Road ice in Auckland? WTF

**Phurrball** · 4th June 2009, 08:11

Watch for ICE if you're taking the bike to work today via the more sheltered parts of Auckland...

Let's just say that it caught me out this morning at abut 25ish km/hr on a bend in Laingholm (In the Waitakeres)

It was the last thing this ex Dunedin boy was expecting in the 'warm'/coastal Auckland region (Haven't seen road ice in the 4 years I've been in D'Aucks. Mind you, I didn't 'see' it today)

Salient points:

Front tucked in without warning in low speed, mild right-hander that I've ridden every day the bike goes out.

Naked bikes win!

Scuffed bar end, more scratches on heavy OEM muffler, slightly bent foot-brake lever. The VTR250 is still all good. Not a scratch on anything important AFAIK: Will get it checked. If it had been my VFR800

Tupperware

Good gear wins!

Scuff on the leather of right arm. No harm whatsoever to me. Very glad there was nothing solid in my right hip pocket. That would have hurt. Trousers and boots unharmed.

Righto then, cue the mocking by the hardier folk from Southern and Inland Northern locales...

Ok, now to face the same stretch of road on the same bike when it's a bit warmer...

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE FOLKS

**howdamnhard** · 4th June 2009, 08:17

Thanks for the heads up. Whats with the damn cold weather, this winter seems a lot colder than normal. Might have to invest in some heated handgrips.

**howdamnhard** · 4th June 2009, 08:18

PS glad you and bike escaped relatively unscathed.

**16silver** · 4th June 2009, 08:18

Originally Posted by Phurrball

Watch for ICE if you're taking the bike to work today via the more sheltered parts of Auckland...

Let's just say that it caught me out this morning at abut 25ish km/hr on a bend in Laingholm (In the Waitakeres)

It was the last thing this ex Dunedin boy was expecting in the 'warm'/coastal Auckland region (Haven't seen road ice in the 4 years I've been in D'Aucks. Mind you, I didn't 'see' it today)

Salient points:

Front tucked in without warning in low speed, mild right-hander that I've ridden every day the bike goes out.

Naked bikes win!

Scuffed bar end, more scratches on heavy OEM muffler, slightly bent foot-brake lever. The VTR250 is still all good. Not a scratch on anything important AFAIK: Will get it checked. If it had been my VFR800

Tupperware

Good gear wins!

Scuff on the leather of right arm. No harm whatsoever to me. Very glad there was nothing solid in my right hip pocket. That would have hurt. Trousers and boots unharmed.

Righto then, cue the mocking by the hardier folk from Southern and Inland Northern locales...

Ok, now to face the same stretch of road on the same bike when it's a bit warmer...

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE FOLKS

damn, Langholm? are you serious??? langholm has those big grippy roads with the big stones to drain the water away though? LANGHOLM???? like west auckland??? wow, thats just purely F***ed up im confused ??

**shafty** · 4th June 2009, 08:30

Good reminder Phurr, - I pulled a sheet of ice out of the wheel barrow at 2pm yesterday - had been sitting in the shade......Mind you, we are in Matiere

**javawocky** · 4th June 2009, 08:31

Haha, yes she was a winter wonderland this morning. On the lights turning off east coast bays into constellation drive - saw it was green and clear a little ways up so gave it some right hand to race the green, but I was weary of the grip levels to gave it enough slow down time. When I tapped off pulled a lovely MotoGP style tail wiggle Rossi would be proud of

**slofox** · 4th June 2009, 08:32

Similar problems in Hamiltron today...

**The Pastor** · 4th June 2009, 08:36

yeah the cage had a layer of ice over it this morning, havnt seen that before! saw lots of ice on the roads!

**Tubbsy** · 4th June 2009, 08:52

Plenty of ice out my way too near Mission Bay. Couple of shady areas on the way in along the waterfront looked to have suspect surfaces, so I gave those a wide berth. Okahu bay looked like an ice rink had been put over the grass.

Needed an ice pick to get the bike cover off my bike this morning practically, all the usual condensation was frozen solid.

**Weeruthie** · 4th June 2009, 08:54

Hey Guys
Yeah it was bloomin freezing coming into work this morning! I'm new to this whole bike thing and still on my learners.... so had my first skid this morning.... stayed on and had a proper giggle after the pain in my heart stopped

wee question though.... my bike (Suzuki VL250) kept dying on me when I slowed down at the lights..... was that just the cold and I hadn't left the choke on long enough or do you think it's something I need looked at.... any ideas appreciated......
Lets hope it's warmer tomorrow!!!

**javawocky** · 4th June 2009, 08:59

Originally Posted by Weeruthie

.... my bike (Suzuki VL250) kept dying on me when I slowed down at the lights..... was that just the cold and I hadn't left the choke on long enough

Are you sure you didn't leave your Choke ON while riding? That is a common learner mistake

**Weeruthie** · 4th June 2009, 09:05

I had the choke on from Takapuna until the harbour bridge (5 mins ish).... then I cut off at Shelly and the bike cut out at the lights in Ponsenby.... then about 7 times again that..... How long should I leave the choke on?

**javawocky** · 4th June 2009, 09:10

Umm, about 30 seconds.

On the wifes Scorpio I recommend she starts the bike with the choke on, put her helmet and gloves on, then turn the bike off. If the bike can idle with the choke off, it should be off IMO. You should probably give you bike a minute or 2 to get warmed up, then rid at lower revs for about 1km then all should be properly warmed up.