Ice, ice baby

Jawgap · 28-12-2014 8:59am #1

Been out - came back - roads lethal in East Meath.

Expected it on the back roads but it was still lethal when I got to the main road so decided to head back and try later.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 28-12-2014 10:17am

Donegal the same, beautiful bright sunny morning here but the roads are lethal and even though I have the morning free I'm not risking it!

28-12-2014 10:33am

About the same in Kildare. Going to put together the turbo trainer!

Alek · 28-12-2014 10:48am

Tyres with studs - do they help with black ice?

sullzz · 28-12-2014 10:50am

Was supposed to be meeting a few at 10 am. In leixlip , It got changed to 11 as roads are bad, I won't be surprised if it gets cancelled altogether

Jawgap · 28-12-2014 10:50am

Alek wrote: »

Tyres with studs - do they help with black ice?

I have them and used them in the snow a few years ago - they worked really well.

Never tried them on ice - I usually just wait until the stuff melts.

wirelessdude01 · 28-12-2014 11:17am

sullzz wrote: »

Was supposed to be meeting a few at 10 am. In leixlip , It got changed to 11 as roads are bad, I won't be surprised if it gets cancelled altogether

I know whoever went from Lucan this morning were going along the canal on mountain bikes. Roads are just too bad to risk coming off.

devonp · 28-12-2014 11:21am

where in leixlip u headin from?, what level, is it a club spin?

eclectichoney · 28-12-2014 11:25am

Wonder if the main roads around South Dublin city / Clonskeagh / Merrion should be ok enough by now?

colm_gti · 28-12-2014 11:28am

Side roads still lethal in Ashbourne, was hoping to get 3-4 hours in today, but I'd rather miss 3-4 hours now than 3-4 months this season due to a broken hip!

Alek · 28-12-2014 11:28am

Never tried them on ice, I usually just wait until the stuff melts.

I have no other choice but to cycle in the very morning, I'll put them Snow Studs on and see how they roll

Wishbone Ash · 28-12-2014 11:34am

colm_gti wrote: »

Side roads still lethal in Ashbourne, was hoping to get 3-4 hours in today, but I'd rather miss 3-4 hours now than 3-4 months this season due to a broken hip!

Mrs WA was driving in the Garristown/Oldtown/Naul area this morning and encountered black ice frequently.

iwillhtfu · 28-12-2014 11:37am

Alek wrote: »

I have no other choice but to cycle in the very morning, I'll put them Snow Studs on and see how they roll

I think those snow studs are only designed for snow and ice conditions and not for patches of ice. I'd imagine they'd be slippery on wet tarmac creating a bigger hazard

man_no_plan · 28-12-2014 12:03pm

Decided to avoid the roads, stuck the bike into the trainer, got a flat! ðŸ˜ž

nilhg · 28-12-2014 12:04pm

Still freezing here in the shade, looks like the dog is going to get his yearly Sunday walk.

Ole Rodrigo · 28-12-2014 12:10pm

Looks like its laps of howth again.

Beasty · 28-12-2014 12:20pm

Christ guys you need to get your priorities right. Glorious sunshine, hardly a breath of wind. Get your turbos out in the garden, on the street or wherever and start working on those tan lines....

Ole Rodrigo · 28-12-2014 12:25pm

' never let sunny weather get in the way of a whinge '

( old chinese proverb )

arybvtcw0eolkf · 28-12-2014 12:29pm

I'd to cancel MMA training in Rush this morning due to icy roads.

colm_gti · 28-12-2014 12:37pm

Nixon Jolly Slob wrote: »

I'd to cancel MMA training in Rush this morning due to icy roads.

What kind of cycling is that?

iwillhtfu · 28-12-2014 12:43pm

Just incase anyone is on the look out for snow tires I just came across this. £10.99 reduced from £39.99

http://www.planetx.co.uk/deals

mathie · 28-12-2014 12:47pm

Ole Rodrigo wrote: »

Looks like its laps of howth again.

How is howth head today?
Anyone risk it?

devonp · 28-12-2014 1:14pm

any1 out on the old N4 Leixlip kilcock enfield clonard....icy or ok

arybvtcw0eolkf · 28-12-2014 1:26pm

colm_gti wrote: »

What kind of cycling is that?

Its called commuting cycling.. I (or you) cycle to and from a location (for example MMA training).

