Treacherous out there today

Beasty

I've just turned back 5km into my commute this morning. The main Skerries/Lusk road is closed due to an accident, and there is black ice everywhere. Fire Service told me that a lot of North County Dublin is badly affected, so I'm heading off in the car to join the queues

Blowfish

Thankfully the city (east side at least) isn't too bad. 90% of the road is dry, so at least it's easy enough to avoid the ice by avoiding anything that looks even remotely wet.

Lumen

The rivers of ice on the Phoenix Park cycle path were fun.

I feel a change of tyres coming on...

Ryaner

Bit of it around Santry. Could feel my rear wheel slipping at times and I was only sticking to the visibly dry parts of the road.

Ice Saturday, Floods Sunday, Ice Monday. This weather is nuts!

dario28

Back of Portmarnock was an ice rink....Mr road bike didnt enjoy that ,had a few slides , malahide road was grand though...might have to go back to the DART or attach a hairdryer to the front of the bike and melt anything in my path..one or the other

The tax man

Anyone here want to own up and admit to cycling towards Scholarstown road area around 7.50am in cycling SHORTS.:eek::eek:

Caroline_ie

The tax man wrote: »

Anyone here want to own up and admit to cycling towards Scholarstown road area around 7.50am in cycling SHORTS.:eek::eek:

I saw someone in cycling shorts up the snugborogh road in Blanchardstown this morning and a Hi Viz jacket and a saddle a bit too high at around 8:25

I noticed a few iced puddles this morning, and some frozen bits of roads ... nothing too bad, thank god.

Jawgap

Beasty wrote: »

I've just turned back 5km into my commute this morning. The main Skerries/Lusk road is closed due to an accident, and there is black ice everywhere. Fire Service told me that a lot of North County Dublin is badly affected, so I'm heading off in the car to join the queues

The old N1 near the Man O'War turnoff was not fun and Blakes Cross was downright scary. Would've turned back except at that point I was closer to work than home.

May have to send for the support car (wifey) for the trip home!

MadHatter

Lumen wrote: »

The rivers of ice on the Phoenix Park cycle path were fun.

I feel a change of tyres coming on...

Indeed, some very slippy patches on the cycles lanes. Roads were fine though. Came across one lady who'd come off the bike at the road that leads into the new car park at the zoo. There was a huge pool of water there too and she ended up badly shaken and soaked to the skin. Hope she's okay.

Had to stop a couple of times myself and walk the bike through the icy patches. Already had one "off" this winter so ultra cautious at the moment.

Had one comedy moment when I unclipped and slowed right down approaching a patch that I couldn't figure out if it was icy or just wet. Once the front wheel went in I sussed it was ice, but when I put the foot down it there was no grip for my foot either. So there I was straddling the bike unable to put weight on my foot (cos it was slipping) or back on the bike (cos the front wheel was slipping). Took me a while to extract myself from that position

ednwireland

mile of sheet ice wooho took the car in !rained overnight here in the NW mountains covered in snow

seamus

The tax man wrote: »

Anyone here want to own up and admit to cycling towards Scholarstown road area around 7.50am in cycling SHORTS.:eek::eek:

Sounds like me

I had leg warmers on though. Toasty. I just can't get used to cycling in anything but shorts, but I have some full-length tight baselayers on the way this week.

Billy Whizz

Is North County Dublin really that bad lads? I was just about to head out training. Reckon it will thaw out later in the day or will I resign myself to the rollers?

Ryder

Have just bought new tyres...but is it possible to buy 700 by 23 studded tyres for the ice/snow?

Raam

dario28 wrote: »

Back of Portmarnock was an ice rink....Mr road bike didnt enjoy that ,had a few slides

Were they really bad? I have plans for 2 hours out that direction this eve.

Beasty

Billy Whizz wrote: »

Is North County Dublin really that bad lads? I was just about to head out training. Reckon it will thaw out later in the day or will I resign myself to the rollers?

There are good bits - I had no problems at all until I came aross the accident, but it was deadly there. In total I came across 3 road accidents this morning, including one which has closed the Malahide Road

It depends where you are heading - there always tends to be less frost/ice as you get nearer the sea (around Skerries this morning seemed fine). However some of the roads are so poor that the water accumulates and turns to black ice. Also, where there has been flooding at the bottom of a hill, car tyres leave water on the hill itself, which turns to ice (saw a few cars sliding on this sort of surface thsi morning).

Forecast is for it to stay cold, although where the sun gets to the road it may be OK, I think it will remain treacherous in shaded areas

dario28

Raam wrote: »

Were they really bad? I have plans for 2 hours out that direction this eve.

It wasnt nice, its the road that runs along the back of portmarnock up to campions pub - its the one road that really holds the water and ya get soaked or in this case the water freezes and ya slide - it badly needs resurfacing

Rest of the journey was fine

Weather for later doesnt sound great

Tonight

Dry and very cold after dark with a sharp to severe ground frost and some fog patches. Lowest temperatures minus 2 to minus 4 degrees.

