To Ride Or Not To Ride? Slippy Snow Commute?

Put some 37s on my wet weather commuter. Take THAT, snow.
Main issue now is my glasses getting covered in snow and being unable to see without them.

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dglshrn can I haz that bicycle pleez?

Fiddy Dorrah?
It is a 'herne hill' frame after all

Riding Schwalbe Snow tyres at even medium pace seems to be an effective training session. Heavy as fuck and huuuuuge rolling resistance = proper workout.

There's something quite satisfying about rolling on huge tyres though, even in the dry. Takes effort to get going but then it's like riding a Volvo estate.

Or get a bike that you can feel comfortable on snow with.

Ice. Not snow. I perhaps felt a bit too comfortable on rando 37s, so no. It was just frightening how innocuous this bit of road looked whilst on a bike, only to discover it was actually 'black' ice, very hard to spot.

That battery is something to behold!

is that AFDS back again?

Ouch :(

I ended up cleaning massive grot out of everything as I noticed my chain turned NOOOO RUST ORANGE due to all the salt on the road. Grot on sprockets was so thick you'd think it was rubber.

Yay for clay soil...

Anyone else been gritted yet? I had my first of the year last night. I always find it quite entertaining, though it probably has the potential to be quite hazardous if you're not expecting it.

Anyone else been gritted yet? I had my first of the year last night. I always find it quite entertaining, though it probably has the potential to be quite hazardous if you're not expecting it.

Had it last Thursday night, first time ever! Got a nice cloud of salty dust in my face.

Yep, underneath the railway bridge at the Old St/Hackney Rd/Kingsland Rd junction. I was stuck in traffic at the lights, as was the gritter lorry, so I was gritted repeatedly.

It is quite worrying in a way, but the grit is spread horizontally at about knee height so gritted legs (if exposed) are probably the only negative outcome - not sure how you got it in your face se1derful?! I was glad of my Swrve trousers anyway.

My chain which was lovely and new about a month ago is also rust orange and crunchy. I put oil on it this morning but it needs some proper attention.

Have had no problem on 23mm tyres/fixed even down side roads, except for a local side road which is also an occasional bus route, where a bus decided to come up right behind me just as I realised I was basically riding on ice. Cue much 'get to f**k' hand signals...

Riding Schwalbe Snow tyres at even medium pace seems to be an effective training session. Heavy as fuck and huuuuuge rolling resistance = proper workout.

They were what I used for my 105 mile / nearly 8000ft climbing ride in December. Would've been fine* if my fucking seat collar hadn't been slowly failing and giving up nearly 2cm of saddle height over the course of 7 hours :/

*well, heavy and slow as fuck, but fine

Fiddy Dorrah?
It is a 'herne hill' frame after all

I think that is my old frame I never built up and sold on. Bought from someone off here about 2/3 years ago

Anyone know how bad Regent's Park outer circle is at the moment. I'm supposed to be test-riding some bikes tomorrow, and I'm not sure the bike shop will be pleased if I bring back a crashed or filthy bike.

as you leave your credit card for security they would probably be pleased at the instant sale

I suspect I'll end up postponing until the weather improves. Except we're in England, so that'll be never...

I'd just go for it. The roads in central London just aren't that bad. Stay on traffic routes.

I've been out riding every day and have not encountered any problems. Both my bikes have 23c slicks but it's definitely better on fixed.
Question is, random day off today and I'm about to head to Richmond park for a spin... I would imagine they have gritted there? Hopefully theres no black ice hidden round some of the corners. Anyone gone through there today?

Rush finished a 'winter bike' last night so I could commute today. I wimped out of taking the racer yesterday and had such a 'mare with trains and the like that I swore I would ride today whatever came down last night..
The roads immediately around where I live are not adopted by the local council so they don't get cleared or gritted - first 1/2 mile was therefore a mix of carrying, pushing and GOING VERY SLOWLY.. Once onto the main roads it was fine. Filthy but fine.
Some nice extra banter between cyclists today too - the advance warnings of "slippery bit around the corner mate" and the like were well appreciated.

The roads immediately around where I live are not adopted by the local council.

The snow killed my bike.

I came off on a descent and snapped a seat stay.

Now need new hack bike as a matter of priority.

Yep, underneath the railway bridge at the Old St/Hackney Rd/Kingsland Rd junction. I was stuck in traffic at the lights, as was the gritter lorry, so I was gritted repeatedly.

This is probably a good omen for improved grinta this coming season.

The roads immediately around where I live are not adopted by the local council

I did think twice about how to phrase that. My first attempt was 'the roads around where I live are all private' and I thought I would get something like your post..

We do have a gatekeeper at certain times of the day though!
/CSB