Black ice everywhere

Pigeon Reaper

Take care this morning. Lots of black ice around along with normal ice. Dublin bus lanes are dangerous along with many junctions. A few cyclists and motorcyclists came off in front of me this morning.

fletch

First roundabout I came to this morning and I did a two wheel drift...heart in my mouth, contemplated turning around and getting the car but thought better of it. Was fine most of the rest of the way until I was pulling away from a set of lights on a slight incline and the back wheel spun up. My sister rang me to say she was only half way to work. I cycle further than her and we both leave at the same time so looks like I made the right choice not driving.

Jawgap

As I arrived through Santry I noticed a commendable amount of road salt had been applied - with a decent amount making it to the left hand side where it might be of benefit to cyclists......


......then out of Coolock Lane a road sweeper appears and proceeds to sweep up the aforementioned beneficial fraction of salt.

I guess that's what passes for joined up local government in Dublin

ollaetta

Pigeon Reaper wrote: »

Take care this morning. Lots of black ice around along with normal ice. Dublin bus lanes are dangerous along with many junctions. A few cyclists and motorcyclists came off in front of me this morning.

Saw a lad taking a tumble coming off a side road onto Harolds Cross Road at about 8.20.

Polar wizard adventure

Sam Beckett bridge like a skating rink. Ditto parts of the canal cycle track.

donntxu

Lethal this morning - had 4 front wheel moments and saw 2 cyclist take reasonably heavy falls.

Funny because I've cycled there have been much colder mornings and the roads are fine. I don't think the roads were gritted up my way. Maybe a sign of things to come and cut backs are going to mean that we all have to be a bit more careful as the winter goes on

fletch

Its funny as I have seen the council out gritting a good few times already this year when I thought there was no need. I wasn't out in the car last night so not sure if they did grit but it certainly didn't seem like they did this morning.

godtabh

I cycle Leopardstown-Sandyford-Dun Laoghaire at 6:30 to the gym in Sandyford and then 7:30 to Dun Laoghaire.

A bit of ice in the estate but the main roads seemed to be fine. Some of the cycle lanes were icy so took it easy along them.

dermo1990

Icy in the bike lane part of the bus lane on the rock road heading toward the city. Witnessed a few close calls there this morning

Plastik

Absolutely no problems from Greystones to City Centre this morning for me. Hit the road at 7.40.

rflynnr

Main roads ok but slip roads into schools and businesses not so good: came off off the triplet this morning as I turned into my kids' school entrance. All fine but shook up.

paulmorro

Bye bye iPhone screen! I blame the corner more than the ice! Stupid corner!

ThisRegard

fletch wrote: »

Its funny as I have seen the council out gritting a good few times already this year when I thought there was no need.

I met them around Three Rock Halloween night, and plenty of mild nights since. I heard that roads guy with the odd accent on radio recently talking about how much grit and salt they have this year, maybe they want rid of it all before the start of spring so they don't have to pay storage.

rp

rflynnr wrote: »

came off off the triplet

Nice bike! I used to take the kids in a trailer, and the occasions I came off on ice and snow was of considerable entertainment value to them, sitting safe and warm in the back.

Surveyor11

Came round by Westmanstown on my new commute to city west- slippy In places - fair play to the fella I passed in Gaa shorts! Bike lanes at Lucan slippy heading towards city west from Lucan

Jawgap

Surveyor11 wrote: »

Came round by Westmanstown on my new commute to city west- slippy In places - fair play to the fella I passed in Gaa shorts! Bike lanes at Lucan slippy heading towards city west from Lucan

I noticed a few of the GAA shorts-wearing brigade out this morning.......one even looked disdainfully at me in Drumcondra,* muffled up as I was......They must be proper cyclists to go around like that.




*I was about to compliment him on the leggings he was wearing that matched perfectly the blue Felt he was on, then I realised he was wearing Meath GAA shorts.

markpb

fletch wrote: »

Its funny as I have seen the council out gritting a good few times already this year when I thought there was no need. I wasn't out in the car last night so not sure if they did grit but it certainly didn't seem like they did this morning.

To be fair to them, it has to be put out before it gets cold enough to freeze. If they waited until later, it wouldn't be effective. This means it'll be wasted sometimes but it's the only way to do it.

daragh_

Deansgrange, Rock Road into town was fine about 8.30.

Canal up to Suir Bridge had a few sketchy patches, especially around Harold's X. Suir Bridge junction was very dodgy. Lot's of slippy patches.

