Snow!

Yes, I rode down Archway wich was fine. The roads round my house are unrideable so had to push the Archway road. Was fine after that.

Last night was a nightmare though. My rear wheel was spinning in parts up Archway.

What I did notice though that while riding in the middle of the road (wich was still icy as fuck) that the cars behind were really quite considerate and didnt hastle at all. Cheers London drivers (for once).

Had exactly the same experience. Though I found the bus drivers liked to drive on my tail as always. I was trying not to think. If I lose it now, the bus wont be able to stop in time and I will have 50 odd tons on top of my head. So I started skidding my rear wheel deliberately and making it look like I could come off any second until the fucker backed off

Old Street was pretty scary this morning, especially around the fire station. One poor old fella wiped out in the middle of the road but was fine.

Shift in the Gulf Stream? Global cooling? It's winter. It gets cold.

What next? Claims of global darkening at around 10 past 4 this afternoon? Instantly refuting this mornings claims of global lightening?

lol

people should get out there with their video camera's and get a you've been framed montage of spills on the ice

£250 for each clip
new bike in next to no time

Next job, strap on the head cam.

people should get out there with their video camera's and get a you've been framed montage of spills on the ice

£250 for each clip
new bike in next to no time

I heard somebody say it was a shift in the gulf stream?

I live at a latitude of 67 degrees. The gulf stream keeps things mild though. If I compare our -5C winters with Alaska. The effect of the Gulf steream becomes obvious. If it stops flowing up here I'm moving ;)

This is very true - I had some absolute knobbers in vans and cars driving past me at 30 down Camden Street this morning when I was deliberately avoiding the cycle lane because it was full of ice, so I rode in the middle of the lane all the way after that. One bit of ice when you're that close and you could be under.

I wonder at what point HTFU becomes blind stupidity and dangerous advice. Today it might be possible to ride if you can get to a main road and stay on it and don't foresee any problem with vehicles giving you enough space (bear in mind that whilst you might be able to control your bike they might not be able to control their car/van).

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6977143.ece

I have a question about this article. Last year the snow in London was the worst in like 40 years, but this year its the last 23 years. Surely to be accurate it should say the worst snow since last year????

Last years figure is based on memory, so i may be wrong. it also seemed worse last year.

Just don't lean too much when reading the newspapers and you'll be all right.

A new tip to add to the anti-lean stuff is not to go near the kerb. If there's ice anywhere, it's where the car tyres haven't been... right up against the kerb.

I saw a couple of cyclists leave the centre of the road attempting to undertake and then stack it. But having stayed in the centre I didn't have any problem beyond the road outside of my home.

This is a very good tip and also forms part of the advice given on positioning even for non-icy conditions, as debris generally accumulates where the streets are not swept by car tyres.

Let me get this straight... What you're saying is that the best place to ride is where the cars have been, and not on the sides where there is lots of ice and stuff and stay upright whilst cornering?

Had exactly the same experience. Though I found the bus drivers liked to drive on my tail as always. I was trying not to think. If I lose it now, the bus wont be able to stop in time and I will have 50 odd tons on top of my head. So I started skidding my rear wheel deliberately and making it look like I could come off any second until the fucker backed off

A typical London double-decker bus is about 15t unladen. (Pointless point of information.)

It does seem common sensical. But my observations of people are that mostly they are fucking idiots

A typical London double-decker bus is about 15t unladen. (Pointless point of information.)

I think thats a moot point though once it has crushed me to death

Let me get this straight... What you're saying is that the best place to ride is where the cars have been, and not on the sides where there is lots of ice and stuff and stay upright whilst cornering?

Balki, you're following perfectly, except that you missed out that you should of course try to corner without leaning at all.

I think thats a moot point though once it has crushed me to death

This is exactly why I flagged my point up as pointless. :)

I've got it. I've got it! I'VE GOT IT!!

The foolproof way to corner when conditions are icey, is to lean AWAY from the corner that you're turning into.

Smarties for breakfast FTW!

or even slow down and ask some peds to hold you as you lean

hey tommy you must have broken out your balaclava for the rides over the last few days ? am i right or am i right ?

Anyone familiar with the flocking process?

Was perfectly dressed for sub -10C this morning, but my eyelids were bloody freezing. I figure I buy water soluble glue and some short fibers (in green and orange, as I'm a autumm shades guy), and flock my eyelids for insulation. Genious!*

*..or not

hey tommy you must have broken out your balaclava for the rides over the last few days ? am i right or am i right ?

I think I might if I were doing an overnight ride in the country but I have not found it necessary over the past few days riding around London. So I am afraid no, your assertion is wrong.

YMMV

So just to clarify I was wondering if I had this right.

...There's some stupid cow walks straight onto the Zebra crossing ...

ouch!

I commuted to Watford this morning, about 8 miles from my house. Like most are saying the main roads are fine just the backroads are a bit icey. I find it much better riding brakeless fixed in the snow/ice, you can feel straight away if you're going to slide out when you lock your legs whereas with a brake on my 24 I found once you've pulled the lever it's normally too late. Keep vertical.

Let me get this straight... What you're saying is that the best place to ride is where the cars have been, and not on the sides where there is lots of ice and stuff and stay upright whilst cornering?

one word: mud guards

that's two.