Tales from today's commute....

[thefollen]

The weather app promised -4 in London this morning so I wore a jacket over the usual sleeveless tech top and thin longsleeve. Way too warm, had a 'bead on' by mile 5. As Ian said, main roads pretty clear. Plenty of peds slipping about on the pavements however!

 

[GrasB]

A question to those that have ridden 23mm on icy roads, if I am going straight and not braking and not putting much if any power through the rear wheel if I go over icy patches is it an automatic down, or is it entirely possible the bike will stay upright?

Entirely possible but it's not something I'd recommend trying.

 

[martint235]

Second working day by Car, makes me sad. Just cannot risk it SE London would be fine once I walked to the main road, but really not confident on my last 4 miles and the two long decents in the morning.

A question to those that have ridden 23mm on icy roads, if I am going straight and not braking and not putting much if any power through the rear wheel if I go over icy patches is it an automatic down, or is it entirely possible the bike will stay upright?

I've ridden on 23mm before (got 25's on at the mo) and I'd say it's like hitting a drain cover in the wet. Just don't do anything, keep it straight and it'll be ok. It'll get iffy if you hit a long patch and you feel you need to brake or apply power. I've not come off on ice to date although I have come off due to breaking on wet leaves before I knew any better.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

The weather app promised -4 in London this morning so I wore a jacket over the usual sleeveless tech top and thin longsleeve. Way too warm, had a 'bead on' by mile 5. As Ian said, main roads pretty clear. Plenty of peds slipping about on the pavements however!

Snow seems to require a LOT more effort than any other conditions, I'm going to wear far fewer layers on the way home.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

I found it hard going this morning in places, more snow during the night, the main roads were ok mostly, side roads were bad. Even with ice spikers I was slipping in places. I have fri legs and it's only Monday!

 

[BSRU]

Had some selfish b****** on a Spesh hardtail with normal knobblys filter past me while I was waiting at lights, I was third from the front, then position his bike right in front of me. Obviously thought my £5 Ebay special was below contempt, ignoring the fact it has as set of Ice Spikers.
So the inevitable happens as we set off, he attempts to "sprint" away then proceeds to ride slowly as he is worried about ice where as I am not worried at all. So at the next set of lights I show him how to sprint away from a set of lights properly

 

[Beebo]

Well after the 12 hour non stop snowing yesterday I really didn't think that I would be cycle commuting this morning.
Looked out the bedroom window at 6.30 to see my road was completely covered in snow. Bollocks..but thought the main road couldn't be that bad. So when ready got the bike and walked the few hundred yards to the A21. As I suspected it was clear. A bit of slush here and there but nothing major. And as the schools seemed to be shut today the road was clear of vehicles too. So all in all a nice pootle into work today. 7 miles shorter then my normal distance though.

I made the journey by train, but in hindsight I could have come in by bike. the main roads seemed passable.

 

[BSRU]

I found it hard going this morning in places, more snow during the night, the main roads were ok mostly, side roads were bad. Even with ice spikers I was slipping in places. I have fri legs and it's only Monday!

I found the ice was rutted and wanting to take me in another direction, a few twitches on ice spikers but they always gripped in the end. I think my lack of experience on a MTB makes me feel a little unnecessarily nervous.

 

[J.Primus]

Second working day by Car, makes me sad. Just cannot risk it SE London would be fine once I walked to the main road, but really not confident on my last 4 miles and the two long decents in the morning.

A question to those that have ridden 23mm on icy roads, if I am going straight and not braking and not putting much if any power through the rear wheel if I go over icy patches is it an automatic down, or is it entirely possible the bike will stay upright?

I'm riding in on 23's at the moment. That said most of my journey is on main roads in Central London. I've only got 2 roads that are really icy on the way in. I just go slow, keep by upright and it seems to be fine!

 

[ianrauk]

I made the journey by train, but in hindsight I could have come in by bike. the main roads seemed passable.

I was very surprised at how clear they were to be honest. But the side streets look right pwropa nawty.
I really could face taking the trains today. And so glad I didn't.

It has just started snowing again in Deptford.

 

[Guyincognito76]

I'm still thinking about it. The trains are messed up which means they aren't really an option.

Surely it's about time someone took a trip to the continent to look at transport infrastructures, and how they keep things running in much worse weather than ours. It is rather embarrassing for a country to come to a stand-still after a coupe of inches of snow!

 

[HLaB]

Well after the 12 hour non stop snowing yesterday I really didn't think that I would be cycle commuting this morning.
Looked out the bedroom window at 6.30 to see my road was completely covered in snow. Bollocks..but thought the main road couldn't be that bad. So when ready got the bike and walked the few hundred yards to the A21. As I suspected it was clear. A bit of slush here and there but nothing major. And as the schools seemed to be shut today the road was clear of vehicles too. So all in all a nice pootle into work today. 7 miles shorter then my normal distance though.

Well done, the main roads looked OK here just a 1cm bit of slush; I've cycled in worse in the light but didn't fancy it in the dark so I walked

 

[ianrauk]

Well done, the main roads looked OK here just a 1cm bit of slush; I've cycled in worse in the light but didn't fancy it in the dark so I walked

Yeah but this is London we are talking about. The councils are usually very good when it comes to gritting main roads. And I learnt my lesson from last time it snowed. I got the train and my colleague cycled.

 

[martint235]

Surely it's about time someone took a trip to the continent to look at transport infrastructures, and how they keep things running in much worse weather than ours. It is rather embarrassing for a country to come to a stand-still after a coupe of inches of snow!

I use Southeastern Railways who seem to be the first to cancel trains. A colleague used C2C this morning and said there were few issues.

 

[Andrew_P]

Hey when did you get that pic of me!!