Winter commuting - new route in Bristol

[FlatCapCyclist]

2 questions really, but related. Over Christmas I'm moving from the glorious North West (with my 35m daily trundle Wigan-Bury & back, nearly all on A & B roads so gritted when needed) to near Bristol. I'm planning on riding into the city along the Bristol & Bath railway path, about 8 or 9 miles setting off half 6'ish then need to get up to Clifton. Could anyone advise me on what I can expect?

I expect there'll be many more cyclists than I usually see & when in the city itself, the rush hour drivers will be MUCH more used to/tolerant of cyclists. I also expect the railway path will be much more likely to be icy.

Now thinking of ice/snow I've just bought some winter tyres (Schwalbe winter reflex spikes) but think I've read they can be a pig to get on. Do I, A) leave to the last possible moment, wrestle them on & leave until winters over, changing pressure to suit the conditions or B) fork out for another set of wheels incl cassette which would allow me to simply swap as needed on a daily basis? In case it helps: hybrid/35's/don't give a stuff about brand names

Thanks in advance, I feel I've learned so much from browsing here after only a week, including where to buy the tyres from in the first place!

 

[andyfraser]

Now thinking of ice/snow I've just bought some winter tyres (Schwalbe winter reflex spikes) but think I've read they can be a pig to get on. Do I, A) leave to the last possible moment, wrestle them on & leave until winters over, changing pressure to suit the conditions or B) fork out for another set of wheels incl cassette which would allow me to simply swap as needed on a daily basis? In case it helps: hybrid/35's/don't give a stuff about brand names

I just put the winter tyres on when I think it could start getting icy then leave them until March, adjusting the pressure for the conditions.

 

[mjr]

You usually need to run winter tyres on tarmac for a short while before using them on ice, so I'd put them on before the last moment, but I'd get practised at changing them.

 

[mjr]

[QUOTE 4013896, member: 45"]Then a pig of a hill up into Clifton.[/QUOTE]
That reminds me: the route up Colston Street is kinder than Park Street!

 

[Arjimlad]

Park Street is preferable to Jacob's Wells Road I believe, as it is shorter & sharper..

https://www.google.com/search?q=par...ChMIiYDV-facyQIVQ_9yCh0DsAhp&biw=1920&bih=934

I am not sure you will find the drivers any better than anywhere else though !

 

[Arjimlad]

Could do Marlborough Street past the BRI then up Park Row ? That might be easier than either..

 

[mjr]

Could do Marlborough Street past the BRI then up Park Row ? That might be easier than either..

If you want to go up past the BRI, using Lower Maudlin Street (a bike-only straight ahead at the bottom of Union Street) avoids the busy Marlborough Street, but from memory, that's almost as steep as Colston Street. It doesn't look it because the street's wider, so if it makes no difference elsewhere, it depends which way might have a tailwind.

 

[captain nemo1701]

I commute along the Railway Path all the time. I assume by mentioning an 8-9 mile commute (mine's 10) its a round trip figure and this could mean that you are moving to possibly the Fishponds area?. Anyway, you'll enjoy the path, especially the newly widened bit at the bottom. It's a lovely commute, even in the rain (a few road bridges to hide under). Getting to Clifton, I'd go to the centre via the path, Unity Street down past Gardner Haskins, under the ring road (via cycle/ped tunnel-much better than Old Market and across roundabout. Very heavy traffic) and through the centre via Castle Park and Baldwin Street (new cycle lane). Cross over past College Green and up Park Street. It's not impossible to cycle up this, just a tad steep. Going home, the Railway Path is a gentle gradient that flattens out at Morrison's in Fishponds. I can do the city centre from Staple Hill in about 25-30 mins, so Clifton should take you about 45-50. Budget an hour to be on the safe side.

 

[FlatCapCyclist]

Thanks guys I really appreciate it, will be looking at all the city centre options in detail & no doubt will try most. I had a trial run with my partner a few weeks ago but she's not a confident road cyclist, got a bit intimidated compared to being in a car & we went a tad wrong here & there - plus it was the middle of the day & the Watershed's brownies were just too tempting!

For completeness I'll be coming in from Oldland Common - the 8-9 may easily be wrong, was just a guess after google maps told me the whole journey was 10.5

 

[summerdays]

Which part of Clifton? Up by the Downs or nearer the docks? Either way it's uphill at some point. The cycle path is good but busy (and though it might be slightly longer, the lack of junctions can make it quicker than other shorter routes. If you aren't fond of hills I might be tempted by the route past the hospital and Park Row.

 

[evilkitten]

I commute into the centre from Staple Hill, and Captian Nemo has it pretty much on the nail. Although I'm 5 mins quicker than him :-)