CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

How icy do the city cycle paths get?

(16 posts)

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  1. IanE
    Member

    Hi folks,

    Regular cyclist but relatively new commuter here, been enjoying the mostly excellent cycle paths between Kirkliston and McDonald Rd over the last few months.

    I only managed a few winter commutes last year, but the very first was memorable for seeing a car skidding on black ice, spinning, then rolling off the road, right in front of me! Thankfully the driver was OK, but I'm now very suspicious of how and when the gritters get out when the mercury drops.

    How bad do the cycle paths get when it's slippy, I can't imagine they get gritted with the same regularity as the roads?

    Ta

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. SRD
    Moderator

    From the council website:

    Off-road cycleway gritting

    Cycleway Priority 1 - these routes will be the first to receive treatment whenever weather conditions dictate, and will be pre-treated where possible, when frost, snow or ice is forecast. Areas treated include

    Middle Meadow Walk
    Leamington Walk in Bruntsfield Links
    Innocent Railway Path, between St Leonards Lane and The Jewel at ASDA
    sections of the Caledonian Cycle Track, North Edinburgh Cycle Network.
    All other parts of the Council's off road cycleway network are considered by the Neighbourhood Teams and prioritised with all other competing winter treatment demands.

    interactive map
    http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20047/severe_weather/506/gritting_routes_and_grit_bin_locations

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. SRD
    Moderator

    What I find is that sometimes cyclepaths need treatment befre roads - e.g. Bruntsfield links paths - and don't get it.

    BUt in general, I find, in the central area, the gritting's at least as reliable as the road gritting.

    eg If i've seen a gritting truck rumble down the bus route, then thecyclepath is almost guaranteed to have also been gritted.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. ih
    Member

    What I find is that sometimes cyclepaths need treatment befre roads

    Good point. I expect that the micro-climate of sheltered cycle paths makes them ice up quicker than the roads, which generally are closer to heat sources.

    It would probably be too much to ask the gritting authority to take this into account. As the NEPN appears to be scheduled for a re-surface, what would be the forum view of surfacing it with that more granular brown finish (sorry don't know the name) rather than shiny grey tarmac?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    Surface is important. The new playground at Magdalene by the Innocent seems to go white with frost even before the grass. It has a black surface.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    It can be very localised. The ramp up to the canal at Meggetland can be a skating rink when the towpath itself is fine.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    “I expect that the micro-climate of sheltered cycle paths makes them ice up quicker than the roads, which generally are closer to heat sources.“

    Also motor vehicle tyres will heat surface (slightly).

    Posted 7 years ago #

  8. rider73
    Member

    ...umm what about the FRB -> Dalmeny -> Crammond paths - looking cold tomorrow!

    Posted 7 years ago #

  9. paddyirish
    Member

    @rider73

    gritters out tonight in Fife. Re the FRB-Dalmeny-Cramond route, I'd be careful on the descents, but also on the high part above the slip road just before you start to descend to Cramond Brig. The path is slightly concave and water can sit in there. A number of cyclists have come to grief there, especially in the early days of the new path. Key thing is not to push too hard and try to avoid leaf mulch.

    A wee bit less pressure in the tyres maybe?

    If you haven't come across them yet, Schwalbe Marathon Winters with spikes are great for the December to Feb period.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  10. rider73
    Member

    @paddyirish :) i have a set , noisy when not icy though :)
    .....and i'll take your advice on less pressures - i run (those hideous) Durano Plus in 25mm so i can go down to about 80 to give some contact patch.

    was ok this morning though not as cold as i thought by a long shot -- sweaty ride !

    Posted 7 years ago #

  11. Luath
    Member

    Ice patches on the NEPN this morning. It's usually well treated but no sign of anything today.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  12. LivM
    Member

    I guess the general accumulation of salt from last winter will all be washed away by now and hasn't yet started to get its winter coat of salt for this year.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  13. rider73
    Member

    ...going to be 9 degrees tomorrow !

    Posted 7 years ago #

  14. Harts Cyclery
    Member

    There are parts of the path between Silverknowes and Blackhall that ice up incredibly easily. Me and my mates joshingly refer to it as the death zone. Due to the embankments, some parts often don't get any sun in the winter.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  15. IanE
    Member

    Thanks folks, sounds like I'll just need to pay more attention to the weather forecast than I normally do!

    Can squeeze a 40mm Vittoria Hyper into my front mudguards, might do that and drop the pressure to 40psi, first line of defence!

    Interesting chat with a gent at the temporary Barnton lights, he mentioned the climb up from the golf course, in the direction of Davidson Mains, can get icy.

    At least all the slippy leaf mulch around is getting my eye in!

    Posted 7 years ago #

  16. minus six
    Member

    i was thinking the other day that this winter has started with the old school 80s paper boy harshness of old

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    Posted 7 years ago #

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