Comments on: Cycling in the snow http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/ Happily cycling in London Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:07:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Charles http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-60884 Charles Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:02:02 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-60884 I set off at 6am, when the snow was still all frozen and main roads only slightly cleared from it by the cars. I too had though it would be a perfect time to use the mountain bike. I was wrong. I mean I was probably much better off than if I had taken the road bike, but it was still almost impossible to cycle. I tired following the narrow car trails on the road, but I still ended up sliding often and almost falling down one time. You know, now I understand while people don't cycle on snow. Although I was wondering, can you perhaps get some winter tyres for your bike...? Fortunately enough, the snow is gone (for now) and this winter is not really severe. I set off at 6am, when the snow was still all frozen and main roads only slightly cleared from it by the cars. I too had though it would be a perfect time to use the mountain bike. I was wrong. I mean I was probably much better off than if I had taken the road bike, but it was still almost impossible to cycle. I tired following the narrow car trails on the road, but I still ended up sliding often and almost falling down one time. You know, now I understand while people don’t cycle on snow.
Although I was wondering, can you perhaps get some winter tyres for your bike…?
Fortunately enough, the snow is gone (for now) and this winter is not really severe.

]]> By: Andreas http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2953 Andreas Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:24:21 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2953 Kenny - like the sound of that "perfect moment". Think its why a lot of people go cycling JonF - Sorry to hear about the bad luck, hope you feel better soon mate. Definitely a time of year to be cycling very slow Kenny – like the sound of that “perfect moment”. Think its why a lot of people go cycling
JonF – Sorry to hear about the bad luck, hope you feel better soon mate. Definitely a time of year to be cycling very slow

]]> By: JonF http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2950 JonF Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:33:43 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2950 I missed the snow because I came a cropper on the black ice Thursday 17th. Discharged from hospital Xmas Eve. Fractured left femur. 6 weeks no weight bearing. Lets be careful out there (sound of stable door being bolted) I missed the snow because I came a cropper on the black ice Thursday 17th. Discharged from hospital Xmas Eve. Fractured left femur. 6 weeks no weight bearing.
Lets be careful out there (sound of stable door being bolted)

]]> By: Kenny http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2916 Kenny Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:48:16 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2916 It started snowing last night on my way home last night, I enjoy riding in the snow for the most part there are only two things about it that I really don't enjoy. In my area the department of transportation uses cinder bits to grit the roads, little cinder bits flying at me after being picked up and sling-shot by truck tyres pretty much sucks. The other thing is people in big trucks yelling at me out the window as they drive by, I could really do without some fat, brew soaked driver yelling 'off the f***ing road'. But in the morning as the snow is falling fresh on the pavement, and everything is still and quite as the snow flakes falling out of the sky, that is a perfect moment, Cheers Kenny It started snowing last night on my way home last night, I enjoy riding in the snow for the most part there are only two things about it that I really don’t enjoy. In my area the department of transportation uses cinder bits to grit the roads, little cinder bits flying at me after being picked up and sling-shot by truck tyres pretty much sucks. The other thing is people in big trucks yelling at me out the window as they drive by, I could really do without some fat, brew soaked driver yelling ‘off the f***ing road’. But in the morning as the snow is falling fresh on the pavement, and everything is still and quite as the snow flakes falling out of the sky, that is a perfect moment,
Cheers
Kenny

]]> By: Andreas http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2912 Andreas Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:42:29 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2912 I'm not really an expert when it comes to tyres but I came across this article on commutebybike you may want to look at: <a href="http://commutebybike.com/2009/12/14/top-5-winter-commuting-tires-non-stud/" rel="nofollow">Top 5 winter commuting tyres</a>. Kevlar protection is a good shout. If you combine that with keeping the tyres well pumped up then you should be okay. I guess you were just a bit unfortunate with the grit thing - of course they do say punctures come in 3's. I’m not really an expert when it comes to tyres but I came across this article on commutebybike you may want to look at: Top 5 winter commuting tyres. Kevlar protection is a good shout. If you combine that with keeping the tyres well pumped up then you should be okay. I guess you were just a bit unfortunate with the grit thing – of course they do say punctures come in 3′s.

