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[Closed] Preparing for winter - what you doin' ?

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Already got massive chunky tyres on the Land Rover, will be swapping the slicks for muds on the hardtail, will wax and edge the snowboard in the next couple of weeks, and will be moving the firewood from the dry store to the front porch.
Winter here can be savage.... love it!!


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:37 pm
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Work as a landscape gardener so this time of year brings out a whole new wardrobe of wooly clothes, actually managed to wear my own bodyweight in clothes last winter


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:43 pm
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Got plenty of work in the winter? I was hoping we could get someone to do our patio cheaply at this time of year ๐Ÿ™‚

their is little chance that i'm going to be riding my bike 15km in the middle of a bavarian winter

Pansy. Not that cold!


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:45 pm
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Fully booked until end of Jan, plenty of tree work, hard landscaping, dividing plants, etc, def not as much fun this time of year though ๐Ÿ™ whereabouts are you?


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:48 pm
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Might have to put a jumper on soon....

But as for people 'preparing' for winter in the UK; pfft. Unless you live in a remote part of the Highlands or something, it ain't ever gonna get so cold you need to take 'special' measures ffs. Go to somewhere like Norway, spend some time there in winter, then you'll understand what [i]real[/i] cold is all about....


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:50 pm
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Just having the finishing touches put on the house. New roof with 160mm insulation as well as the outerwalls are now covered in 140mm of polystyrene insulation and just the final layer of plaster to go on. Bring winter on! ๐Ÿ˜ˆ

On the bike front the carbon road bike and ti MTB will be wrapped up in cotton wool this week and the SS and the cross bike will be the main source of fun until the snow disappears in 2012.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:51 pm
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Try working outside all day everyday when its -5, you'll question your sanity, ponder hibernating, and put on as many clothes as you can!


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:53 pm
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gone to the hills - you would think that, but I'm in the same boat - neighbour is a snowplough driver and he isn't allowed to clear our street - he is only insured to clear the roads on his allocated route!

unbelievable, but true.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:54 pm
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Try working outside all day everyday when its -5

-5 is so not cold ๐Ÿ™‚ I love it.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:56 pm
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-5? Positivley balmy.

I've bin out in -30. Now [i]that[/i] is cold.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:57 pm
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Mud tyres never came off the SS

Winter tyres going on the car next week. And we do get snowed in down here in Sussex.

Central Heating on yesterday, but off again today.

3 1/2 weeks skiing booked.

I love Winter


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 8:59 pm
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Winter tyres going on the car next week. And we do get snowed in down here in Sussex.

๐Ÿ˜†

What, for a day or something??

FFS....

Central Heating on yesterday

Lord Above. How on Earth are you going to cope when it actually does get slightly chilly? ๐Ÿ˜†


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:00 pm
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Elf, winter tyres have loads of benefits below 10 degrees C, not just snow capability. They last much longer than summers for a start, so it's actually significantly cheaper.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:05 pm
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bit worried about the central heating, it's not been on since march...


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:06 pm
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Winter tyres for the bike? Winter tyres for the car?

I am in [i]far[/i] to low a class to take part in this forum...


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:08 pm
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Elf, winter tyres have loads of benefits below 10 degrees C, not just snow capability

I weren't on about that, it was the 'getting snowed in in Sussex' bit made me laugh.

I mean, come on; [i]Sussex[/i]? Sweet Baby Jesus and all the little orphans... ๐Ÿ˜†

I am in far to low a class to take part in this forum

Nah don't worry mate; I'm on here and I'm [i]proper[/i] scum. ๐Ÿ˜€

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:09 pm
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Swept the chimney of the woodstove, all laid out and ready to light.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:10 pm
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Probably disconnect the battery from the bike in a week or two (getting expensive replacing them!), since it only takes 10 minutes to put it back in I can still use the bike when the weather is good!

Thinking of putting some winter tyres on the car too shortly. The summer treads are looking a bit thin now anyway so I am just about due a set!

And I will get a couple of loads of logs delivered sometime soon too.

Think that will do me!


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:12 pm
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If you relied on a car Elf, you'd realise how little it takes to stop you getting out of your house when there's even a small amount of snow.

The roads all round by us were cleared and gritted when we had snow last year, but the 100 yards or so of our road which is a reasonably steep ish hill were just not passable. Until I shovelled it. Sometimes people just have 20 yards of steep drive.

For the record, winter tyres:

a) grip better below 10C
b) wear less below 10C - summer tyres wear much more then because the rubber gets brittle
c) are much better in mud and rain too, which you will agree we get plenty of.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:13 pm
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Prompted by this post, I have just been down the garden to check on my igloo built of snow as last winters refuge........... and it's been nicked ! ๐Ÿ˜ฏ


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:13 pm
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Got some exposed pipework in the garage that froze last year. Will need to lag that.

Make sure I've got plenty charcoal in cause if we get the decent snow again, then the chiminea is being stoked and the BBQ fired up. If we are all outside playing in the snow then we might as well be warm.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:14 pm
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It's Sussex, Mol, not Siberia! ๐Ÿ˜†

It's practically urban.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:15 pm
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Nothing. Looking forward to it this year.

For the previous five years we lived at the end of half a mile of bumpy old track in the middle of the Pennines, in a cold, damp, rotting heap of Victorian stone. We might not be in Scandinavia but if your home isn't up to it the recent winters were not fun. This year we're about ten yards from a bus route, fifty yards from the station, two minutes from the shops, and in a house that has insulation and proper heating and a DPC and all sorts. It's going to be glorious. ๐Ÿ™‚


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:26 pm
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Elfin. I have lived in Canada and spent three weeks once at -30 max... I've driven 10000km on ice and gravel roads. I live in a 500 year old house made of tiles, woodworm and ox-dung. We will be cold this winter but that's fine.

