Is winter cycling really ok?

1356

Comments

  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    Yep, studded tyres FFS. Yes if you live in Norway and it's the only way to cycle in the winter but UK? Not a hope, use the car then turbo at home if weather crap. And don't give me all the rule#5 crap, I surf throughout the winter in freezing water.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Yep, studded tyres FFS. Yes if you live in Norway and it's the only way to cycle in the winter but UK? Not a hope, use the car then turbo at home if weather crap. And don't give me all the rule#5 crap, I surf throughout the winter in freezing water.
    You OK hun?
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    Yes fine thanks, about to go on turbo after this morning(rather poor) surf.
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Yep, studded tyres FFS. Yes if you live in Norway and it's the only way to cycle in the winter but UK? Not a hope, use the car then turbo at home if weather crap. And don't give me all the rule#5 crap, I surf throughout the winter in freezing water.

    And winter surfing relates to winter cycling how exactly?
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    I think he's saying he's not frightened of the cold as goes in to cold water a lot but he is cautious about hitting black ice while on his bike and ending up under a bus.
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Yep, studded tyres FFS. Yes if you live in Norway and it's the only way to cycle in the winter but UK? Not a hope, use the car then turbo at home if weather crap. And don't give me all the rule#5 crap, I surf throughout the winter in freezing water.

    And winter surfing relates to winter cycling how exactly?

    Rule ~ 5 Harden the feck up.
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Yep, studded tyres FFS. Yes if you live in Norway and it's the only way to cycle in the winter but UK? Not a hope, use the car then turbo at home if weather crap. And don't give me all the rule#5 crap, I surf throughout the winter in freezing water.

    And winter surfing relates to winter cycling how exactly?

    Red flagged and reported for Trolling
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Yep, studded tyres FFS. Yes if you live in Norway and it's the only way to cycle in the winter but UK? Not a hope, use the car then turbo at home if weather crap. And don't give me all the rule#5 crap, I surf throughout the winter in freezing water.

    And winter surfing relates to winter cycling how exactly?

    Rule ~ 5 Harden the feck up.

    Good point well made.
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    SurferCyclist wrote:
    Yep, studded tyres FFS. Yes if you live in Norway and it's the only way to cycle in the winter but UK? Not a hope, use the car then turbo at home if weather crap. And don't give me all the rule#5 crap, I surf throughout the winter in freezing water.

    And winter surfing relates to winter cycling how exactly?

    Red flagged and reported for Trolling

    Righto.
  • john1967
    john1967 Posts: 366
    Rule Zero..There are no rules but if you enjoy being cold,wet,dirty and riding in the dark then go for it.If you have to commute then take extra care.As for me i will be mostly riding in my shed this winter.
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Winter cycling fine. I am not sure if the stats show a higher rate of injuries during the cold months compared to the warmer months. My gut instinct is this is another case of the people not being able to assess risks. Surfer cyclist thinks it fine to surf in winter it probably is if you know how to miniseries the risks. Surely you can see those that cycle through winter know how to minimise the risks as well so the risk of injury is no greater than at other times of the year.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • simon_masterson
    simon_masterson Posts: 2,740
    This year I’m trying spiked tyres on one bike, as I don’t live within short walking distance of a train station anymore, and I don’t drive. With that said, you can often avoid black ice just by being careful or altering your routes.
    Retro(ish) TT 2017-
    Fixed TT 2015-2016
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Was gonna go out this morning.............but the layer of frost on the road, and my phone telling me it feels like -2 degrees outside, persuaded me to make a cuppa and go back to bed
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    thecycleclinic wrote:
    Winter cycling fine. I am not sure if the stats show a higher rate of injuries during the cold months compared to the warmer months. My gut instinct is this is another case of the people not being able to assess risks. Surfer cyclist thinks it fine to surf in winter it probably is if you know how to miniseries the risks. Surely you can see those that cycle through winter know how to minimise the risks as well so the risk of injury is no greater than at other times of the year.

    Exactly.
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    Simon Masterson wrote:
    This year I’m trying spiked tyres on one bike, as I don’t live within short walking distance of a train station anymore, and I don’t drive. With that said, you can often avoid black ice just by being careful or altering your routes.

