Snow MTB Ride - Sat 9th Jan - 9.15 for 9.30 East Croydon

[Dombo]

Great photos. Looks like a lot of fun. Sorry I missed it - was all set to go but started going down with streaming cold last night. Stayed in feeling sorry for myself . Kudos to Aodan on the cross bike, and George for checking out CSS for a road CR!
Defo need to work on my bike handling skills to even consider taking the road steed out in these conditions. See you at the dinner.

[quote="Dombo"]Defo need to work on my bike handling skills to even consider taking the road steed out in these conditions.

[Marek]

Hey guys,

A quick question for you, I am out on the mtb tomorrow, would you go for spd's in this weather or just use flat pedals as easier to protect yourself from a fall?

Cheers

Marek....

[sonic909]

[quote="Marek"]Hey guys,

A quick question for you, I am out on the mtb tomorrow, would you go for spd's in this weather or just use flat pedals as easier to protect yourself from a fall?

Cheers

Marek....

[Marek]

Just a realist in my own mtb ability.

Cheers will put the spds back on then, needed to take them off for the sledge pulling earlier this week.

Marek

[Grahame]

In my view it depends on a load of variables:
What clipless pedals are you using? If it's Time ATACs or White Brothers, then I'd be tempted to use them anyway. If it's Shimano SPDs, then one of the things I don't like about them is their propensity to clog up and refuse to let you clip in.

How grippy are your flat pedals? Or do they have toeclips on them? If they are grippy and/or have toeclips, then maybe (in very cold weather, like today) I'd be tempted to use them with a pair of good hiking boots.

Today I used my Time ATAC pedals with Sidi Inverno boots that in the past have always been warm enough, but today on the descent from Selsdon, my toes got pretty chilly (to the point that I thought about peeling off from the ride and going home). I'll be getting some new, thermal insoles for them tomorrow.

At the end of the day, it's your call.

BTW, I'm glad I didn't bail - the rest of the ride was great fun.

[sonic909]

I use Crank Brothers Egg Beaters on both my road (normal commuter) and mtb.

They never clog no matter what i have trodden in, and i find MTB shoes much better for grip on the road (ever put a foot down on a wet drainlid or road paint...the splits is next!)

I can see either sides, but personally i'd hurt myself without them.

[Andrew G]

I use spds on the MTB and it's not bad. You don't get frozen in so if you fall then you will come out of them. They do clog a bit but I find a a quick stamp on them before clipping in does the job.

[Dombo]

[quote="Marek"]Hey guys,

A quick question for you, I am out on the mtb tomorrow, would you go for spd's in this weather or just use flat pedals as easier to protect yourself from a fall?

Cheers

Marek....

[quote="Amy"][quote="Dombo"]Defo need to work on my bike handling skills to even consider taking the road steed out in these conditions.

[Bo-Gilly]

[quote]I use Crank Brothers Egg Beaters.........

They never clog

[Marek]

Cheers guys, well went on a 3 hour ride with EGCC. Found some really great routes with the infamous Steve Dennis leading they way. There were 7 of us on the ride and was awesome fun. Your right about using the spd's, I think I would have had more problems with the flat pedals. Did come off once when hit a bit of a rutt, but the snow was soft so broke my fall. Really good fun and excellent practice for the handling skills, also a good all body workout as you have to work hard to keep the bike under control when hitting some of the deeper slushy snow.

Hope it snows more tonight and the trains go up the spout, I want another go. Maybe a night ride, hmmmm.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Snoop Doug]

Looks like a lot of fun - excellent. I had hoped to get out with Marky Mark and Rob for some mtb fun too. So what stopped me...

Boiler packed on Friday. Turns out the pipe through which the condensate flows had frozen up, so a failsafe switch off occurred. Pipe comes down the outside wall then turns sharply towards a gutter thingie. Frozen on/around the turn. I spent an hour plus giving the pipe the hair dryer treatment (Sir Alex would've been proud of me) and I got the thing going again.

It went off again and I found myself outside at 5.50 am Sat morning in the freezing cold darkness doing it all over again. This time 90 mins was required. Eff this says I after eventually thawing and having cancelled my mtb rendezvous went in search of some kind of uber pipe lagging.

Lagging? Flagging. It didn't work and my makeshift lagalot 2010 let me down and the pipe froze again around midday. This time I sawed through the offending section of pipe with a hacksaw and remoived it, et voila! I will need to sort out a more permanent solution @ some point but we're back in the warm. Damn shame I missed the snow though - those pics look great - grrrr.

Snoop

[Rob Q]

Soz to hear about your dilemma Snoop. You would have enjoyed the alternative MTB run.(It was alternative cause we started way later than the MTB CR from Croydon) Marky Mark and I headed off around 11 over Riddlesdown Common (nice and snowy). Headed towards Warlingham and then kicked off down the lanes. All very sociable and steady on the packed snow lanes. Popped into out first pub around 12 midday somewhere then hit the road again and cut across the lanes and somehow came out near the top of Botley after dealing with blizzard like conditions. Tried to get into the Botley, but it was closed due to some snow .

By this time we decided to head for home with a further 3 pub stops and a bite to eat. Back across Riddlesdown common where a further inch seemed to have fallen and after some funny moments we made it home. A great day with some pleasant pubs thrown in the mix. Snoop you would have loved it

Snow glorious Snow
[img]http://i45.tinypic.com/2jg042c.jpg[/img]

And I dont think we had even stopped for a pint yet
[img]http://i50.tinypic.com/2061xr4.jpg[/img]

Nice snow packed lanes
[img]http://i46.tinypic.com/24czlow.jpg[/img]

[Snoop Doug]

excellent! And is Marky Mark practicing his aincent red injun tracking skills - or something