This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I think you might be right on the lifting of crap out of the surface. If they are putting a water disperser in the salt that would almost certainly contain or act as a detergent which would lift the oils and possibly even leech out some of the tar from the surface.

So many reports of slips this year I wonder if they have changed the formula, tho I had a big off last year that I still maintain was down to the post-salt pre-rain sludge.

i was pondering a change in formula on the rider down thread

Roads have definitely got something going on...Came off on a slow corner on the CS1 lastnight.... Fucked it...

Amazing people stopped to help and got a pal to give me a lift to hospital. An hour and a half without pain relief as there was an admin mistake... Bad times. Then reset by three folks and I am back on Wednesday to see if it needs pins.

Bike is fine, couple of scratches, wrist is totally shattered and thumb was dislocated

Let me know if I should take the picture down... It's pretty gruesome

Is it me or are the roads super greasy atm? Was skidding unintentionally all evening then slid out at full chat while going round the Bend at Elephant. Thankfully only another bike behind me so only superficial damage to clothes and skin, but scary nonetheless. I'm running Gators - how have people found them in slimy conditions before?

*

Ouch! Heal fast.

Is this only in South London, then, perhaps only where Southwark Council treated the roads? I haven't noticed anything like this north of the river, and none of the reports seem to be from here.

Hope this has all been/is all being washed away today.

Mine was up Stoke Newington

Ah, I missed that. I haven't noticed any gritting or other winter preparation up here, so perhaps it's unrelated? Either way, heal up soon!

I was on roads maintained by Bromley.

Is the gritting down to each council or does someone like tfl or the highways agency take control of it centrally.

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/what-we-do/roads

depends which roads...

i have asked tfl via twitter if the road salt forumula has changed

Poor @Sparky

Does he run their twitter account?

NW too. 10 mile commute on motorbike, not again till I see the roads bone dry. Swiss cottage was..interesting in these road conditions. Bike ahead of me had a full on tank slapper that was thankfully saved.

Don't really want to talk about work on here, or talk on behalf of work. But if anyone wants to know more about gritting or anything like that drop me a DM.

I'll throw my hat into the ring on the slippery road surfaces. Turns out my chum, who's been the recent recipient of a cycle2work bike, took a tumble Greenwich way. Said his rear wheel just slipped wildly. He was a bit shook-up. He informs me pedestrians & following cyclists were v.attentive. Tis the season. Or something?!?

Simply put, TfL are the highway authority for the Red Routes and councils for the other streets. (Highways England are also a statutory highway authority, but for very few roads in London, and certainly none that you can cycle on.) (There are some exceptions to this rule even as far as TfL and councils are concerned.)

Cheers, so a fairly global problem (London = The Globe). I also realised I missed that Mason7am first slid off at Newington Green and then on CS1, Wordsworth Road or Nevill Road, I assume.

Has everyone considered cycle training?

I bet James hasn't.

i am become cycle training

The sludgy surface is also noticeable in a car. Lots of wheel spin at junctions and strange moments with a brief loss of grip. Thank goodness for the 2tonne steel shell.

Cycled home in a t shirt last night, cautiously due to slippery roads, still sweating at the other end. So mild still.

It was Bethune Road towards Seven Sisters