Current road conditions

[Scruffmonster]

All, I've been commuting Swanley-West Kensington for a good while now.

I always bail on winter through laziness. The commute cost means I want to man up this year.

What are conditions like out there? Are people seeing Ice before late evening? Is it treacherous? I don't have the cash to buy proper winter tyres, I'm sporting 700x23c skinnies at the moment.

I'm guessing that London and Greater London are ok, is anyone riding a wee bit further out? Say, the belt around the southern section of the M25.

Advice very much welcome. Setting off in 10 so no doubt I'll find out but a heads up would be handy.

 

[defy-one]

I'm just outside the M25 way out west of London.... currently - 1 and foggy.
take care dude

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Coventry around freezing with thick fog tonight, my route home was ice free, the commute was routine , riding fixed with 700cx28 tyres.

 

[Andrew_P]

Purley --- Gatwick 23mm 4 Seasons on a Road bike. The only allowance I am making at the moment is not taking the country road for the last 3.5 miles in the morning just sticking with well used roads.

Cycled on the same bike last year and clocked up 2300 odd miles 01/10/2011 to 28/02/2012 Feb was the worst month because of Snow and Jan was my third biggest month this year, whic is going to be tough to match. I think the weather only accounted for 5-7 days of lost commuting.

 

[HLaB]

My commutes were very slow and steady today, in the morning I was a wee bit dubious about ice but after a while I was pretty sure it was OK. It was too mild in the PM for ice, just but my visibility, especially as I wear glasses was poor. A big thumbs up to the drivers in Peterborough , there was no pulling out despite the slow speed I was going or impatience at me holding the lane (especially in the evening when I couldn't properly see parked cars ). The 23mm tyres coped fine no slippages but I might walk the direct 1.75 miles in the morning, it supposed to turn milder again after that.

 

[derrick]

The edge of north london, the side streets are a bit icy looking, but so far so good the frost on the parked cars stayed all day, coming home tonight i just took it really easy, am running 700/ 23 on a fixie, just be carefull, i know if the snow comes i may have to think again.

 

[MattHB]

lots of frost this morning. was no problem at all.

just dont be silly and watch iron-works and white lines, give cars distance and keep an eye on the road for ice. i stick to gritted roads and that seems to work.

 

[Sittingduck]

In town is ok but once you get to about 10 miles out there is evidence of bits of ice and plenty of frost. I rode from the City and came through Putney and Richmond Park. I had proper frost under my road tyres on the shared use cycle path on the A3, by Kingston Vale. A bit unnerving but it was the exception, rather than the rule. The major roads are fine - just watch street iron, especially when the sun isn't up.

 

[ManiaMuse]

This evening was getting quite foggy even in Central London and already frost on cars although didn't see any ice on the main roads.

Apparently going to get a lot milder (and wetter) by Friday though.

 

[Twizit]

As above, very cold and foggy this evening. Odd bit of frost around but no ice on main ish routes. Central London to Surbiton for me. Richmond Park pretty Baltic and next to no visibility from fog, but all fairly manageable.

Just take it steady and you'll be fine.

 

[billy1561]

Not too bad in the north west. Bits of ice here and there but take it slow and straight and its ok. Tend to rely on the rear brake a lot more this time of year too.

 

[jarlrmai]

stay on roads that get traffic, stay where the car tyres pass and avoid grids/manhole covers and you should be fine.

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

I went from Stockport to Bolton tonight and the main roads were fine. Some of the roads near home were covered in frost, but I just slowed down and was fine. I am on 25c tyres on my hybrid and didnt notice any slips. I was a bit cautious at times and clipped out of my spds and used the flat side of the pedals. I will have another go tomorrow night.

 

[Kookas]

Things were really icy this morning, not so bad in the evening though. Worst time to forget your gloves on the train, though..

Not much black ice yet, though, so if you are using a mountain bike at least, things shouldn't be too slippery. So far, I've only come across a patch of it once, while walking.

 

[cyberknight]

Very dicey on the back roads here , ungritted and large sections where the frost has not cleared all day along with large sections of churned up ice where the standing water from the floods is still about .
came off this morning and had to walk a fair bit coming home around 5 as the roads were slick.
Not good conditions for riding on 23 mm tyres so i shall be switching to the mtb tomorrow and taking the main roads.