Riding in the snow or riding the bus?

highwaymunky
highwaymunky Posts: 124
edited February 2009 in Commuting chat
Just wondering how many people braved the driving snow this morning.
I did and it was tough going but a awesome feeling passing all the car drivers queuing when I got to work and all the guys in my office staring at me, thinking I'm mental.

My boss handed me a new project and said "you rode in... you tough bas***d"
Cool ! :D

So anyone else test their metal this morning in the worst winter for years?
MTB FCN: 9
SS FCN: 4
http://highwaymunky.wordpress.com
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Comments

  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    I rode in but we've only got about 1cm of snow and it's not built up on the roads. I was facing getting the bus Monday/Tuesday but took the more favourable option of riding on the ice :D
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    I rode in today properly, but the roads are pretty much clear, yesterday on the brompton (my most offroad of bikes!!!) I slewed through some ice and snow... great fun (but then got on the train)
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    Rode through 4" of fresh this morning on the mountain bike! Never used it for commuting until now!
    Great fun and I had fresh tracks - less fun was the trunk road which was compacted slush - got soaked and covered in muck! Ugh!

    Still, out of my entire department (2, motorcyclists, 15, car drivers and 3, 4 x 4 drivers) - only me and the guy who walks made it in!!

    Have to cycle home in a minute as I have to attend a knee clinic this afternoon! Bonkers!
  • zanes
    zanes Posts: 563
    I cycled in to uni today, to find that effectively the university management had elected to give up and advise students and staff not to travel as lectures were cancelled. I made it in on GP4000's, with few scary moments, so clearly the snow was bad enough to cancel7 hours of our lectures. :roll:
  • andy83
    andy83 Posts: 1,558
    luckily enough i can walk to work in just under an hour so have been taking that option, just wish i hadnt got rid of my nobbles for mountain bike when converted to slicks, as i would give it a go in the snow as it looks so much fun.

    hopefully when it snows next time round my current commuter will be turned back into a mean mountain bike and ill have a lovely road bike for the commute, if my work hurry the hell up saying whether they will agree to cycle to work scheme or not
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Cycled in, I'm damned if i'll ever walk to work.

    Took the MTB to my first job at 6am which was so much fun, faster than anything else with 2.3" tyres on 8)

    then swapped over for the single speed xc bike with flats on to go to the lab at 10, that was much less fun as it has a slick back tyre :(


    Didn't take the inbred because although it has the right tyres on, i still haven't used it with the white grips on and don't want to get them dirty before I've put on the white brake lines and taken some piccies :oops:
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • DaFuzz
    DaFuzz Posts: 8
    I've been commuting on the MTB this week, great fun off road, and the snow looks beautiful when all lit up. Got a bit too cocky this morning, hit a snow covered kerb and went over the handlebars. Ended up with Buckled front wheel, mashed front brake lever, a flat rear tire and lost my rear light in the snow. No real injuries just a sore elbow where it tried to bend the wrong way. Can't wait to see what it looked like on the action camera . :lol:

    Now i have the options of the tricross with slicks or the car (Only passed my driving lesson last week) :roll:
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    ^^^ that's really unlucky, i hit a sub-snow tree stump when out nightriding with my flatmate (no lights necessary, it's awesome in the snow) from the non-snow times i've been there it is about 4" high and across.

    Fortunately I was riding my 456 so it just sort of plowed straight through the tree stump and I didn't come off. Still don't quite know how i managed it though! 8)
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • wes100
    wes100 Posts: 3
    I got up extra early just to enjoy the ride to work.
    At one point I was crossing a road of slow moving traffic when WVM wound down his window and shouted "are you f*****g mad?", I rode up to his window and replied "No, I am having fun, are you?" with a big cheesy grin on my face. The window went up pretty quick!
  • artaxerxes
    artaxerxes Posts: 612
    Back on the bike now that the snow has mostly melted away in London. Although I saw a few snowmen and even an igloo bravely staving off the inevitable on Blackheath.
  • highwaymunky
    highwaymunky Posts: 124
    I got up extra early just to enjoy the ride to work.
    At one point I was crossing a road of slow moving traffic when WVM wound down his window and shouted "are you f*****g mad?", I rode up to his window and replied "No, I am having fun, are you?" with a big cheesy grin on my face. The window went up pretty quick!

