Snow Day?

RE: Snow Day?

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 15:57:00 GMT

[quote user="Christina Smith"]Currently have been driving a BMW with traction control,cruise control etc etc. It fairly zips along in the snow.[/quote]Well cruise control won't help and traction control only up to the point both drive wheels lose traction and you may be able to 'zip along' but you've still got to have some grip to brake. Then because the rear wheels push the car rather than the front pulling it you can get a front wheel skid which is difficult to control. I would hazard the suggestion that there are no hills of any note where you are driving, no-one got in your way or you have better tyres than you realise. IME rear wheel drive on normal tyres on slippery roads is hopeless, I've had 4 BMWs and certainly needed snowchains in the Alps.

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

Around here (with our couple of inches of snow) all the snow chains and winter tyres would have helped not a jot!

A couple of jackknifed lorries, a few cars slipping on a slight incline and the major roads stopped for hours. This meant I took 2 hours to do an 8 mile trip and my wife took 5½ hours to do a similar distance. My car was perfectly happy on the road surfaces as long as nobody else blocked the way.

[/quote]

You're missing the point Bob, if everyone drove sensibly and their vehicles were equipped for winter there would be no cars slipping and no lorry's jackknifing.

RE: Snow Day?

Bob Russell — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 10:16:26 GMT

Around here (with our couple of inches of snow) all the snow chains and winter tyres would have helped not a jot!

RE: Snow Day?

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 10:09:00 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

[quote user="Julian Earl"]May you both always be as happy as you are now! [/quote]

They've just flown half way around the world, from tropical temperatures back to permafrost UK. Jet lagged, knackered and freezing. Sounds like most marriages I know

[/quote]

And because Ilkley couldn't drive over the Pennines to play rugby against us on Saturday, game was cancelled and we* spent the weekend decorating.

*The Royal 'We'. My delightful wife decided with a free weekend we should get some decorating done before we put our house on the market, dragged me to B&Q then I spent the day painting ceilings.

RE: Snow Day?

J G Wray — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 18:52:08 GMT

[quote user="Sam"]I am not quite sure how I will manage if a genuine emergency comes along.... I think all local practices will be in the same situation, so will not be able to refer.[/quote]

Being "frustrated" is a legal term. The law is an ass, but not so much that it doesn't recognise your purpose and work being "frustrated" by circumstances beyond your control.

We had similar problems back in the 90s and I asked RCVS how they would behave should we be unable to do farm visits or domicilaries, because of fuel shortages and weather and a complaint came in. They were as slippery as an eel in their response, but it all came right and clients were v reasonable.

Explain your limitations to your clients and take a less jaundiced view of them than some

RE: Snow Day?

Sam — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 18:37:18 GMT

Having got through last week with snow on the roads, no wholesaler deliveries, no waste collection and client expectations as high as ever; tomorrow at my practice we face no mains water supply due to burst pipes caused by the recent weather.

The entire area is without any water (possibly for days) and they are apparently having to get emergency drinking water in for us from York..... we are in Sussex!

I am not quite sure how I will manage if a genuine emergency comes along.... I think all local practices will be in the same situation, so will not be able to refer.

I have just ordered a load of distilled water for handwashing etc from the wholesaler which will hopefully arrive tomorrow. I can't think of much else I can do.... ?

RE: Snow Day?

Christina Smith — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 19:46:02 GMT

Currently have been driving a BMW with traction control,cruise control etc etc. It fairly zips along in the snow. But seriously the best car for slippery climbs/downhills was the Citreon 8 it just dug itself in and climbed those hills like a slug. Better than any other car I have driven in the snow. Never had winter tyres or 4x4. I've got better in snow with long experience. The 4x4 drivers get themselves into all sorts of trouble just on faith. Snow in Aberdeen no worse than usual. Surgeries more or less as usual

RE: Snow Day?

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 17:14:53 GMT

That. Is. Amazing.

RE: Snow Day?

Noweia — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 15:48:01 GMT

I had fun yesterday with all our snow!

RE: Snow Day?

