browser]

Why'd they call them Blizzards then?

Dunno, I was going to write to Schwalbe and ask for my bloody money back!

 

[Inertia]

Rode in this morning, 12 miles, most of it small country lane, there was  a layer of frost for some of it but apart from that was the best ride for a while.  Had some layers on so only part of my body to get cold was the tips of my toes and that was with TWO socks on and overshoes, will try a plastic bag next

Only advice Id say is take your time and dont turn sharply.  The only time I almost came off lately was pulling out on a T junction where there was ice I didnt see,  I put my foot down and wobbled for a bit, if I had took my time and pulled out slowly I would probably have been fine.

 

[Panter]

I'll have some of that cheese if there's any left...

My commute isn't gritted at all and is extremely icy. If I'd got my arse into gear and bought some studded tyres I'd happily give it a go, but I wouldn't stand a chance at the moment.

I will be doing plenty of night rides on the MTB this week to make up for it.