Warning-Black Ice on back roads around Swords

carltonleon

If anyone is going out on their bikes this morning, be careful as there is a lot of black ice on the backroads in Swords (Balheary,Roganstown etc).I lost the bike on it this morning and came crashing down. I am fine but just be careful.

RobFowl

Swords CC discovered this yesterday......

carltonleon

RobFowl wrote: »

Swords CC discovered this yesterday......

Hopefully nobody was injured ??
There was only 2 of us out this morning so I didn't have to worry about anybody crashing into the back of me as I was sliding along.

Lusk_Doyle

carltonleon wrote: »

Hopefully nobody was injured ??
There was only 2 of us out this morning so I didn't have to worry about anybody crashing into the back of me as I was sliding along.

I believe that 8 out of 10 riders went down. The other two battled for the sprint finish between themselves.

bcmf

carltonleon wrote: »

Hopefully nobody was injured ??
There was only 2 of us out this morning so I didn't have to worry about anybody crashing into the back of me as I was sliding along.

One is in hospital with a broken rib and a punctured lung and another has a cast on their hand.
Not sure about 2 others.

Carpenter

Fecking ice last year I met some on the way back from roundwood 3 months on crutches with a broken pelvis and 2 screws for company for the rest of my life mind yourself chaps

bcmf

^^^^^
Ouch.

Lusk_Doyle

bcmf wrote: »

One is in hospital with a broken rib and a punctured lung and another has a cast on their hand.
Not sure about 2 others.

Seriously? Who?

Beasty

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Seriously? Who?

This is not the place for discussing individuals involved in such an accident - I've PM'd you

Thanks

bcmf

Beasty wrote: »

This is not the place for discussing individuals involved in such an accident - I've PM'd you

Thanks

I pmed him already as I didnt want to name individuals in public.

RobFowl

bcmf wrote: »

I pmed him already as I didnt want to name individuals in public.

Who was the Swords rider who's getting legendary status for staying upright in the midst of absolute carnage?

bcmf

Sam?

Beasty

RobFowl wrote: »

Who was the Swords rider who's getting legendary status for staying upright in the midst of absolute carnage?

I can confirm I am completely unscathed ...

Lusk_Doyle

bcmf wrote: »

Sam?

This is not the place to speak about him!

Lusk_Doyle

RobFowl wrote: »

Who was the Swords rider who's getting legendary status for staying upright in the midst of absolute carnage?

I heard that he's learnt his "cornering" mad skilz from me!

Inquitus

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

I heard that he's learnt his "cornering" mad skilz from me!

You mean he got off and walked round the bend aye?

eoghan84

bcmf wrote: »

One is in hospital with a broken rib and a punctured lung and another has a cast on their hand.
Not sure about 2 others.

thats terrible - I didnt realise there was black ice yesterday. Damn I hope the guys recover quickly. Would you have any idea at what time it was because I didnt think it was cold enough yesterday morning

bcmf

eoghan84 wrote: »

thats terrible - I didnt realise there was black ice yesterday. Damn I hope the guys recover quickly. Would you have any idea at what time it was because I didnt think it was cold enough yesterday morning

I would imagine it would have been around 9-ish

learn

eoghan84 wrote: »

thats terrible - I didnt realise there was black ice yesterday. Damn I hope the guys recover quickly. Would you have any idea at what time it was because I didnt think it was cold enough yesterday morning

Lowest air temp for yesterday's 24 hours at Dublin Apt. was + 2.4 C and lowest grass/ground temp was + O.4 C. Must have been colder air pockets in the valleys.

Inquitus

learn wrote: »

Lowest air temp for yesterday's 24 hours at Dublin Apt. was + 2.4 C and lowest grass/ground temp was + O.4 C. Must have been colder air pockets in the valleys.

It's always colder from Naul down through Oldtown, I am guessing its the elevation and the fact they are a few km inland from the sea and it's warming effect.

Lusk_Doyle

Inquitus wrote: »

It's always colder from Naul down through Oldtown, I am guessing its the elevation and the fact they are a few km inland from the sea and it's warming effect.

There was still frost on the roof of my car at that time so those spots would no doubt have been worse.

NorthernRaider

Some horror stories there (punctured lung!) I feel for those seriously injured.

Begs the question, whether group rides are worth the risk?

