Cycling UK Forum

Been going to work and back, using the humble mountain bike. Yes, thank goodness for mountain bikes, great for the winter conditions. However, I've had to set off an half-a hour early to be the safe side. It's like being a kid again, I've been loving the challenge, some of the cyclist's at work have been getting either the bus or taxi's to work, soft lads.

At the moment, it's snowing heavy and had a lot of overnight snow. So, again, going to set off for work early.

I've been having great fun on the snow and ice.
Power drifting on corners, seeing how far I can get the back wheel to step out of line, etc, etc.

But then again I'm on a recumbent trike so there not a lot of chance of me falling off.
But I could do a barrel roll if I tried hard enough ......... :p

Luck ..........

Cycling?
We can hardly WALK here!

Black ice covering all the back roads. The gritters have done the main roads, but it's still treacherous.

Mick F wrote:Cycling?
We can hardly WALK here!

Black ice covering all the back roads. The gritters have done the main roads, but it's still treacherous.

Quite!
However I have used the enforced lay off to get the bikes adjusted and well maintained and I've even tidied and cleaned out the tool boxes and sorted through the old Quality Street tins of nuts and bolts and spare parts. I've also read Tim Krabbé's 'The Rider', but now I've run out of cycling related stuff to do We need some warmer, dry weather NOW!

Cycled to the station yesterday with my trusty studded tyres - great fun! A little tricky where soft snow covered rutted ice, but the bike stayed upright and I stayed on the bike

We've been reduced to "going for walks" for over a week now which can be pleasent but doesn't replace the bike
Yesterday on a walk to the local reserve (Pennington Flash) I spotted some industrial quality zip ties around a lampost which with the help of the flat screwdriver blade on my pocket knife I relieved the said post of its burden six ties in total .
I need to get out on the bike,things are becoming sad and cabin fever is in the early stages.

reohn2 wrote:We've been reduced to "going for walks" for over a week now which can be pleasent but doesn't replace the bike
Yesterday on a walk to the local reserve (Pennington Flash) I spotted some industrial quality zip ties around a lampost which with the help of the flat screwdriver blade on my pocket knife I relieved the said post of its burden six ties in total .
I need to get out on the bike,things are becoming sad and cabin fever is in the early stages.

That's were my ties went! I didn't have space in my pocket so stuck them round a lamppost for safe keeping...

I decided to treat myself to a warm car this week - snow, ice, cold and it being Christmas and all...
I'm a bit worried about re-starting my commute next year. When you're used to it, it doesn't seem that far but when you've not done it for a couple of weeks it seems ridiculously far...

I have been out more than ever. Mainly as I am off work for 3 weeks. I intend getting out every day for the next 2 weeks, its a challenge I have set my self. The main roads are fine around here, but the side roads are deadly. I use double sided SPD pedals and one side always has reflectors in so that not only do the pedals always turn the right angle to clip into, but in the snow covered areas I can flip them upside down and use them as flats in case I need to get a foot down in a hurry.
I am also running higher tyre pressures to raise cornering weight, this cuts thru wet and snow/mud covered roads raising grip levels by a noticeable degree.

I do my 20k each way commute every day, this past weeks I've done rain, snow, ice, melting ice the whole lot, I never wear glasses when I commute (eye contact is important in the city) and the snow felt like little pins poking my eyeballs, wasnt very nice, but I did my trip in 30mins, my friend on the tube took 3hours, so kind of worthit I think...

Apart from that I really enjoy riding in the winter, makes me feel more.. alive

Happy New Year to everyone.

To my list of simple pleasures (listening to rain on a tent, having a pint of good ale by an open fire etc..) can I now add cycling in the soft snow when the sun's shining.

I changed the slicks back to the 1.95 nobbly tyres on my mountain bike and went out on the sustrans path that runs from York to Selby as far as Riccal and back. Quite the nicest 1.5 hours I've had in a long time.

I've just uploaded my images from today but I thought I'd share this one with you all as it shows quite how pretty it was out there today.

Only walked this morning, due to this view of sunrise from bedroom window:

Don't do it! Desperate to get on the road after Christmas I ventured out yesterday morning into the bright Surrey sun and rode very gingerly without a problem for the first 12 miles, then out of nowhere ended up on the floor with a bang. On the flat but going quite slow, hit a small but lethal patch of black ice left in the shaddow of a hedge and quite invisible to the eye, until it was too late. When I went to pick up my bike I could barely stand upright on the stuff - if you hit something like this you don't stand a chance on any type of bike. I am now nursing a sore left leg, right hip, right shoulder and possibly broken thumb (certainly severely sprained) and unlikely to be back on my bike for a while, obviously it just wasn't worth it. Take care, don't be tempted and enjoy cycling for the other 363 days of 2010 but not when the ice is about.

Mark, I LOVE that photograph, a proper Christmas calendar feel to it isnt there?

Groroberts, I do hope you are feeling a bit better, and your not soo sore, the idea of being off the bike due to a fall.... horrible horrible horrible. Fingers crossed (no pun intended) your thumb is on the mend too.

I am dreading tomorrow.

Its back to work now the Christmas holidays are over with. I did get some riding done, but not as much as I wanted since the end of December its been very very icy and only the main roads are treated, and thats a bit hit and miss quite literally.

So, tomorrow... I need to be in work early as I have a big practical session to set up before 9am. I start work at 8.30, but I am normally in work by 7.30 for a wash and a cup of coffee.... ON icy days, I get a lift, but hubby doesnt set off to work before 8.50... Dilemma.... I think an early set off tomorrow on the main road into work, not the normal long way round.

Forecast is ice, ice, ice and snow by Thursday-Friday...


Im sure you guys are pig sick of this. I certainly am, and its not really affected us much until very recently.


Oh. roll on those barmy milder days and the howling gales and lashing rain, I promise NEVER to moan about them ever again! At least you can cycle in such conditions... Im stuck indoors with a hoover in all this ice, and I have stuff out there I wanna do!


Mary

Mary
I'd love a road report from your relatives in Silverdale. I'm back to work tomorrow but have been told that the track into the reserve is sheet ice and that I won't be able to drive my little hatchback up it. I'm getting anxious just about driving out on the rural roads and am not even contemplating riding the bike again until this freeze comes to a close.

groberts
Sorry to hear of your fall. I hope that it's all just light bruising and that you'll be feeling better soon.