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Are you prepared for the snow?

Started by Colin Blackburn · · Last activity · 48 posts · 1,788 views

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UK and Europe
Published
27 January 2004
Last activity
31 January 2004
Original author
Colin Blackburn
Posts
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  1. Well, the Gruaniad asked several people, one of whom was John Snow.

    "Jon Snow, newsreader I'm looking for nobblier tyres for my bicycle - I cycle to work every day. And
    I shall also be looking for an extra layer of clothing. I haven't yet decided whether to go for
    longjohns and a vest, or extra layers on top. I could get the old silk ski gloves out but I'll
    probably just rely on my Spitfire scarf. Will I be eating porridge? I love porridge. Let's think
    about that ... No, I won't cycle far enough to burn it off. Here in the Channel 4 offices we are so
    far below ground that it could be high summer and we wouldn't even know it. It certainly won't be as
    bad as the coldest weather I ever encountered - during Reagan's inauguration in January 1985, when I
    had to borrow my partner's tights."

    From: guardian.co.uk0,2763,1131869,00.html

    For what it's worth we've had snow up here in Co. Durham on and off for the whole of January:

    ximenes.org.uksnow.html

    Colin
    --

  2. Colin Blackburn said:

    For what it's worth we've had snow up here in Co. Durham on and off for the whole of January:

    Weather, like fuel stoppages , strikes and congestion are only ever of any concern if it
    affects London!

    --
    Marc. Please note the above address is a spam trap, use marcc to reply Printing for clubs of all
    types jaceeprint.demon.co.ukjaceeprint.demon.co.uk Stickers, banners & clothing, for clubs,teams, magazines
    and dealers.

  3. Colin Blackburn said:

    For what it's worth we've had snow up here in Co. Durham on and off for the whole of January:

    Where do you live? The in-laws have a cottage in Weardale and have cancelled this week's trip!

  4. Colin Blackburn said:

    ximenes.org.uksnow.html

    Colin

    Lovely pics. I miss snow. I think we used to get it down here.

    Simon

  5. On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 10:41:57 -0000, in
    <[email hidden]>, Colin Blackburn

    Quoted message said:

    ximenes.org.uksnow.html

    was wall6.jpg taken on the C2C route?
    --
    I remember when the internet was only in black & white. It only had a few pages but at least they
    all worked. Email: Put only the word "richard" before the @ sign.

  6. Simonb said:
    Colin Blackburn said:

    ximenes.org.uksnow.html

    Colin

    Lovely pics. I miss snow. I think we used to get it down here.

    Yes, your making a few of us thoroughly jealous ;-)

    --
    _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a
    one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.

  7. Its snowing up here in Manchester. I guess that means I will have to cancel my weekend ride. I can't ride in snow 🙁

  8. Quoted post said:

    Originally posted by davebee
    Its snowing up here in Manchester. I guess that means I will have to cancel my weekend ride. I can't ride in snow 🙁


    Why? Get on an MTB or cyclo cross bike and ride on quiet roads. Snow makes your usual rides more fun; its not often that you can get a bike to travel sideways without falling off! You actualy get a lot of traction in snow you just have to watch out for highly compacted snow or ice underneath. If you go into your local woods the ground will be hard and the snow will provide additional traction resulting in very fast conditions.

    If you only have one bike, like a road bike, why not go into the local park and play around in fresh snow. Snow isn't too bad for your bike and you'll be able to do things with your bike you can't normaly.

    Every problem is an opportunity.

    If you really don't like snow, support your local facilities and use the track or have a go at BMX or cycle speedway. There is bound to be something on and you'll be able to borrow a bike from most venues if you ask nice enough. If you want to cycle lots there is really no excuse for not going to the velodrome.

  9. "davebee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Its snowing up here in Manchester. I guess that means I will have to


    cancel

    Quoted message said:

    my weekend ride. I can't ride in snow 🙁

    So close to Altrincham? No excuses! ;-)

    (windcheetah.co.ukwindcheetah.co.uk)

    --
    Guy
    ===

    WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
    chapmancentral.demon.co.ukchapmancentral.demon.co.uk

  10. Reply to Just zis Guy, you know?

    Quoted message said:


    So close to Altrincham? No excuses! ;-)

    (windcheetah.co.ukwindcheetah.co.uk)

    The *best* end to a long and dreadful day at work: I came home in the Windcheetah at 11p.m. last
    night, through thick snow. I enjoyed it so much, I took the long way round.

    I got bogged down on the cobbles at the end of my road, with the rear wheel spinning uselessly. I
    was determined not to be defeated, so I reached forward and turned the front wheels by hand while
    still pedalling. It worked - I never knew that they came with 3x3 drive ;-)

    [I am at present A Smug Git AICMFP...]

    --
    Mark, UK. If you give me six lines written by the most honest man, I will find something in them to
    hang him. - Richelieu

  11. you know? said:


    So close to Altrincham? No excuses! ;-)

    (windcheetah.co.ukwindcheetah.co.uk)

    I tried the ICE XL in the snow, and it went, but very slowly. Would need to arrange more traction at
    the back if I'm to get anywhere far on it.

    - Richard

    --
    _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a
    one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.

  12. Richard Corfield said:
    you know? said:


    So close to Altrincham? No excuses! ;-)

    (windcheetah.co.ukwindcheetah.co.uk)

    I tried the ICE XL in the snow, and it went, but very slowly. Would need to arrange more traction
    at the back if I'm to get anywhere far on it.

