Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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Quote: |
If you have already spent a winter in UK
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nope.... first winter here
I did spend a winter in Belgium but with no car so didn't even bother to look at the road.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Tips for driving in frost/snow:
Most roads in the UK and France are salted when the temperature drops near zero, but don't bank on it. Use your eyes and ears. If you cannot hear your types then be very careful, it is almost certainly black ice. Even when salted the snow/ice can form a slush that has very little grip: be careful
On snow, ice and slush drive very smoothly and plan well ahead.
If moving uphill on snow never stop, keep moving at all costs. If you stop you will never get moving again and worst of all every driver behind you will also become stuck. Plan an attack on a hill from a long way away, building up as much speed as you can. Going downhill the reverse is true start slowly and do not get faster.
How much snow you can actually drive in is a difficult question, it depends upon how steep the terrain is. Here in the gently rolling midlands 10cm is usually OK, 20 not so. You can handle deeper snow if you have fitted winter tyres, snow chains etc.
If on a motorcycle never go into the gutter - it can be almost impossible to get out again.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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brake on the clutch.
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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.
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Front wheel drive: if struggling up a hill find somewhere safe to turn round and try it in reverse. This sounds a bit radical but I've seen it work.
Rear wheel drive: if struggling up a hill gently apply the handbrake. This will act a bit like a diff-lock and stop one wheel from spinning.
If you end up fitting chains then stop after the first minute and retighten them. If you fit chains on a FWD car remember to fit them on the front (!) and be VERY careful when you get to a col or brow. Although chains are fantastic at pulling you up the hill the back end will try to overtake the front if conditions allow.
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I'm hoping that I won't get to the stage of needing chains. I think I'll just turtle up at home then
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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AlanB1976, simple strategy - if the journey time would increase by 50% due to the conditions, then stay put (the real drawback of setting up so you can always get through is of course that you can always get through!!)
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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.
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altis wrote: |
Rear wheel drive: if struggling up a hill gently apply the handbrake. This will act a bit like a diff-lock and stop one wheel from spinning. |
Not heard that one before, sounds like a good idea in theory though. Although, it's not going to apply a braking force to the 'spinning' wheel, as a differential would. The braking force will be applied evenly to both rear wheels. You might as well just use less revs..
The going backward in a front wheeled, front engined car, normally works well, when required.
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Take great care where and how you park.
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You know it makes sense.
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Feast, it's not brilliant but I can assure you it does work - I've used it.
If one wheel is spinning and the other is stationary, which is the handbrake going to have more effect on?
Also, if pushing a RWD car up a snowy hill don't push directly from behind. Instead, push the back end over to one side slightly. This will keep putting new snow under the tyres, give more grip and allow the engine to do more of the work. Again, one learnt by experience.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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AlanB1976, If in doubt stay at home. I spend many a night last winter rescuing stupid people that should have never started their journeys. BMW's with fat tyres going nowhere just blocking the roads. Mind you I did very well out of it with tips and the odd bottle or two.
Amazing how many tree huggers are suddenly your friend when it's snowing and they see you driving a Land Rover with winter tyres and a winch fitted.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Spyderman, so..... uh....... what are your driving routes..... just so I know a Landie and winch are handy
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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?
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AlanB1976, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, plenty of numpties around for me to have fun when it's snowing.
I did fail to proceed once in a lane last winter, 4'0" deep snow drift on a single track lane with no previous tracks. Took me 3 attempts to get through, I hit it so hard in the end it was like a bomb going off, snow right over the roof. I just thought if anyone saw my tracks and thought they'd follow them they'd be sorry.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Black ice isn't black, it is clear ice, it's the road that is black.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Next thing you are going to tell me is that I shouldn't eat yellow snow
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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No but I can tell you that it forms when condensation freezes onto the road surface or more dangerously when there is a temperature inversion with low temperature at ground level but warmer higher up and rain falls and immediately freezes. I have experienced the latter twice and it is simply terrifying.
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hmmmm...... so if the temperature is below freezing, and it rains.... don't go out?
How long does it take to become good again?
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AlanB1976, Normally a couple of days at the end of September.
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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.
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AlanB1976 wrote: |
hmmmm...... so if the temperature is below freezing, and it rains, AND IT IS A WORK DAY.... don't go out (or at least wear a disguise/protect against incriminating goggle tan)? |
fixed it for you
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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AlanB1976 wrote: |
hmmmm...... so if the temperature is below freezing, and it rains.... don't go out?
How long does it take to become good again? |
I've seen that happen once in Bucharest on a big scale. Several days of -5 to -10 Celsius and then it rains. The whole city turned into an ice rink. I was at an MBA course, all of us having driven there. We fell between 2 and 5 times on the 20-yard walk to the parking lot. Then when we got to the road, it was absolutely surreal. I was doing around 3-5 mph, cars around were the same, and still there was an accident around me every 300 yards. Zero braking power, never felt anything like it. Parked the car in the next parking lot.
Tips for driving in the snow: well most of them are already above. What I could add: the first time you get on the snow, especially if you were already driving on tarmac just before, slow right down much more than you think it's necessary. It's one of the most dangerous times, the brain does not switch fast enough to snow driving speed and you're likely to go twice as fast as you should be.
The other tip: learn to "rock" the car if it gets stuck. That is: slowly rev up while lifting the clutch, as soon as the car moves half an inch, let go, wait for it to slide back and then rock forward again, rev up (a little) while lifting the clutch pedal (a little), let go again quickly, repeat as necessary. It works - got a lot of cars out when just revving up would have done nothing.
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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.
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thanks, I've done the rocking to get out of sand. Handy to know its the same.
pam_w, Hmmmm.... You seem knowledgeable on southern africa ..... any chance you are from there?
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