Time to get back in the saddle?

[scouserinlondon]

I've hit the point on the wuss/thaw continum whereby it is now time for me to get my wobbly-arse back on my bike.

How many others have ducked out of the icy conditions? I'm consoling myself with the fact it's my first winter and that I'm just not experienced enough to ride in the ice, but I think I'm just a wuss.

 

[BentMikey]

What's your commute, London roads, mostly the major ones?

 

[fossyant]

No, I've cheated.... ice Monday 4th - no way car.....ordered tyres then... thick heavy snow 5th - rode in as no ice about...great on MTB. Weds work shut....then drove to courier to get tyres..... Thurs and onwards rode in.......studded tyres...cheat.....

 

[scouserinlondon]

What's your commute, London roads, mostly the major ones?

It's from SW16 to SE1. I live towards the badlands of Mitcham so go up Garrards road, and to clapham north via Kings Avenue, where I join the A3 to Kennington then A3 to waterloo.

As much as the icy weather has worried me, the driving standard of your average london driver has worried me more.

 

[scouserinlondon]

No, I've cheated.... ice Monday 4th - no way car.....ordered tyres then... thick heavy snow 5th - rode in as no ice about...great on MTB. Weds work shut....then drove to courier to get tyres..... Thurs and onwards rode in.......studded tyres...cheat.....

I have 32mm slicks, may buy marathon's next time around that at least have some grip

 

[hackbike 666]

It's from SW16 to SE1. I live towards the badlands of Mitcham so go up Garrards road, and to clapham north via Kings Avenue, where I join the A3 to Kennington then A3 to waterloo.

As much as the icy weather has worried me, the driving standard of your average london driver has worried me more.

I agree,it's been crap at times.

 

[slowmotion]

W14 to SW8 a couple of times since New Year, and three weekend pootles a bit further East. I had no problem with ice, but the Thames bridges ( freezing from top and bottom) made the back wheel feel a bit wierd a couple of times. Yes, chap, I love the buzz too.

Sorry, I thought I was on another similar thread!

 

[fossyant]

I have 32mm slicks, may buy marathon's next time around that at least have some grip

Let's say, had I not had the 'snow studs' then I'd have been in the car - I don't do ICE..... I've been off on full blown MTB tyres, never mind 20mm race tyres.......... on tarmac.... worse was on MTB tyres....

Ice and rubber don't mix.............. Studs are awesome...just watch where you park your bike as they scratch just about anything....my car bumper got caught tonight......

 

[scouserinlondon]

ha. went to bed last night with my kit all on the radiators ready to go.

Don't think so springs to mind!

 

[beanzontoast]

ha. went to bed last night with my kit all on the radiators ready to go.

Don't think so springs to mind!

Exactly what I did! Mrs B thought I was being a bit optimistic when she saw me sorting my kit out last night and finding my bike gloves out of the airing cupboard where they've been for nearly 2 weeks... and turns out she was spot on!

 

[Panter]

Had to dig the turbo trainer out last night, I'd forgotten how awful it was...

I don't think I'll be able to try a commute until well into next week though, mine is over very remote country lanes that have been ploughed, not gritted.
I had a quick run out on the MTB over Christmas...on the sheet ice, to see what it was like...
Painful was the answer

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I have wimped out since Christmas! (Although I only returned to work on Monday anway after holiday!)

I know it's Birmingham and the main roads are supposedly clear but I don't like to do the Hagley Road and all the side roads I use around Edgbaston are pretty bad - especially at the junctions and stuff.

I refuse to feel bad about it because I have had to have about 8 weeks off work already with injuries and I am not to keen on another load of time off - I'm the sort of person that falls badly!!!!

To compensate I have been going to the gym every night!

 

[Jambon]

erm i havent cycled in since October, i stopped when the clocks changed, i think i've put on about 2 stone! I know i need to get on but i cant get motivated and im worried about my racing bike in the bad weather?

 

[dub-no-bass]

I've wussed out since the frost set in, and haven't cycled since New Year's Eve. Like the reluctant cyclist above, I seem to fall badly and all my bike offs have involved broken bones, sprains or chips to elbows with nasty grazing etc. I'm already nursing a separated shoulder and torn rotator cuff back to health - I just don't want to risk falling through slipping on icy stuff.

Thankfully it all looks set to warm up over the weekend, so hopefully normal service will be resumed soon!

 

[davidg]

first day back on monday and it was great....this morning put paid to that though and wont chace it tomorrow with everything looking wet and sub zero forcast tonight even though it is london....