I hope it snows, it snows and snows this winter ........

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Sooo glad I had studded tyres on my bike riding home last night as it was very icy. When I got to the car park, stopped by my car and put my foot down, whoaa! Nearly went down as it was that slippy. Grim night for cycling - freezing fog and lots of ice.

yep lots of freezing fog, and ice here as well, but no issues - still on the road bike with 25mm tyres. Apparently my lights are really good - my OH wanted his evening meal sooner than it was going to be with me cycling all the way home from my mothers, so came out to 'find' me. Apparently I stood out better than quite a few cars around me when he 'found' me. Shame he got me on a really nice gradual downhill (-0.5%) section (alongside the canal) that whilst it is national is really wide and open and vehicles had no isses getting around me... I was flying along like there was no tomorrow when a car came alongside me, tooted its horn to get my attention (note to self - horn is bl***dy useless on "new" car) and tried to get me to stop! bar humbug. It only got me home 20 mins sooner - right nafted off I was! I was really enjoying that ride home...

 

[Supersuperleeds]

yep lots of freezing fog, and ice here as well, but no issues - still on the road bike with 25mm tyres. Apparently my lights are really good - my OH wanted his evening meal sooner than it was going to be with me cycling all the way home from my mothers, so came out to 'find' me. Apparently I stood out better than quite a few cars around me when he 'found' me. Shame he got me on a really nice gradual downhill (-0.5%) section (alongside the canal) that whilst it is national is really wide and open and vehicles had no isses getting around me... I was flying along like there was no tomorrow when a car came alongside me, tooted its horn to get my attention (note to self - horn is bl***dy useless on "new" car) and tried to get me to stop! bar humbug. It only got me home 20 mins sooner - right nafted off I was! I was really enjoying that ride home...

You need to get him trained. He should have had your tea on the table for when you came in.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I'm now sorted for winter commuting when it gets really bad. You know - 1cm of snow, refrozen slush, ice ruts, abandoned cars - that kind of thing. Put the Marathon Winter's on the MTB and fitted some lights. I'll have to use a back pack rather than panniers but it's only 3 miles. I might even take a short cut through the park.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

You need to get him trained. He should have had your tea on the table for when you came in.

yep, agreed but he was not doing joined up thinking because we got home around 15-20 mins earlier than if he had left me alone to cycle all the way. by the time I had dealt with my bike, changed and heated up tea (yes it was ready cooked, just needed re-heating) it had taken longer than if he had come home and had it ready for me when i got through the door - end result was tea was even later!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I'm now sorted for winter commuting when it gets really bad. You know - 1cm of snow, refrozen slush, ice ruts, abandoned cars - that kind of thing. Put the Marathon Winter's on the MTB and fitted some lights. I'll have to use a back pack rather than panniers but it's only 3 miles. I might even take a short cut through the park.

picked up/acquired a specialised rockhopper mtb (or whatever variation of spelling you want) at the weekend. Marathon winters are now on, but not bedded in because until I can get some pedals with toe straps, I can't cycle it (don't have full control of my left leg below the knee so foot has to be held in place). Once I have some light mounts for existing lights, I'm sorted, but I will put a rack on it (which I think I have managed to sorce from the wanted forum)... then all I will need are some Ergon GP1 grips and some SJS bar ends, another bottle holder (it has none) and I will be able to use the old railway line that runs between here and college which should make getting to college much less "interesting" than the back country lanes which don't get gritted but di get well iced!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

No where near as good a picture as @middleagecyclist but I could not really get the bike out easily so photo'ed in situ. so wrong way round, bad background, odd angle etc... but this is the n+1 which was accidentally acquired at the weekend. (It's not an issue it not having disc brakes because currently it is a winter bike for bad weather and stopping quickly is not something I actually desire when on ice/snow etc, but I can see it having a summer use as well...

 

[fossyant]

I recumbent trike is the way to go - they're great fun in icy conditions...

Until you roll it !

 

[fossyant]

Difficult to roll...

...unless you're very, very, very drunk.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Are those hydraulic disk brakes? If so, watch out in winter...

Why? I would have thought the mineral oil would just become more viscous at very cold temeratures and so the levers might have a 'spongier' feel. I've been out using them in -5 and they are working fine. What should I be concerned about?

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Why? I would have thought the mineral oil would just become more viscous at very cold temeratures and so the levers might have a 'spongier' feel. I've been out using them in -5 and they are working fine. What should I be concerned about?

my thoughts were that you don't want to stop very quickly on ice or snow, so disc brakes were counter productive - just a thought about the don't brake suddenly approach to driving on ice/snow etc.

 

[Herzog]

my thoughts were that you don't want to stop very quickly on ice or snow, so disc brakes were counter productive - just a thought about the don't brake suddenly approach to driving on ice/snow etc.

That's what hand control is all about

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

That's what hand control is all about

that assumes you have full control of both hands and that the brakes are working as they shoud do...

(I had 11 ops on my left wrist/arm over 15 years and only have some use of the hand itself - one of the reasons I wear out cassettes and sprockets & my front brake blocks somewhat faster than I am meant to, I can't easily change gear with my left hand and can't brake with my left hand at all - also indicating right is an issue, though left is a doddle because I can easily take my bad arm off the bars! But don't take it to heart, I know you didn't know... (and it was one of the reasons I needed a custom buillt bike for my RTW tour).) just wish I had known about recumbrants when I first injured my arm - it took me 5 years to be able to even ride a bike again and another 5 years to be able to ride on more than 15 miles simply because of the hand issues.

 

[Herzog]

that assumes you have full control of both hands and that the brakes are working as they shoud do...

(I had 11 ops on my left wrist/arm over 15 years and only have some use of the hand itself - one of the reasons I wear out cassettes and sprockets & my front brake blocks somewhat faster than I am meant to, I can't easily change gear with my left hand and can't brake with my left hand at all - also indicating right is an issue, though left is a doddle because I can easily take my bad arm off the bars! But don't take it to heart, I know you didn't know... (and it was one of the reasons I needed a custom buillt bike for my RTW tour).) just wish I had known about recumbrants when I first injured my arm - it took me 5 years to be able to even ride a bike again and another 5 years to be able to ride on more than 15 miles simply because of the hand issues.

Oww, well done on getting back to cycling.

I've found when cycling in (thick) snow, anything other than discs are almost useless.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Oww, well done on getting back to cycling.

I've found when cycling in (thick) snow, anything other than discs are almost useless.

thank you
shall bear that in mind, but it was not a probem with my expedition bike, so I will see how it goes with the mtb on marathon winters, but that said I am still using my triban 3 with 25mm tyres on it and not really having too many issues (except where 1 family seem to think de-icing their car with water is a really good idea - the cycle way/footpath and road there is little better than an ice rink!)

 

[Herzog]

...except where 1 family seem to think de-icing their car with water is a really good idea - the cycle way/footpath and road there is little better than an ice rink!)

The (lack of) consideration of others is often astounding