Tales from today's commute....

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Thorn Sherpa

Veteran
Location
Doncaster
With that wheel, I thought you were at Poolsbrook Country Park for a minute!
What do you test?
It's the old site of Carlton Main pit in Barnsley, testing glass to be used in furnaces to make glass bottles/jars.
 

wafter

I like steel bikes and I cannot lie..
Location
Oxford
Awoke yesterday morning after the forcast had provided plenty of anxiety fuel for today's travels.

I figured the lingering, patchy ice was bad enough to forsake the trip into town necessary for sausages and the time saved appealed as an opportunity to addres my sorry state before leaving, so I had eggs on toast instead.

Out into the glorious bright morning wearing all the clothes, taking it very easy and doing my best to pay attention and keep everything straight / steady on the large, inevitable icy patches on the cycle and tow paths. Got to work in one piece if quite late but thankfully without incident.

After a day in the cold office all I really wanted was a hot shower and bed, but instead I had kickboxing. While a little tempted to sack it off my resolve was rewarded by the warm environment and even greater warmth generated by all the exertion.

Before I arrived nothing seemed worse than spending a second longer than I had to outside; however after a good thrashing I headed to the other side of the city for a disappointing, fleeting dangle on the monkey bars and a trawl of various supermarkets' reductions.

A few items scored I headed home; the heat and enthusiasm absolutely drained from my being... arriving back seemingly just in time as my stinging cold fingers increasingly refused to operate correctly.

Only about 17 miles but certain enough given the conditions and a welcome day of exertion and corresponding body high once showered and in bed :smile:


This morning I'd half-planned to go into town but it looked that bleak that after another crap night's sleep I opted again for breakfast at home and the short option.

While still overcast by the time I left it'd brightened up a fair bit; emerging to find a light dusting of snow on everything.

While still bloody cold it seemed tangibly milder than yesterday; the cycle path fairly deserted with the odd flake of snow falling as I trundled on cautiously.

As the journey continued the snow became heavier to become a gentle flurry. Made it to work marginally less late than yesterday; clearly need to leave earlier tomorrow.

While it's nice to see the snow I'm a bit apprehensive about the journey home, which I think will be pretty direct this evening.


EDIT: Came straight home, tangibly milder even if I wasn't feeling it in the short journey that gave little chance to warm up...

Bonus image of one of the few fellow cyclists encounted on the way in:

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cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
-6 c when I set off although clear till I got close to work where some bits of the cycle path had snow on still from yesterday.
Looks like we had some snow at home after sunrise so I'm hoping it will melt before I go home
 

palinurus

Velo, boulot, dodo
Location
Watford
Cold. Some of the quiet roads aren't completely clear of the refrozen tiny amount of snowfall from last Friday. Spiky tyre up front today (15+ years old but still in good shape- I don't use it often). Pretty comfortable with my usual winter gear. Put my back out yesterday putting on an overshoe, once I get on the bike I feel fine until I have to get off it again.
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
mostly melted for the homeward bound ride apart from a few sections of broken compacted snow on the single track lane , i misjudged the sunset as i could have done with putting my lights on by the time i got home it was very dull but i thought for 5 mins that it was an issue i may as well plod on .
 

Arjimlad

Tights of Cydonia
Location
South Glos
-3 to -5 for me this morning.

I had an extra layer on, a light fleece jumper under the jacket which made a big difference to comfort. Heated gloves (very cheap Aliexpress specials with 3xAA batteries per glove) kept my hands quite warm with thin Decathlon liners. Sealskin waterproof socks kept the feet warm too.

Halfway along an icy deserted country lane, 3 roe deer trotted along ahead of me. I would not have attempted this route without the studded tyres. It was a very enjoyable ride if a couple of mph slower on the usual average speed.

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