Tales from today's commute....

[Arjimlad]

Ice tyres worked a treat.

I spent an hour last night fitting them to my spare wheels last night and putting the wheels on the bike and adjusting the brake pads.

Even the quiet country lanes were dry and the temperature had risen just enough for any patches of damp to be liquid and not ice.

Of course, when I take them off the temperature will probably plummet!

 

[skudupnorth]

Guided busway wasn’t fun this morning ! Ended on the deck before I gave up the battle and used the roads

 

[Tom B]

Its exactly these conditions I have my ice spikes for. One of my commute routes takes me over a viaduct that holds a thin layer of water, when it freezes it produces sheet ice and the spikes always cope with that.... with care.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Ice spikes for me all week.

Today was thick slush, no ice.

'Orrible.

 

[skudupnorth]

I cannot warrant the cost of ice spikes because we only get this extreme weather for a short while so it’s not worth the cost.
I have alternative routes so it’s not the end of the world

 

[united4ever]

Misjudged it today. Saw it was forecast to be above freezing overnight so took the bike. Soon realised it was still icy. Made it with a couple of dismounts to walk through icy patches. Saw 2 Peds and 1 bike go over.

Journey home was foolish, the first non gritted path through a park hit the deck. Was going slow so no damage. Finally, used my brain and got to the nearby train station to catch the rattler.

Got to be more risk averse next time.

 

[HLaB]

Caught out this morning by the forecast if +2deg C. I successfully navigated the frost through housing estate then roads and paths turned clear and I relaxed. Rather than taking the road through a dual carriageway roundabout with 0deflection on the approaches, drivers have tried to take me out a few times there, I used the shared crossing. Mistake! Before crossing the from the central island I stopped and that must have been ice. Annoying fall rather than serious damage fall thankfully and when I got to work I found that they had added new bike racks 👍

Not my cargo bike btw but great to see 👍👍

 

[Tom B]

I cannot warrant the cost of ice spikes because we only get this extreme weather for a short while so it’s not worth the cost.
I have alternative routes so it’s not the end of the world

Look out for them in spring. I got mine a few years ago for £28 for the pair in April/May. I then stuck them on an old pair of wheels that are a bit ropey on the bearing cups.

 

[skudupnorth]

Look out for them in spring. I got mine a few years ago for £28 for the pair in April/May. I then stuck them on an old pair of wheels that are a bit ropey on the bearing cups.

That is a bargain, I’ll do that

 

[wafter]

Not in the Oxford office today; instead working from a mate's in the town that shall not be named.

Deliberated over transport (it's about 10 miles and about the same ride as I do sometimes to the shops) and decided on the car in the end as I didn't fancy dark, windy country roads at rush hour..

Ended up late due to impassable flooding.. might have made it past on the bike (raised path) but don't really regret not riding as it's pretty blowy out there and the roads are littered with detritus thanks to the weekend's weather... despite starting to feel decidely fat and frustrated after last week's WFH and pitiful 25 miles total... which is the least I've done in a week since I started the commute over a year ago

Hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly..

 

[fossyant]

Not much to report here, some evidence of heavy rain on my climb out of the country park, but that's it. Back on the non-spiked tyres. Spoke to a colleague that had ridden on Friday and it was indeed sheet ice everywhere. He managed it OK.

 

[cyberknight]

After last nights long visit to A&E with mini ck 1 i only got maybe 3 and a half hours sleep but felt ok riding in although the tailwind helped.
I am trying a new saddle atm and im not sure its any better although it might take a few tweaks to get the optimum set up
Riding home against the wind the tiredness really hit me and i couldnt put any power down so i had to back off and just keep the pedals turning till i got home then i had a shower and lay on the bed for an hour .

 

[markharry66]

Back on the flat bar first tine in a week us southern ponces are not used to extreme cold anything below 10 . Nice ride in also noticed the large array of Christmas lights not something I usually notice in my box on wheels. A couple of three turn pricks on way in and a reverse out into the main road with out looking usual stuff and of course over taking on a blind bend is always a good start to the morning. All good and really enjoyed the ride in with wind behind me for a change I knew it was worth investing in the curry last night apologies to anyone who had to suffer the vaper trails I left

 

[fossyant]

A clear night had me thinking about ice tyres, but the weather was 3c and raining, so didn't switch. Last night was quite funny with a bit of SCR. I was at the traffic lights with another cyclist. Upon the lights changing, a skinny bloke on a skinny tyred hybrid comes past, then looks over his shoulders and starts pedalling like a maniac, obviously to burn us off. I just left him to it as it's not worth chasing a skinny tyred bike on the commuter MTB Tank, it's not fast. This guy literally ran out of steam with his spindly legs. I blummin well had to pass him as he was now in my way. Didn't see him again, as I was expecting him to pull the same trick at the next lights.

 

[captain nemo1701]

Riding down the Bristol Railway path on a chilly morning today, spotted pedestrian 100 yards ahead apparently only wearing a red T shirt...as I drew closer, realised he wasn't wearing a shirt at all, the red was bare skin . He seemed oblivious to the cold, wearing only trousers, shoes and a pair of headphones.