CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

"Severe weather warning"

(7355 posts)

  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Left South Gyle c. 520PM, the rain was nipping at my heels, but so windy it was that on the upright bike I was like a sail and was able to out run it, only met it after popping into John Lewis on the way home.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  2. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I was in the torpedo again today and had a barnstorming ride to Balgreen. 25mph and just tickling the pedals! I bombed along Slateford and lucked out with a green light for Angle Park Terrace, so was able to charge up Dundee St hill. Sailed along through the Meadows, too, but I was being pretty careful because of all the ultra-bright bike lights on people's bikes.

    But the wind was gusting so much that at every red light I worried that it might tip me over. The tail of the machine gets a bit flighty if I don't let the brakes off a bit to allow the wind to deflect and push me forwards slightly.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  3. Stickman
    Member

    I got into top gear on the way home, which is the first time for ages...

    I had to drop into bottom gear going through Roseburn Park and was still not making much headway!

    Posted 8 years ago #
  4. LaidBack
    Member

    Arellcat -"had a barnstorming ride to Balgreen. 25mph and just tickling the pedals! I bombed along Slateford and lucked out with a green light for Angle Park Terrace, so was able to charge up Dundee St hill. Sailed along through the Meadows, too, but I was being pretty careful..."

    Sounds good. Another Strava record!?

    Was good being on a recliner today but side gusts on North Bridge and Broughton St were severe. Worry is always debris getting blown around too. Used the white line on outside of bus lane on Leith St as a narrow bike lane between static traffic.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  5. Morningsider
    Member

    Not a great day for bike seat bound coxwean carting - although whoops of delight from the back when scooting down hills with wind assistance. Serious wheezing from the front on the way back up Myreside though (into the wind, natch).

    Posted 8 years ago #
  6. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    "coxwean"

    Wonderful!

    Posted 8 years ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

    "

    A WEATHER warning is in place for the Lothians as Storm Desmond batters the country this weekend.

    The Met Office issued the amber “be prepared” warning for rain for Saturday and the early part of Sunday.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-weather-warning-as-storm-desmond-hits-1-3967330

    Posted 8 years ago #
  8. Neil
    Member

    Impressive amount of flooding in the countryside outside of Edinburgh.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  9. amir
    Member

    I had a cruise in the pause between storms: down to West Linton across to Peebles and back through the Moorfoots. I often had to choose main roads because of floods and even then I went through deeper puddles than I'd like to. The railway path from Peebles to Innerleithen was under the Tweed in several places so I went on the main road to Cardrona then crossed onto the back Road via Traquair. I was notified about halfway down by a nice guy on a folder that the road by the bridge over the Tweed was closed due to flooding. So back to Cardrona on to the main road. The road through the Moorfoots was unusually quiet, particularly for cyclists. At the north end though by the A7 there was a really deep puddle that a car had got stuck in and fire brigade were pumping. So back up the road to go through Middleton and back onto the A7

    Posted 8 years ago #
  10. gembo
    Member

    We were out in west Lothian and south Lanarkshire today. Fair few puddles. Instead of going to woolfords and the back roads we took a right At the turbines down to the a704 which was a slog into the wind. Such a big puddle before wilsontown that temp traffic lights in operation. wilsontown only had one person outside in their pyjamas which was a disappointment. Blasted along to braehead then birled down to the carstairs esker, brief climb then into Carnwath to a bakery I may have mentioned before. Suitably refreshed we then bomb d back to Balerno. Sunny and not too windy.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Got the bus to Roseburn to walk down the Water of Leith. Didn't get far as the river was about a foot over the top of the bath just beyond Coltbridge. Had to double back, up to the railway path and then back down on the other side. The weirs were pretty spectacular. Path over-topped again at Damside, was unable to reach the metal walkway, just before Dean Village, detoured through Sunbury estate instead. Walked as far as Stockbridge with few other obstructions, although the viewing point just before Dean Bridge is unfortunately closed off as the wall is unstable so didn't get a good view of the weir at West Mill which was sounding impressive.

