Ice not nice

[potsy]

First ride for nearly two weeks and I loved it,but riding the hybrid for the first time since July has me realising how good the road bike is,hopefully be on that today(Friday)

 

[Cheule]

I'm feeling left out, its just ordinary roads here and has been for some time

 

[mgarl10024]

As a new cyclist, I've not really noticed the weather too much before. I know this cold snap is early, but how much longer should we expect the risk of ice to still be there? End of Feb?

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I decided last night that it may have thawed enough for me to take my normal route which takes me through the well trodden towpath of gas street basin along the towpath but boy did I regret it!

The path was just a solid sheet of trodden down compacted and totally frozen snow! I slipped and slid all along it pushing my bike I am afraid - there was no way I was risking my skinny tyres on that!

As for the idea of falling into the canal but not going through the ice - I can't think of anything more terrifying! All through gas street basin last night the ice was broken up anyway by the canal barges!!!

I sympathise Mr Paul and congratulate you on your bravery for completing the whole route! I walked most of my way home last night!!!!

 

[summerdays]

As a new cyclist, I've not really noticed the weather too much before. I know this cold snap is early, but how much longer should we expect the risk of ice to still be there? End of Feb?

Definitely ... and possibly beyond ... but it could just as easily turn into a mild winter with barely any frost ... I remember one of those a few years ago, we seem to have been lucky on the wind front recently ... we haven't had any really big storms and its been a relatively dry year as well.

 

[BrumJim]

Took the cycle route into town this morning for the first time since 23rd November. And as per the experiences above, I fell off on a patch of sheet ice that had melted enough to put a layer of water on top, but not enough to get down to the tarmac.

Fortunately the bloke standing just beyond it gave me a clue as to how treacherous it was going to be, and I was down to walking pace when I came off.

So I gave up as soon as I could and went back on to the main road. To find that the traffic was stationary due to an accident, Ambulance, and four lanes down to two further down the road. Glad I wasn't in my car, and managed to fly up the outside.

 

[upsidedown]

The only ice I saw this morning was on the bridge over the M42, nice change from the last couple of weeks.

 

[Wobblers]

The pavements are mostly ice and very treacherous; from what I've seen of the canal towpath at Selly Oak it looks far worse. I wouldn't be that keen to walk on it, far less cycle it. The roads are clear now - apart from the clot who's managed to spill an enormous amount of diesel along Court Oak Road along to Harborne High Street. I've been on the hybrid with the tyres at low pressure - plenty of grip but so much hard work! Tempted to get back on the Galaxy next week.

Took the cycle route into town this morning for the first time since 23rd November. And as per the experiences above, I fell off on a patch of sheet ice that had melted enough to put a layer of water on top, but not enough to get down to the tarmac.

Which cycle path is this? The one through Cannon Hill Park?

 

[c2c]

Rode home from work yesterday morning at 6am and my little comp said -6. Rode home from work this morning at 6am and my little comp said +6. What a difference, it felt positively tropical.

 

[fossyant]

No ice to speak of, although only just realised before I decided to take the gravel short cut past the local Church Hall to the main road...ohhh water on top of ice........ wrong choice, turned and off back onto the road for the long way round. Roads now fine, other than orrible salty black goo.

 

[neslon]

lucky gits, the lot of you. The snow/ice is still 30 cm in my front garden and thats in the middle of toon. The ice on the roads around here is about two inches thick and today was the first day it went above zero for about three weeks. the thaw we are having has made roofalanches pull my gutters of and block front and back doors with snow 1m deep.

Worst of it is, my backs paggered so I can't go out and play

 

[potsy]

No ice to speak of, although only just realised before I decided to take the gravel short cut past the local Church Hall to the main road...ohhh water on top of ice........ wrong choice, turned and off back onto the road for the long way round. Roads now fine, other than orrible salty black goo.

You've got that right. One ride in on my white bike and it was an absolute disgrace by the time I got to work

Might have to give it a wipe over sometime this weekend

 

[fossyant]

You've got that right. One ride in on my white bike and it was an absolute disgrace by the time I got to work

Might have to give it a wipe over sometime this weekend

Was a job and a half getting the crap off a freshly "Mr Sheened" bike earlier... orrible crap...........

 

[BrumJim]

The pavements are mostly ice and very treacherous; from what I've seen of the canal towpath at Selly Oak it looks far worse. I wouldn't be that keen to walk on it, far less cycle it. The roads are clear now - apart from the clot who's managed to spill an enormous amount of diesel along Court Oak Road along to Harborne High Street. I've been on the hybrid with the tyres at low pressure - plenty of grip but so much hard work! Tempted to get back on the Galaxy next week.




Which cycle path is this? The one through Cannon Hill Park?

Yes, although bottled it before I got to the park. Its the bit by the Moor Green Playing fields where I came off.

 

[neslon]

What a thaw! I went out today for the first time since yesterday lunch and it's virtually all gone. Expect some reports of flooding.