It became fairly heavy at Heriot-Watt briefly before easing off, but subsequently resumed fairly lightly.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
"Severe weather warning"
(7379 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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Oops - double post due to a forum quirk and impatience.
Post number 1111 in this thread though :)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Another yellow snow warning for tonight. Eskimos beware.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Commute home was fine (apart from the traffic and the cold). There was the odd frozen puddle. The road surfaces were largely dry apart from the odd scattering of very light snow - not enough to be slippy.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I thought the headwind going up Comiston Road was unusually stern, but Strava assures me it's the fastest I've been this year. Might be cos I was on wee blue floofy; might be because it was a really cold wind so felt faster than it was.
Either way, a pretty benign ride home, although I went the fugly Straiton/Bilston route since I am fairly certain the lovely Lasswade/Roslin path will be rutted refrozen slush, and ain't nobody got time fo' that.
Posted 9 years ago # -
My commute was lovely - enough snow to make my wheels white until Queensferry and no need for lights along the Newbridge- Kirkliston old railway line.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Just wondering how the towpath was for ice this morning? I ended up leaving my bike at work over the weekend due to the snow on Friday but I'd like to cycle home later.
Posted 9 years ago # -
This morning's weather was Freezio. Although mercifully the wind was down. I stuck to main roads to keep away from any ice, although It appeared to have been that cold sort of cold that freezes water but doesn't create black ice.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@jdanielp. Towpath was pretty much all fine at 0730. It was a little bit sparkly, but it was dry everywhere I'd assess the grip as being pretty good. Certainly saw lots of bikes, none of whom seemed to be having trouble.
The only icy bit was the puddles in the section between Wester Hailes Education Centre and the Bridge 8 Hub. These were frozen absolutely solid, but it's easy enough to avoid them.
If the weather stays like this, you'll be fine to ride home.
(Usual health warning: this assessment was done from a bike with ice tyres: grip for a normally-shod bike may be less than stated)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Thanks kaputnik and Greenrooder. I'll take it cautiously and will aim to completely avoid the icy puddle section.
Posted 9 years ago # -
According to my outside thermometer this was the coldest morning this winter at -1.5 at 8am-ish, beating the previous coldest morning which was Christmas Day at around -1. Those are the only two days I recall seeing sub-zero.
All readings taken in Morningside where it is always sunny, warm and dry.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Super cozy. Mine went to -1.9. :-P It is at -1.5 already just now so it may get even colder tonight.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Well I'm glad that I cycled last night. It was very cold and there were many rather bright bike lights (probably made worse by watering eyes from the cold and the extra darkness due to lack of moon), but no ice to speak of having avoided the Wester Hailes puddles... I did take them on this morning and they didn't seem bad, although I did get off to push around the icy puddle on the 'S' bend by the pedestrian bridge, and then had a bit of a wobble rolling over the largest puddle just after that.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Possibly colder this morning, with the Airport Sliproad Icefall taking on ever larger proportions.
But what a sunrise! Had a perfect view from the bridge to the Airport...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Still on slicks coming in from Fife, everything set to remain crisp and dry for the rest of the week by the look of it.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Rode in from Fife on the be-studded MTB this morning, but it probably wasn't necessary; the only ice of note appeared to be at the bottom of Barnton Avenue - did anyone on slicks have any dodgy moments there? Might risk the crosser tomorrow.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've been chickening out of the commute from Fife; possibly due to a couple of falls (taking eye off the ball) and possibly not understanding the weather conditions.
I'd always thought that -X degrees meant slippy conditions so I've woke up at 6am, checked the weather app and decided not to cycle. However it seems like there is no moisture in the air these last few days so I could have got on the bike.
I don't have studded tyres and not going to invest this year (its been an expensive 'start-up' year!) but might get some for next winter...
Posted 9 years ago # -
This winter does seem to have been worse than usual for ice, but low temperatures don't always mean ice as long as the air is crisp and dry. In previous winters I've commuted on slicks in below-zero temperatures, without any problem at all. Having fallen on black ice before Christmas, though, I'm not keen on taking chances - don't want any more holes in my winter tights or big sore lumps on my hip.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"I've been chickening out of the commute from Fife"
No -
You've assessed the risks of your route in view of equipment available and experience(s).
It's to your credit that you started cycle commuting at all - and for a distance MOST people wouldn't contemplate.
I'm sure you'll start again fairly soon and then prepare mind, body and bicycle for next year (or later this year).
Now you have the chance to think about your commute - and the various transport options and maybe post something on here.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@beano,
What @chdot says
Also consider part by bike and part by train to get you round the worst parts. What is your preferred route on the N side of the bridge? I would say that for me, I would probably manage Dalgety Bay along the coast path to Inverkeithing or Dalmeny station on normal (that's 28mm for me) tyres right now.
Doing a little like that could keep you going...
Posted 9 years ago # -
@chdot - My wife tells me I am grumpy as I haven't been cycling so that seems a) a good thing as I'm keen; b) bad for the wife through winter haha
@paddyirish - I'm kind of an all or nothing person; I can't be bothered with kitting up to go a mile or so to the train station. If i'm going to take the bike then I go the whole way (unless too windy/icy etc). That's probably to do with only being 7min walk Waverley-work and about 15min walk rosyth-home.
I did 'aim' to cycle today but rear brake issues scuppered that. will post in separate thread.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"I can't be bothered with kitting up to go a mile or so to the train station"
Time for N+1 - bike you can ride in 'ordinary clothes', perhaps from South Gyle. (Though I have no idea how hard it would be to get a bike on at Rosyth in peak time.)
Posted 9 years ago # -
@chdot, given that Beano has already blown his budget to the extent that he doesn't want to invest in studded tyres, I don't think n+1 is an option right now...
Posted 9 years ago # -
True -
But don't *people* have different budgets for things - like Govs and councils do?
The N+1 could come out of the health/environmental improvement budget...
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
Forecasters have warned Edinburgh and the Lothians could be hit with up to 10cm of snow later this week.
"
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/snow-warning-as-cold-front-to-hit-lothians-1-3670770
Posted 9 years ago # -
Actual warning is at: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings/#?tab=warnings®ionName=ta&fcTime=1422489600
I notice that they've dropped the likelihood by one but increased the impact since the warning was issued yesterday.
Posted 9 years ago # -
'Never been a storm like it in 150 years of records' US East Coast today.
(Radio news)
Posted 9 years ago # -
I expect it will be grey and slushy wet tomorrow in city. Might be wrong of course.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Temp's fallen from around 8 at 5am to close to 2 now (as forecast)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Vigorous wind blowing sleet straight into my face in Livingston. Not my most pleasant commute ever (though I've faced worse). Hooray for warm offices!
Posted 9 years ago #
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