Thank god I didn't fall off. Be interesting to see if conditions tomorrow morning make this more or less likely!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Another week of 'weather'
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Posted 13 years ago #
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Think I'll take my 'modifed' down there tomorrow. Need to work out how many
daysweeks it will be before I can take a tour down there....Posted 13 years ago # -
Two days of no snow and sub-zeroness -
Allegedly -
Posted 13 years ago # -
any of you guys?
Not I, I'm far too style-concious to put an MTB guard on a drop-barred bike! :) Good effort on his part though, I dread to think what I would have looked like in a photo.
Hearty pat on the back to all who cycled today - it was tough and at times it was scary but I think we proved through our collective experiences that we're not actually (that) nuts and it was actually the most reliable way to get around town today.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Need to work out how many days weeks it will be before I can take a tour down there.
Perhaps a seasonal diversion in sales is called for, for Laid Back Sneeuwscooters. I'd buy one!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Posted 13 years ago #
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It was fine both ways today.
Made good progress this morning (faster than the cars and buses along the Lanark Road), although the snow wasmaking my glasses a bit of a handicap.
Nice and quiet leaving the shop around 6:30.
No grip issues (so far) with the Conti Ice Claws on.
Posted 13 years ago # -
From Twitter
"
Hi, we can't predict what will happen tmrw. Please contact our CR dept 0845 601 5929, they open at 0700 & will be able to advise37 minutes ago from Scotrail in reply to prl1982
"
Posted 13 years ago # -
What an eventful first week of commuting to work I am having. I headed out at around 8.30am yesterday morning. It was snowing quite a bit and visibility was poor but the road surface was mostly fine along London Rd.
The only issues I had were the increased volume of road traffic - I think a lot of drivers returned to the roads today. Owing to the bus lanes being snow covered and hard going I was out a fair bit from the left hand side of the road - this lead some some really close (and wet) passes from cars etc.
My ride takes me through Gayfield Square towards St Mary's RC Primary onto East London Street - East London is okay going but Gayfield, particularly the St Mary's end is difficult - at best - to get through, and impossible to cycle up towards Leith Walk on the way back.
I left the office at 4.30ish. Had a lot of problems with the rear wheel not gripping on the road - should reconsider the slick tread. Roads were very bad with ice, I didn't notice until I was halfway home and I'm rather glad about that. Quite freighting once I realised what I was cycling on.
Not really looking forward to tomorrow. Might take the bus if I have time...
Posted 13 years ago # -
The slush looked very frozen this morning so I walked in to test my new pogu ice spikes and I think I too am in love. I was running along the very smooth shiny ice from the drippng rhones along Dalry. I was jogging along the top of the snow plough mountains along Shandwick. Missed the bus that gets me the 2nd half of the journey. Then Gloucester St was a breeze, I can honestly say I have not had such an enjoyable snow day since I was a kid.
Also - I reckon I might try to make some snow tyres with the screws and the gaffer tape, if only I had a spare pair of MTB tyres kicking around... Hint hint... Anyone? ;)Posted 13 years ago # -
I got the Kahtoola micro spikes, they look similar to the pogu and I also think they are the bees knees, I'm not wearing my proper crampons round town but these things are fantastic, power along with confidence, Happy to carry my 2 year in her rucksack with these on. Have to say I've been enjoying walking in, 1st time in 11 years I've not cycled to work so it's a pleasant change
Posted 13 years ago # -
I was actually pondering trying it as well after seeing those Flickr pics, could be interesting! Sounds like a need a set of spikes for my shoes as well.
The Innocent this morning (hardpacked surface about 12-18 inches wide, sitting about 3-4 inches higher than the bottom of the soft snow to either side, so it's an exercise in concentration not to wander off to either side!).
And Min yesterday in between 'yelps' of mis-control...
Posted 13 years ago # -
HAHA! I look like a maniac. And you think the photo I took of you was unflattering!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Apologies for focussing on the irrelevant, but
I like the jacket!Posted 13 years ago # -
Look like a maniac???
Posted 13 years ago # -
Thats a great pic, were you having clearance problems by any chance? I saw a big MTB completely lock its back wheel yesterday from accumulated snow...
Posted 13 years ago # -
My Cotic hasn't had any clearance issues, and having discs is just great in this weather. Min's Surly was coping brilliantly, but certainly seemed to be collecting a lot of snow!
Posted 13 years ago # -
"I like the jacket"
What about the hat?!
"I look like a maniac"
Nah, just happy...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Posted 13 years ago #
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Well I'm glad at least 2 cyclists have been having fun! To be honest last couple of days have been really miserable - the concentration and how tense I seem to be holding on to the bike seem really sapping, even over just 12 miles a day...
As much as I love the look of the winter wonderland from the window, with our obvious inability to treat road surfaces, I can't wait for the positive temperatures at the end of the week to begin shifting this lot.
Cold cold cold this morning, made really good progress until the Glasgow Road, which for some reason was a lot worse than any other part of the journey. Those wierd perpendicular ice ribs, forced me to slow right down meaning I couldn't go in the "clear" lane and had to brave the white lane.
