Tales from today's commute....

[martint235]

I'm still thinking about it. The trains are messed up which means they aren't really an option. My route in to work is largely main roads but.......

The other issue is that in the South East, I think that what is here is here for the week or it may even get worse due to refreezing but I don't think it's going to get better before weekend really. Decision will be made at 7.30 I think

 

[potsy]

Nice ride in, light snow and -1c.
Did a couple of shortcuts through the park so I could make some fresh tracks through the snow, only the main road up thru brinny was a slushy mess.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Just under 7 miles today, decided to do a loop at the end and wish I hadn't awful addition couple of miles. The marathon winters do not like the slush on the roads, nor the deeper snow on the paths, Hopefully if it doesn't snow much more, the rush hour traffic will clear up the rest of the sludge for an easier ride home.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Not only did I make it through the snow I was actually early for the first time in yonkers!

Thank you BSO!

 

[fossyant]

Nice ride in - nearly didn't get a ride as the High School has decided to shut for the day (the primary next door is open - guess who has kids in both schools - one in, one out). Wife decided to stay off, so I got a snowy ride.

Snow deeper at home though, and the Trans Pennine was a mix of snow and mud - the bike is now sat on a load of internal envelopes, dripping a muddy snow mix onto the floor.

 

[martint235]

Well I came in. No major issues. The Waterlink Way was impassable on a racing bike so I had to come off and onto the road. Nearly ran over someone on a zebra crossing. I was pulling on the brakes and nothing was happening. I sailed past her at about 5mph apologising profusely, she smiled and said it was ok.

I claim the title of "Pwoper Cyclist" one step down from "Proper cyclist" for my efforts this morning!

 

[BSRU]

The main roads are completely fine, no ice or snow, the minor side roads and shared paths are rutted ice slabs.

Came in on the snow MTB with Ice Spikers but will change to the ice bike tomorrow with Marathon Winters.
If I were really brave I could ride on my normal commuter with normal tyres but I am not plus there's loads of bike melting grit on the roads.

 

[GrasB]

Slow but steady ride to work. Very under dressed as I couldn't put any power into the rear wheel.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Even the main roads here were deep in slush, so when cars overtook I got sprayed with a brown rooster tail.

 

[Andrew_P]

Second working day by Car, makes me sad. Just cannot risk it SE London would be fine once I walked to the main road, but really not confident on my last 4 miles and the two long decents in the morning.

A question to those that have ridden 23mm on icy roads, if I am going straight and not braking and not putting much if any power through the rear wheel if I go over icy patches is it an automatic down, or is it entirely possible the bike will stay upright?

 

[tadpole]

Great ride in apart from a police man in his panda car getting upset when I wouldn't let him squeeze me off the ice free bit of the road and on to the lumpy ice, He rev'd his engine, and I still didn't give way, he flashed his lights and I still didn't give way, he turned on his blue and twos, and as I was past the last pinch point and the ice on the road was gone, I let him passed. He turned off his blues and two about a hundred yards passed me.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Great ride in apart from a police man in his panda car getting upset when I wouldn't let him squeeze me off the ice free bit of the road and on to the lumpy ice, He rev'd his engine, and I still didn't give way, he flashed his lights and I still didn't give way, he turned on his blue and twos, and as I was past the last pinch point and the ice on the road was gone, I let him passed. He turned off his blues and two about a hundred yards passed me.

Gah!

Yesterday I was not having a good ride and I could hear a largish vehicle behind me rev up to try and pass me at every pinch point. This went on for about a mile and I bloody mindedly cycled correctly.

Than I took another look over my shoulder and spotted that it was an ambulance with the lights flashing trying to get past. Doh!

 

[ianrauk]

Well after the 12 hour non stop snowing yesterday I really didn't think that I would be cycle commuting this morning.
Looked out the bedroom window at 6.30 to see my road was completely covered in snow. Bollocks..but thought the main road couldn't be that bad. So when ready got the bike and walked the few hundred yards to the A21. As I suspected it was clear. A bit of slush here and there but nothing major. And as the schools seemed to be shut today the road was clear of vehicles too. So all in all a nice pootle into work today. 7 miles shorter then my normal distance though.

 

[fossyant]

A question to those that have ridden 23mm on icy roads, if I am going straight and not braking and not putting much if any power through the rear wheel if I go over icy patches is it an automatic down, or is it entirely possible the bike will stay upright?

I won't entertain using anything other than studded tyres when there is ice about. I used to put the bikes away and take the car. I've crashed badly on a MTB with knobblies in ice, so tyres make very little difference, unless studded.

 

[Andrew_P]

I won't entertain using anything other than studded tyres when there is ice about. I used to put the bikes away and take the car. I've crashed badly on a MTB with knobblies in ice, so tyres make very little difference, unless studded.

Thanks, my resolve was weakening in the great scheme of things it will be one week out of 52 off the bike, with any luck. I am quite shocked how bad it feels not riding and the Gym is so f'ing boring.