As people have pointed out to you winter tyres work better below about 7 degrees. Twice in the last 2 years everything has ground to a complete halt for over a week around here and yet the ill people I look after expect to be seen.

I admire your style usually but your smug metropolitan condescension is out of place here.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:28 pm
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Boom!


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:30 pm
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panic buying bread abd milk


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:33 pm
 cozz
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bought a shed - insulating it this week, for spinning bike and bike stuff
built a new log store

got about 15 m3 of logs
had chimney swept

building a fat bike (907)
got 2 4x4's


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:40 pm
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Nearly biught winter tyres as its 8C in the morning in the midlands but 18C in the day. Winter tyres won't last long and only benefit <7C.

Winter prep? Getting my bikes ready with fenders and cycle to work.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:53 pm
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Swampthings bought. New hardtail frame and extra stripey socks on order. F/S frame on the 'bay. Bring it on! ๐Ÿ˜ˆ


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 9:58 pm
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I live in east lancs! Winter is like summer, just a bit whiter! Bought some merino, put new bearings and pivots on the full susser. Normally I'll ride a hardtail through the winter, but **** that this year! I'm too old for that shit! I'll take the hit on the bearings and have more fun!

Anyone want to buy a pace RC305 frame?


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:06 pm
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I admire your style usually but your smug metropolitan condescension is out of place here.

You are of course wrong. I think it is absolutely spot-on here! ๐Ÿ˜€

So you've lived in Canada, and know about proper cold, Yet you go on about getting 'snowed in' in Sussex???

๐Ÿ˜†

Again, if you bothered reading; no issue with the winter tyres.

But getting 'snowed in'? Yeah, cos that's a constant worry in Sussex! ๐Ÿ˜†

Ha ha!

Get some tins in* ffs if you're that worried....

(* Elfin's Top Winter Survival Tip for Sussex residents)

Snowed In in Sussex. Could be as gripping as [url= http://mytornadohell.livejournal.com/ ]Tornado in Kensal Green[/url]....

(Makes note to stay well clear of Sussex this winter. Makes plans to stay in Vladivostok instead...)


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:09 pm
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First ruler of scouts isn't it? Be prepared... alas I didn't do the whole scouts thing so will probably be scratching round for a snow shovel in a few weeks. Having said that the last 2 winters were just a bog standard winter like when we were kids, nothing that disastrous!


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:10 pm
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Elf, have you been drinking?

If he can't get out of his drive or street in Sussex, then he's snowed in. It happens.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:16 pm
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Elfin old chap. Once you escape from the bits of Sussex you feel comfortable with... We have hills and narrow roads and few snowploughs and not enough whingy metrosexuals to get our roads clean. Year before last I couldn't get my car more than 100m from the house for nearly 2 weeks. Last year (4x4 time) it was only a day, but the sprogs had 8 days off school, my colleagues couldn't get to the surgery for a few days leaving just me etc etc. And those inconsiderate elderly people dying of cancer wanted to be visited. What softies...

One day you people in London will learn there is more to Sussex than Brighton...

I'm not saying life is hard. I like the seasons, but only an idiot isn't ready for them.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:19 pm
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If he can't get out of his drive or street in Sussex, then he's snowed in. It happens

Not very often! For the first time ever I'm with elfin here, everyone seems a tad overdramatic about the approaching winter, you'd think it was the day after tomorrow! ๐Ÿ˜€


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:21 pm
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How often does that actually happen? Once or twice a decade?

Come on. Sussex ffs... ๐Ÿ˜†


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:23 pm
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[img] [/img]

Ahhh!


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:23 pm
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Why don't you ask him before presuming?


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:24 pm
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Oh come on Mol; he in't alf overexagerrating things!

One time, right, i almost coon't get hom,e from the pub such was the blizzard.

I made it though, due to perseverance and the remarkable indefatigable* Human Spirit and that. ๐Ÿ™‚

(* I don't even think this is the correct word in this context cos I'm laughing so much at the nonsense here)

Good thing I haddunt bought a kebab. It wooduv got cold and i'duv had to put it in the microwave. ๐Ÿ˜

Sussex! Ha ha! Makes it sound like Alaska ffs! ๐Ÿ˜†

Maybe you can organise air-drops of vital supplies, like butter and sugar and Pot Noodles.

Ooh, but what flavour though? ๐Ÿ˜•

Oh life is so difficult sometimes.... ๐Ÿ™


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:31 pm
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Elfin old chap. Last two years it has happened actually. Before that about 5 years ago. I quite like it. The crispness of snow, quiet streets, kids playing etc... But some of us actually have to be mobile for our jobs.. Sorry and all that.

But the kebab shop did stay open. Result.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:37 pm
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What am I doing? Not much really. I live in Britain, it doesn't really get that bad.

I've got my hacksaw ready for when the boiler packs in and I've been looking for winter tyres (for my car) on ebay in case it snows a lot but since I ride into work virtually every day anyway that's probably not a hugely worthwhile investment.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:39 pm
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How did you get stuck for two weeks down south? No shovel to shovel your car out.

Incredible melodrama.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:41 pm
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No-one's saying it's like Alaska or something terrible. It just happens sometimes that the roads are not passable for a day or two. That's all. Happened here the last three years on the trot, twice last year but we weren't here for one of them.


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:42 pm
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Snowed like **** here for last two yrs, didn't do anything then won't do anything this time! Plenty of coal always in and if it got really bad I could always burn the shed on the old fire!


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:43 pm
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Molgrips - apparantly two weeks for stoatsbrother


 
Posted : 09/10/2011 10:43 pm
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