    That’s right. All you need to do is be a bit more vigilant than you would be during warmer lighter months, and stick to roads you know have been treated. Several routes I use during the warmer drier lighter months, would be a bad idea, at this time of year, so I adjust them to minimise the risks. Regarding keeping warm and dry, as the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong equipment. It becomes apparent who actually ‘loves cycling’, and who just stares at its backside as it walks past, at this time of year. The same debates come up again and again. If you continue to ride your bike(s) regardless of the conditions, you are the former, if you take to the Turbo every time there’s a bit of cold or wet, you are the latter.
  • lakesluddite
    lakesluddite Posts: 1,337
    I think the advice to 'know your route' is probably the best. I am currently coming up to winter commutes having moved to a new town in the late summer, so I have yet to experience my new route in mid-winter. I have a vague plan to just use the A roads, which would put another 10-15 minutes onto the current route, but will probably ease my concerns to a large extent. Currently I use a few back roads, but these tend to have water running across them most of the time, and I suspect this will turn to a sheet of ice across the whole carriageway quite easily.
    If we have sub zero temperatures during a dry spell, then I'm not too concerned, but rain followed by sub-zero is a bit squeaky-bum time. This week will be a good test - as I write it's lashing it down, which if the forecast is right will be followed by a few days of ever decreasing temperatures.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    It becomes apparent who actually ‘loves cycling’, and who just stares at its backside as it walks past, at this time of year. The same debates come up again and again. If you continue to ride your bike(s) regardless of the conditions, you are the former, if you take to the Turbo every time there’s a bit of cold or wet, you are the latter.


    This is bollox.

    It might be fine sticking to the gritted routes in the winter but sharing your rides with heavy traffic is not my idea of fun.
    And that's if you can actually get to the gritted roads - it can be like an ice rink by me - and it only takes one bad slip to break a bone and be out for weeks. Discretion is the better part of valour.
  • Alex99
    Alex99 Posts: 1,407
    Ice is only slippy if you're scared of it. It can smell your fear. If you don't feel like testing this, or your local roads have variable and hard to predict conditions, you're a wimp and you don't like cycling. End of.
  • bondurant
    bondurant Posts: 858
    'My name is Fenix and I don't love cycling'
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,168
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    It becomes apparent who actually ‘loves cycling’, and who just stares at its backside as it walks past, at this time of year. The same debates come up again and again. If you continue to ride your bike(s) regardless of the conditions, you are the former, if you take to the Turbo every time there’s a bit of cold or wet, you are the latter.

    I need some clarity on whether I love cycling.

    I'm not an idiot, so I don't continue to ride my bike regardless of the conditions - ice and hurricanes put me off. I also choose to go on the turbo when it's miserable outside because I'll get a better training ride in and I prefer to be warm. But also, I commute to work when it's cold and wet because it's still better than the alternative.
  • w00dster
    w00dster Posts: 880
    I guess according to Milemuncher's logic I don't "love cycling".
    Thanks for bracketing me like that. Here I was thinking how much I do actually love cycling, how much my indoor training is going to be benefitting next season's racing, how I was getting more out of my "riding time" by following a structured training plan specifically tailored to improve my cycling performance - but I was wrong, the only way to "love cycling" is to potter about outside all year in all conditions.

    Actually, its a weird concept, I love my wife and children...love cycling? I left that sort of saying in the school playground a long time ago.

    Lastly, is there a bonus prize for the person who loves cycling the most? Do you get a badge?
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Why would you take the opinion of a bigot in regards to your hobby. I went out today to get my metric century in for November. I got pi**ed on, covered in sh*t, froze, my gears stopped working and my mudguards kept rubbing. At times I hated and questioned what the fu*k I was doing. However sat here now I feel content, do I love it do I boll*cks.
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    It's all bollox! Cycling is just something you do. If you don't enjoy don't it why would you do it? When and where you so it is only your business. If you don't want to go out when it's inclement weather that's your business but it doesn't mean you don't like your cycling.

    Chances are you're a wimp or you just cautious or just plain sensible. Pretty much catches all cases. I have no idea which. I don't know you. I don't know the conditions of the roads near you. I can't make that judgement. You can so make that judgement and keep enjoying what you do.

    Personally I'm trying to motivate myself more to get out and commute by bike more. Last year I was practically cycling 4 days a week all winter. Only cycling on Fridays when I had to get back home quickly for family reasons. This year I'm using the car more because my partner doesn't need it and I've got lazy.