VERB (used without object), commuted, commuting.
To travel regularly over some distance, as from a suburb into a city and back:
He commutes to MMA training by bicycle

Anything else while you want to be a genius?.. :rolleyes:

Darkglasses · 28-12-2014 1:27pm

Roads all fine in south wexford

ted1 · 28-12-2014 1:36pm

Just back from Killiney- Dundrum- enniskerry - greystones and back same route. Happy to report that all roads are ice free. Plenty of snow visible on the higher hills

bcmf · 28-12-2014 2:29pm

Getting reports of a cyclist hit at Blake's X (yes Beasty that spot again) . Don't know how bad it is and won't speculate who or how they are but seriously people with the low Sun and dodgy roads use some sense.

The tax man · 28-12-2014 2:45pm

Just back from a spin out to Blessington on the N81. Main road was fine due low hedgerow far from the road itself. Past the village where the road narrowed and the hedgerow was on top of you was a different story. Side of the road still shaded. Turned for home about 500 meters past Blessington, just not worth the risk.

Hani Kosti · 28-12-2014 2:58pm

Beasty wrote: »

Christ guys you need to get your priorities right. Glorious sunshine, hardly a breath of wind. Get your turbos out in the garden, on the street or wherever and start working on those tan lines....

Hell hath no fur(r)y Sufferfest done... one (aka me) thought women race would be easy enough... Now i can post in "I did something to my legs" thread

Pablo Rubio · 28-12-2014 3:20pm

Just back in.Did main roads ,Swords>Julianstown>Duleek>Kilmoon>Ashbourne >Airport with caution. Main roads good,but madness to venture onto any secondary roads.

Unknown Soldier · 28-12-2014 3:24pm

Very Icy roads in and around Tyrone these last few days. :pac:

I'd use the word "lethal"
Nearly broke me arse bone walking across my parents yard.

It's really, really not worth the risk. The fella who does stuff on my bikes broke his hip last year. Stood up to give it some welly on a hill and the bike went sideways/horizontal out from under him.

victorcarrera · 28-12-2014 3:24pm

I did an hour on the turbo in the garage at -2C wearing nothing but shorts and a hrm. It was like a hot summers day out there.
PS: Forecast is for -6 tonight.

billyhead · 28-12-2014 3:32pm

bcmf wrote: »

Getting reports of a cyclist hit at Blake's X (yes Beasty that spot again) . Don't know how bad it is and won't speculate who or how they are but seriously people with the low Sun and dodgy roads use some sense.

Yep. There was a bad crash I believe involving a cyclist just past the Great gas service station. The below was taken from the Garda traffic twitter account. Hopefully its not to serious. Be careful out there folks. Better off playing it safe and staying with the turbo unless you want to spend time in the fracture clinic.

RT @GardaTraffic: Serious traffic collision near Blake’s Cross Nt Co Dublin road closed in both directions. All traffic being diverted onto the M1

iwillhtfu · 28-12-2014 3:45pm

billyhead wrote: »

Yep. There was a bad crash I believe involving a cyclist just past the Great gas service station. The below was taken from the Garda traffic twitter account. Hopefully its not to serious. Be careful out there folks. Better off playing it safe and staying with the turbo unless you want to spend time in the fracture clinic.

RT @GardaTraffic: Serious traffic collision near Blake’s Cross Nt Co Dublin road closed in both directions. All traffic being diverted onto the M1

Sorry to say if they've closed the road in both directions it's not going to be good. Hopefully I'm mistaken. Stay safe lads.

Inquitus · 28-12-2014 3:46pm

Not looking great, life threatening injuries, hope they pull through.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/cyclist-fighting-for-life-after-collision-with-car-30866130.html

nak · 28-12-2014 3:53pm

Perfect weather for the cross bike. Spotted a few out in Phoenix Park.

sullzz · 28-12-2014 4:02pm

Group spin put back from 10 until 11:30 , went from leixlip out to mother Hubbards and back , out through maynooth, kilcock and enfield , roads were patchy , didn't see many other cyclists ( only 1 lucan lad) .

mossym · 28-12-2014 4:08pm

victorcarrera wrote: »

I did an hour on the turbo in the garage at -2C wearing nothing but shorts and a hrm. It was like a hot summers day out there.
PS: Forecast is for -6 tonight.

an hour? why did you stop after you were just warmed up?

was meant to meet up with a few for a spin, sense prevailed, the footpath across from me is still shimmering .