Julian Earl — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 13:53:43 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

[quote user="Julian Earl"]May you both always be as happy as you are now! [/quote]

They've just flown half way around the world, from tropical temperatures back to permafrost UK. Jet lagged, knackered and freezing. Sounds like most marriages I know

[/quote]

That's a bit harsh Michael . I assure you that not all re like that. I was blessed the day I met my wife [and she is not reading this as I write so am under no pressure!!

I think the sentiment that I expressed, not my creation if I'm honest, is the nicest wedding-wish I have heard! So had to pass it on.

Best wishes to all, regardless!

RE: Snow Day?

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 12:10:40 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]May you both always be as happy as you are now! [/quote]

They've just flown half way around the world, from tropical temperatures back to permafrost UK. Jet lagged, knackered and freezing. Sounds like most marriages I know

RE: Snow Day?

Julian Earl — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 11:02:51 GMT

[quote user="Lucy Fleming"]

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]However we flew back from our honeymoon Wednesday night in to Manchester after a month of >30degC weather[/quote]

That must have been a shock to the system! Congratulations

[/quote]

I'm not sure that getting married is necessarily such a shock to the system though. That's a bit unfair to Anthony and his new bride!

Congratulations and May you both always be as happy as you are now!

RE: Snow Day?

Julian Earl — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 23:13:09 GMT

The Heath Road in the Lincs. Wolds: By where I live...

RE: Snow Day?

Busybee — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 19:29:45 GMT

This was the main A-road between Broadway and Stow on the Wold in the Cotswolds this morning. I had TB tests to read off but thankfully have lovely farmers who collected me and dropped me off back at work! My car would never have made it. The drifts were 3m + in places, lorries abandoned, cars stuck in drifts....got blocked both ways by people attempting it in less than suitable cars.

RE: Snow Day?

Clive Ansell — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 19:06:50 GMT

[quote user="Clare Tapsfield-Wright"]I’ve got winter tyres , a big coat , a coal fire, a big glass of red wine and three thermal vests and it’s still chuffing freezing.[/quote]

You need to find some form of activity to keep you warm.

RE: Snow Day?

Clive Ansell — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 19:05:59 GMT

Wot Martin said really.

I suppose it depends where you live, how much you drive,and how much bad weather you get.

I think they are worth their weight in gold and make a real difference. In bad conditions last night where many vehicles were slipping and sliding all over the place, including many 4x4x's, I don't think my drive wheels lost traction once, and I would either feel it or the electronic stability light on the dash would flash (It didn't).

With the likes of the Michelin CrossClimate's on the market, there is no need to chop and change tyres anymore, they are a specifically designed summer and winter tyre. I have them fitted and cannot rate them enough, they do exactly what it says on the tin and some. Being a premium brand tyre they are pricey though, but given there are just 4 pieces of rubber in contact with the road, each roughly the size of a dvd case, I always fit what I feel is the best. Never skimp on tyres.

RE: Snow Day?

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:41:14 GMT

I’ve got winter tyres , a big coat , a coal fire, a big glass of red wine and three thermal vests and it’s still chuffing freezing.

RE: Snow Day?

Utlendigur — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:14:15 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Eh Claire, it were thicker 'n tha' in 'ebden in 76!

[/quote]

RE: Snow Day?

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:37:20 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]People were talking earlier about winter tyres - I just don't think I can be bothered to change tyres halfway through the year. Presumably better to keep a set of chains in the garage.[/quote]As said Arlo, I have my winter tyres mounted on a set of inexpensive but flash alloys and it takes all of 1/2 hr with a hydraulic jack to change all 4. They cost £900, sounds a lot but given a quality tyre is at least £150 a shot that's just around £75 per wheel for a set of flash alloys. As chances are you'd have to replace one set of tyres in the life of a car anyway its just buying them in advance and of course your can set if off against the business. Plus if they're not worn out and your new car has the same wheel size you may be able to carry them forward anyway and you'll have saved of your original wheels from a lot of kerb damage which will increase the value of your car. If you don't want to spend time changing the wheels yourself Kwikfit for example will store the tyres for you and do the job twice a year for a charge of course which over several years would have paid for the alloys!