Dermot Illogical

I turned back this morning when I met a busy road covered in ice and found I had zero grip. The road was completely iced up, with no grip anywhere. I went home, got changed and then returned to a bus stop on the same road. As I was standing waiting for my bus I saw a lady cycling a high nelly type bike with a small unprotected child high up on a rear seat. My heart was in my mouth as I watched them slowly progress towards a series of icy speedbumps followed by enough of a descent to force the use of brakes. I'm hoping her tyres, and skillz, were a lot better than mine had been a few minutes previously. The bus came along just in time to stop me witnessing what I had convinced myself was inevitable.
While I don't believe helmets are a cure-all, and I vehemently resent attempts to force adults to wear them, I do believe that this particular lady was mad not to put one on the child given the conditions. She was mad to cycle that road in any event tbh.

davidsatelle100

I had quite a few near misses in ballyfermot\inchicore this morning. found myself taking it very handy the whole way in am not looking forward the the return journey this evening when the sun is down and i can't see anything

Seaswimmer

dermo1990 wrote: »

Icy in the bike lane part of the bus lane on the rock road heading toward the city. Witnessed a few close calls there this morning

glad I only read this now.. I went along there at my usual pace about 8.30 but didnt see anything..

ignorance is bliss..

colm_gti

Thank god for this thread! Spotted it during my routine morning update on the iphone from the comfort of my duvet, decided it was too risky and that I'd just work from home today, and subsequently turned over for my second sleep...

Thank you again boards.ie....

cdaly_

fletch wrote: »

Its funny as I have seen the council out gritting a good few times already this year when I thought there was no need. I wasn't out in the car last night so not sure if they did grit but it certainly didn't seem like they did this morning.

markpb wrote: »

To be fair to them, it has to be put out before it gets cold enough to freeze. If they waited until later, it wouldn't be effective. This means it'll be wasted sometimes but it's the only way to do it.

It was certainly predicted yesterday afternoon so the councils would have seen it coming. I didn't see any gritting going on out my way last night.

Road temperatures were a bit lower than predicted in one or two spots but were pretty much as predicted elsewhere in Dublin.

AdMMM

First time cycling in the ice. Didn't even realise there was ice about until I mounted the bike and took my first pedal out of the drive and pretty much drifted around the corner.

Came off a few minutes later when I discovered how much of a no-no it is to apply any pressure to the back brake in ice. I was actually happy to take a fall because there was a cyclist with a child on the back just behind me and he immediately slowed down when he saw me fall.

After that I was fine, the camber on the road seemed to be forcing me to slowly drift towards the kerb on the Clonskeagh road but I just took it easy and it was grand. Saw a lot of cyclists walking with their bike today. Hope the week gets better.

Lumen

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

I turned back this morning when I met a busy road covered in ice and found I had zero grip. The road was completely iced up, with no grip anywhere. I went home, got changed and then returned to a bus stop on the same road. As I was standing waiting for my bus I saw a lady cycling a high nelly type bike with a small unprotected child high up on a rear seat. My heart was in my mouth as I watched them slowly progress towards a series of icy speedbumps followed by enough of a descent to force the use of brakes. I'm hoping her tyres, and skillz, were a lot better than mine had been a few minutes previously. The bus came along just in time to stop me witnessing what I had convinced myself was inevitable.
While I don't believe helmets are a cure-all, and I vehemently resent attempts to force adults to wear them, I do believe that this particular lady was mad not to put one on the child given the conditions. She was mad to cycle that road in any event tbh.

She apparently had no problems cycling a road which utterly defeated you, and still you think you know better. :pac:

cdaly_

davidsatelle100 wrote: »

I had quite a few near misses in ballyfermot\inchicore this morning. found myself taking it very handy the whole way in am not looking forward the the return journey this evening when the sun is down and i can't see anything

I wouldn't worry too hard. The roads will warm up nicely with the clear skies and they shouldn't go below zero until well after dark. Last night it was around 10pm or later that roads went below zero...

Dermot Illogical

Lumen wrote: »

She apparently had no problems cycling a road which utterly defeated you, and still you think you know better. :pac:

I hope so, and yes.

Rasmus

Lumen wrote: »

She apparently had no problems cycling a road which utterly defeated you, and still you think you know better. :pac:

A child on a bike without a helmet on a summer's day is bad enough, but on icy roads?! It is one thing if the kid is cycling the bike and has some control over their fall or their dismount, but a kid in a carrier is strapped in and has no chance but to be slammed onto the road. It's a completely irresponsible thing to do.

Lumen

Rasmus wrote: »

A child on a bike without a helmet on a summer's day is bad enough

Don't be ridiculous.

Rasmus

Lumen wrote: »

Don't be ridiculous.

Care to explain why you think that?

Jawgap

Rasmus wrote: »

A child on a bike without a helmet on a summer's day is bad enough, but on icy roads?! It is one thing if the kid is cycling the bike and has some control over their fall or their dismount, but a kid in a carrier is strapped in and has no chance but to be slammed onto the road. It's a completely irresponsible thing to do.

......aaaaaaaaaaand we're off.....

Lumen

Rasmus wrote: »

Care to explain why you think that?

