Ice 1, tomfoolery 0

tomfoolery

This morning, coming up to a footbridge on the cycle path I take, I slowed, turned in... and then found myself on the floor. There'd been no ice anywhere previously, and the weather report said there'd be no ice in the Midlands, and the temp was above freezing - yet I managed to find some.

Even after reading others' postings, I was amazed how quickly it happened - yet somehow I managed to mitigate it somehow. I wasn't still attached to the bike when I was down, and managed to not hurt any of my side that I fell on. I think I may have got a leg out slightly and sort of tumbled or something, but it happened too fast to know. Result though!

The final indignity was the sight of my front light batteries rolling in all directions! Luckily the light still works.

It's my last day today at this office, as from Monday I'll be at another which will not involve any cycle paths (so at least the road's will be gritted). Maybe this office is punishing me for leaving...

boybiker

Yeah but on the main roads you have the joys of grit which is just as much fun as ice when its wet.Round my way the council seem to gone out of their way to get grit which consists of very very round bits so its like riding on tiny marbles.

Belphegor

Around my way they used to only think about gritting roads after it had been very cold, so it would be unwise to assume they'd be gritted. They seem to be a bit more pre-emptive in recent years though.

My route to work takes in a new metal bridge, which looks like a cheese grater



I haven't tried it in the wet yet, but being made of metal I'm sure it will get very cold and icy. Those raised grips aren't actually that grippy on foot.

Very pretty at night though...

ansbaradigeidfran

Belphegor wrote:

My route to work takes in a new metal bridge, which looks like a cheese grater

:shock: I'd have called it an artificial piste: see any skiers flying past you?

TheBrogueadier

Ah - the new Temple Meads cheese grater...

I pity anyone who comes off on that bridge, with enough speed I reckon you'd be able to shave (litterally) around 50% of your body weight as you slid.

Still... It'd give the ducks a good feed.

El Gordo

tomfoolery wrote:

There'd been no ice anywhere previously, and the weather report said there'd be no ice in the Midlands, and the temp was above freezing - yet I managed to find some.

It was the same on the riverside bike path in Derby. A guy coming the other way warned me there was ice ahead but I didn't really believe him since everywhere else just seemed wet but then a girl ahead of me hit the deck which was enough to convince me the guy was right. I checked she was OK and then got great wheel spin as I set off again - it was like an ice-rink.

I'll be taking the road route home tonight.

redvee

That bridge is hell on stiletto heels, I've been told :oops: The times I've ridden it I've gone down the centre, where the cheesegrater panels meet and, like others, only done it dry so far. The proper name is Temple Reach bridge. Still at least its quieter than the old bridge it replaced 50 yards up river.

nwallace

Walking for the bus this morning I found the only sheet ice left in the village, when I returned 2 hours later it had been gritted by some, probably the householder whose garden i walked through to avoid the skating rink.

pst88

I walked straight out of the girlfriend's house yesterday and slipped right on my arse! Luckily no witnesses so I got away with it

The Chingford Skinhead

Just had an off myself. Having fixed my flat (and patched 3 tubes ) I took the bike for a spin. On the way home entered the quite cycle lane short cut and slowed down for the corner as it was full of wet leaves and Bham!

The anticipation of the risk and subsequent slow speed helped. Front wheel slid away in slow motion, so I knew i was going over. Mega slow start and accelerated finish to the fall (funny how the mind works) . First thought - I hope that shopping isn't crushed (the pannier on the side where I fell was thrown free when the bike hit the ground)

No injuries bar a rather sore finger on left hand and cut forearm on right side where I landed. Bike seems OK. It's a reasonably quiet route so on the plus side nobody saw me, on the negative side if I'd cracked my head on the brick wall nobody would have seen me :?

Stay safe out there folks :!:

downfader

Ice. People think it has to be zero degrees outside to get ice on the road or lanes. I often use the car windscreen as an indicator. If the outside temp is 4 or under there is a chance of ground ice... and as I head closer to the river Itchen I always notice it gets colder, I presume because of the open air away from the urban build up and the mass water.

redvee

A good indicator of a cold 'un in the morning is the amber flashing lights on the night before of the gritter doing the road outside my window.

linsen

Having fixed my flat (and patched 3 tubes )

Hey CS, did you finally sort your tyre issue then? What was it? And sorry too for implying you were incapable - I didn't mean it rudely :oops:

The Chingford Skinhead

linsen wrote:

Having fixed my flat (and patched 3 tubes )

Hey CS, did you finally sort your tyre issue then? What was it? And sorry too for implying you were incapable - I didn't mean it rudely :oops:

Oh no worries Linsen - I honestly didn't take it that way (though I am pretty much incapable at just about every other bike related task at the moment!). I think doing patches is daylight rather than streetlight = a greater chance of success.

Still can't find anything in the tyre but will know when I go down and check the bike tomorrow whether turning the tyre inside out and wiping the whole lot has cleared whatever it was. If not, new tyres will be on order. I better also just check I didn't actually do any damage to the bike / wheels when I went over earlier :oops:

ansbaradigeidfran

redvee wrote:

A good indicator of a cold 'un in the morning is the amber flashing lights on the night before of the gritter doing the road outside my window.

I see them driving past the shop where I work before I head home. I call it the evening weather forecast.

redvee

The 'frosty morning' lights have just gone up the road in Bristol.

DavidTQ

I believe the reason we get ice when temperatures are reported over 0 is because the temperatures on weather sites etc are "air temperature" measured quite high above ground level, the actual temperature of the ground and the air just above the ground can be substantially lower - hence ice and frost with reported temperatures well above 0.

Feltup

There was black ice on the roads as early as 7.30pm last night out here in the sticks. The air temp according to my car about 45 mins earlier was 4 or 5 degrees, the ground is just really cold so it doesn't take much of an air temp drop for the ground surface to start freezing. I nearly fell on my harris several times as I went out for jog through the fields and lanes.

gtvlusso

Belphegor wrote:

Around my way they used to only think about gritting roads after it had been very cold, so it would be unwise to assume they'd be gritted. They seem to be a bit more pre-emptive in recent years though.

My route to work takes in a new metal bridge, which looks like a cheese grater



I haven't tried it in the wet yet, but being made of metal I'm sure it will get very cold and icy. Those raised grips aren't actually that grippy on foot.

Very pretty at night though...

I row under that bridge.....in winter - how fecking nuts is that!

Feltup

That bridge is lovely, I do like a good bridge

The only time I ever capsized in a scull was when there was ice on the landing stage; how typical is that! What do you row in?

bluecow

TheBrogueadier wrote:

Ah - the new Temple Meads cheese grater...

I pity anyone who comes off on that bridge, with enough speed I reckon you'd be able to shave (litterally) around 50% of your body weight as you slid.

Still... It'd give the ducks a good feed.

PMSL! Your imagiantion just runs wild!

bluecow

More on topic. I came off twice on my way to work. The main roads, fine, no ice. Then turned off the main road and came straight off on the corner. Fortunately no cars right behind me. Then again 50 yards away. I walked the rest of the way after that
I've got some crackin' bruising to my arm and hip. Only a matter of time before i break one of them