Any on here also run a Motorbike to work?

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I used to have a motorbike and commute a few years ago now around London as well as up here, but not in heavy snow or really icy conditions as it was too dangerous plus the motorbike and me used to get covered in crap, crud and salt which would kill the finish on the bike. It was great fun in fine weather but not snow and ice. Motorbikes a Suzuki GS750 then a Bandit then a Honda VFR are long gone. Though I still have all my gear, Kelvar jacket, trousers, helmet, boots and gloves but haven't worn them for years. The trousers are super warm thick padded ones. I keep telling myself that one day I will, but I don't think so, not in the crap UK climate. Plus I've totted up the costs and it is more expensive than running my car. I'd rather be driving half way to work then cycling the rest on the GBW. It's the safest. Anyway the GBW has been a Godsend for cycling to work. It is not quite so flooded as it was, there are only two long stretches remaining at the moment. To pass these you just ride along the top of the grass bank. I guess if you have a road bike then this will not be possible so you have to push/carry it and walk, but with a MTB it's no problem. just a bit slower and more concentration needed in the bike handling department to avoid falling ar$e over tit into the water.

The contractors that have been digging with a huge digger just east of Swavesy have left a lot of mud and stones on the road which pees me off no end as hitting this crap at night that they should have cleaned up can be lethal causing to you crash or puncture plus in the wet it makes one hell of a mess of your bike. Plus the stupid prats at Cambridgeshire Council have been cutting the vegtation and hedges adjacent to the road and left all the cuttings and thorns on the road. I got a puncture in my front tyre from a one and half inch thorn on wednesday morning so when I cam to ride home the tyre was flat so had to stick in a new tube which made me late home.

Me and you must have passed each other along the way in the last year !!!!

As for the contractors just past Swavesey, what really annoyed me was the fact that they parked their car on the bus way and in the pitch dark you could not see it, I can't believe no one crashed into it.
As for the flooding, yep, only 2 sections are really underwater and after taking the diversion yesterday around Fenstanton into Cambridge along the Low road on the ice, today I came back via the GBW as it seemed a bit safer although I had to walk 2 sections. The wind tonight was dreadful. Took me 1 hr. 20 to do the 15 miles.....

At least were going to get lights along it now, lets hope they work under water ....

http://travellingtheguidedbusway.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/ligts-on-busway-cycle-track.html

 

[pshore]

I have an FZ6 in the garage and I use it as a commuting work horse only. Actually, its a great all rounder, but I am tempted by something a little smaller for easier filtering. I still can't filter as quick as my bicycle.

I do enough cycling to satisfying my exercise needs and take rest days on the motorcycle. I think it works out about 50/50 between each mode of transport. I love to do a bit of MTB or longer road rides at the weekend, but find my enthusiasm for it wanes if I cycle 5 days a week to work. I'm only 7 miles out of Cambridge and if the weather is good I'll take the long way in, say 15m autumn/spring and occasionally 25 miles in summer.

Re the cold, yes it can be super cold on a motorbike and when the temperature drops below 2-4C, and it really is the wind chill that is the killer. Not so bad in town with slower speeds but as soon as you get onto faster roads you chill quickly. My hands give in first. My all year round gloves go down to about 6C, then I add handlebar muffs which allow me to go to about 2C but are awkward to be honest, I'm tempted by heated gloves but have reservations about riding at more than push bike speeds in icy weather.

So when too cold I go by bicycle but direct taking about 25 mins at 80% effort. I do find the cold leaves my muscles sore and tight and I start eating like a horse, so I can understand how 1hr20m is a drag.

Now, the obvious question is can you take the GB on a rest day ? Maybe combine with a folder, its going to be a cheaper.

 

[Crankarm]

Me and you must have passed each other along the way in the last year !!!!

As for the contractors just past Swavesey, what really annoyed me was the fact that they parked their car on the bus way and in the pitch dark you could not see it, I can't believe no one crashed into it.
As for the flooding, yep, only 2 sections are really underwater and after taking the diversion yesterday around Fenstanton into Cambridge along the Low road on the ice, today I came back via the GBW as it seemed a bit safer although I had to walk 2 sections. The wind tonight was dreadful. Took me 1 hr. 20 to do the 15 miles.....

At least were going to get lights along it now, lets hope they work under water ....

http://travellingtheguidedbusway.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/ligts-on-busway-cycle-track.html

Yes I am sure we have passed each other at some point or I have drafted you . The weather wasn't very good this evening. It was very heavy going into the strong freezing NNW wind. It took me a bit longer as well about 1hour 15 minutes to ride from Cambridge to St.Ives. I always get scalped by some one about 200m before the Over bus stop. This time a guy on a tandem who had lost his stoker passed me at Oakington as I was stopped but then I caught him up and tailed him, not drafted, right the way around that long sweeping left hand bend to Over where he turned off. He only had one large pannier on the rear as well. Weirdo . I did stop a couple of times though one to put my storm jacket on as the rain/sleet was hard into my face and my normal Endura jacket doesn't have a hood like my Berghaus one. I also had on my heavy duty winter BBB over shoes over my MW80 winter boots to stop them getting soaked and being wet for riding back into work tomorrow. Feet were lovely and warm. Unfortunately I left my waterproof leggings at work of all days to leave them behind.

