Black ice everywhere

lennymc

Beasty wrote: »

You can still do the turbo with a broken wrist ...

that sounds like a threat!!

Jawgap

I think if you go out and continue to cycle like the roads are bone dry then you will have an accident - but a few simple precautions minimise the risk.

that said, I found this morning much worse than previous mornings because I simply wasn't expecting it to be frosty or icy so out I came whizzed around the first corner and thought "oooh, look at all the sparkly white stuff!!" before I thought "shiiiiiiiiitttt!!" then slowed down and took it handy enough for the rest of spin.

07Lapierre

lennymc wrote: »

i guess im not prepared to lengthen a 2 hour commute, or take (what I consider to be) unneccesary risks. Left the house this morning, saw a van backwards in a ditch. Roads were bad up by me. Im not putting everything on hold tho - the turbo is nice and warm and i can watch the telly.

If your able to watch the TV while on the tubo, your not trying hard enough!

Wishbone Ash

lennymc wrote: »

no commuting for me if its frosty or icy!

Most of us don't have the option of staying at home if it's frosty or icy.

lennymc

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Most of us don't have the option of staying at home if it's frosty or icy.

sorry - I meant no commuting by bike for me if its icy or frosty.

Wishbone Ash

lennymc wrote: »

sorry - I meant no commuting by bike for me if its icy or frosty.

I knew that - I was just being mischievous!

07Lapierre

Found this, might help those who are new to winter cycling

Jawgap

lennymc wrote: »

While I admire the fact that so many of you are out and about on the bikes, are yis not worried that yis will come off and break something (like a collarbone or wrist, or even the bike), resulting in several weeks off the bike? I know I am, hence, no commuting for me if its frosty or icy. A broken anything would be a right nuisance for me and my preparation for next year. Turbo all the way!!

Definitely not @lennymc's kids.........

Lusk Doyle

lennymc wrote: »

Roads were bad up by me.

Tell them to clean up their act, or no Santa...that'll learn 'em!

Jawgap

lennymc wrote: »

...... Roads were bad up by me. Im ......

These roads? :pac::pac::pac:

They must have got worse after 6-00am!!!

monkeybutter

Jawgap wrote: »

These roads? :pac::pac::pac:

They must have got worse after 6-00am!!!

Thats some commute, 100k a day?

colm_gti

Jawgap wrote: »

These roads? :pac::pac::pac:

They must have got worse after 6-00am!!!

Fair play to you and Lenny with your 100km round trip commutes! I do a 60km round trip commute 2-3 days a week and it bores the b*llox off me seeing the same things every day! Thank god for podcasts or I'd have given it up by now!

Lusk Doyle

colm_gti wrote: »

Fair play to you and Lenny with your 100km round trip commutes! I do a 60km round trip commute 2-3 days a week and it bores the b*llox off me seeing the same things every day! Thank god for podcasts or I'd have given it up by now!

Warning - Friday thread alert!

Q: Should cyclists be legally prohibited from using earphones while riding a bike?

A: Yes.

A poll may be required...

Caroline_ie

The Ongar Road from Clonee was icey this morning. I had to turn back after I came off the fixie. Snow spiked tires FTW ...and turbo tonight.

colm_gti

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Warning - Friday thread alert!

Q: Should cyclists be legally prohibited from using earphones while riding a bike?

A: Yes.

A poll may be required...

I never once mentioned the use of earphones?

Plastik

Back tyre needs a little air, fatty.

colm_gti

Plastik wrote: »

Back tyre needs a little air, fatty.

Have you not seen the ice out there man, let some air out for traction

dewindygap

Hey Jawgap, completely off topic, I cycle that stretch of road from Walshestown to Blakes cross almost every day but would never have thought the gradient was downhill and so severe, likewise Pinnock Hill going up. Could it be just that the elevation map is so condensed?
Fair play to you on your commute. (now we all know where you live and work)

lennymc

Jawgap wrote: »

These roads? :pac::pac::pac:

They must have got worse after 6-00am!!!

hahaha. ill come visit ye in the lourdes !! (Im also much more northerly than you ) Vans in ditches just outside my estate this morning.

what time do you leave at?

Jawgap

dewindygap wrote: »

Hey Jawgap, completely off topic, I cycle that stretch of road from Walshestown to Blakes cross almost every day but would never have thought the gradient was downhill and so severe, likewise Pinnock Hill going up. Could it be just that the elevation map is so condensed?
Fair play to you on your commute. (now we all know where you live and work)

No, it's not as severe as it looks - they're more like drags than hills.

lennymc wrote: »

hahaha. ill come visit ye in the lourdes !! (Im also much more northerly than you ) Vans in ditches just outside my estate this morning.

what time do you leave at?

I usually leave about 5-45 to 6-00am and in the interests of transparency, today was not a fun day on that stretch - especially the new, recently re-surfaced bit south of Balbriggan which seems prone to frosting - had a couple of wobbles there and again between Murtagh's and Blakes Cross.

......also I got the bus home this evening - hit a bar or metal strapping in Santry and blew front and rear tubes. Replaced them both then as I was pumping the rear one I snapped the valve insert but I had enough air on board to get into town. After that I thought feck it, bus for me in the afternoon.

Will probably give it a miss tomorrow if it's like this morning.

Consey

Not early enough for me I'm afraid. Took a heavy fall on corner just before 7:45am just after first roundabout into park on Castleknock side, just after crossing the first road at the roundabout where the bike path veers left to go back parrallel with the main road.

On the left turn crashed down on my left side. left arm grazed, left leg big bruised but ribs very sore on left side. Ok as long as I don't cough, laugh or sneeze.

