Snow day...

[Bluepete]

It snowed about eight inches here yesterday, froze solid, then another inch overnight.

I left at 0545hrs for my 20 mile commute, made it in at 0655hrs. Then I spent about 130 miles worth of fuel on the motorways of Manchester, pulling cars out of the central reservation barriers and dragging cars out of drifts.

Now did you know, that white flaky stuff ain't dandruff, it's SNOW. it's SLIPPY, you'll CRASH! Ho hum, they leared the hard way.

It was a beautiful day though! I managed to get a few snaps;



















Pete

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Bluepete

Pete

Going by the X6 on Top Gear, is that ^^^^ any use?

[Bluepete]

Originally Posted by Stu

Going by the X6 on Top Gear, is that ^^^^ any use?

In the dry, yep, brilliant fun. In the snow, barely better than a normal car. Put it this way, one went to drag a local patrol out of a snowy road. The X5 got stuck and had to be dragged out by a shonky old Landy Defender transport services use for dropping rock salt around one of our complexes!

Several times today, I thought I was going to have to ask for help, but through luck or skill I managed to stay mobile. The gearbox is a nightmare to get the hang of, it's electronic auto and as I often have to do quick U-turns to go after potential "customers" I find it very frustrating. The management system won't allow reverse to engage until the wheels have been locked stationary. Then the same again to get into drive. In the old X5's, it was a typical, forward and back auto box, nice and easy. This one is carp! The engines let go quite often too.

However, I would rather use the X5 than the Volvo T5's. They are a nightmare in the snow. Very powerfull, front wheel drive and auto, so no clutch control and the very wide tyres that just spin out.

Back in again tomorow and Friday, it's minus 3 now, dropping to minus 8 overnight.

Wish me luck!

Pete

[timwilky]

I have had an email, my driving lesson (Because work consider me a risk) for tomorrow has been cancelled. they were sending the instructor up from Birmingham and he was to meet me at Billsborrow, north of Preston. As one or two PM peeps will know I know quite a bit of the fun roads round there and I was looking forward to taking my instructor on some scenic routes, specially in the snow and ice in the trough.

Personally I thought a day with an ex police instructor in those conditions would have actually been a very useful exercise.

[Stu]

Luck!

Snow chains or Snow socks?
http://www.snowchains.co.uk/main/weisssock.htm

Originally Posted by Bluepete

In the dry, yep, brilliant fun. In the snow, barely better than a normal car. Put it this way, one went to drag a local patrol out of a snowy road. The X5 got stuck and had to be dragged out by a shonky old Landy Defender transport services use for dropping rock salt around one of our complexes!

Several times today, I thought I was going to have to ask for help, but through luck or skill I managed to stay mobile. The gearbox is a nightmare to get the hang of, it's electronic auto and as I often have to do quick U-turns to go after potential "customers" I find it very frustrating. The management system won't allow reverse to engage until the wheels have been locked stationary. Then the same again to get into drive. In the old X5's, it was a typical, forward and back auto box, nice and easy. This one is carp! The engines let go quite often too.

However, I would rather use the X5 than the Volvo T5's. They are a nightmare in the snow. Very powerfull, front wheel drive and auto, so no clutch control and the very wide tyres that just spin out.

Back in again tomorow and Friday, it's minus 3 now, dropping to minus 8 overnight.

Wish me luck!

Pete

I drive a fiat cinquicento and where there is chaos all around me, I am having no problems with my skinny little tyres. Today on the way home from work I was driving around vehicles which were getting stuck all over the place on 2 inches of snow. Who was laughing then.

I have to say though that some people just did not have a clue what they were doing and doing just about everything they should not have been.

[Stu]

I think the snows amazing well it wasnt really snow we got abotu two inches then that got all compacted and turned into a big sheet of ice which is great fun to drive on me thinks, seen lots of people getting stuck which i thought was slightly amusing but U turns in the snow = so much fun all it takes is a little bit of hand brake and then i can go back into the car parks and play never had this much fun

Okay so today I am NOT travelling the 67 miles to work again today. The big freeze last night has made the country roads, and most importantly, the big hill an inpassable object. Snow day for me as well (although I think that should be ice day. -9 right now). Brrrrr

Sally - you must be in the eye of it for once. I tell you live goes on here as normal despite the snow, this ice and the -15's -
there are a few prob's with side roads and trains but apart from that we are all functioning as normal
Though I did laugh myself silly last night watching the news and seeing poor old Englandshire struggle
Wonder what would happen if they had the same amount of snow that my friend has - 25 inches deeper in the drifts
Snow days don't exist up here for many (unfortunately)