Plastik

Does ice only attack the guys in groups?

NorthernRaider

Plastik wrote: »

Does ice only attack the guys in groups?

No, but your scope for manoeuvre is constrained, while the probability of being impaled by another's bike increases.

07Lapierre

NorthernRaider wrote: »

Some horror stories there (punctured lung!) I feel for those seriously injured.

Begs the question, whether group rides are worth the risk?

I think if I came down on ice, I'd prefer to have someone with me rather than be there on my own with a broken bone or whatever.

ragazzo

NorthernRaider wrote: »

No, but your scope for manoeuvre is constrained, while the probability of being impaled by another's bike increases.

No doubt you are winding me up!

I have yet to see somebody impaled on another riders bike after a fall. Punctured lung probably caused by a broken rib.

If you hit ice on the bike then you have a fairly good chance of hitting the deck whether alone or accompanied.

billyhead

The road between the Naul and Oldtown can be quite dangerous especially at the bends when their is a risk of frost or Ice. Best avoided at all costs until later in the day (if ice or frost exists) when it would hopefully have thawed out by the time you reach it, or sticking to main roads if you must go out early

midonogh

RobFowl wrote: »

Who was the Swords rider who's getting legendary status for staying upright in the midst of absolute carnage?

http://vimeo.com/79060007?fb_action_ids=3579189854306&fb_action_types=og_vimeo%3Aupload&fb_ref=og_api&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%223579189854306%22%3A437452076355462%7D&action_type_map=%7B%223579189854306%22%3A%22og_vimeo%3Aupload%22%7D&action_ref_map=%7B%223579189854306%22%3A%22og_api%22%7D

Go to 00.38 for an example of these legendary bike handling skills

07Lapierre

Is this where the Ice was?

midonogh

07Lapierre wrote: »

Is this where the Ice was?

Thats it. Makes me wince looking at it

RobFowl

midonogh wrote: »

http://vimeo.com/79060007?fb_action_ids=3579189854306&fb_action_types=og_vimeo%3Aupload&fb_ref=og_api&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%223579189854306%22%3A437452076355462%7D&action_type_map=%7B%223579189854306%22%3A%22og_vimeo%3Aupload%22%7D&action_ref_map=%7B%223579189854306%22%3A%22og_api%22%7D

Go to 00.38 for an example of these legendary bike handling skills

You are in my book...........

07Lapierre

midonogh wrote: »

Thats it. Makes me wince looking at it

I'm surprised you all got that far!..was there no ice at the bottom of the 3 sisters? here

We heeded Robfowl's warning and turned left at Naul and headed for ballyboughal.

It might be an idea to avoid the Naul-Oldtown section once the temp drops below 2 or 3 degrees.

Spokes of Glory

Agree......actually I think it should be more or less a permanent change through winter. If overnight temperatures have been any way low, that part of the route is a blackspot. The diversion we took was ideal. Why take the risk ?

Spokes

quozl

I'm only new to cycling so this has been properly informative! I was seriously considering heading up over the Sally Gap on Sunday morning after a club spin. Thankfully someone with a bit more experience talked me out of it.

Anyone able to give some guidelines on when you can risk the featherbeds and sally gap during the Winter?

Only after warm rain?
Only if it's 8 degrees or so at ground level? It's always a fair bit colder up there.
Or what?

I've honestly no idea and don't want to find out that I got it wrong while descending from there, but I also don't want to say goodbye to the Sally Gap till April! I'd cry.

buffalo

quozl wrote: »

I'm only new to cycling so this has been properly informative! I was seriously considering heading up over the Sally Gap on Sunday after a club spin. Thankfully someone with a bit more experience talked me out of it.

Sallygap was fine on Sunday. There's no fixed set of rules - the open part of the gap gets a lot more sun, so if it's just a bit of frost, it clears up quickly. Icy spots are trickier though. Just play it safe - if you're not sure, don't go. Stick to the lower coast roads instead.

quozl

buffalo wrote: »

Sallygap was fine on Sunday. There's no fixed set of rules - the open part of the gap gets a lot more sun, so if it's just a bit of frost, it clears up quickly. Icy spots are trickier though. Just play it safe - if you're not sure, don't go. Stick to the lower coast roads instead.