Cycling is not dangerous. A child carried on a bike is therefore not in any danger.

MB Lacey

Seaswimmer wrote: »

glad I only read this now.. I went along there at my usual pace about 8.30 but didnt see anything..

ignorance is bliss..

Likewise, I cycled from Drimnagh to UCD (Crumlin Rd, canal, Ranelagh, Clonskeagh) no trouble.

Any tips and tricks for cycling in these conditions? Apart from take the bus, car :rolleyes:

Rasmus

Lumen wrote: »

Cycling is not dangerous. A child carried on a bike is therefore not in any danger.

Now that is just silly logic.

Lumen

Rasmus wrote: »

Now that is just silly logic.

The logic is perfect. You may disagree with the assumptions.

MB Lacey

pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaassseee - no helmet arguments again.
this could be a useful thread on black ice areas for commuters

Rasmus

MB Lacey wrote: »

pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaassseee - no helmet arguments again.
this could be a useful thread on black ice areas for commuters

No problem. I didn't know folks thought it was ok for kids to not wear helmets.

Lusk Doyle

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

I hope so, and yes.

Typical f'n malahider!

Lumen

Had no issues cycling in from Clonsilla-Castleknock-Phoenix Park-Dublin centre this morning around 08.15, running 23mm Conti GP4000S@100psi.

Since my skillz are not mad, I'm guessing guess conditions vary considerably and there isn't black ice everywhere.

Also, Dublin is not Ireland.

dubmess

MB Lacey wrote: »

Likewise, I cycled from Drimnagh to UCD (Crumlin Rd, canal, Ranelagh, Clonskeagh) no trouble.

Any tips and tricks for cycling in these conditions? Apart from take the bus, car :rolleyes:

I came down the Crumlin Road today at 9.30 and it was still icy in the cycle lane. Pretty sketchy in a couple of places, was very glad when the two 18 wheelers had to turn off before the canal as I was not feeling the safest trundling along beside them with varying degrees of grip.

No gritting apparent at any point between Crumlin Road until I got to Christchurch, I had also seen gritting a few times earlier in the year when it seemed unneeded, was cursing the corpo this morning as I came in.

Tips for cycling in the ice, don't turn, don't use your brakes, I actually find riding my fixed gear good in slippy conditions as you can really feel the back wheel move under you and modulate your braking using your legs. (with front brake!)

ROK ON

Ditto D15.
Cycled thru the Park at 650 this morning.
Not as cold as I though. Plenty of frost but I did not come across any black ice.
Stayed on the road as opposed to bike path as road was more used.
Took it handy at roundabouts.
Had new GP4000s pumped 120 at rear and 110 front.

(hopefully I haven't jinxed the rest of my commutes now).

Planet X

120?????

Lusk Doyle

Planet X wrote: »

120?????

What's the problem?

Planet X

There isn't a problem.

ROK ON

Planet X wrote: »

120?????

As you should know, there is a lot of downward pressure exerted on my rear tyre - I'm terrified of getting pinch flats ;-)

CramCycle

Left this morning, seemed fine till exiting the estate, where I proceded to glide onto the main road before I found traction. Luckily unclipped and got ready for a fall that never occured. The rest of the trip was fine until I got to work, took it handy though.

monkeybutter

Lumen wrote: »

Cycling is not dangerous. A child carried on a bike is therefore not in any danger.

Is cycling on potentially icy roads dangerous?

The fact you didn't encounter any black ice isn't skill, thats why you don't need them.

It's called black ice as it's so hard to see it in the first place.

Lumen

monkeybutter wrote: »

Is cycling on potentially icy roads dangerous?

The fact you didn't encounter any black ice isn't skill, thats why you don't need them.

It's called black ice as it's so hard to see it in the first place.

I have commuted through the last four winters (including the two brutal ones) without once falling off my bike due to ice. It's really not that hard.

monkeybutter

Lumen wrote: »

I have commuted through the last four winters (including the two brutal ones) without once falling off my bike due to ice. It's really not that hard.

With a helmet on?

cdaly_

dubmess wrote: »

I came down the Crumlin Road today at 9.30 and it was still icy in the cycle lane. Pretty sketchy in a couple of places, was very glad when the two 18 wheelers had to turn off before the canal as I was not feeling the safest trundling along beside them with varying degrees of grip.

I would have said behind them was the appropriate place to trundle along this morning...

monkeybutter

have you ever fallen off in general?

I have been commuting for 10 years, I have only ever come off once, that's on ice, and it was bone dry that day, far better than today, someone had just emptied a bucket or slopped out across the road and I didn't see it in the dark until it was too late, as it was clear on black.

Did I make a mistake or was it just luck? 50/50? Am I going to make a mistake every 50,000k or so? Yes. So it isn't hard to be safe, but it's not possible to be 100% safe, no matter how many skillz you have or I don't.