Pinkhill path had been gritted:-)
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
"Severe weather warning"
(7379 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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Lovely ride in this morning, but didn't do as much as planned due to an interrupted night's sleep. Just a vanilla commute. Studded tyres were great and as a result, nothing hairy to report. Toes feeling a bit nippy by the end of the ride.
May have to try @amir's twin overshoes idea.Posted 6 years ago # -
Well it definitely cooled down again overnight. I managed to underdress this morning compared to last so had chilly toes, hands and, to a lesser extent, head by the time I made it to work. My gear cable froze up slightly later into the ride than yesterday. I should maybe start storing my bike in a cooler location overnight - I assume it is more the temperature difference from being indoors to being out in the cold that is causing this than anything. Similarly frosty/icy on the towpath today as yesterday, but hints of frost on the Slateford Aqueduct too today.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Got out the shower then realised training session started earlier than I thought and had to leave at once. Wet hair = COLD HEAD.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Went for a run at lunchtime to warm up.
<grumble>Posted 6 years ago # -
A pavement gritters was out at Maybury Roundabout this morning. I'm not sure I've ever seen them gritting paths/pavements in the area before so perhaps they have some new mini tractors. I wasn't on the paths or pavement this morning so can't confirm what their route was.
I've added an merino vest to my layers this year which has the advantage of being easy to remove over a helmet if I over heat. Somewhere about -1 seems to be the sweat spot for me where one thick layer of merino stops being sweaty but isn't too cold. My fingers and toes went numb a couple of times this morning but only for a few minutes at a time. some vigorous digit wiggling brought them back.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I've tweeted Miller and Carter to ask if they have any salt/grit they could spread on the large patch of ice by their loading bay at Cramond Brig.
The other bad patch at the main gate to Dalmeny Estate appears to have had a lot of grit added to it although as there is still water coming through the tarmac there's also still plenty of slush and a considerable ice patch there. Be Careful if you don't have spikes and are using the A90 path.
Posted 6 years ago # -
One piece of Kit that tested really well the last few days were the Decathlon 900 Winter Gloves
Will reserve final judgement until this evening when they should be tested in the wet.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@acsimpson - thanks for that ! much appreciated as i might be commuting in tomorrow! (non spikes!)
Posted 6 years ago # -
"some vigorous digit wiggling brought them back."
I had complaints of cold hands from the kids yesterday so today we played an energetic game of "Simon says... wiggle your fingers..."
Must have looked a bit (more) odd to passerbys...
Posted 6 years ago # -
I've just had a delivery of a pair of Schwalbe Winter spiked tyres for the Brompton. At £20 each it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. I may try to fit them tonight.
If I get them on then we can guarantee that the cold weather will immediately cease.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Thanks :)
Posted 6 years ago # -
Good show Greenroofer. The commute home was merely wet. I hope it stays that way overnight.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Those were the hardest two tyres I have ever tried to put on a bike. I can usually get Durano and Marathon Plus tyres on my big bikes with no bother at all. 16" Winters were quite a lot of bother: I even had to use a tyre lever at one point.
I hope the effort was worth it...
Posted 6 years ago # -
Perhaps the smaller circumference gives less 'wiggle' room.
I put my Winters on the 26" wheels today. No levers required.
Greenroofer and I are happy to accept gratitude for causing temperatures to remain above freezing for the foreseeable future.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I found putting a Brompton sized tyre on wheel of a child's tricycle trying. Triang brand.
Despite the diameter being smaller, the chord of the arc where the tyre ceased being pliable was the same size roughly as on bigger wheel, thus about 25 per cent of the fit was chord and too tough for thumbs and indeed levers. Mrs Garto had to be called for.
Posted 6 years ago # -
+5 today in the Bay but raining,
is the temperature falling overnight to about 0??
rural spots around the city might get black ice on the paths if so.....Posted 6 years ago # -
After getting lifts for the past couple of days I was encouraged by the frost free paths in Edinburgh today.
Do not recommend using (for both walking and cycling) the paths in Livingston though. They are covered in ice and water. My bike didn't manage to stay vertical all the time.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@bill yes I stay off the Livingston paths at this time of year. "40mph" road with pinchpoints in the dark, joy.
Underdressed this morning. "Not as cold as yesterday" does not mean "not cold"...Posted 6 years ago # -
Thanks to Miller and Carter, the Cramond Brig patch was gritted prior to the rainfall so hopefully didn't turn to a slick rink when it started.
https://twitter.com/MillerCarterEDI/status/940646049097572352
Greenroofer. I'm sure you'll remember Hankchief's tail of woe when fitting spikes to 20" wheels. It stands to reason that 16" wheels would be even harder.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The Livi paths were rubbish on Monday, I cycled on the path from livi north to town ice untreated, I had studs on so did not matter, but another issue with livi paths is can’t see the glass when the path is iced.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Watch out on the towpath! My front light was picking up sparkling areas on the wet path on and off between Hermiston House and town, but the crazy-paving by the new Boroughmuir School site was already well on its way to becoming a skating rink. I was surprised to keep my bicycle upright.
Posted 6 years ago # -
VERY icy tonight. Especially on the NEPN = studs only. Much worse than of late.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Yup. Thaw and refreeze has made for a properly skittery polished surface.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Ran home this evening, well planned to. By the end of the office drive way it was apparent that I was going to be run waddling most of the way.
It wasn't meant to be that cold this evening.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The NEPN path from Leith to Craigleith hasn't been gritted. Very slippy. Almost came off at the Red Bridge.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Livingston very slipy
Posted 6 years ago # -
WoL between Tesco-Sandport OK, as was Tesco-FiveWays and FiveWays-Lindsay Road slightly earlier. Leith links ungritted and icy. Arthur's Seat a bit frosty on the ascent.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Hope everyone gets home safely today. Like the NEPN, the Edinburgh Park to Balgreen bicycle expressway is very slippy. I descended from Stenhouse really quite gingerly. Nearly every minor road is also icy. I had the torpedo sideways several times, not always intentionally.
I was planning to use the Elephant Bike tomorrow for a trip to Glasgow but might resort to spikey tyres on the winter bike.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Anything untreated is very slippy in West Edinburgh.
Take care y'all
Posted 6 years ago #
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