Those contractors working east of Swavesey - Lancaster Earthmovers are idiots. They drive their vans and pick up trucks straight out of the thick mud onto the smooth tarmac. No effort to clear up their mess. They should pay for a road sweeper to go up and down several times a day as they put so much thick mud onto the smooth tarmac. Tonight was awful - huge clumps of mud and stones left on the road almost invisible in the dark, really slippery and lethal if you hit them. Fortunately I have the studded tyres on my bike. Also around Histon the muppet council have been trimming the thorny bushes adjacent to the road and there are masses of cuttings and huge thorns all over the road as they must have used a flaying machne which send the cuttings everywhere.

Lights! I saw something in the local Town and Crybaby newspaper about solar powered lights being a success on the GBW. WTF! I haven't seen any lighting that looks remotely successful on the GBW. How does that work then - a solar powered light AT NIGHT????! The route doesn't need lights, what it needs is those stupid grey barriers and posts to stop unauthorised vehicles driving on the road alongside the GBW to have reflective surfaces on them so they can be seen at night. I mean which idiot at Cambridge County Council decided that the best colour to paint them was battleship grey??? Total incompetence it's staggering. It only needs for a cyclist to not see them which is fairly easy and crash into them in the dark causing serious injury or death and they will be sued for millions of pounds. But these are local council people that aren't known for having any brains or common sense. We certainy don't need lights along the length of the GBW. What is needed is for some cyclists to get some lights and keep them on constant rather than set them to flashing then they might be able to see where they are going. Also ban horses as there are again lots of fresh piles of sh1t ready to skid on and crash.

 

[pshore]

Adding solar lights in the northern section is something they propose to do in some attempt to (a) mark the edges and well erm (b) help people (cyclists & peds) see each other. I've tried to tell them that they don't solve (b) but they are determined to spend our £95k.

 

[Stonepark]

Solar lights, I wouldn't have much use for but in Scotland they have been trailing solar powered cats eyes in a few places, and they are very good, clear lane markings at night - (if you were to turn your lights to parking for a second- still have rear lights on) it is very similar to a computer game driving simulation in the dark).

 

[gavroche]

And killing the planet less

Excuse me, in what danger is the planet?

 

[MattHB]

Excuse me, in what danger is the planet?

People not knowing what danger it's in

 

[gavintc]

We run a Vespa 300 as our alternative to the bikes. My wife and I both cycle commute, but having a scooter does give options. With a scooter skirt - you can keep remarkably warm and toasty and the engine outlets are on the front fairing warming the area under the skirt.
http://scooter-wear.com/scooter-acc...n=Scooter Leg Cover&utm_term="scooter skirts"

 

[Linford]

And killing the planet less

Come again ?

 

[gavroche]

People not knowing what danger it's in

At the sound of being repetitive, the planet is in NO danger. Planet earth has been through many climate changes before and is in no danger whatsoever so let's stop all that nonsense.

 

[Linford]

Road salt is not very kind to sports motorcycles - especially the brakes.

Mine is away for the winter awaiting a full brake strip and rebuild over the break due to road salt ingress. If you are only commuting in town traffic, and want a PTW, get a Hornet,Bandit or SV - EG upright naked bike. Sports bikes are really very hard work at low speeds due to the riding position, but are very comfortable above 50mph as the wind blast lifts your upper body weight off your hands. I commute on mine from march to october/november when there isn't salt on the roads.

I used to commute all year around on the bike in my avatar, and down to about -6c. I am more concerned though with loss of traction than dealing with the cold, and that can happen on salted roads as well.

 

[Crankarm]

And killing the planet less

The end is nigh brigade. I remember in the 70's and 80's the fools at the Met Office were predicting an imminent Ice Age, the Thames freezing over. So everyone chucked another lump of coal on their fires. The planet will continue what ever happens. Whether we are on it for the long term is pure speculation.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Come again ?

Linf Linf Linf, have you learned nothing from reading Current Affairs And Debates??

At the sound of being repetitive, the planet is in NO danger. Planet earth has been through many climate changes before and is in no danger whatsoever so let's stop all that nonsense.

The planet isn't in danger, yes, its the animals that live on it that are (mostly thanks to us in so many different ways ).

This ball of rock will still be here long after the virus that is humanity has (thankfully) gone, or beetled off to another planet to ruin.

 

[Electric_Andy]

You'll get fat on one of them you know. More likely to die of fat related illness than squished on the pedal bike. FACT

In fact since getting a motorbike I have been dieting and lost 1.5 stone! Even if I didn't die, I could still be hurt which would be very inconvenient. Also my stress levels were through the roof when cycle commuting, but none of that now with the motorbike

 

[Electric_Andy]

At the sound of being repetitive, the planet is in NO danger. Planet earth has been through many climate changes before and is in no danger whatsoever so let's stop all that nonsense.

There are many other things to worry about other than climate change. Depletion of fossil fuels, species extinction