But winter tyres aren't fully foolproof, last year I had to put chains on to get up the last steep bit to the ski station at Arc 2000 - I might have made it but I could feel it losing traction and didn't want to be the plonker who got stuck on the final hairpin and block the road. Other than that they've worked faultlessly even on mountain roads. It is a revelation when you first use them you suddenly realise you can drive virtually normally on snow although nothing is foolproof on sheet ice or a deep snowdrift.

A couple of years ago I was driving back from skiing over the Vosges Mountains on the autoroute in a blizzard. 90 % of traffic had quit and what hadn't was in convoy at 15 kph behind snowploughs (most French drivers don't have winter tyres either) I just sailed by everything at 100 kph along with a few others who obviously had. Some were overtaking me but even I thought the 120 limit may be a bit too fast when I couldn't see the verges!!

RE: Snow Day?

Anthony Dennison — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:14:12 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

[quote user="Clare Tapsfield-Wright"] Wishing you much happiness Anthony. [/quote]

Oh I missed that - CONGRATULATIONS Anthony Dennison!

[/quote]

Thanks guys, actually got married in August last year - had to wait until February for the honeymoon because of the length of time off and the cost of it all!

Did Singapore, Sydney, 2 week cruise around Australia and New Zealand, Fiji then Dubai before coming home. Fiji is just paradise, we stayed on a tiny island resort, a 20 minute boat ride from where Castaway was filmed!

Coldest it got was in an air conditioned room/vehicle when 20degC felt chilly. Snow isn't bad, it's the biting wind!

RE: Snow Day?

Lucy Fleming — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:14:01 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]However we flew back from our honeymoon Wednesday night in to Manchester after a month of >30degC weather[/quote]

That must have been a shock to the system! Congratulations

RE: Snow Day?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:58:14 GMT

[quote user="Clare Tapsfield-Wright"] Wishing you much happiness Anthony. [/quote]

Oh I missed that - CONGRATULATIONS Anthony Dennison!

Meanwhile, here in Snowerset, it took me 5 hours to do a 30 minute drive this morning. And I stupidly went down a single track road I wasn't familiar with, turned a corner to find ... a very steep and very long hill. That was properly frightening (I had gone past the point of no return, and there was no braking to be had!).

Anyway, survived that. Then came across a Ford Fiesta stuck in a drift. Feeling all '4x4xSmug' I stopped and offered to pull them out ... only to get stuck myself.

People were talking earlier about winter tyres - I just don't think I can be bothered to change tyres halfway through the year. Presumably better to keep a set of chains in the garage.

RE: Snow Day?

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:36:49 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]

Not really much where I am in Preston/Southport area.

However we flew back from our honeymoon Wednesday night in to Manchester after a month of >30degC weather. I tried to turn round and get back on the plane. Log burner has been on almost constantly since!

[/quote] Wishing you much happiness Anthony.

RE: Snow Day?

Julian Earl — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 13:48:10 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

Not that bad in cambs - full tank of gas and all weather goodyears. Moderately busy, people getting over yesterday's panic.[/quote]

You're lucky Mark, Here in Lincolnshire Wolds we have 3or 4 feet. We are 300 feet above sea level whereas in Cambridge you might be just 30 feet I suppose? Mind; those Fen roads are treacherous in snow and ice like this. New assistants here were always warned to go slowly, properly-slowly in winter because of the frequent 90 degree-bends before a sharp twenty foot drop into the canal or rivers! Not everyone listened though! I say to people that if you see a road sign saying steep hill in Lincs you can often ignore it but if it says sharp bend, then take heir word!

RE: Snow Day?

Bob Russell — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 13:29:04 GMT

Took me two hours to travel the eight miles to home last night! My wife took over six hours to get back from Southampton (not much further).

Lorries and cars getting stuck everywhere!

Some pretty awful driving but mostly a lack of gritting. Almost sorted by this morning.

RE: Snow Day?

Anthony Dennison — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 12:19:01 GMT

Not really much where I am in Preston/Southport area.