]]> By: Sean http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2911 Sean Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:26:24 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2911 Andreas - I also gave it a miss - meeting friends for lunch which could be a bit boozy but Angi is right, I don't think I would have enjoyed the West London ice rink. On another note, I punctured twice yesterday and once on Monday. Very sharp pieces of grit......! I have a theory, as I only seem to puncture when it is wet, when the sharps get lubricated and can penetrate the rubber and kevlar/carbon etc. I have been running Continental GP 4000 for some time and have always been very happy with them. However, I am finding the wear rate on the central area far greater than I think it ever did before. Time for an alternative tyre? - any recommendations? Andreas – I also gave it a miss – meeting friends for lunch which could be a bit boozy but Angi is right, I don’t think I would have enjoyed the West London ice rink.

On another note, I punctured twice yesterday and once on Monday. Very sharp pieces of grit……! I have a theory, as I only seem to puncture when it is wet, when the sharps get lubricated and can penetrate the rubber and kevlar/carbon etc. I have been running Continental GP 4000 for some time and have always been very happy with them. However, I am finding the wear rate on the central area far greater than I think it ever did before. Time for an alternative tyre? – any recommendations?

]]> By: Andreas http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2910 Andreas Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:53:08 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2910 Angi the side streets around here are the same, today I'm giving it a miss too even though I desperately want to head out there and try out something for the blog. But it involves cycling very fast so not too keen on hitting a patch of ice! Angi the side streets around here are the same, today I’m giving it a miss too even though I desperately want to head out there and try out something for the blog. But it involves cycling very fast so not too keen on hitting a patch of ice!

]]> By: Angi http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2893 Angi Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:14:24 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2893 None of the side streets or residential areas here (West London) have been gritted...only the main streets. But I've seen quite a few cyclists on their bikes recently and felt quite envious...as I slipped about on the pavement. Basically it's one big ice rink around here and I'm too scared of the stupidly moving fast cars (who ignore the fact that the roads are icy) skidding into me...that and the fact that I still do not have a decent bike lock to lock my bike up anywhere other than at work or a few other safe places...so it was the smelly, slow bus for me today. None of the side streets or residential areas here (West London) have been gritted…only the main streets. But I’ve seen quite a few cyclists on their bikes recently and felt quite envious…as I slipped about on the pavement.

Basically it’s one big ice rink around here and I’m too scared of the stupidly moving fast cars (who ignore the fact that the roads are icy) skidding into me…that and the fact that I still do not have a decent bike lock to lock my bike up anywhere other than at work or a few other safe places…so it was the smelly, slow bus for me today.

]]> By: Sean http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2890 Sean Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:18:05 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2890 Corin - glove recommendations. I have been through loads but current favourites surviving their second winter are <a href="http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/go/northwavegloves/" rel="nofollow">Northwave</a> thin neoprene inner (with suede palms) with <a href="http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/go/pearlizumigloves/" rel="nofollow">Pearl Izumi</a> waterproof outer shells. They work for me but there now seem to be tons to choose from. Corin – glove recommendations. I have been through loads but current favourites surviving their second winter are Northwave thin neoprene inner (with suede palms) with Pearl Izumi waterproof outer shells. They work for me but there now seem to be tons to choose from.

]]> By: Corin http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/comment-page-1/#comment-2889 Corin Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:31:03 +0000 http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/site/cycling-in-the-snow/#comment-2889 Sean, thanks for that. It did occur to me to let the tyres down a bit from 110, but by that time I had been walking a while and my fingers could barely have taken the dustcaps off the valves! (Note to self, ask Santa for better gloves). I'm definitely going to give it a go next time I need to ride in the snow, however. Sean, thanks for that. It did occur to me to let the tyres down a bit from 110, but by that time I had been walking a while and my fingers could barely have taken the dustcaps off the valves! (Note to self, ask Santa for better gloves). I’m definitely going to give it a go next time I need to ride in the snow, however.

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