Comments on: Survival http://zone5.org/2010/01/survival/ ...on the edge between Nature and Culture Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:18:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Graham http://zone5.org/2010/01/survival/comment-page-1/#comment-39376 Graham Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:21:55 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=788#comment-39376 <p>Jane "We are in our fifth day of 40+ temperatures today..." I actually think I'd rather keep the ice! But it all makes you think what a narrow band of conditions like temperature and rainfall are actually comfortable for human life. We have our first covering of snow today, but rain and a thaw is now expected by next weekend.</p> Jane “We are in our fifth day of 40+ temperatures today…” I actually think I’d rather keep the ice! But it all makes you think what a narrow band of conditions like temperature and rainfall are actually comfortable for human life. We have our first covering of snow today, but rain and a thaw is now expected by next weekend.

]]> By: Jane http://zone5.org/2010/01/survival/comment-page-1/#comment-39375 Jane Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:06:08 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=788#comment-39375 <p>You're right.. studded tyres are the issue with road damage. But they are the best for serious ice. I had them in Newfoundland, but didn't need them in Saskatchewan where it is much colder though less icy.</p> <p>We are in our fifth day of 40+ temperatures today... pity we can't spread the heat (or lack of it) around more evenly... but this is what we are told to expect with climate change!</p> You’re right.. studded tyres are the issue with road damage. But they are the best for serious ice. I had them in Newfoundland, but didn’t need them in Saskatchewan where it is much colder though less icy.

We are in our fifth day of 40+ temperatures today… pity we can’t spread the heat (or lack of it) around more evenly… but this is what we are told to expect with climate change!

]]> By: dode http://zone5.org/2010/01/survival/comment-page-1/#comment-39373 dode Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:38:11 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=788#comment-39373 <p>I think the issue with winter tyres damaging road surface is really restricted to the studded tyres used in some Scandinavian countries. We switch to softer tyres with different treads to hold the road better on ice and snow, the compounds are also better in low temperatures. I think if anything there is less damage to the road, the downside is a few percent difference in fuel economy between summer and winter.</p> I think the issue with winter tyres damaging road surface is really restricted to the studded tyres used in some Scandinavian countries. We switch to softer tyres with different treads to hold the road better on ice and snow, the compounds are also better in low temperatures. I think if anything there is less damage to the road, the downside is a few percent difference in fuel economy between summer and winter.

]]> By: Jane http://zone5.org/2010/01/survival/comment-page-1/#comment-39371 Jane Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:34:45 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=788#comment-39371 <p>Sitting here in 45C temperatures this sounds incredible... but I did used to live in Canada and in some provinces there, one is not permitted to drive without snow tyres after the beginning of November... and if they are of the studded cariety (best in ice) they had to be removed by the end of March. However, this summer is unusually hot here in Australia. I don't have air conditioning and the house is about 32C inside now... at 11am... and it will be quite a bit hotter later in the day. It's been like this or some days in a row now, so we have switched to our different schedule... up early to water the garden (from the tank water caught from the roof months ago) and then inside for the day... we'll come out again after the sun goes down. Cooking is done outside, if at all. Climate change is here already! I understand your thoughts about preparation, Graham, I am better prepared than most, but there is still more to be done!</p> Sitting here in 45C temperatures this sounds incredible… but I did used to live in Canada and in some provinces there, one is not permitted to drive without snow tyres after the beginning of November… and if they are of the studded cariety (best in ice) they had to be removed by the end of March. However, this summer is unusually hot here in Australia. I don’t have air conditioning and the house is about 32C inside now… at 11am… and it will be quite a bit hotter later in the day. It’s been like this or some days in a row now, so we have switched to our different schedule… up early to water the garden (from the tank water caught from the roof months ago) and then inside for the day… we’ll come out again after the sun goes down. Cooking is done outside, if at all. Climate change is here already! I understand your thoughts about preparation, Graham, I am better prepared than most, but there is still more to be done!

]]> By: Graham http://zone5.org/2010/01/survival/comment-page-1/#comment-39370 Graham Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:09:51 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=788#comment-39370 <p>Thanks for that Dode! I guess the main problem here is that we just dont get these conditions usually, or if we do it is only for a few days, so most people would not think it worth investing in an extra set of tyres. Or do you in fact need an extra set of wheels as well? Also, we havn't actually had any snow yet in west Cork- it is forecast for the next couple of days- rather, sleet from a few days ago has frozen but only in patches, so there are good bits and icy bits on any given road. The hills can be impassable even when the rest of the roads are not too bad. I gather the snow tyres are not great for the road surface otherwise. I will check out whether you can even get them here, and how much, for folks on the east coast where it has been under snow for a while already they would definitely seem a good idea.</p> Thanks for that Dode! I guess the main problem here is that we just dont get these conditions usually, or if we do it is only for a few days, so most people would not think it worth investing in an extra set of tyres. Or do you in fact need an extra set of wheels as well? Also, we havn’t actually had any snow yet in west Cork- it is forecast for the next couple of days- rather, sleet from a few days ago has frozen but only in patches, so there are good bits and icy bits on any given road. The hills can be impassable even when the rest of the roads are not too bad. I gather the snow tyres are not great for the road surface otherwise. I will check out whether you can even get them here, and how much, for folks on the east coast where it has been under snow for a while already they would definitely seem a good idea.

]]> By: dode http://zone5.org/2010/01/survival/comment-page-1/#comment-39369 dode Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:02:14 +0000 http://zone5.org/?p=788#comment-39369 <p>Snow tyres are wonderful. In Hungary we have to switch tyres in November ready for frost and snow and switch back in the warm months. The difference driving with good winter tyres is incredible, last year I made my commute on one long (40km) stretch of ice, this year through ice, snow and a 260km drive to Slovenia in a blizzard with the family in the car without incident. The downside is you have to buy two sets of tyres and most people pay one of the Gummi Service places to store them and switch them when required. If I come back to the UK a set of winter tyres will be a habit I'll bring back with me.</p> Snow tyres are wonderful. In Hungary we have to switch tyres in November ready for frost and snow and switch back in the warm months. The difference driving with good winter tyres is incredible, last year I made my commute on one long (40km) stretch of ice, this year through ice, snow and a 260km drive to Slovenia in a blizzard with the family in the car without incident. The downside is you have to buy two sets of tyres and most people pay one of the Gummi Service places to store them and switch them when required. If I come back to the UK a set of winter tyres will be a habit I’ll bring back with me.

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