Real idiocy and stupidity from 3663 Foodservice delivery driver in Corstorphine, quite literally parked his HGV in the middle of the busiest and narrowest part of Corstorphine, at rush hour, at the junction with Clermiston Road, which blocked any westbound traffic and forced eastbound right into the side to crawl around him. He was delivery to Subway. Total fail.
Posted 13 years ago # -
There's a lot of that odd parking going about! I avoided Melville Drive today after riding/walking it yesterday - took the path through the Meadows instead, and there was a mini bin lorry sat in the path, looking abandoned, forcing everyone to trudge through the snow on either side!!!
The slope of Middle Meadow Walk is clear now, but about a third of its usual width, so was just cycling at walking pace in amongst the peds.
You're right though Kaputnik, as soon as you have to use the roads the ride becomes awful. They really are astonishingly poor - and those ribs of rumble-strip ice... I need to get a picture at some point of that, it's weird and uncomfortable and frankly dangerous.
Posted 13 years ago # -
and those ribs of rumble-strip ice
I keep trying to think what might cause them. The most prominent ones this morning were A8 Glasgow Road between Maybury and Drumbrae. Doesn't seem to be much of an obvious pattern to their location. I'd like a photo too, but it's too terrifying to think about pulling over and stopping on that bit of road!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Rumblestrips could be caused by ABS braking as it judders to a stop (to compensate for idiot drivers not feathering the pedal) and/or a small wheelspin when accelerating away from lights or other zillion stopping points.
I'll try to grab a shot today as I am walking anyway. Definitely think I need a better offroad bike after seeing the pics of Min's snow-angel-onnabikeStory at work of a colleague leaving town for Hamilton at 12pm
Home at 5am
Another colleague stayed with a colleague in town rather than trying to get back to Glasgow. Wise move, curry + beer vs 17 hours in car?
Other story of another friend stuck for 9 hrs on the M8... Did people simply ignore the forecast then blatant 7 hours of constant snow?!?Posted 13 years ago # -
It's odd isn't it, how people got stuck then acted surprised...
The rumble striups could be ABS kicking in, but the ridges on the bits I've seen are only a couple of inches apart - is the ABS quite that grab-and-let-go? George Street has some spectacular examples - easier to get a photo there!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Completely forgot, I almost got run over heading home yesterday! Had just left Min after riding down the Innocent to go separate ways on Duddingston Road West. I was heading towarsd Duddingston Village, just coming over the wee rise before dropping down to the Loch, and some eejit in a wee white van decided it would be a good place to overtake. With snow in the middle of the road, and me out VERY primary because there was loads of snow to my left.
Of course a car appeared from the 90 degree blind corner ahead. He panicked, slammed on the brakes, dropped behind, just as I hit a load of snow and ice that the snowplough that had gone a little before had failed to clear. So I'm now sliding about, with a car quite literally 6 inches frmo my back wheel. I'm not sure I've ever had quite such a heart-in-mouth moment. I shouted and slithered and finally he backed off. And stayed backed off ALL the way down to the traffic lights at Willowbrae Road/Milton Road.
Maybe gave himself a bit of a fright. Maybe he'll be a bit more sensible around the next cyclist. Who knows.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I recon its the snow ploughs bouncing as they scrape, this is then accentuated by the wheels of the cars. Maybe? Bumpy ice is better than wet ice.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"
Central Scotland strategic road network is affected by freezing conditions, only travel if absolutely necessary.Drivers are advised to avoid the following routes due to closures and long delays;
M876 Now re-opened at 10:42
M9 Closed Eastbound J11 to J10
M8 Closed Westbound J1 to J5
M80 Northbound - A stuck HGV has temporarily blocked lane 1 of the Northbound carriageway near Old Inns. Recovery are on the scene and the road will be gritted before allowing traffic to resume. Lane 2 remains open.
M74 / M73 J1 Northbound at Maryville Interchange: Very difficult conditions. HGVs are having difficulty negotiating the hill and traffic is very slow with long delays.
"
http://trafficscotland.org/news/index.aspx?id=1630
"the road will be gritted before allowing traffic to resume"Mmm don't think that was happening yesterday...
I really can't understand why ALL m/way access roads weren't closed until each/all sections were cleared and gritted.
Obviously it was 'unfortunate' that snow fell at rush hour and that all motorists think their journey is essential, but there do seem to be (so far unanswered) questions about gritting/ploughing and information.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Bumpy ice is better than wet ice"
That depends.
Textured ice/snow better than smooth ice.
Issue here is 'ice tram lines' - how to cross them and whether car behind 'understands' what you're doing!
Posted 13 years ago # -
From http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11924238
"Scotland's Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson apologised and conceded that the weather advice the authorities had been working on yesterday "did not meet the requirements"."
It was obvious to many from the BBC forecast yesterday that it was going to snow heavily. It may have lasted a wee bit longer than expected but forecasting cannot so exact. Will the minister apologise?
Posted 13 years ago # -
"COUNCIL bosses were today facing growing pressure over their handling of the winter weather chaos after a day that saw the Capital's roads and public transport network freeze to a halt."
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/It39s-snow-joke.6652408.jp
Posted 13 years ago #
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