    So I've done the cycling through winter when I needed to. I now don't have to so much. That means I can have a choice on whether to suffer or not the worst of British weather where I live. I still enjoy cycling this year as much as last year
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    KingstonGraham wrote:
    Milemuncher1 wrote:
    It becomes apparent who actually ‘loves cycling’, and who just stares at its backside as it walks past, at this time of year. The same debates come up again and again. If you continue to ride your bike(s) regardless of the conditions, you are the former, if you take to the Turbo every time there’s a bit of cold or wet, you are the latter.

    I need some clarity on whether I love cycling.

    I'm not an idiot, so I don't continue to ride my bike regardless of the conditions - ice and hurricanes put me off. I also choose to go on the turbo when it's miserable outside because I'll get a better training ride in and I prefer to be warm. But also, I commute to work when it's cold and wet because it's still better than the alternative.

    Icy / snowy conditions are superb Trike riding weather. Anyone who isn’t an actual pro, or cycling for serious sport, who talks about “training rides”, and “optimising their performance” and probably “smash” stuff, and say “yeah” a lot, like a third rate Gordon Ramsay, make me :lol:. But it’s each to their own I guess.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    How often is it icy down the south coast. Your winter is our summer. :D
  • Bordersroadie
    Bordersroadie Posts: 1,052
    Despite the trolls that suggest otherwise, it is actually possible to love cycling but avoid outdoor riding in bad winter weather.

    I've done years of the "HTFU" approach, riding right through Scottish winters in all conditions, employing even studded tyres if necessary, and I took great pride in being the hard man and dedicated year-round roadie.

    But having been there and got the tee shirt, several times, I've been liberated this year by the smart trainer revolution.

    If your primary aim is exercise and/or training then indoor cycling is for most of us far superior. And in the winter time it saves the hassle of constant bike cleaning, changing inner tubes on a freezing cold dark verge, avoiding flooded sections that may conceal a giant pothole, dicing it with deer and other assorted wildlife, stressing out about whether or not there might still be patches of black ice in the shady bits, playing lottery with drivers blinded by others' headlights......etc etc etc.

    So to the OP, yes it can be okay but sometimes it's best to not try to be too macho about it, and realise that it's okay to ride indoors as appropriate.
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    Bordersroadie wrote:
    Despite the trolls that suggest otherwise, it is actually possible to love cycling but avoid outdoor riding in bad winter weather.

    I've done years of the "HTFU" approach, riding right through Scottish winters in all conditions, employing even studded tyres if necessary, and I took great pride in being the hard man and dedicated year-round roadie.

    But having been there and got the tee shirt, several times, I've been liberated this year by the smart trainer revolution.

    If your primary aim is exercise and/or training then indoor cycling is for most of us far superior. And in the winter time it saves the hassle of constant bike cleaning, changing inner tubes on a freezing cold dark verge, avoiding flooded sections that may conceal a giant pothole, dicing it with deer and other assorted wildlife, stressing out about whether or not there might still be patches of black ice in the shady bits, playing lottery with drivers blinded by others' headlights......etc etc etc.

    So to the OP, yes it can be okay but sometimes it's best to not try to be too macho about it, and realise that it's okay to ride indoors as appropriate.

    Well said that man.
  • lakesluddite
    lakesluddite Posts: 1,337
    Other half had the car this morning, so went out in sub-zero at 6am - nothing to do with machismo, more necessity. Had to slow, stop, walk on even the main (treated) roads as there were patches of ice due to frozen water courses still being a problem even after a few days of dry weather. Not that much fun TBH, but do-able - even at an embarrassing 14mph average!.
    Thing is I know where these dodgy sections are, or are likely to be, so even in the pitch black darkness I can pick them out with a decent front light. Not sure I'd want to ride in similar conditions somewhere I don't know so well.
  • peat
    peat Posts: 1,242
    Even if you think you are proficient on ice, consider (and pack accordingly) that if you do have an off, the implications will be alot worse than if you crash in the summer. Hot sweaty cyclist get cold VERY quickly sitting on tarmac. If you are on your own, fall on ice and land on your phone, you could be in alot of trouble...
  • dannbodge
    dannbodge Posts: 1,152
    I always put my phone in my saddle bag. That way it's less likely to get damaged if you crash

Categories