Although the 1.5 hybrid Yaris I had last week sadly didn't seem to have the same capability, must have been something wrong with it.
How did you get film of me driving up to the ski resort?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Got a set of chains today from Lidl for the sum of £9.99. Obviously won't be the best available but they look as good as anything the car hire companies give you and should be good enough for pretty much anything I encounter here.
I bought a set of the Thule easy-fits & spent half an hour practicing inside on the spare tyre to get a feel for it before using them in anger. Seems like it will be fine but I'll be keeping an old pair of work gloves in the bag.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
McKenzie wrote:
I bought a set of the Thule easy-fits & spent half an hour practicing inside on the spare tyre to get a feel for it before using them in anger. Seems like it will be fine but I'll be keeping an old pair of work gloves in the bag.
I thought those babies were supposed to slip on in 12 seconds? What were you doing for the other 29 mins and 36 seconds?
@Ozboy, you would think that Thule, of all people, would know that you need to put one set on each side, not both on the same side.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Huh. Not impressed. All laid out for them tidily in advance (not in a boogers muddle in a plastic bag under a toboggan, two pairs of kids skis and a bag of shopping), it's warm and dry (the ground should be caked with concrete packed snow inlaid with gravel) and they are particularly easy chains to fit. I can normally do mine in a couple of minutes, before my hands freeze (I always use bare hands) though if the ground isn't flat beside (and behind) the tyre a bit of preliminary snow-flattening can be necessary. And when the ground is snowy I routinely have to lie down flat to get the wire behind the wheel to start with. And of course the whole thing is conducted to the background of a child desperate to go to the loo, or late for their ski lesson.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@pam w,
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@pam w, Agreed. The test should have been done in the dark, with locals zipping past and showering you in slush, with a torch that your SO points the wrong way. Ideally, it should also be done with chains that are three sizes too small as well!
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@pam w, @foxtrotzulu, and don't forget the dirty great big snowplough that pulled up behind you with the passive-aggressive gentle revving while you try to work out why your brow is sweating at the same time as your hands are freezing...
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Don't forget (insert SHMBO's name) shouting "have you done that yet
Last time I put mine on I did it with bare hand, oh my gosh the pain! I do have thin rubber work gloves but find I keep losing grip.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
The roads in Scotland yesterday (and probably today too) are marginal in places, especially near ski stations and their car parks.
I was in a queue from 8.30 am to 10am on the main road prior to the turn off for Glencoe. The photo shows the length of the queue behind me at 9am (the EXIF information on my camera is correct now that I have corrected the date and time). When I got to the front of the queue, the car park at Glencoe was full and I drove on to Nevis Range. Luckily I found a place in the car park at Nevis Range, but the conditions in the car park at Nevis range were not for beginners. 4x4 drivers who know how to drive, would have struggled in the overflow car park. Luckily I took a spade, and a brush, which I used to clear a space due to haphazard parking.
The worse conditions I experienced though, were in the dark early morning period a long way before I got past Crianlarich. I was struggling to drive at over 40mph and accumulated several tail backs which I let past eventually. In several places on sharp bends I hit black ice.
Pot holes are a serious issue on this road, particularly on the stretch from Fort William to Nevis Range. Some of the pot holes were so big that they covered the whole of one side of the road. Winter tyres might help in these conditions, but they are expensive to replace. Snow chains will not help much. Driving slowly really helps, but unfortunately it creates enormous tail backs.
Maybe there should be a park and ride system in Bridge of Orchy car park for those with only one person per car?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Drove from Claviere to Sestriere, then down to Bessè alto on Saturday night when it was snowing heavily.
Not many other cars on the road so no problems really, the trip down the Bessè alto was a right laugh. I was fine in a fwd car with winter tyres, didn't have any problems. A mate in an Audi Quattro went into a carpark at the bottom of a fairly steep slope in Bessè, and couldn't get out (not enough space for a "run up") so we popped on my new Track snow chains. It flew up with them on, first time they've ever been called upon.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
I was thinking of a way to bypass the Glencoe turn off queue. Maybe if I added an electric motor?
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
West Berks is way oop Norf 