2.5hour turbo with 3* 20 minute efforts instead. enjoying my coffee now

mal1 · 28-12-2014 4:57pm

I'm lying on my couch. Road rash down my right thigh, left hand and right elbow. It's definitely icy out there.

Jawgap · 28-12-2014 5:00pm

just did 90 mins around East Meath - main roads fine for the most part but still icy where the sun didn't get at it.

Still better than the turbo.

Going for a swim tomorrow.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 28-12-2014 5:21pm

mal1 wrote: »

I'm lying on my couch. Road rash down my right thigh, left hand and right elbow. It's definitely icy out there.

Yikes :eek:

Although I turned around at Blakes Cross enroute to Rush just before that reported accident so I guess we can count our lucky stars

andy3695 · 28-12-2014 5:58pm

Very slippy in Kells. I dont think many were brave enough to head out around here today. Havent got a turbo yet but getting very tempted.

bbolger · 28-12-2014 6:01pm

mathie wrote: »

How is howth head today?
Anyone risk it?

Took a spin out that way from Skerries at 10am. Howth head was fine today if you don't mind sharing with all the runners. The 10K Fat Turkey race was on Sutton side up & down. There were hundreds out when I passed through just before the start.

Carpenter · 28-12-2014 6:21pm

2 years ago I crashed in the ice breaking my pelvis I said never again today I was talked into a short 50k spin up to Glencree (my own fault I know)but there is ice up there stay away people.

The Ging and I · 28-12-2014 6:57pm

I met lots of cyclists in Donegal and Monahan while I was driving a 4 wheel drive vehicle at 70kmh- because its not safe out there !
A fall in ice is bad news at every level, apart from setting you back months your confidence will never recover. Cycle safe - use your head.

Alek · 28-12-2014 8:41pm

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I think those snow studs are only designed for snow and ice conditions and not for patches of ice. I'd imagine they'd be slippery on wet tarmac creating a bigger hazard

Studded tires are great on Black Ice. In fact, this, and hardpack are the best areas for stud use, they are largely wasted in deep snow.
Studs will provide amazing traction in black ice, and the more studs the better. In fact, you can get down right cocky with the amount of traction you get, and that's when you find out that all good things have limitations. You still need to be careful with turns and braking. But you can at least consider using just a little front brake.

http://www.icebike.org/Articles/TechniquesBlackIce.htm

Some very good advice there!

Also:

http://www.icebike.org/Articles/howslippery.htm

iwillhtfu · 28-12-2014 9:01pm

Alek wrote: »

http://www.icebike.org/Articles/TechniquesBlackIce.htm

Some very good advice there!

Also:

http://www.icebike.org/Articles/howslippery.htm

Interesting they still don't mention the point I was making in that the studs might be slippy on wet tarmac. Common sense would surely tell you that rubber is stickier than steel.

Anyway I've no plans or desire to argue the pros & cons of studded tyres to each their own.

Alek · 28-12-2014 9:41pm

studs might be slippy on wet tarmac

True, but the they are only minimal % of the total contact area, the rest is still rubber.

Anyway I'll try to do some controlled braking tests tomorrow in phoenix park to see how they cope with various surfaces. Wish me luck

Eamonnator · 28-12-2014 10:07pm

^^^^^^^^^

Good luck.

funnights74 · 28-12-2014 10:26pm

andy3695 wrote: »

Very slippy in Kells. I dont think many were brave enough to head out around here today. Havent got a turbo yet but getting very tempted.

I chickened out myself and i'm not ashmed to say it, i'll go out in anything except ice so a bit of pain on the trainer, better than nothing.

If you're anywhere near a branch of halfords they're practically giving away magnetic turbo trainers,a must have for the icy winter days.
http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/accessories/turbo-trainers/elite-magnetic-cycle-trainer

learn · 28-12-2014 10:55pm

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Just incase anyone is on the look out for snow tires I just came across this. £10.99 reduced from £39.99

http://www.planetx.co.uk/deals

It's not only your own tyres you have to take into consideration, what about the traffic you will be meeting coming around the corners. To add to today's dangerous road conditions, you also had a blinding low sun all day.

Ice, ice baby

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