    Was much better tonight - ice with a thin coating.

    - Richard

    --
    _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a
    one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.

  13. Mark McN said:


    The *best* end to a long and dreadful day at work: I came home in the Windcheetah at 11p.m. last
    night, through thick snow. I enjoyed it so much, I took the long way round.

    Last winter when it was snowed I was very late for work - because I got 90% of teh way there, and
    turned round to go back and forth again
    - having gone the longer traffic-free route in teh first place.
    :-)

    Quoted message said:

    I got bogged down on the cobbles at the end of my road, with the rear wheel spinning uselessly. I
    was determined not to be defeated, so I reached forward and turned the front wheels by hand while
    still pedalling. It worked - I never knew that they came with 3x3 drive ;-)

    When I tried that with the trice, I just got three spinning wheels (but I wasn't very co-ordinated
    with my propulsion, since was reaching through/around mudguards and brackets, and was a little
    nervous that slightly numbed fingers might be a little less dextrous and get guillotined). Also,
    when I was defeated and got off it was rather a struggle getting up teh (short) slope in question
    even on foot pulling the trice.

    Oh, and the fact that it was shod with slicks may have contributed to my failure on teh slope - but
    they certainly made the behaviour on teh flat more fun.

    Unfortunately, I'm invalided out of anything but looking out the window at the moment - and we've
    just had our first snow.

    regards, Ian SMith
    --
    |\ /| no .sig
    |o o|
    |/ \|

  14. Richard Corfield said:

    I tried the ICE XL in the snow, and it went, but very slowly. Would need to arrange more traction
    at the back if I'm to get anywhere far on it.

    Naah, just keep pedalling - you get lots of wheelspin, but on teh flat you do eventually get up to
    speed. I've got slicks on teh front and standard marathon on teh back - I guess a slick on teh back
    might be a struggle.

    When you've got up to speed, full on with the parking brake, full lock with the steering, lean as
    far over as you can (into teh turn, not out of it), and you can get almost 360 degrees round.

    Make sure you lean, and don't let the leading front wheel (while travelling sideways) drop into
    a pot-hole.

    regards, Ian SMith
    --
    |\ /| no .sig
    |o o|
    |/ \|

  15. Richard Corfield said:

    I tried the ICE XL in the snow, and it went, but very slowly. Would need to arrange more traction
    at the back if I'm to get anywhere far on it.

    Prolly more reassuring than my Stelvio-shod sports recumbent bike riding home this evening.

    Guy
    ===
    May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
    chapmancentral.demon.co.ukchapmancentral.demon.co.uk

  16. Ian Smith said:
    Richard Corfield said:

    I tried the ICE XL in the snow, and it went, but very slowly. Would need to arrange more
    traction at the back if I'm to get anywhere far on it.

    Naah, just keep pedalling - you get lots of wheelspin, but on teh flat you do eventually get up to
    speed. I've got slicks on teh front and standard marathon on teh back - I guess a slick on teh back
    might be a struggle.

    Presumably selecting a higher gear will help (if the "engine" can handle it) by reducing the torque
    and therefore the tendancy to exceeed the wossname of friction.

    Tim

  17. Tim Hall said:


    Presumably selecting a higher gear will help (if the "engine" can handle it) by reducing the
    torque and therefore the tendancy to exceeed the wossname of friction.

    Had some fun last night. Both higher gear, but not too high, and being careful with applied
    pedalling torque helped. I got away with very little wheelspin.

    I was amazed at how well I could slow down in control on ice using the brakes carefuly, even with
    thick gloves on and slicks on the front. Independant brakes help a lot there too, and I was able to
    feel the wheels starting to lock up and manage the braking pressure accordingly.

    Applying the parking brake just into a turn is very effective, but I chickened out and did it very
    verly slowly and not for long, probably only 45 degrees round if that. It needs smooth ice, which we
    had plenty of on our back roads. My instinct was to turn into the skid though and correct it.

    I also noticed that I'm pushing up the hill near our house (was gritted, so no ice problem) at
    higher speed in higher gear than I used to, so you can go quite well up hills on them when you've
    built your legs up.

    - Richard

    --
    _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a
    one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.

  18. "Colin Blackburn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Am I prepared for the snow? F**k no, not when it's all turned to solid ice
    :-(. The impossible is not possible! The recumbent trices might be smug,
    but give me some studded winter tyres!

    Rich

  19. In article <[email hidden]>,

    Tony W said:

    Clearly the guy who drove his Polo into the front of my house at 4:30 this morning hadn't seen
    ice before.

    Not even floating in a glass?

    Quoted message said:

    About 25 to 30 sq ft of brickwork on the front room carpet.

    A polo could do that??? Doesn't say much for building standards: I take it your house is from the
    era of Deeply Shoddy Construction we've had for the last 100 years or so in this country?

    Sympathy:-(

    --
    Nick Kew

  20. Richard Goodman said:

    "Colin Blackburn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Am I prepared for the snow? F**k no, not when it's all turned to solid ice
    :-(. The impossible is not possible! The recumbent trices might be smug,
    but give me some studded winter tyres!

    Now studded winter tyres on a trice would be interesting.

    Its all melted round here, so no problem on anything. Very windy though. The trike rider is to some
    extent out of it being low down, but the flag pole isn't. Depending on the weather I'll be on the
    upright tomorrow, as that can fit on a train.

    - Richard

    --
    _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a
    one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.

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