- Location
- Glasgow
Woke up today to a flurry of snow on the ground, maybe an inch or so.
Due at work for 8am, left at 7, I find that on leaving that half hour earlier I miss most of the heavy traffic.
The plan was to check out the main roads, take the bus if I have to.
Had to wheel the bike out of my housing estate, found out the Marathon Winters, great on ice, have not much grip on snow slush.
Main road going to town was gritted: well done South Lanarkshire Council!
Unashamedly, took the middle of my lane all through the dual carriage way, this morning you really did not want to ride in the gutter!
Have to say the traffic, mostly white vans and taxis, was quite patient with me, then again, the lane next to mine was empty.
At one point, looking at what's behind me on the ASL (as one does
) I see the most enormous Chivas Regal distillery truck going my way 
... the driver was actually very nice, letting me turn left, overtaking giving plenty of room .... now, I am practically riding without using my brakes in case I slide ... decide to skip the park, take the main road (round the Gorbals baths, for the Glasgow people).
To my great dismay that road had not been gritted: it belongs to a different local authority: shame on Glasgow City Council!
It was a nightmare of semi melted snow debris on top of ice filling deep potholes and stayed so for the last couple of miles to my work.
That was the most uneasy ever I felt on my commute, in spite of the still scarce traffic.
On a lighter note, I got beeped at only twice on my way in (one was a taxi, ha ha!) and only once on my way home, but this latter one (Scottish gas van) also swore at me, so he counts for 3
Due at work for 8am, left at 7, I find that on leaving that half hour earlier I miss most of the heavy traffic.
The plan was to check out the main roads, take the bus if I have to.
Had to wheel the bike out of my housing estate, found out the Marathon Winters, great on ice, have not much grip on snow slush.
Main road going to town was gritted: well done South Lanarkshire Council!
Unashamedly, took the middle of my lane all through the dual carriage way, this morning you really did not want to ride in the gutter!
Have to say the traffic, mostly white vans and taxis, was quite patient with me, then again, the lane next to mine was empty.
At one point, looking at what's behind me on the ASL (as one does
) I see the most enormous Chivas Regal distillery truck going my way ... the driver was actually very nice, letting me turn left, overtaking giving plenty of room .... now, I am practically riding without using my brakes in case I slide ... decide to skip the park, take the main road (round the Gorbals baths, for the Glasgow people).To my great dismay that road had not been gritted: it belongs to a different local authority: shame on Glasgow City Council!
It was a nightmare of semi melted snow debris on top of ice filling deep potholes and stayed so for the last couple of miles to my work.
That was the most uneasy ever I felt on my commute, in spite of the still scarce traffic.
On a lighter note, I got beeped at only twice on my way in (one was a taxi, ha ha!) and only once on my way home, but this latter one (Scottish gas van) also swore at me, so he counts for 3
He finally got 3/4 by as we approached a junction where he had to join a half mile queue. I was tempted to wave goodbye as I filtered through but I resisted the urge. Apart from feeling guilty about not stopping I quite enjoyed my commute.
