CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Ice http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Ice en Sun, 17 May 2026 06:23:45 +0000 DaveC on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94641 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:11:29 +0000 DaveC 94641@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I have found rutted ice difficult also, there was some on the Blackhall path up towards the west end of the path but its now a puddle. Warning, Oil and some minor ice on the corner as you come off Cramond Bridge (the old one) heading east on the left bend. Also minor ice on the 5 ways junction north of Tesco in Broughton. There are patches of ice on the feilds outside Edinburgh which shows that cold spots do exist in places. Dave on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94623 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:34:58 +0000 Dave 94623@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ From a random comment on my review; thought it was rather timely for the staff of some LBS's... "I just tryed the marathon winter tire 700c*35 on the “Mont Royal” (Montréal). It was dramatic icy condition. On clean ice and snow it works like a charm I was amazed how confident it feels. On a rutted icy road it was an another game. I was still able to bike but with much care." Dave on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94606 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:12:10 +0000 Dave 94606@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ So what should a person on a road bike do to cope with the ice? According to A Well Known Methodology, you could: - "Avoid" (work from home) - "Fallback plan" (drive, or get a MTB with winter tyres?) - "Reduce" (fit tyres with tread, so that will at least mitigate snow, or get elbow/kneepads) - "Transfer" won't work, as no money is involved. - That just leaves "accept". Take your chances... I've ordered some thin studded tyres for the wife, so when they arrive we could try one on your bike to see if it will clear the brakes (nominally 28mm) sallyhinch on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94605 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:11:15 +0000 sallyhinch 94605@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ If you have to cycle on ice on non-studded tyres: as well as letting the tyres down a bit, keep your weight as far back as you can (never get out of the saddle), don't use your front brake - indeed don't brake at all if you can help it, and lower your saddle a little so you can get your feet down if necessary. I'll sometimes just scoot instead of ride, especially if going downhill as then I can stop with my feet. All of these will get you over the worst patches but it doesn't make for a fun ride. Definitely going down the bike shop for some studs as soon as I get back to the UK Some good tips here <a href="http://road.cc/content/feature/12090-roadccs-tips-riding-ice-and-snow" rel="nofollow">http://road.cc/content/feature/12090-roadccs-tips-riding-ice-and-snow</a> wingpig on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94602 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:39:16 +0000 wingpig 94602@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <blockquote>"So what should a person on a road bike do to cope with the ice?"</blockquote> Don't pump them up to the maximal pressure - go as low as 70 to give yourself some chance on anything icy or snowy or slushy. Sliding up the cobbles of the High Street two years ago on 700*23 Armadilloes at the minimal non-snakebite-puncturing pressure was markedly less slidey than attempting the same at 120psi. amir on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94601 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:06:42 +0000 amir 94601@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "So what should a person on a road bike do to cope with the ice? " Be choosy about where and when you cycle! Baldcyclist on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94600 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:04:50 +0000 Baldcyclist 94600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <blockquote>So what should a person on a road bike do to cope with the ice?</blockquote> If you are happy cycling on main roads, just avoid the cycle paths and you should get on fine with your gatorskins on all but the very worst days. When it snows, get the train/bus/car. wee folding bike on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94599 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 17:45:24 +0000 wee folding bike 94599@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <a href="http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/spikes/marathon-winter/" rel="nofollow">http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/spikes/marathon-winter/</a> Available as 35-622 700 x 35C I had to take the mudguard off but it was attached in an unusual way in the first place. The caliper brake works fine but it's not a racing one. Kenny on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94598 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 17:35:58 +0000 Kenny 94598@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ OK, seems like a consensus that I've been told nonsense. Any suggestions as to what I should do to combat future icy conditions? I don't think I can get tyres with studs since it's a road bike with limited clearance around the brakes. Having tyres with tread isn't going to do much on ice, and I cycle on roads and cycle paths only. I currently use conti gatorskins pumped up to very close to the maximum pressure. So what should a person on a road bike do to cope with the ice? Smudge on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94593 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 04:36:19 +0000 Smudge 94593@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ +1, tell the salesweasels they're talking rot. Nelly on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94580 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:17:01 +0000 Nelly 94580@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ +1 for last two or three comments, those you spoke to are talking garbage. Evans is a terrible shop - reminds me of halfords - been in twice, most of their staff dont have a scooby. And, while I dont have the same disdain for the staff (many of whom are very good) dare I say it, EBC doesnt appear to stock spikes........ SRD on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94579 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:15:26 +0000 SRD 94579@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ eching others...rubbish. folk who live in really snowy parts don't have much time for studs because it is heavy snow or plowed tarmac - thinking western canada here (but even there they do use them). our untreated roads and semi-treated paths definitely suited to studs. Now you see why lots of us shun ebc except for sales ;) stiltskin on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94578 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:57:43 +0000 stiltskin 94578@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Mkns.. They really don't know what they are talking about. The main problem with studs on ice comes when you stop, put a foot down and fall over. They are unbelievably good on ice! Studs are noisy & slow on tarmac but they are perfectly ok to use. The studs are not particularly useful on snow. Why would they be, but the heavy tread these tyres have is what deals with snow. kaputnik on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94577 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:37:55 +0000 kaputnik 94577@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @MKNS to that I would say "cobblers". I have 700x25c Gatorskins on my normal everyday bike, 700x32c Continental Touring Plus (light tread) on my touring bike. I've just invested in some lightly spiked Schwalbe Winter 700x30c for the touring bike - why? Because even the wider, lightly treaded tyre offers absolutely nothing on ice but slidyness. Turn on ice and you'll go down sideways as the wheel slides our under you. Try brake on ice and you'll begin to slide and then likely go down as the tyre begins to slide on the ice. The touring-type tyres were OK in proper, fresh snow I found winters before last, but when it came to compacted, refrozen slush, again the ride was very ropey. I agree with what the shop said about tread and no tread on ice - Bicycleworks said the same on tread vs. no tread for ice, and that the slick might even be better as it puts more rubber on the road than a knobble. A wide, semi-slick at low pressure probably the best non-specialist tyre for ice. Big footprint, some channels to clear away water of melting ice, and with a bit of sideways flexibility to counter the likelihood of wheelslide. The studs however stop / slow lateral sliding, wheel lock when braking and wheel spin when accelerating or trying to get uphill. There are a number of different stud / tread arrangements available. Chunky knobbles with lateral spikes are designed for off-road snow work. Central studs are suited to snowed / iced road/path work. Having now ridden my studs for only 3 days, including one frost day and one snow morning, I know which I'd rather be using on untreated surfaces. Kenny on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94575 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:07:44 +0000 Kenny 94575@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I went to both EBC and Evans today to investigate tyres for dealing with the ice. I ride a road bike, 700x25 Gatorskins at the moment. What they told me surprised me - that they didn't want to sell me anything, because I was riding the best tyre for the conditions. They both said that tyres with tread would do virtually nothing in the ice, and that tyres with studs would actually be worse than with no studs, unless I was riding in the snow, which is what studs are apparently designed for. This seems to conflict with what a lot of people here seem to think regarding the studs. They were quite insistent that the studs were going to do nothing on the ice, and only make things worse on tarmac. What do you guys think about that? Darkerside on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94440 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:51:35 +0000 Darkerside 94440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Managed to ground the top of the rear wheel on the rack of the pannier when going over the anti-terrorist speedbumps in the base today. I didn't need all those tyre spikes anyway... Probably ought to add some more air to the rear shock :s Greenroofer on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94436 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:54:09 +0000 Greenroofer 94436@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Someone had tried out the ice on the canal near Hailes Quarry Park this evening. They'd tried and, judging by the trail of wet footprints on the towpath, they'd failed. People in that area are obviously testing the ice quite thoroughly. There's a range of rubbish bags, some traffic cones, a bollard and (new this evening) a push chair sitting on the ice. Last week I seem to recall a mattress too, but that's now disappeared. Min on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94431 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:22:35 +0000 Min 94431@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Curling swans would be a sight to behold right enough. Wilmington's Cow on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94425 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:36:45 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 94425@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Ducks landing on ice are hilarious; as are Coots trying to walk over ice. Can't view the pic above, will check it out once home. You know the ice is thick when swans start being able to walk on it - got some photos from Duddingston Loch a couple of years ago when the ice was so thick they were contemplating curling on it! steveo on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94422 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:39:31 +0000 steveo 94422@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I'm a little surprised the native pair put up with them tbh. There was a crow having a drink from one of the thinner bits of ice but took off when it seen me standing around. Busy bit of water! I'd have liked to watch a duck trying to land on the canal, that would have been quite funny in a mean sort of way. lionfish on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94421 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:16:41 +0000 lionfish 94421@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Thanks steveo - I'd noticed the new swans too. I wonder if the ice etc drove them towards the 'warmth' of the city? Cool photo btw! (and look at all the different prints on the snow!). steveo on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94417 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:20:50 +0000 steveo 94417@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <a href="http://yfrog.com/mgu7wruj"><img src="http://a.yfrog.com/img808/6824/u7wru.jpg"></a> chdot on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94414 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:03:46 +0000 chdot 94414@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "All looked very Christmasy along the canal - glad I went that way" Cycling gives you options... lionfish on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=11#post-94412 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:00:40 +0000 lionfish 94412@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Cool, there might be one appearing on Slateford Road near the medical centre... then I can start gritting the pavement slope properly! Cycled the canal this morning - was crispy/not too slippery. canal-wildlife-update: Loved the skid patterns on the ice from landing ducks(?). The swans were in a tiny hole in the ice when I past them - only a couple of yards wide. Nearly took out a crow which decided at the last second to hop/fly infront of my bike (brakes worked and snowy-ice surprisingly grippy). All looked very Christmasy along the canal - glad I went that way :D chdot on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=10#post-94404 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:16:49 +0000 chdot 94404@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ From two years ago - "Innocent Path Grit Boxes?" <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1691" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1691</a> DaveC on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=10#post-94371 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:41:42 +0000 DaveC 94371@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CCE is dropping loads of grit bins out. Spoke to a member of the roads crew this morning. He had been dropping bins off yesterday and also was doing so today. He said he was going to be filling them this afternoon. I had stopped to point out that a bin on the NECP (correct TLA??) under Clark Rd E had been pushed into the ditch/water on the path. He looked glum saying he had put it out yesterday and was going to be going round again today to fill them all. I imagine he's not the only council empolyee doing this. I have tweeted @north_team to report it, to back up my conversation with the roads team. You might like to tweet @south_team with any problems. They are usually quite good at responding. ARobComp on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=10#post-94369 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:33:07 +0000 ARobComp 94369@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Some positive news CEC dropped a yellow grit bin off at the top of the innocent railway tunnel this morning. No grit in it yet but it's a start! lionfish on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=10#post-94303 Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:44:37 +0000 lionfish 94303@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I emailed the weather station person last week to ask why it always seemed so much higher than the airport, On 01/12/2012 18:11, Michael Smith wrote: Hello! I regularly look at the kb weather station data (especially when the weather gets a bit extreme!). Just wondering about the temperature info - it always seems a bit warmer than I expect. For example there's a lot of ice about at the moment, but the weather station says it's barely been below zero? The weather station over at the airport says -2 deg C and the KB one is at +1 deg C (at 6pm, 01/12/12). Is this an extreme urban-heat-island effect, or is something else causing the discrepancy?? Thanks! Mike. On 01/12/2012 21:22, Massimo wrote: Hi Mike, thanks for your comments, it is good that the weather station data are used. The problems may be that the temperature probe, and the weather station are on top of a large building, which create as you said, an heat island even if very localised. The discrepancy may be larger in situation like this morning when the wind speeds are relatively low. However, in principle it is possible to have a difference of few degrees between JCMB and the airport. The Met Office calculated temperature for "Edinburgh Bruntsfield Youth Hostel" was 0 degree at 06:00. (<a href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/?tab=meteo)" rel="nofollow">http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/?tab=meteo)</a>. Unfortunately the location of the weather station is less than ideal but was the best available location in KB. steveo on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=10#post-94296 Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:57:35 +0000 steveo 94296@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Graduations! I thought of that word and wasn't sure that it was correct. Arellcat on "Ice" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8985&page=10#post-94295 Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:48:47 +0000 Arellcat 94295@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @steveo: 'intervals' or 'resolution' if you're talking about the measurement process itself; 'graduations' if you're talking about reading a scale.