Black ice!!!

[8mile]

Having managed to survive the ravages of last weeks weather unscathed, this morning I managed to locate what is probably the last patch of Black ice in Brighton & Hove. I pondered over the irony of this as my bike and I, by now two seperate entities, described a gentle arc toward the oncoming wheels of a Vauxhall Zafira. Thankfully we both stopped in time and I jumped to my feet in that particular way that suggests to the onlooker that the whole manouvre was intended from the start. The Zafira driver was very concerened as to my well being which was nice. I escaped with a grazed knee and bruised hip and my winter hack was fine so we carried on our way.

Later on my commute I passed what looked like a nasty accident by Preston Circus. Road closed and paramedics in attendance along with what must have been about 20 police. Looked to be a pedestrian knocked over. Hope it wasn't as bad as it looked.

Be careful out there, think I was a bit overconfident post-thaw!

 

[Kestevan]

Sounds familiar unfortunately. I found a similar patch this morning in Huddersfield and I'm now developing what promises to be a suitably spectacular bruise on my left thigh.

Bike is OK though

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Me too. I was cycling down a hill and heard a noise in the distance. Thought it might be a dog or something on the road so I braked to slow down. Ended up sliding down the road which had become an ice-skating rink. Ripped my Gore-tex waterproof jacket, fleece, cycling jersey, waterproof trousers and glove. Also broke my front mudguard. I'm now limping, but at least nothing too serious. The noise I heard was a motorcyclist slipping. He too wasn't injured. Irony for me too: I haven't been commuting the past few weeks because I never cycle when there's ice on the road.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

And my colleague witnessed an accident too. God! Lethal conditions. Best advice is not to go out!

 

[8mile]

Just noticed Sussex police have put out a warning about Black Ice citing numerous incidents. Glad no serious injuries reported here so far.

 

[fossyant]

Glad I took the ice bike !

 

[HLaB]

Wasn't Black Ice, I'm too lazy to get up in time for that but the minor roads in Peterborough were still a bit slippy.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Me too. I was cycling down a hill and heard a noise in the distance. Thought it might be a dog or something on the road so I braked to slow down. Ended up sliding down the road which had become an ice-skating rink. Ripped my Gore-tex waterproof jacket, fleece, cycling jersey, waterproof trousers and glove. Also broke my front mudguard. I'm now limping, but at least nothing too serious. The noise I heard was a motorcyclist slipping. He too wasn't injured. Irony for me too: I haven't been commuting the past few weeks because I never cycle when there's ice on the road.

can recommend this stuff for repairing goretex... http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/mcnett-gore-tex-patch-a7410016?id_colour=180 dealt very well with the holes in my waterproof trousers after the 'dog incident' and is not that nasty really thick stuff (for me the patches are behind the knee on my cycling waterproofs and I don't notice they are there).

 

[Jimmy Doug]

can recommend this stuff for repairing goretex... http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/mcnett-gore-tex-patch-a7410016?id_colour=180 dealt very well with the holes in my waterproof trousers after the 'dog incident' and is not that nasty really thick stuff (for me the patches are behind the knee on my cycling waterproofs and I don't notice they are there).

Thanks for that. Really useful tip. The damage is quite big, though. Here is it, alongside a 20 centime piece for comparison:

My jacket - this was my pride and joy:

My waterproof trousers:

The damage to my fleece is quite bad too.

I'm going to try and make a claim to my work insurance. As it's a work journey, it is not a personal insurance matter. I just hope they don't turn round and say that cycling is a leisure activity and not a form of transport - that's how it's seen in France, I'm afraid.

 

[biggs682]

same in wellingborough lethal

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Thanks for that. Really useful tip. The damage is quite big, though. Here is it, alongside a 20 centime piece for comparison:
....

+100 stitches was quite a lot of damage as well. It is much cheaper than a new jacket and/or trousers and has not considered peeling off, hence the recommendation. I needed 2 packets of the stuff to patch my trousers fully and put mine of the outside of the trousers - it was easier given the colour etc. been on since March last year - incident happened in Feb. - back of the knee was not the easiest of places to patch, but then my leg was worse! I don't know if they do it in the same colour as your jacket - I was not that bothered at the time - function came over appearance for me (I was cycling around the world and would have patched my blue jacket with it as well if needed). You could consider contacting your jacket manufacturer to see if they have colour match options available - they may do...

good look on the claim - I think they will say no given you were going to work at the time but you never know.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Those patches look great - much bigger than I thought. Thanks a million for posting this!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Those patches look great - much bigger than I thought. Thanks a million for posting this!

you're welcome. I would play it safe and obtain a couple of packs at once for what I am seeing with your repairs - assuming you are happy doing both jacket and trousers. I think you may just need 3 patches for what I see there (1 with the jacket & 2 with the trousers) and you only get 2 patches (1 round 1 rectangle) per pack..

 

[Leaway2]

Yes, I went over this morning on a side road.

 

[Downward]

Lost the back end today - That got the heart rate pumping.