Tales from today's commute....

[cyberknight]

-5 c this morning so i was in full winter gear , part from the tips of my fingers i was nice and toasty although the rear brake froze which made dropping down a steep hill in the dark interesting .
coming home it was sunny but i was in the shade for most of it so still cold enough for winter kit .

 

[katiewlx]

Its amazing at how even the most innocuous bump leaves a dent in modern cars.

isnt that by design though ? like if the body work was stiffer or harder to dent, then it would hurt pedestrians and cyclists alot more in collisions.

 

[Webbo2]

isnt that by design though ? like if the body work was stiffer or harder to dent, then it would hurt pedestrians and cyclists alot more in collisions.

So the pedestrians come off well and the body shop repairers also come out of it well. Win, win.

 

[simongt]

isnt that by design though ? like if the body work was stiffer or harder to dent, then it would hurt pedestrians and cyclists alot more in collisions.

But with the miracle of modern materials, why can't the front of vehicles be made of a reasonably soft rubber that would deform when hitting a 'soft target' - ?

 

[HLaB]

-5 c this morning so i was in full winter gear , part from the tips of my fingers i was nice and toasty although the rear brake froze which made dropping down a steep hill in the dark interesting .
coming home it was sunny but i was in the shade for most of it so still cold enough for winter kit .

I chickened out yesterday and asked to WfH as I kinda new the office would be empty with my line manager having to WfH too due to his back. My 23mm front doesn't agree with ice.

 

[katiewlx]

But with the miracle of modern materials, why can't the front of vehicles be made of a reasonably soft rubber that would deform when hitting a 'soft target' - ?

the problem would be the rubber, if you could find a version that was soft enough, usually rubber can be quite hard in the thickness required for structural strength, is all the rigid components in the vehicle, like the engine, suspension,batteries, would hurt you just as much instead.

 

[Webbo2]

the problem would be the rubber, if you could find a version that was soft enough, usually rubber can be quite hard in the thickness required for structural strength, is all the rigid components in the vehicle, like the engine, suspension,batteries, would hurt you just as much instead.

Plus rubber degenerates faster than most metals.

 

[cyberknight]

I chickened out yesterday and asked to WfH as I kinda new the office would be empty with my line manager having to WfH too due to his back. My 23mm front doesn't agree with ice.

i know what your saying as when i can see it is icy i will take the car , unfortunately its a bit hard to do my job from home . I knew the risk of ice was very low as it has been dry here for a while plus im on 28s although i doubt it would make much difference .
My worst winter was over 15 years ago when we had a long cold patch where it was down to -12 c , now that was fun on 23 mm tyres but i had no choice but to get on with it .

 

[HLaB]

i know what your saying as when i can see it is icy i will take the car , unfortunately its a bit hard to do my job from home . I knew the risk of ice was very low as it has been dry here for a while plus im on 28s although i doubt it would make much difference .
My worst winter was over 15 years ago when we had a long cold patch where it was down to -12 c , now that was fun on 23 mm tyres but i had no choice but to get on with it .

I think we had that (-12deg) when I had to cycle to uni. But from my old Edinburgh flat it was Bus routes all the way, well treated and 32mm tyred hybrid.
The roads down south (at least around here) are poorly treated and I'll give it a miss. Ive had and seen more offs down here on the ice than up there.

 

[cyberknight]

I think we had that (-12deg) when I had to cycle to uni. But from my old Edinburgh flat it was Bus routes all the way, well treated and 32mm tyred hybrid.
The roads down south (at least around here) are poorly treated and I'll give it a miss. Ive had and seen more offs down here on the ice than up there.

i remember once turning onto an uphill section that was sheet ice , pedal slip pedal slip , splat !

 

[HLaB]

i remember once turning onto an uphill section that was sheet ice , pedal slip pedal slip , splat !

The only time I hit ice on an uphill was when I was way younger, the front sailed right over it 'sure footed', the rear hit and spun on the spot giving me enough time to brace my self for the off That was my own stupid fault for going up a steep and highish and twisty hill pass that no gritter would even try to get up, the exuberance of youth

 

[katiewlx]

The only time I hit ice on an uphill was when I was way younger, the front sailed right over it 'sure footed', the rear hit and spun on the spot giving me enough time to brace my self for the off That was my own stupid fault for going up a steep and highish and twisty hill pass that no gritter would even try to get up, the exuberance of youth

I hit some ice back in January this year, so note this isnt a recent thing but then I hit the road hard I mean I assume it was ice, it had been fine during the day but a sudden cold front as the sun had set on dampish roads not yet been re-treated yet made it slippy.

Id had like a few warnings,with the back wheel stepping out unexpectedly and the bike feeling squirrelly as anything, and then just as I was almost home I lifted my arm to signal, and it stepped out again over a bump Id missed and I couldnt regain control with only hand quick enough and sort of somersaulted it felt like as I probably grabbed too much front brake and then landed in the road, with my elbow and thigh taking the biggest hit.

at least the driver directly behind me stopped to check I was ok, and didnt run me over, but then he had to deal with a bunch of road rage idiots who were complaining about him blocking the road. but I limped home, thats how close I was to making it I could just limp the rest, and didnt ride my bike for about a month, one to let my injuries heal, my elbow just still has lots of scar tissue left, two let the weather warm up again.

so yeah you can imagine how thrilled I was riding home in very similar conditions the other night. and whilst the road was drier, so less likelihood of ice, I rode a snails pace and was just super prepared for the bike to step out on me, and was very relieved to get home.

if the weather continues like this Ill probably be back in the car for a while