Caroline_ie

Turbo ... meh

Lumen

I wore shorts this morning, left home at around 07:40.

Can't be arsed buying and washing loads of tights for commuting.

Will order some knee warmers and glove liners today though.

Billy Whizz

Raam wrote: »

Were they really bad? I have plans for 2 hours out that direction this eve.

Think I might head out on the cross bike with the 700x30s this morning. Sounds like a bit of extra grip wouldn't go amiss.

seamus

dario28 wrote: »

Weather for later doesnt sound great

Looks like rain too. For people like me, halfway to the hellfire, that usually means some snow

Raam

Billy Whizz wrote: »

Think I might head out on the cross bike with the 700x30s this morning. Sounds like a bit of extra grip wouldn't go amiss.

Yeah I'm gonna use mine too

ednwireland

Ryder wrote: »

Have just bought new tyres...but is it possible to buy 700 by 23 studded tyres for the ice/snow?

i think that would cause more problems that it solves !

(as soon as you get off snow and ice you rip out the studs ask the rally drivers) as soon as your on tarmac you would slide all over the place

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

petethedrummer

I fell off going up hill this morning!!!

Gavin

Some flakey sections in the park alright, back wheel slide around quite a bit. Might be on the mtb tomorrow and go on the grass!

Leg warmers are the way to go, the endura thermo ones are very good. Pull em up under cycling shorts and they don't slip.

TinyExplosions

The tax man wrote: »

Anyone here want to own up and admit to cycling towards Scholarstown road area around 7.50am in cycling SHORTS.:eek::eek:

I was in shorts this morning, not leg warmers or socks or anything... wasn;t the best move though

CheGuedara

Ryder wrote: »

Have just bought new tyres...but is it possible to buy 700 by 23 studded tyres for the ice/snow?

Tyres + Running Spikes + elbow grease = 700c ice tyres

...or just look into a set of these

Jip

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I saw someone in cycling shorts up the snugborogh road in Blanchardstown this morning and a Hi Viz jacket and a saddle a bit too high at around 8:25

That's part of my commute but I whimped out this morning, my area was covered in ice, I passed 2 accidents and as been highlighted already, I also go through the park but I guessed that it would be pretty bad. It's not the cold that bothers me, it's the fall !

short circuit

Took in careful coming in today .. avoided the park and took the N3 and Navan road in. Seems less prone to icing and probably salted more often as well as we go into winter and the number of vehicles on the road keep it a bit warmer and reduce ice.

Baselayer, long sleeve winter jersey, jacket, shorts, leg warmers, woollen socks, balaclava and gloves.

Socks were good for the 1st 45mins and then slowly the toes started freezing. Think today was a day for glove liners as well.

ROK ON

I got to go out for 90k y'day in freezing winds. I wake up today and look out. The South West is dry, unbelieveably sunny. Windless. It is a glorious day. Why was this weather not here yday????

blorg

Ryder wrote: »

Have just bought new tyres...but is it possible to buy 700 by 23 studded tyres for the ice/snow?

No, I think the narrowest is 32. Lumen had them on a cross bike last year, he could give an opinion. Personally I would think them overkill for this country. Note they don't work great on tarmac where there isn't ice either. I've moved up to 25s on my road bike and 35s on my commuter for the winter. The 25s do feel grippier than the 23s certainly.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

No, I think the narrowest is 32. Lumen had them on a cross bike last year, he could give an opinion. Personally I would think them overkill for this country. Note they don't work great on tarmac where there isn't ice either. I've moved up to 25s on my road bike and 35s on my commuter for the winter. The 25s do feel grippier than the 23s certainly.

My Marathon Winters are 35mm.

The key to grip is low tyre pressure, unfortunately that means lots of rolling resistance. You really don't want to do be doing a long commute at 30psi.

In my experience, ice studs are worth at least 20psi, but a mountain bike with massive tyres at proper low pressure will give better grip than 700x35 studded tyres.

The most important thing about studded tyres is that they look and sound awesome. I might stick them on tonight if these conditions are forecast to continue.

I'm not sure they'll go down too well on club spins though. My squeaky cantis were embarrassing enough on Saturday without drawing more attention to myself.

Billy Whizz

Raam wrote: »

Yeah I'm gonna use mine too

No mudguards or front mech on cross bike, on second thoughts I'll head out on the winter bike with 70/80psi in the tyres. I'll let you know how I get on!

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

I'm not sure they'll go down too well on club spins though. My squeaky cantis were embarrassing enough on Saturday without drawing more attention to myself.

Jaysus, sandbagging allready. Training on the fred bike, then when race time comes, out pops the Scott weight weeny bike or the tri bike. You will succeed with that behaviour once, but then you will be a marked man for the rest of your cycling career.

nitrogen

It's days like this that remind me I really need a rear mud guard. I chickened out and got the tube.

poochiem

well my commute from da liberties to Blackrock (canal, N11) was drizabone this morning, thankfully.