Winded me as well, but as I sit here now, relieved it wasn't much worse given the other injuries I've heard about.

I normally go on main road in the park when I suspect ice is about, but it caught me out today, because it was dark I just didn't spot it - classic black ice. As it got brighter I saw there was ice everywhere on the cycle lanes and though I gingerly continued my journey on the main road (to the side - not holding anyone up) I was getting beeped my angry drivers !!!!

Will be taking the bus for next few days until I'm able to breath more easily and stretch to hold the handlebars again - much as I hate taking the bus it shook me this morning, more than the previous couple of times I've come off over the last few years. Mainly because I had no time to brace myself even, went over before I knew it.

As LennyMc says on this thread, worth balancing the convenience of the commute versus the possibility of an injury keeping you out for a while. For me, if there's any doubt about ice on the roads, I will stick to Navan Rd into town. It will be slower etc but better lit and more chance of anticpating problems. Will prob get squashed by a 39 bus now !


Please be careful out there - especially barrelling down Phoenix Park bike lanes.

Lumen wrote: »

Looks like the OPW salted the corners on the cycle tracks in the Phoenix Park this morning.

Perhaps they've been reading this thread.

lennymc

Consey wrote: »

Not early enough for me I'm afraid. Took a heavy fall on corner just before 7:45am just after first roundabout into park on Castleknock side, just after crossing the first road at the roundabout where the bike path veers left to go back parrallel with the main road.

are you on a mtb, with full yellow jacket? I saw someone standing just there with their bike this morning, who looked like he had just fallen and got up (other cyclists were stopping to see if he was ok) If it wasnt you, it looked like someone else had a tumble there aswell.

billyhead

Consey wrote: »

Not early enough for me I'm afraid. Took a heavy fall on corner just before 7:45am just after first roundabout into park on Castleknock side, just after crossing the first road at the roundabout where the bike path veers left to go back parrallel with the main road.

On the left turn crashed down on my left side. left arm grazed, left leg big bruised but ribs very sore on left side. Ok as long as I don't cough, laugh or sneeze.

Winded me as well, but as I sit here now, relieved it wasn't much worse given the other injuries I've heard about.

I normally go on main road in the park when I suspect ice is about, but it caught me out today, because it was dark I just didn't spot it - classic black ice. As it got brighter I saw there was ice everywhere on the cycle lanes and though I gingerly continued my journey on the main road (to the side - not holding anyone up) I was getting beeped my angry drivers !!!!

Will be taking the bus for next few days until I'm able to breath more easily and stretch to hold the handlebars again - much as I hate taking the bus it shook me this morning, more than the previous couple of times I've come off over the last few years. Mainly because I had no time to brace myself even, went over before I knew it.

As LennyMc says on this thread, worth balancing the convenience of the commute versus the possibility of an injury keeping you out for a while. For me, if there's any doubt about ice on the roads, I will stick to Navan Rd into town. It will be slower etc but better lit and more chance of anticpating problems. Will prob get squashed by a 39 bus now !


Please be careful out there - especially barrelling down Phoenix Park bike lanes.

Wise man. Not worth been out for an extended period. Was taken down by black ice myself and won't see any action on the bike for a few more weeks due to my injurys. Really frustrating not being able to get out on the bike:(

Consey

lennymc wrote: »

are you on a mtb, with full yellow jacket? I saw someone standing just there with their bike this morning, who looked like he had just fallen and got up (other cyclists were stopping to see if he was ok) If it wasnt you, it looked like someone else had a tumble there aswell.

Nope, wasn't me. Was on a road bike with orange jacket. Looks like there was more than one then, unsurprising. Had pannier on one side which looking back didn't help!

I did get help from one chap which was much appreciated!

fletch

Caroline_ie wrote: »

The Ongar Road from Clonee was icey this morning. I had to turn back after I came off the fixie. Snow spiked tires FTW ...and turbo tonight.

It only looked bad on the cycle lane on the South side of the road....the actual road was fine when I cycled it (approx 7.40am)
Were you using the cycle lane on the South side of the road....maybe I was just lucky.

kenmc

There was no frost on the cars with me (goatstown) this morning, so took the road bike - was fine, didn't notice any grip issues thankfully.
Have the parts for a new commuter on the way though, which will make essentially a road 29"er for commuting... bring it!!!

bcmf

Jawgap wrote: »

new, recently re-surfaced bit south of Balbriggan which seems prone to frosting - had a couple of wobbles there and again between Murtagh's and Blakes Cross.

Was on this road at 5am this morn and it was fine. Wasnt till I hit the back road at the airport that the temps seem to drop and accompanied by a biting S/SW wind.

Caroline_ie wrote: »

The Ongar Road from Clonee was icey this morning. I had to turn back after I came off the fixie. Snow spiked tires FTW ...and turbo tonight.

I think the whole of D15 seemed lethal his morn with St. Mochta's and surronding area lethal with black ice.

Consey

fletch wrote: »

It only looked bad on the cycle lane on the South side of the road....the actual road was fine when I cycled it (approx 7.40am)
Were you using the cycle lane on the South side of the road....maybe I was just lucky.

Was on the North side, i.e. left side heading inwards. Only became apparent how icy it was when it lightened a bit.

OldBean

Went out to 'test' the new bike I'd just put together for herself. Thought I was about to go through a smashed bottle before I realised.

It's pretty damn icy out there already, stay safe!

Max_Charger

OldBean wrote: »

It's pretty damn icy out there already, stay safe!

Yup, down in west cork they've taken the roads in for the night when the weather gets bad like this, keep em in a big warehouse in Bantry. They'll have the roads back out by tomorrow.