Thanks a lot, Buffalo. Hopefully next weekend will be OK so - I'm not going on the Club weekend away, so with luck I'll get up there.

The problem with the lower coast roads is that it's specifically the climbing that I want - I don't actually like climbing but I really do like having finished climbing. It's like that pleasure that you can get from stopping hitting yourself in the face...

07Lapierre

quozl wrote: »

I'm only new to cycling so this has been properly informative! I was seriously considering heading up over the Sally Gap on Sunday morning after a club spin. Thankfully someone with a bit more experience talked me out of it.

Anyone able to give some guidelines on when you can risk the featherbeds and sally gap during the Winter?

Only after warm rain?
Only if it's 8 degrees or so at ground level? It's always a fair bit colder up there.
Or what?

I've honestly no idea and don't want to find out that I got it wrong while descending from there, but I also don't want to say goodbye to the Sally Gap till April! I'd cry.

I wouldn't go near Sally Gap during the winter. Frost/ice tends to hang around a lot longer up there. even going up there later in the day is no guarantee that you won't come across some ice in the more sheltered parts. Its just not worth the risk.

Did you read this?

quozl

07Lapierre wrote: »

Did you read this?

I did I've already got quite a lot of metal work permenantly carried around in my head because of snow-boarding, I don't need any more.

However, there's that eternal struggle between what you should do and what you'd like to do and might just be able to get away with... Wife and kids now means that I have to be sensible so that'll win out.

Even Cruagh road and Stocking Hill are likely to be dangerous soon, right? There's plenty of shady corners on both of those

I used to like Winter, now I've just discovered that it's ****!

carltonleon

bcmf wrote: »

One is in hospital with a broken rib and a punctured lung and another has a cast on their hand.
Not sure about 2 others.

Nasty.
I am a bit sore this morning. I was just by Newtown Cottages when I came down.

eoghan84

quozl wrote: »

I'm only new to cycling so this has been properly informative! I was seriously considering heading up over the Sally Gap on Sunday morning after a club spin. Thankfully someone with a bit more experience talked me out of it.

Anyone able to give some guidelines on when you can risk the featherbeds and sally gap during the Winter?

Only after warm rain?
Only if it's 8 degrees or so at ground level? It's always a fair bit colder up there.
Or what?

I've honestly no idea and don't want to find out that I got it wrong while descending from there, but I also don't want to say goodbye to the Sally Gap till April! I'd cry.

last year on Nov 3, I came down past sally gap at glencre where the road is damp. the gap itself was grand etc. there were a group of walkers at the side of the road, who didnt give any warning (no love lost I suppose!) so I was in the middle of the road where it was worse and bam! that curl at glencre so is a spot where it can happen

detones

07Lapierre wrote: »

It might be an idea to avoid the Naul-Oldtown section once the temp drops below 2 or 3 degrees.

Better safe than sorry, over the winter however this will really impede my commute from Swords to Balrothery. Like to take the back roads to avoid the R132 and get an extra spin in. Its also the most scenic stretch along the route.

Wishbone Ash

On a slightly similar note today, there's a diesel spill all the way from Barnageera to Balbriggan Main Street. Take it handy!

bcmf

Rumours that in fact it wasn't black ice but Rob Fowl attempting one of legendary track stands at 30kph are as yet unfounded.

bcmf

So what's the new Sat route gonna be and more importantly where is the intermediate sprint gonna be!

RobFowl

bcmf wrote: »

Rumours that in fact it wasn't black ice but Rob Fowl attempting one of legendary track stands at 30kph are as yet unfounded.

If you weren't already there I'd be putting you in the book too......

07Lapierre

bcmf wrote: »

So what's the new Sat route gonna be and more importantly where is the intermediate sprint gonna be!

Unless you fit Mudguards there'll be no Sat spin for you!

bcmf

07Lapierre wrote: »

Unless you fit Mudguards there'll be no Sat spin for you!

No mudguards.EVER.
That is the reason I was sent to the back with The Lion of Fingal. We refuse to enter into this nonsense of mudguards!

Lusk_Doyle

RobFowl wrote: »

If you weren't already there I'd be putting you in the book too......

Is that your sexy book?

Beasty

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Is that your sexy book?

Yep - apparently you didn't make it ...

RobFowl

Beasty wrote: »

Yep - apparently you didn't make it ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V3SqxUomwk