On the rec of some of you here I've invested in a set of Conti 4000s which are winging their way to me now. (just over 40 quid the pair, not too bad). I would presume that lower pressures mean more grip does this carry with bikes too or would you recommend keeping the high psi when I get these; in other words is the compound better for grip in high psi than low?

actually, can any of you point me to some online maintenance turorials? I tried indexing my gears and I've overdone it slightly but getting the hang of it - those kind of basics I need some tutorials that are reliable.

serendip

dario28 wrote: »

It wasnt nice, its the road that runs along the back of portmarnock up to campions pub - its the one road that really holds the water and ya get soaked or in this case the water freezes and ya slide - it badly needs resurfacing

Dario,

That road by the pony track at old Portmarnock was flooded yesterday. Has the water receded?

(I avoided it this morning, and need to know if I can go that way on the way home.)

Vélo

I cycled from Ratoath this morning. I didn't find it too bad but I did notice some puddles frozen over, so took it handy in places. My hands didn't warm up until about 45mins into the commute. I have 700X23 on the front and 700X25 on the rear. Am I better off putting 700X25 on the front also?

Robertd_07

Lumen wrote: »

The rivers of ice on the Phoenix Park cycle path were fun.

Managed to avoid all the ice in the park, only to be involved in my first car related accident just past Heuston bridge. Front wheel now written off.:(
Thought it'd be clear sailing from there in. Little did I know.

parko202

after a pretty ropey cycle in this morning, would anyone know offhand what the widest tyre you can get on a langster would be? Tried googling it but came up with a range of answers.

Cheers

72hundred

parko202 wrote: »

after a pretty ropey cycle in this morning, would anyone know offhand what the widest tyre you can get on a langster would be? Tried googling it but came up with a range of answers.

Cheers

You could just measuring the clearances and add that to the current tyre width.

Ryaner

poochiem wrote: »

On the rec of some of you here I've invested in a set of Conti 4000s which are winging their way to me now. (just over 40 quid the pair, not too bad).

Where did you get 2 of these for 40 euro?

bbosco

Just back from a short and gentle spin around the Newcastle/Celbridge/Straffan area. A lot of black ice on the quieter lanes. Also, a fair bit of deep slush at some junctions, which, if still around when the temperature drops later, will be lethal.
Lovely morning for a spin but first thing I did when I got in was order these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31041

The tax man

seamus wrote: »

Sounds like me

I had leg warmers on though. Toasty. I just can't get used to cycling in anything but shorts, but I have some full-length tight baselayers on the way this week.

Did you have an orange or yellowish top on?

qbasic

blorg wrote: »

No, I think the narrowest is 32. Lumen had them on a cross bike last year, he could give an opinion. Personally I would think them overkill for this country. Note they don't work great on tarmac where there isn't ice either. I've moved up to 25s on my road bike and 35s on my commuter for the winter. The 25s do feel grippier than the 23s certainly.

Hi Blorg, do you have the 35's on your bowery?

seamus

Did you have an orange or yellowish top on?

No, not me so. Black jacket on.

poochiem

Ryaner wrote: »

Where did you get 2 of these for 40 euro?

fella was floggin them on amazon uk and i got him to list them on ebay. £40 so 44euro roughly? not bad they seem to be about 35-40 each retail, which is a bit much on my budget.

Bunnyhopper

Gavin wrote: »

Leg warmers are the way to go, the endura thermo ones are very good. Pull em up under cycling shorts and they don't slip.

+1 on those. I have this pair:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18089

poochiem wrote: »

actually, can any of you point me to some online maintenance turorials? I tried indexing my gears and I've overdone it slightly but getting the hang of it - those kind of basics I need some tutorials that are reliable.

The sites mentioned on here should be useful:
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Maintenance

Robertd_07 wrote: »

Managed to avoid all the ice in the park, only to be involved in my first car related accident just past Heuston bridge. Front wheel now written off.:(
Thought it'd be clear sailing from there in. Little did I know.

Sorry to hear that - hope you're ok.

blorg

poochiem wrote: »

fella was floggin them on amazon uk and i got him to list them on ebay. £40 so 44euro roughly? not bad they seem to be about 35-40 each retail, which is a bit much on my budget.

That is a very good deal, yes, in fact it is exceptional. £60 would be normal-cheap for a pair, £50 would be a special offer.

ullu

Fell in Kilmacud this morning, thankfully I was going slowly as it looked fairly precarious. I spread the impact well and only have a slight graze on my hip.

Special thanks must go to the teenage girl who walked past without a word of concern.

Lumen

ullu wrote: »

Special thanks must go to the teenage girl who walked past without a word of concern.

OMG, like whatever!

kenmc

The tax man wrote: »

Anyone here want to own up and admit to cycling towards Scholarstown road area around 7.50am in cycling SHORTS.:eek::eek:

I saw a lad in shorts on an MTB with a kid in a kid seat on the crossbar in rathfarnham around 8:10. The kid shouted "Hello" at me as I gaped in disbelief at the naked skin. Brass monkeys cold out there. I didn't have any slippy moments though, although I did see plenty of icy puddles along the side of the road.