Tales from today's commute....

[fossyant]

Blustery ride in. Upped the clothing slightly - windproof skull cap and a thicker/more windproof jersey with the 'high vis' gilet for the dark return - I was rather toasty.

The new mini-cyclops junction at Fallowfield Sainsbury is littered with "anti-tank" curbs, so I just stuck to the road crossing the junction. Even that was a slalom getting onto the opposite side street.

 

[biking_fox]

Blustery ride in. Upped the clothing slightly - windproof skull cap and a thicker/more windproof jersey with the 'high vis' gilet for the dark return - I was rather toasty.

The new mini-cyclops junction at Fallowfield Sainsbury is littered with "anti-tank" curbs, so I just stuck to the road crossing the junction. Even that was a slalom getting onto the opposite side street.

Yeah. I'm not a huge fan either. I'm glad it's finished ahead of schedule, and if it helps more people cycle then it's sort of a win. But it's not convenient if you're happier on the road.

Did not like commuting at rush hour in the dark. I'd forgotten how little you can see behind a traffic jam of bright red lights. Makes filtering very hard.

This morning was fun though, empty roads, blue skies. Leaf mush and glare, but otherwise fine riding.

 

[ianrauk]

Yucky morning out there. A band of blustery rain coming in from the west hit quite hard. I decided to stay on the train for a couple more stops then I usually do. Thankfully it's not cold. Temperatures at 7am this morning were showing 16°. That is very mild for this time of year.
Staying on the train meant the ride to work is a paltry 3 miles, and it's all downhill.

Looking much nicer for the ride home later today, and much better and drier the rest of the week.

So, rainy commute # 34 for the year
Same period last year, 24 rainy commutes

 

[cyberknight]

Dry to start with but got caught on a heavy downpour and blown about by crosswind for the last few miles, I stopped under a bus shelter to put my jacket on but I should have put my legs covers and over shoes on as my thighs and feet were nicely wet.
Bright sunshine now ....

 

[fossyant]

Yeah. I'm not a huge fan either. I'm glad it's finished ahead of schedule, and if it helps more people cycle then it's sort of a win. But it's not convenient if you're happier on the road.

I'm going to give it a try on the way home (heading East) to see if any better turning right onto the main road. This morning was a bit chaotic, only three of us coming off the Floop going West, one bloke in front working out where he needed to go to turn left, me taking one look and going for the road, only to see umpteen curbs opposite, then a guy behind me who opted for the anti-clock 'loop' to go down the same side road as me, opposite Sainsburys, but he then had to wait as I was going straight over.

 

[HLaB]

The bike cage was a bit fuller again today but its not helped by folk leaving bikes in there for storage. There's permanently a couple under storage covers and now with it being the end of summer there's 3 or 4 kids bikes.

The train journey tonight in the twilight with clear skies was quite spectacular as was tonight's moon, my phone camera didn't really capture the image right though. I got the later train too that's less busy (despite being half the length) as it doesn't stop everywhere.

Got out of the Station at the end of the peak hour and it was total chaos traffic wise (goodness know what it was like in the heart of the peak hour). The urban dual carriage way past Peterborough United's ground was a bit chaotic too tanks to the Ninja who decided to veer across 4 busy traffic lanes. Lol I just realised with the change of the clocks my video camera needed to sync again with the phone.

View: https://youtu.be/ouuy2VjENxg


The video camera doesn't do the moon justice either but the shimmer in the lake might give you an idea of how impressive it was.

 

[fossyant]

Only one idiot that pulled across me on the main road near work on the way home last night, visibility being excellent. No excuse and he caused me to brake. Pulled up behind him at a set of lights about a mile away, then passed him again about 4 miles later. Less haste folks.

Persevered with the new mini cyclops at Fallowfield Sainsburys.

East/west, west/east from the Loop and the cycle lane on the side street, then it's OK, and the cycle lights do seem to have a decent priority over traffic on the main road. If using the main road, just don't bother pulling onto the cyclops, far easier staying on the road, and that includes tuning left or right onto the main road at the junction (I was turning right last night and waited at the cyclops junction, and then just turned onto the road, rather than following it round onto the busy pedestrian area near Sainsburys.

I don't like the Sainsburys side of the cyclops, too many curbs and its right bang in the middle of a very busy pedestrian pavement. The other side is less of a bother.

It's cost a fortune !

 

[ianrauk]

Also had an idiot pull out on me this morning. BMW driver of course. He was also in the restricted bus lane. Just didn't check his mirrors when he pulled out from behind a bus, without indicating of course forcing me to swerve out of the way. He got the big wave of indignation. But to be fair he did apologise once he pulled up behind me at the lights.

Lovely morning for it out there though. A bit of a chilly 7° at 7am but blue, sunny skies.

 

[wafter]

Can't be arsed to write anything significant in the face of the forum's infuriating formatting issues

Nice ride; some dickheads.. felt like a privilege to be in the city in such a relatively quiet state and unencumbered by the miseries of driving.

 

[biking_fox]

Only one idiot that pulled across me on the main road near work on the way home last night, visibility being excellent. No excuse and he caused me to brake. Pulled up behind him at a set of lights about a mile away, then passed him again about 4 miles later. Less haste folks.

Persevered with the new mini cyclops at Fallowfield Sainsburys.

East/west, west/east from the Loop and the cycle lane on the side street, then it's OK, and the cycle lights do seem to have a decent priority over traffic on the main road. If using the main road, just don't bother pulling onto the cyclops, far easier staying on the road, and that includes tuning left or right onto the main road at the junction (I was turning right last night and waited at the cyclops junction, and then just turned onto the road, rather than following it round onto the busy pedestrian area near Sainsburys.

I don't like the Sainsburys side of the cyclops, too many curbs and its right bang in the middle of a very busy pedestrian pavement. The other side is less of a bother.

It's cost a fortune !

I'm currently road riding Whilmslow/Mosely and can mostly just ignore it. If you're in the lanes its awkward to get across to turn right. Heading S I very much dislike the routing behind the bus stop. It's very busy with pedestrians. Next week I hope to be on the new bike and back to riding the Floop E/W across it.

 

[spen666]

Can school holidays be changed across the whole school year?

It would be most helpful to me if school children were given 52 weeks a year holiday. Those parents who want to work can just build a cage in the back yard to leave the kids secure in whilst they are at work. I'm sure a local zoo can supply the plans for suitable cages

The improvement to road safety from the lack of traffic is incredible
I'm off to start a petition. Not only does it improve road safety, and help the environment, it gives children more time to make tik toks, so an all round winner I think.

its not to late Mr Healey to put this in your budgie at lunchtime

 

[cyberknight]

Some toe covers came yesterday from Amazon, dirt cheap as my toes have been chilly the last couple of days. They are what I would describe as comfort fit as they are fairly loose compared to the ones I have had before but means I can get them over the lugs on the bottom of my MTB shoes without making the hole bigger so all in all they do the job. 6 c according to a work mate .