Snowy roads

Had to go to Hastings today from East Grinstead. First laugh was the
bloke in the BMW 33D in the car park who couldn't get it out - it just
wheelspun, where the Subaru dove out smoothly.

Helped him get the thing out, though.

Then 20 miles of snowed-over roads. My, aren't decent 4WD cars a
revelation in conditions like that? There was a Renault Laguna in a
ditch[1], and on the way back, a Chelsea Tractor[1] on its side. Ho ho
ho.

[1] Best place for it.

 

Oh yuss. I took the CR-V out last night to collect daughter from the
town, and I passed loads of 2WD cars by just driving up the snowy bit in
the middle of the road. Much fun it was [1].

[1] mostly accompanied by me laughing loudly as I passed each one [2].
[2] and very much hoping I didn't make a fool of myself by sticking it
in a ditch.

 

(The Older Gentleman) wrote in

Coo

 

I've not managed to get my Merc 230 stuck yet, but I really, really
miss my old '91 Legacy sometimes. I'm almost certainly going to have
another Scoob as my next motor. Either a late '90s Forester or Impreza
wagon/Outback.

 

Was talking to a colleague up in the frozen North East today.

She reports that the Prius is hopeless in the snow - you can't turn off
the traction control, which cuts the power at the first sign of
slippage.

<checks weather forecast.... and hopes for snow this week>

'Sorry boss, can't get in, 'cos you've given me a useless heap of shite
as a company car'

 

I took the Tenere out for a short ride this afternoon and the roads
were fine where they'd been gritted but others (ours in particular)
were a bit grim because of packed snow that had turned into solid ice.

Wearing a combat jacket, jeans and trainers tends to concentrate your
mind really well when it comes to being aware of shit road conditions
but I wasn't going far enough to bother putting on loads of 'proper'
biking kit.

Ah well, stitches out of my hand tomorrow so I might go for a decent
ride on Tuesday to test out the new heated socks.

 

(SteveH) wrote in :

"walk to your nearest store and help stack the shelves as they are short
handed" would be my response

 

'I'll work from home' would be mine.

 

It rained here between 10pm & midnight yesterday. Then froze. I went out to
the car to get something and nearly ended up on my arse. No urgent need to
go anywhere today so didn't.

 

<Applause>

 

Had that problem because the front brake froze on while it was parked, no
problem since I figured out how to manage it - use the front brake
frequently on any clear roads to warm the pads up and jam a spanner behind
the fork leg and force the callipers in when I park.

The choke cable keeps freezing as well, so I have to remember to leave it on
when I park.

 

I had to go out yesterday, carefull navigated off the drive, around the
green (or where the green would be) and over the small bridge to leave
the ungritted island.

Main roads were no problem at all, side roads a little slippery on the
brakes (but no drama) and the motorway clear enough for 130+.

All great until I got back, rolled over the bridge, through some fresh
snow[1], slowed to cruise around the green and 'stop'. ****.

Full left lock, throttle, spin. Full right lock, throttle, spin. Left
and right with throttle, spin. All the same efforts in reverse yielded
similar results. Fifty feet from my drive.

Fortunately two of the neighbours were out shovelling snow so gave me a
nudge out of the ruts I'd nicely spun into concave ice wells.


[1] that's the clue that is.

 

Here too. Our road was a skating rink. I took the kids out to Gloucester
docks and went arse over tit on a patch of ice by the steam crane. Youngest
son spun round to see what was happening and fell over too. Good job the pub
was shut otherwise we'd have entertained a load of people.

Much kudos to the bloke I saw in a wheel chair there. He had found a big
frozen puddle and was using it as a skid pan.

--
Malc

Rusted and ropy.
Dog-eared old copy.
Vintage and classic,
or just plain Jurassic:
all words to describe me.

 

I quite happily drove round East Sussex in my car. Elderly rear wheel
drive, skinny tyres, weighs best part of two tons and had no problems.

However, parallel parking on sheet ice was amusing and the ice on the
inside of the windscreen was a pain until the heater wheezed into action.

Perhaps I should get something modern so I can be all manly about its
road holding abilities.

 

I believe the thinking is it will do exactly the opposite.

 

My road is a sheet of ice. It's tricky just walking on it so I didn't
bother with the bike. Car coped fine.

 

Uh?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Chelsea Tractor

Ah! :-D

 

On Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:34:53 +0000, The Older Gentleman wrote:

Spent the last 2 days walking in the local hills, you can't beat the
crunch of snow underfoot

 

You should try one with proper winter tyres as well - most of the time
you really can just drive like the roads are dry and clear.

 

Especially if it switches off the Gulf Stream

--
Malc

Rusted and ropy.
Dog-eared old copy.
Vintage and classic,
or just plain Jurassic:
all words to describe me.