Commuting In The Snow

[donnydave]

I was going to switch back to the giant rapid tomorrow but if I'm going to be ambushed I'll take the mountain bike again so I can make good my escape over the fields.... If you see someone in a blue coat with oil-stained tracksuit bottoms and skiing mittens on, please show some mercy

 

[MisterStan]

I was going to switch back to the giant rapid tomorrow but if I'm going to be ambushed I'll take the mountain bike again so I can make good my escape over the fields.... If you see someone in a blue coat with oil-stained tracksuit bottoms and skiing mittens on, please show some mercy

Couldn't see you on the video link - looks like the BBC have changed the video..... Now i know what you're wearing, it should make things easy.

 

[Crankarm]

So I was right thinking they spray a salt solution on the surface in icy conditions. It also seems that yesterday they finally cleared the vegetation/mud that the floods left so cycling is back to uber easy on smooth tarmac. If temp drops to -5c or below then maybe the brine solution they are applying won't work?

 

[MisterStan]

So I was right thinking they spray a salt solution on the surface in icy conditions. It also seems that yesterday they finally cleared the vegetation/mud that the floods left so cycling is back to uber easy on smooth tarmac. If temp drops to -5c or below then maybe the brine solution they are applying won't work?

I joined the Busway at Longstanton this morning - it was OK even on my skinny tyres.
Three layers on my top and two pairs of tights, two pairs of gloves, two pairs of socks plus overshoes - was just about right! I did see a guy wearing shorts though!
Are you saying they've cleared all the rubbish away along the Swavesey - St Ives section? has the water all gone from there too now?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

This morning with a windchill of -11 I decided it would be more sensible to take the road over the riverside cycle path as it was less likely to be icy. I was wrong, unless I used the 'furrow' created by drivers' side wheels I was on sheet ice. I was also dodging SLOW traffic made up of drivers who (despite the fact they had iced up windscreens) refused to change their driving style to adapt to conditions.

Tomorrow I think I'll either chance the ice or walk.

 

[Crankarm]

I joined the Busway at Longstanton this morning - it was OK even on my skinny tyres.
Three layers on my top and two pairs of tights, two pairs of gloves, two pairs of socks plus overshoes - was just about right! I did see a guy wearing shorts though!
Are you saying they've cleared all the rubbish away along the Swavesey - St Ives section? has the water all gone from there too now?

Yes.

 

[summerdays]

It was cold out there but at least half of the off road path beside the ring road was gritted.

 

[User169]

A load of snow got bunged up under the mudguards yesterday and then seems to have frozen over night. Had to spend a few minutes digging it out.

 

[donnydave]

I joined the Busway at Longstanton this morning - it was OK even on my skinny tyres.
Three layers on my top and two pairs of tights, two pairs of gloves, two pairs of socks plus overshoes - was just about right! I did see a guy wearing shorts though!
Are you saying they've cleared all the rubbish away along the Swavesey - St Ives section? has the water all gone from there too now?

I see your three layers and raise you a fourth. thermal base layer, long sleeve running t shirt, fleece jumper and windproof cycling coat on the top. Legs: 1 pair trainer socks with hiking socks over the top up to the knees, padded shorts with tracksuit bottoms over the top. BBB overshoes (single best item of cycling clothing I have bought). Ski mittens with separate fleece inner, fleece hat under helmet and buff up to my nose. 7 miles of toasty goodness. Shame my glasses froze over,, and also my gear levers froze, and a combination of frozen brake levers and ice on rims made for interesting and somewhat intermittent braking.

Inexplicably I was a slower on my road bike this morning than on my wifes mtb last night. Clearly - Its not about the bike!

 

[Plax]

I walked to work last time as I couldn't be bothered lugging my bike about. I usually put knobblies on the MTB and lower the seat a bit so I can easily put my feet down if needs be. Last time I cycled in snow though I was offed by compacted ice under the snow and the snow was so deep in places it was a PITA to cycle, so I had to push and stop every few mins to clean the rear mech & brakes of compacted snow as it was locking the back wheel up.

 

[cyberknight]

Looks like i will be car bound the rest of the week , pretty miserable coming home this morning with freezing fog and still icy, went for a walk to the local parcel return shop and the paths were slick with ice patches so that rules out the cycle path at the other end of my commute .
I am definitely getting wiser or more careful as i might have risked it a while back but with 2 young kids i am not risking it .

 

[Crankarm]

I see your three layers and raise you a fourth. thermal base layer, long sleeve running t shirt, fleece jumper and windproof cycling coat on the top. Legs: 1 pair trainer socks with hiking socks over the top up to the knees, padded shorts with tracksuit bottoms over the top. BBB overshoes (single best item of cycling clothing I have bought). Ski mittens with separate fleece inner, fleece hat under helmet and buff up to my nose. 7 miles of toasty goodness. Shame my glasses froze over,, and also my gear levers froze, and a combination of frozen brake levers and ice on rims made for interesting and somewhat intermittent braking.

Inexplicably I was a slower on my road bike this morning than on my wifes mtb last night. Clearly - Its not about the bike!

Legs - Endura Thermolite Pro Bibs, non pad thick cheap and warm Karrimor cycling shorts over the top.

Feet - Endura Coolmax liner socks, Berghaus thermo socks, heater thick fleece 3 tog socks, Shimano MW80 winter boots, if wet, BBB hardwear thick winter overshoes.

Hands - Karrimor thermo inner liner M gloves with Karrimor outer XLwindproof gloves.

Body - Helly Hansen base T-shirt, Campri base T shirt, Helly Hansen winter warm Ice Crew long sleeve jersey, x2 Campri LS base layer, Lowe Alpine LS Dri-flow jersey, Endura water proof/windproof cycling jacket. Total 6 layers.

Head and Neck - Thinsulate 400g fleece hat, North Face Gore Windstopper hat L with ear covering and draw cord, x2 neck fleeces.

Lighting - x2 Exposure Max D lights to keep my hands warm if it is REALLY cold.

 

[MisterStan]

Legs - Endura Thermolite Pro Bibs, non pad thick cheap and warm Karrimor cycling shorts over the top.

Feet - Endura Coolmax liner socks, Berghaus thermo socks, heater thick fleece 3 tog socks, Shimano MW80 winter boots, if wet, BBB hardwear thick winter overshoes.

Hands - Karrimor thermo inner liner M gloves with Karrimor outer XLwindproof gloves.

Body - Helly Hansen base T-shirt, Campri base T shirt, Helly Hansen winter warm Ice Crew long sleeve jersey, x2 Campri LS base layer, Lowe Alpine LS Dri-flow jersey, Endura water proof/windproof cycling jacket. Total 6 layers.

Head and Neck - Thinsulate 400g fleece hat, North Face Gore Windstopper hat L with ear covering and draw cord, x2 neck fleeces.

Lighting - x2 Exposure Max D lights to keep my hands warm if it is REALLY cold.

I still think the guy i saw in shorts wins, hands down!

 

[Crankarm]

I still think the guy i saw in shorts wins, hands down!

Only shorts ....... in winter?

 

[MisterStan]

Only shorts ....... in winter?

Not even lycra - they were flapping all over the place. I felt quite sorry for his man-parts.