my rule of theumb is that if the ground was previously frozen/there is ice on canal then anything below 2 degrees is risky for ice on streets/paths.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
"Severe weather warning"
(7355 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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@weezee
Yikes. With the weezettes on board?
PS My automobile shouts at me if the temperature drops below 4C.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I don’t think there is a simple rule of thumb for deciding what temperature is safe for cycling. In this case, the very low temperatures of the previous few days has cooled the ground so that when it rained, sheet ice formed even though the OAT was above freezing. If it it is dry & there is low humidity there can be no ice around even in sub-zero conditions
Posted 6 years ago # -
but as discussions here ahve shown, the decision is not just cycle/not-cycle.
my choices include:
cycle but on mountaibike / CX tyres not road tyres
cycle but only with studded tyres
cycle but only on main roads/bus routes
cycle but only on roads, not paths
cycle but only on priority 1 gritted paths.also:
cycle but with my icegrippers in rucksack in case I need to change modes.Posted 6 years ago # -
@iwrats No passengers aboard this time which probably helped. On previous ice-fuelled sideways sliding excursions, they have been protected well by the box, while I have been left bruised for weeks. My kids shout at me when they get cold. So maybe I should send them out for 10mins every morning before I make a decision.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I had a day of today so took my rubbish to the tip at livi in car, then decided to head to Tesco Edinburgh park. After been stuck in traffic for 20 minutes on the A71 I turned around went home and got my bike and cycled to Tesco. Road was fine heriot watt small amount of ice, the heriot watt to Edinburgh park Tesco was a little rubbish path was a little like ice rink still.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Still some lurking patches of black ice on pavements down my way - I think there are some kinds of paving stone (or faux stone?) that seem to hold it longer. Anyway, almost went over on my arse due to ungrippy footwear a few minutes ago. Only avoided by some undignified flailing...
@weezee I like the idea of an audible child thermometer / ice warning. Can you calibrate it based on how quickly they start shouting / how loudly they shout?
Posted 6 years ago # -
@unhurt i think you'r right. yesterday the brick-like surface of dorset place was looking icy well before anything else.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Middle maeadow walk was threatening to be frosty tonight. I imagine paths elsewhere are similar.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@frenchy i thought so too - ad saw at least one ped sliding and another walking on grass. but then thought I must be imagining things, as I have never known MMW to be icy.
has the gritting budget been cut back?
Posted 6 years ago # -
@SRD I remember falling on MMW on ice while wearing walking boots one winter in the late 90s.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Towpath virtually deserted tonight, was very zen with the landing lights and the slow speed as a little icy. Aqueduct was incredibly slippy. Went on inside of bike to avoid sliding into canal came onto road at footpath flyover as looked muddy up the WoL path. Snowed on heavily but lay as slush and was not freezing.
Posted 6 years ago # -
A friend slipped on an icy pavement earlier this evening. Just home from A&E. Verdict: broken ankle. (And she lives up quite a lot of stairs...)
Posted 6 years ago # -
Circus skilz required on the towpath at the new high school with a pint and half inside me. Polished granite deathtrap.
Posted 6 years ago # -
At least you'd had some muscle relaxant to cushion any impacts?
(Work Christmas lunch & afternoon/evening of excess tomorrow. Hope it's not still icy when I wander home...)
Posted 6 years ago # -
Granite is my friend. I fear it not, for I am from the Silver City.
Posted 6 years ago # -
http://www.mummysgoneacycle.com/drivingfrustration/
"To be fair, I gave the bike a go. I got the cargo bike out of the garage…and it skidded across the driveway and was almost impossible to turn. I was pretty sure the cycle paths wouldn’t have been gritted either.
There was nothing else for it.
I was going to have to drive."
Posted 6 years ago # -
Heal well & fast jules878
"Black ice on Weds night. Slipped off bike twice twice. Decided to walk last mile pushing bike. Pavements like glass. Fell one more time. Final fall did the damage. All roads, paths & pavements were black ice for hours. People sliding around like nine pins everywhere!"
Posted 6 years ago # -
Ice seems to have gone. A little bit of a sparkly film in the far West of the city but nothing further in.
EDIT - the presence of daylight and lots of school children has alerted me to treacherous ice still around Criagmount HS
Posted 6 years ago # -
Towpath slushy and (I think) slidy from the police station to the Scott Russell acqueduct at 0745. I was on studded tyres and they felt a bit skittery a couple of times. I passed two other people pushing their bikes and met nobody riding one on that stretch.
The shared use pavement on Gogar Station Road was a sheet of ice: I made the rookie stud-user mistake of thinking that just because my tyres were gripping my shoes would too. They didn't, and I nearly went over when I put my foot down.
If the temperature rises very marginally the towpath will improve. If it falls a fraction it will deteriorate a lot.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@jules878
Ow, ouch, ow. Hope you heal soon and get decent drugs in the interim.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Have made it to work with bike this morning. Everything I cycled on was fine (with the possible exception of the office car park which made me nervous) - but I cycled on the roads. I don't fancy any of the back paths round here...
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Greenroofer thanks for the heads up. I was all but ready to cycle given that it looks fine in town, and indeed it may now be ok further out along the towpath, but at the same time I'd rather not find out that it isn't halfway to work. On the bus for the first time in a very long time...
Posted 6 years ago # -
As hankchief says untreated and some treated pavement and paths in West Edinburgh are treacherous. Half inch thick ice where puddles formed last night.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I'm glad that I didn't cycle today since there was quite extensive ice (and even snow in places) visible from the bus as we headed further west and I imagine that the towpath will still be a mess. It looks like things will be back to normal again in time for next week at least.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Porty - Roseburn all perfectly fine on roads (even side streets)
From Roseburn to Saughtonhall it sounded crispy but felt fine under tyre (28mm treaded) Saughtonhall - Gyle was very crisp, and white looking. No slips or skids but I slowed a fair bit that last mile or so.
I'll bunk off early (during daylight) this afternoon as I think the temp is forecast to drop again.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Any one used the NCR75 river Almond from livi to east calder today? I think will go home that way as road to east calder is a bit too busy on Friday afternoons. Then will go either Kirknewton or pavement cycle from Wilkieston (may be).
Posted 6 years ago # -
Towpath through Wester hailes ultra icy this aftenoon
Posted 6 years ago # -
I decided to get the train after people at work had their doubts about cycling unfortunately scot rail cancelled for the 3 rd time this week
Posted 6 years ago #
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