    It was all a bit smelly though, considering the combined sewer and drain runs under or parallel to the river here. Must also have been a lot of the brown stuff off the roads and surfaces washed into the water.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  12. chdot
    Admin

    I only did the bit between Canonmills and Dean Village.

    It was late afternoon and the river looked as though it had gone down a lot.

    There were very low branches between S & DV which someone had kindly put some white bits of material on. Looked like an inappropriate art installation at first!

    Posted 8 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

  14. Stickman
    Member

    The weather forecast last night was showing gales again. After last Friday's rubbish ride home I've decided to take the bus.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  15. twq
    Member

    The domain for the King's Building weather station has changed, in case anyone has it bookmarked:
    http://www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences/weather-station/readings/24hours

    Posted 8 years ago #
  16. chdot
    Admin

    Yes, took me a while to find it.

    BUT

    Seems to have lost temperature graph!(?)

    Posted 8 years ago #
  17. Rosie
    Member

    So tonight could barely walk down Fountainbridge against a wave of wind.

    Saw two cyclists - one going through Roseburn Street tunnel wearing shorts, which I was quite impressed by.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  18. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Shorts and t-shirts still to be seen here on M'burgh high street. And saw a couple of cyclists in shorts yesterday. Just wait till they have knees like mine.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  19. MediumDave
    Member

    You can find the temperature plots like so:

    http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/~weather/jcmb_ws_R/Timeplot_day_001.jpg

    Posted 8 years ago #
  20. gembo
    Member

    Cycled up from town to Balerno tonight about 7pm, was very very windy and quite wet but not cold. No buff need d, undid zips in my rain jacket. Traffic was quiet.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  21. kaputnik
    Moderator

    About 630 I decided it would be a fine idea to cycle up to the Bike Station to drop off some donor parts. Crawled up the Holyrood Park cycle path on the very upright bike, constantly getting pushed across the path by the strength of the wind, as the further up and round the path I got, the more exposed it was. Slogged all the way up in the granny gear at an interminably slow pace, but it was all rather fun in its own way.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  22. gembo
    Member

    @kaputnik, there was a hysterical quality to being stopped in your tracks by the wind. I think as rain not too bad and not cold. Snow for tomorrow?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  23. Uberuce
    Member

    First bit of sheet ice I've met this year, lurking at the corner of the A701/Damhead crossroads by Asda.

    Caught myself well enough that I didn't even rip my jacket or skin a knee, which I'm happy with in the context of unscheduled dismounts.

    Driver who'd just come along the Damhead road advised that there was more to come, so I sacked it for the bus route.

    I'm still not totally desperate to get spikes this year.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  24. wingpig
    Member

    Take a spare set of wheels with spikes on along with you on your trailer, so that you can swap them on when required but otherwise enjoy the extra speed of not-spikes.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  25. SRD
    Moderator

    Canal freezing at Polwarth. Path looking a bit frosty.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  26. Nelly
    Member

    Getting sick of this weather, tomorrow looks sodden all day.

    :-(

    Posted 8 years ago #
  27. unhurt
    Member

    Frozen toes cycling down to Porty for a rather chilly swim in the sea. Did not defrost during tea and porridge at the Beach House after, refroze further on the way home. Finally feeling returned about 1pm! Sand on beach crunchy with frost, as were the mats of leaves on the WoL down to Leith. Lovely sunshine through slight haar though.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  28. Rosie
    Member

    Digging soil and planting roses and though cold the exercise and lack of wind made it tolerable. Frost on the grass and on buddleia heads. Wheelie bins frozen shut.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  29. gembo
    Member

    Water bottles frozen on pentlands loop down by Blyth bridge. Minus 5 degrees in the mist.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  30. wingpig
    Member

    Fingers cold in Sealskinz just wandering around the Botanics, so full-fat winterglubs handy for tomorrow morning.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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