Lochan on Bug Alley under the bridge between Newbridge and Kirkliston ~50m long with lots of puddles the rest of the length of it.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
"Severe weather warning"
(7379 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Assume it's perfect Auld Reekie conditions just now, there's a definite sulphurous and metallic tang in the air tonight, rather like the smell you get from fireworks. Suppose it's the result of exhaust fumes being trapped at ground level and not dispersing.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I decided at the eleventh hour to heed the warning. My spikes are now fitted. Fingers crossed they stay inflated overnight.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I came off this morning at the corner of Baird Drive/Grove. A well packed Ortlieb cushioned most of the fall. Annoying scratch to the shifter on my new bike is the worst damage.
Thanks to the other cyclist who stopped to make sure I was ok.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Anyone been along the towpath yet? I'm kind of committed to cycling today and still haven't looked at winter tyres...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Well it was quite ok, if a little frosty in places, between Polworth and Wester Hailes. I preemptively avoided the area that had been flooded beyond WHEC before cautiously rejoining after the Calder Road bridges and then it wasn't all that bad again the rest of the way to Heriot Watt.
Posted 8 years ago # -
#stickman. I helped a cyclist called Luke who had fallen in the same area, on Riversdale Road. I turned out that a good friend of mine had already helped him off the road. He was abit shaken up and sore. brake/shifter lever will need some adjusting. I then buddied Luke along tram path to Sighthill.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Stickman @biketrain I came off at the same place (the bend from Riversdale Road into Saugthonhall Avenue)... it was lethal there this morning. Route change in order on icy days, I think.
Anyway, a guy stopped to check I was ok which was nice. A quick refit of the chain allowed a much more gentle than normal cycle in to Sighthill from there.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Make that four for Baird Grove / Riverside area, as a colleague (not called Luke) also came down there. I had bad omens of black ice and frost on Charlotte Square so had kept to the bus lane along the Corstorphine Road instead.
I had prepped the winterbike last night just in case but seeing no signs of ice out the window or temperatures approaching freezing on the Gogarbank weather station overnight I decided to throw caution to the wind... Spikes on Friday methinks.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Annoyingly I have an unused set of spiky tyres but no bike that they fit (sold the MTB that they were meant for). Seems a shame to waste them - perhaps I need a new bike?
Posted 8 years ago # -
A colleague fell foul of the ice on the WHEC section of the towpath on a mountain bike so I'm gald that I chose to avoid it. The bigger puddles were apparently slushy, so not too bad, but there was black ice around them...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Plenty ice on the A90 path between Crammond and Dalmeny, especially on the new(ish) raised section adjacent to the A90. The backroads of fife were also a bit shiney. Very glad I fitted the spikes even if it adds 5 minutes to my commute.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I was close to promoting myself to the "today's rubbish cycling" thread this morning as I saw the tarmac change to glossy underneath me and promptly pulled the brakes - what was I thinking? - somehow my worst-possible-reaction didn't result in me on the ground.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I came off on Riversdale Crescent next to Murrayfield this morning while coming round the corner on some ice. Just surface damage / road rash so could have been worse, but will sting for a few days! It's a really popular commuter road for cyclists, but they never seem to grit / salt it - very annoying.
That is the third January in a row I have had my 'off' of the year. Be careful out there folks!
Posted 8 years ago # -
I've had my first off in ages today. I was thinking about politics and the recent T&E Committee and turning into a side street, in a known frost pocket, at my usual pace on Kojacks.
Straight down, ripped trousers, scuffed knee...
That'll teach me to think whilst cycling!
;-)
Robert
Posted 8 years ago # -
"That'll teach me to think whilst cycling!"
No.
Just avoid politics...
Posted 8 years ago # -
@kaputnik Right idea! After a short period studying the Council's priority gritting routes, I think I'll be doing the same.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I went in by bus today - I wanted a rest and was concerned with the ice on our road. I must check the cold-weather winter bike is fit to go.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Yellow warning of snow overnight for Embra. Amber for the shires of Mid and East Lothians and the Borders.
About three to six centimetres (one to two inches) of snow was widely expected with 10cm (4in) possible on higher ground.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Has anyone seen evidence of those CEC mini-gritters having been out on the key cycling routes?
It looks like one had gone up the eastern pavement of Dublin Street this morning, for which I was grateful.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@Stickman, how fat are your tyres? I was thinking about trying spikes on the Surly which has 26" wheels...
Posted 8 years ago # -
@unhurt: they are 26x1.75. More than happy for you to have them as they are just gathering dust in my shed. Send me a PM if you are interested.
Posted 8 years ago # -
@chdot "That'll teach me to think whilst cycling!"
No.
Just avoid politics...
Probably the best option is to do as the man in the street, and avoid thinking about politics!
Robert
Posted 8 years ago # -
Ah yes.
Perhaps that's what I meant...
Posted 8 years ago # -
Wester Hailes seemed to be the only icy area on the towpath this morning, especially the the S-bend, and a few places nearby where water draining across the path has frozen into sheet ice. Spikes made it trivial, but I wouldn't have felt happy without them. Be careful this evening in the dark!
Posted 8 years ago # -
I am thinking spikes tomorrow as cross country trip, I appear to have picked up a new back wheel when I was only after four new brake blocks. The front wheel with the spike tyre on it is unused so come the spring I will swap em over.( I mean put the spikes on the also worn front wheel, not as bad as back if I am making sense?)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Two colleagues reported unplanned dismounts today. One on the A8 path.
Discussion on the cyclists' forum at work has been about how to cope with ice on a bike, and so far three people (including a regular poster on CCE) have said (in so many words) 'studded tyres, end of'.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Spiky tyre is back on the front of my bike, this time under a mudguard that actually fits. In all fairness the roads in town tomorrow will surely be fine, tractionwise, if not drivistwise.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Side streets seemed quite icy on the short walk up to nursery, particularly at corners.
Posted 8 years ago #
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