    I got loads of the looks today! HAHAHAHA! :D
    MTB FCN: 9
    SS FCN: 4
    http://highwaymunky.wordpress.com
  • gb155
    gb155 Posts: 2,048
    I rode in, So far nothing has stopped me, weather,illness nor injury, I even took the old steel monster again today, Now that's pain lol
    On a Mission to lose 20 stone..Get My Life Back

    December 2007 - 39 Stone 05 Lbs

    July 2011 - 13 Stone 12 Lbs - Cycled 17851 Miles

    http://39stonecyclist.com
    Now the hard work starts.
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    Trying to work out whether to ride or drive tomorrow (oop, today now).

    The Bristol skies have thrown a little more snow down again... And if we're running out of grit I'm not sure how safe the drive or ride will be!
    4537512329_a78cc710e6_o.gif4537512331_ec1ef42fea_o.gif
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    In two minds myself wether to bike or walk, need to hit Boots on the way home but they are open till 8pm so can ride and visit them later, Marathons in the snow, good or bad? Seems to be settling pretty well now except where the cars have driven in it and the grit put down at 8pm seems ineffective.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    marthons will not be very good, really not enought tread to dig into lighter snow, and nothing grips on ice, which snow compacted becomes...

    this all said in the past i've ridden though the snow with them (38mm) and had a hoot.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Going to do it! Should be interesting, will be leaving earlier though as it will be a slow ride and will have the camera running too.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    Will be interested to see the film redvee!

    I'm calling a snow day. Not sure I fancy cycling on roads with sliding cars, and my car is on a hill surrounded by snow - if I move it out if its space, it'll start careering downhill. Not good.
    4537512329_a78cc710e6_o.gif4537512331_ec1ef42fea_o.gif
  • artaxerxes
    artaxerxes Posts: 612
    By the time the snow got to London it must have turned to mostly sleet, so this morning was fine. Although the melting snow has revealed huge new cracks and holes in the already crappy road surface.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Grumble grumble met office and their stupid reports persuaded me to leave the bike at home.

    Severe weather my @rse.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • don_don
    don_don Posts: 1,007
    Well it was 'moderately severe' here I suppose - quite heavy snow and about 5-6cm on the ground.

    Fab on the MTB - I had a great ride in, not too slippy and few cars, which were all being driven very sensibly :)

    Roll on home-time! I may even join the kids in some skidding practise :lol:
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    We still have over a foot of snow and it's still snowing now GRRRRRRRR

    I'm sick to death of SNOW
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    I happily pootled in today.

    The new Turbo Trainer is a godsend in this weather though. This weekend I'll be mostly riding Ventoux or Mortirolo providing the ride DVD's I've ordered turn up...

    If not then it's hill repeats for me.
  • zanes
    zanes Posts: 563
    Borrowed one of my housemate's mountain bike today, rode with two others who have mtbs. Great fun!
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    jashburnham wrote:
    I happily pootled in today.

    The new Turbo Trainer is a godsend in this weather though. This weekend I'll be mostly riding Ventoux or Mortirolo providing the ride DVD's I've ordered turn up...

    If not then it's hill repeats for me.

    WTF I can't believe you admitted to that, "slap" MTFU
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • bluesacs
    bluesacs Posts: 95
    I've been bussing it in London, except for Monday with a walk in and out, great fun, no really, it was fantastic, so quiet, no cars, utterly beautiful. Can't be bottomed to get all slushy on the bike but I'll get bored with the bus soon; the only draw back with a bike is that you can't read a book.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    I do pootle @ 20mph + though old chap.
  • don_don
    don_don Posts: 1,007
    bluesacs wrote:
    the only draw back with a bike is that you can't read a book.

    You just need to make one of these !
  • pst88
    pst88 Posts: 621
    Rolled in on my fixed gear today with 23mm semi slicks and was fine. Snow on the pavements and grass still but roads were mostly clear, just a bit of grey slush. Had to get off and walk on a few parts that were still icy though.
    Bianchi Via Nirone Veloce/Centaur 2010
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    I rode in today (brrr) and yesterday, both were fine. I did come across one bit of slushy ice in the middle of the road, maybe 8 feet long, and even though I was going dead straight over it my bike just started skidding every which way! If ever I was doubting how slipper it can get, I'm not any more.
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    What's all the fuss? It's a lovely bright warm summery day here, I may even go out for a wander at lunchtime. Spring is on the way :D

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