Cycling in fog..

freehub

Would you do it?

I was going to go out for a 60miler today but seen that the fog is pretty thick so I decided to cancel, but seeing as the Met Office predicts about 3 days of fog I'm thinking maybe I should risk i.

I was on the top of the peaks one day, then on the descent on Holmfirth I was only doing about 25mph as the fog was that thick, but that was proper thick fog where cars did not see me till the last min and was abit silly to go up there.

Ben6899

Will, I have also cancelled today's ride. It's not worth the risk IMO... do you run? Could do that instead to keep things ticking over?

freehub

No I don't run, don't like it really just does my knees in.

SBezza

Was out in the fog today, just make sure I have a bright rear light. Left home without a front light as it was OK at home, but didn't have any issues of people pulling out in front. I am normally more concerned at being hit from behind, as I can't see that and can't take precautions against it.

Ben6899

I just changed my mind and could have cycled. :? Too late now though so it's sticking to the plan of running.

dilemna

freehub wrote:

Would you do it?

I was going to go out for a 60miler today but seen that the fog is pretty thick so I decided to cancel, but seeing as the Met Office predicts about 3 days of fog I'm thinking maybe I should risk i.

I was on the top of the peaks one day, then on the descent on Holmfirth I was only doing about 25mph as the fog was that thick, but that was proper thick fog where cars did not see me till the last min and was abit silly to go up there.

Last minute! Surely last second.

If they (motons) see you a minute before they collide with you that is seriously bad driving.

Anyway if you have to ride in the fog then same as if riding at night - make yourself as visible as poss.

northernneil

i went out wearing a his vis top, 2 rear lights and front flashing lights ... was ok, not too bad in wharfedale today, 1 car did pull out on me though

Thick Tester

I have seen the OP riding past my gaff with vastly inadequate rear lighting and dark clothing at night - just bringing it upon himself and then publicly outing himself as an idjut.

EKIMIKE

Bozman

Love it! Still, peacefull and a little damp to cool you down. Still kept comiing across patches of ice and usually at the bottom of a hill, hidden like bloody mantraps.

Frank the tank

Went off road on the cross bike, only a hour and a half but it was very heavy going (literally) for some parts of it as it was sludgy as chuff. Gave me a good work out and a reminder of what it's like to clean a really muddy bike down after a ride.

I wouldn't have gone out on the road today, the alternative would have been the turbo.

White Line

I went out, but had to cut it down to 15 miles as the visibility was so poor and I was worried about my front light dying (haven't charged it in a while).

All in all, it wasn't too bad. People were being extra cautious. Wasn't half covered in condensation when I got home though!

freehub

I decided to go out in the end, the fog was not THAT bad, I assumed it would be worse outside of the village but it was not. Thought I'll do a 10 mile but ended up doing 28 miles at quite a hard pace, I classed it as a start of 2011 benchmark to see what my performance is like as I felt like I was going crap. It's okish , at 25miles it was 1 hour 10, got a few months to improve that, that was in baggy clothes and on my crappy bike with full mudguards on, hopefully get that down to near an hour eventually on the same route.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/61028367

Pokerface

Considering I came inches away from t-boning a car that pulled out in front of me in broad daylight (despite me screaming at him not to - and him seeing me coming for a good 10 seconds), I don't see how riding in fog could have made it any worse! :oops:

pb21

I was out today in the fog. The visibility was down to 50m I would say, so not too bad I guess. I had my rear light on and didn't have any problems.

ilm_zero7

Fog - not worth the risk, saw someone nearly come off today on the slimey salt ridden roads too - times like this that the salt residue is worse than ever - it never lets the roads dry out

kev77

must admit, whilst out today there was still snow and ice present. Went through fog patches as well. An experience i tel thee!

Pokerface

Felt so Good wrote:

Fog - not worth the risk, saw someone nearly come off today on the slimey salt ridden roads too - times like this that the salt residue is worse than ever - it never lets the roads dry out

The roads are slimey and salt-ridden in Abu Dhabi? :shock:

freehub

I've never known the roads to go slimey due to salt lol..

Do they get the salt straight from the sea with seaweed on in that part of the world and just chuck it on the road?

deptfordmarmoset

Pokerface wrote:

Felt so Good wrote:

Fog - not worth the risk, saw someone nearly come off today on the slimey salt ridden roads too - times like this that the salt residue is worse than ever - it never lets the roads dry out

The roads are slimey and salt-ridden in Abu Dhabi? :shock:

Maybe it's not Abu Dhabi, it could be Abu Derby.

