Whhooooooaaaa

[fossyant]

Rained a bit last night, low temps but no ice.

With regards to Mosscommuter's comments about it freezing later on, this is happens often, and usually after rain.

One of my worst ever rides to work happened when the roads froze later on. Been raining overnight, thought OK. Main roads fine. Was on the MTB and noticed it twitch a little - ah OK. Carried on, no problems. Coming down a hill, 10 miles later, about 30 mph, whoosh...........front wheel goes and I'm sliding down the road....fortunately no cars. Made a right mess of my clothes. Then two other falls at lower speed further on on country lanes on a 20 mile commute. Got to work battered and bruised, only to hear that my boss had fallen off his bike at the end of his road, and fractured his leg really badly...

 

[biking_fox]

Also S manchester - no problems with ice at all. A little air frost on shaded roofs, but that's it. Are those who are finding the ice starting out very early in the day? I'm not riding till 8:30 or so, and just haven't seen any at all.

 

[gb155]

Again Canal TOTALLY Clear of ice today, but Alan Turing Way in the cycle lane was FULL of it...Crazy.....

 

[GAVSTER]

I felt the back wheel slide a few times this am.

First just outside my house then again on a rural road.

Took it v easy on any corner and hence commute to work was ten mins slower over the 17 mile distance.

Beautiful morning tho' crisp and clear

 

[noelmg]

Was a bit frosty this morning, but a beautiful morning to be biking in. Riding along the railway embankment seeing the mist down in the valleys and the sun just starting to creep above the horizon, really cannot be beaten! It's days like this that are my reason for biking in!

Was also nice when going across country that the ground was hard rather than soft and muddy for a change.

 

[Amanda P]

I get a trial to see how icy roads are when I take the dog out in the morning. Then, when I set off for work, I already know if it's likely to be icy or not.

Usually, most of my route, being a bus route, is gritted. Just now, there's a level crossing closed while they work on it, so the bus, and the gritting lorry, are taking a diversion, and my route isn't gritted.

There was a little ice about, but nothing too scary. But there's one patch where we generally find one or two drivers lose it every year and end up in the hedge. With no grit on the road, both of this year's drivers have done it in the one morning: two new gaps in the hedge and fence just in the usual spot, and a badly bent Alfa being carried away on a recovery wagon.

With only locals using the road, due to the closure, you'd think they'd know by now it'd be icy!

It was very foggy this morning around York-ish. It's unbelievable how many folk are driving around in thick fog with only sidelights, or no lights at all on. It can be impossible to see them until they're on top of you.

What part of "use dipped headlights" don't they understand?

 

[CanucksTraveller]

It's unbelievable how many folk are driving around in thick fog with only sidelights, or no lights at all on. It can be impossible to see them until they're on top of you.

What part of "use dipped headlights" don't they understand?

Same where I am and I was thinking the same thing.... can't see more than a hundred yards? Yeah, don't worry about lights. Or just use sidelights if you must, because you can kind of see where you're going, in a way. Nah, not dark enough for proper lights. Gits.

I've often wondered what the British obsession with side lights is, they are of no use to anyone but it seems half the motorists here see them as some kind of halfway house. Do they think they're saving electric?

 

[BinBag]

I'm surprised by all the tales of ice from the fellow Manc lads,didn't notice any this morning tbh.
Know it was bloomin cold though,I wore some huge Regatta gloves that have been in my wardrobe for years and never taken out,hands were fine,if a little tricky to brake'change gear but at 5am I don't need to do a lot of stopping

Off tomorrow (funeral

) but hoping the ice goes away quickly.

2 people at work, both on MTB's came off just after the A34 yesterday, due to ice.

I'll be hitting the canal again today...the only down side is how FILTHY me and my bike is

Yeah, same here - a bit cofuffled about the ice stories in South and East Manchester.

I did my usual commute this morning from Potsy's Stockport to gb155's Alan Turin Way and only noticed a bit of sparkling on the ground near Eastlands - this was 5:50am to 6:20am so not sure if that's the time frame you're talking about.

Maybe I just didn't notice it - I'm sure I will if my bike comes from underneath me!

Saying that, ALL the roads I go on are gritted - as should the A34!

 

[Leaway2]

I felt the back wheel side slightly, which woke me up completly (6:30am) so I took a extra few mins taken to get to work.

 

[goo_mason]

Icy along Coalhill / Mill Lane this morning after starting off wet outside the flat about 60m away, then Ferry Road was mostly OK (unless you got closer to the side of the road). The ride along Inverleith Place was really hairy - very, very icy. Then going downhill on East Fettes Avenue - I was bricking it trying to slow down and turn right into Carrington Road. The road was covered in ice.

Rest of the route in was (thanfully) reasonably clear once I got to the top of Craigleith Hill Avenue.

The gritters had been out, obviously, but only on the busiest routes.

 

[norpet]

First commute on ice this morning , clean white and crisp coveringfor first 4 miles on road and cycle path, great progress not a twitch then asudden change to smooth ice which took me unaware, bike slid under me on a slightturn, i had just passed a cyclist going the other way he was unaware of my fall, put the chain back on pressed on a bit slower. Had 3 more spills in the nextfour miles , 2 of them following other cyclists , gave up and pushed the bikefor the last mile until I reached the road. Why only me! Not that I am wishinga fall on anyone else.

Damage me: couple of bruises’ and a sore ankle, bike : mudguards fell apart, bell lost and light bracket broke. Half an hour later for work.



I had read the ice topics on forum yesterdays and so looked at the weather forecast but thought i’ll be ok. Following repairs at lunch timewas still a bit nervous t coming home tonight as frost was forming on some of the dips on the cycleway (old wagon ways tarmaced over) , still got home OK



In future if it’s icy I will take the car.

 

[phantasmagoriana]

 First ice-related fall for me too this morning!   Slight turn on an off-road (ungritted) cycle path, saw a chap walking his bike in the opposite direction and saying something to me...as I hit the ground I heard him advising me to get off and walk (had it not been so foggy, I might have seen him earlier and twigged, but the visibility was terrible...).

No damage done except handlebars twisted slightly (had multitool, so easily fixed!). Was quite relieved that my Brooks saddle survived unscathed. I did take the rest of the journey particularly slowly though, including walking the rest of the cycle path until I got to the road.

I've been debating whether to get studded tyres or not, and am leaning more towards a "yes" after this; however, my commute is short at little over 3 miles so I could just walk the icy bits...  

 

[fossyant]

Spikey tyres boys !!!

Bad luck on the falls !