Was that OT?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
dig out your snow tyres and your wooly vests
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Posted 14 years ago #
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"and your wooly vests"
Think it was the extra pair of socks (80% wool I think) that made all the difference today.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"find a discussion topic about cycling in Edinburgh that chdot hasn't got a photo on flickr for"
Then there are photos taken for their own sake.
and other pin-ups.
Posted 14 years ago # -
My merino baa baa socks arrived the other day, a chance to try them out today. Lovely.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Posted 14 years ago #
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It's curious how little problem the pedestrians were having.
Couldn't just be driver created ice.
Not sure I'd have cycled there without studs!
Posted 14 years ago # -
I popped out last night to check bits of my commute potential-for-being-scraped and re-icingness. Whilst the cycle path from St. Mary's Loch - HPR roundabout was covered, it was at least consistent and reasonably grippy, even with 25C semi-slicks. The two roundabouts were still clear and were fine going down but the road between then on the way back up was rapidly re-icing, so I didn't trust the road back down to the Scotsman when there were cars around and took the cycle path back down (I'd been wanting to go out for a longer ride but there was a child/vomiting issue back home) which was also fine (despite the drop off to the right) going slowly enough, though the road was also fine from Scotsman to Duke's Walk.
There were a few other cars about, a few people walking and one other cycle in the distance but for some reason a ned crossing Queen's Park Drive on the opposite direction to me chose to single me out with some sort of shouted offensive remark, the beginning of which was incomprehensible (possibly "you're gonnae fall on yer erse") but which definitely ended with referring to me as a copulating needle-wound.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Red light for cycling by kaputniq, on Flickr
Melville Drive snowclist by kaputniq, on Flickr
Snow Unicyclists (1/2) by kaputniq, on Flickr
Even RLJers need to RLJ in the snow by kaputniq, on Flickr
Snowclists by kaputniq, on Flickr
Keeping fit in the snow by kaputniq, on Flickr
Edinburgh has at least one snowplough - the MSPs gotta be able to drive to work! by kaputniq, on FlickrPosted 13 years ago # -
For the record - I was on foot in walking boots and gaiters today. Climbing Arthur's Seat was my exercise. I wonder if any of the cyclists I snapped today are "spots"?
Posted 13 years ago # -
"
Gritters have been working 24-hours-a-day all weekend in response to the heavy snowfalls.Due to the intensity of the snowfalls, we have concentrated all our resources on keeping Category 1 roads (ie essential main roads, such as roads to hospitals and principal bus routes) open as our top prioirty, in accordance with the Council's Emergency Plan. However, this has proved difficult in the ongoing severe weather.
"
Posted 13 years ago # -
Cycled round for a few hours this afternoon.
More snow on ground than yesterday. No signs of path gritting. MMW looked pretty shiny while the sun was out and the temperature was above zero...
North Edinburgh and WoL paths rideable with right tyres, but soft parts quite slippery and hard going.
On the roads there were the usual 'it's my road you're in the way' moments as some people seemed to think you should be riding in the slush so they could go 2mph faster...
And a few snowpersons -
but more bikes being pushed than ridden!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Gritters
I know it's not scientific, but every single "gritter" I've seen out has been snowploughing, but not gritting.
One assumes that the road to the Scottish Parliament is therefore "essential".
Posted 13 years ago # -
And a few snowpersons.
Meadows was an snow gallery! Some were pretty impressive. And there was of course the obligatory 7-foot tall phallus.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"
And a few snowpersons.Meadows was an snow gallery!
"
Yes, though I saw more balls than men -
(you also saw more bikes being ridden - not a single one (except me) from Canonmills to Gorgie!)
Posted 13 years ago # -
"every single "gritter" I've seen out has been snowploughing, but not gritting"
I got that impression too.
Maybe they can't multitask...
Posted 13 years ago # -
you also saw more bikes being ridden there were many more (well, 5 or 6) that I either didn't get a chance to snap, or I didn't like the photos. Good effort all round on the part of all of them. Particularly old chap in trench coat and bunnet heading down Causewayside
Posted 13 years ago # -
I thought salt only works on ice. If they put the salt on to the snow it would only get iced over, they are treating the roads for the current situation and will start gritting if the sky is clear and the mercury drops but according to the forecast we are in for more snow overnight which means no ice.
Also the plough has been along our road at least half a dozen times today so I say well done to em.
More snow soon:
Posted 13 years ago # -
It lowers the freezing point of water, regardless of if its snow, slush or ice. They should be dropping it /behind/ the path of the plough, so that the traffic during the day crushes it into the road. The salt will then prevent (or at least reduces) the chance for the surface to freeze over and go some way to causing existing snow and slush to melt during the "warmth" of the day. The addition of grit would also improve the adhesion of the surface. All the ploughing is doing is keeping the worst of the slush and snow off the road. If / when what is left freezes, it will be just as bad, if not worse, as it's a surface of pre-polished slush and compacted snow.
Posted 13 years ago # -
surely if it was still snowing when they were ploughing (and not gritting) the grit would have been snowed over then ploughed off the road next pass?
Posted 13 years ago # -
your last suggestion would be a logical one actually. Would keep the gutters salty and snow-free for cyclists though!
-3 at Gogarbank just now. We shall see what the morrow brings.
If I could work out how to add a poll I'd do a "Are you planning on cycling to work tomorrow" one
ADMIN EDIT
Done
Posted 13 years ago # -
not snow free for cyclists, hugely slush and snow filled piles from the plough, grit is not a magic substance.
I voted maybe, today was freaky in the deep snow, if I can handle the car tracks then maybe... might try the Roseburn path and hope the dog walkers have trodden it down enough todayPosted 13 years ago # -
I've given up believing the weather forecast(s).
Posted 13 years ago # -
Posted 13 years ago # -
well the Metoffice widget for Firefox says that at 8PM it was -3.5 at Gogarbank and wind was 2mph.
So they're kind of right. It does "feel" like -4, because it nearly "is" :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
Call me a wuss if you must but I'm definately not cycling in this.
If LRT not running it's shanks' pony for me.Posted 13 years ago # -
"Call me a wuss if you must"
No personal abuse on this site...
Personal choice.
Depends where you live/work, route options, clothing possibilities, suitable bike availability, experience/skill, etc., etc.
Posted 13 years ago # -
snaw beginning to come down again, just been for a quick stroll around the Meadows to test if my facegear setup for tomorrow was going to cause my glasses to steam up. The good news is that it doesn't.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Posted 13 years ago #
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I was on foot in walking boots and gaiters today. Climbing Arthur's Seat. I wonder if any of the cyclists I snapped today are "spots"? (Posted 6 hours ago)
While kaputnik was mountaineering, I was heading to the top of Braid Hill. There were lots of people on Arthur's Seat (and a snowman too, I think), so maybe some anonymous spotting was going on.
I shall be cycling tomorrow as per usual. I've also swapped out my new gnarly platform pedals for my old SPDs, as even with gnarly my feet were all over the place on Thursday's test run. After all, I managed well enough in the snow last time.
Posted 13 years ago #
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