Anyhow, the roads are damp, filthy and very very slippery down here. I've no idea when road and wheel get to part company on corners and wet ironwork. Nor do I really want to find out -- even light rear wheel braking locks the wheel up before I get any impression of slowing down.

bagpusscp

50 miles on the A6 no problems .Well lit with 3 rear lights and a bright top.

Bozman

I was just soooo glad to get out on my bike after 4 wks of snow, sub zero temps and a turbo. Fog, greasy roads and the odd bit of ice i can live with, adjust your ride to the conditions and get on with it.

Skeltron

You can go out in any weather, you just have to ride accordingly.

neeb

I'm back in the UK from Finland for Christmas and New Year. Managed to get out on the roads today (as opposed to turbo or rollers) for the first time in about 2 months... Absolutely brilliant and damned if the fog was going to put me off! I did have that tingle in the back of the neck when cars were coming up behind though, just like I get when I'm heading into low sun...

The fog cleared at higher altitudes just before sunset, leaving remants swirling around the bottom of hills and the odd stone building in the distance... absolutely stunning!

cougie

Was a bit misty over Xmas here but not thick fog. I went out with my LEDs and hi biz gilet and was fine. I have seen cyclists in fog in grey tops and with no lights - that's just stupid.

Ron Stuart

freehub wrote:

I've never known the roads to go slimey due to salt lol..

Do they get the salt straight from the sea with seaweed on in that part of the world and just chuck it on the road?

The gritters add a plasticizer to the rock salt these days to help keep it stuck to the road and therefore not be cleaned away so much by passing traffic, this in itself can make the road slippery to a certain extent.

On the original question, I would not venture out during conditions where they may be a risk of poor visibility and that includes most of the winter months without my front light plus front frog light and similar rear twin system.
The reason is back up if one fails, also I have my rear red frog light attached to the back of my cycle helmet (same principle as high level rear brake lights on cars).
Lastly as far as front lights are concerned one of the biggest hazards to motorbikes as well as bicycles is the drivers that pull out of side turnings and at roundabouts (SMIDSYs) sorry mate I didn't see you you have only got to read some of the current posts on this forum to realize how common the problem is.

Make yourself a visible as possible and ride expecting the worst. The visibility aspect also comes into play if you are involved in a legal claim as you will certainly be asked if you were waring a cycle helmet and bright visibility clothing, also lights if dreamed necessary in the conditions. Beware of what could go wrong even if you think you in the right, after all the law can be as they say an ass.

markyboy2005

Pokerface wrote:

Felt so Good wrote:

Fog - not worth the risk, saw someone nearly come off today on the slimey salt ridden roads too - times like this that the salt residue is worse than ever - it never lets the roads dry out

The roads are slimey and salt-ridden in Abu Dhabi? :shock:

Haha, I guess he is home for the holidays.....I can confirm that the roads here are dry and not slimey - bit parky though, down to 13C this morning, almost had to put a cardigan on......sorry

8)

rake

thats not the way id go about it. i would wear an extra t shirt and then maybe a coat when i gets colder.

freehub

It can't be much fun cycling in Abu Dhabi? It's flat as a pancake literally no? I'm guessing they'll end up building an indoor mountain range I would not put it past em!

markyboy2005

freehub wrote:

It can't be much fun cycling in Abu Dhabi? It's flat as a pancake literally no? I'm guessing they'll end up building an indoor mountain range I would not put it past em!

The Emirates are mostly flat, but you can find mountains if you travel a little to Oman or Hatta. However, the roads are smooth, modern and nice, so if you get out at the right time you can really get into some distance riding.

On the plus side there are a good 6-7 months of really nice (and I mean really nice) riding weather, however, from about May to October - too hot.

Indoor mountain range - would not put it past them either, but what they do have that's nice (in Dubai) is a car track (F1 track) that is open to cyclists on a Wednesday night for traffic free riding. It has a little hill you repeat every 1.56 miles...... 8).

I think also in AD, they open the Yas circuit once a week for the same, but I've not really checked that one out.

Overall, you can do a fair wee bit on the bike here, get the miles in, find the hills and get a cool cyclists tan in the process.

Pro's and Con's.