Casual Cyclists in Hibernation

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goo_mason

Champion barbed-wire hurdler
Location
Leith, Edinburgh
Quite a few still sticking it out at my work I used to have the gym changing rooms all to myself at this time last year. Now there are three or four cyclists in there around 6.30 - 6.45am.

Mind you, apart from a cold snap last week it's still pretty mild and it's not been too wet so there's still time for them to give up when it starts getting really cold. But it's a good sign nonetheless to see more people taking to their bikes and leaving their cars at home.
 
Strangely enough the reverse can be said for me I normally see very few people over summer, usually 1 or two guys in a morning/evening on the other side of the road but none on mine. See quite a lot of people out and about over the last week or so - ahh! the credit crunch!
 
There's one person that I see most mornings and some evenings that I really hope keeps it up. She started, as best as I can tell, a few months after me and was initially riding with a bloke who I assume to be her partner.

I've not seen him in ages, but she seems to be sticking at it. They were both, how can I put this, definitely on the large side and presumably he still is but she's slimming down .. well, she seems to be as best as I can tell as we go past each other in opposite directions. It would be a real shame for her to lose what she's gained this year.
 

J4CKO

New Member
I havent seen Naked Bloke, the guy at work who showers with the portakabin door open, unselfconciously flossing, no great loss !
 

monnet

Guru
I've noticed that there are fewer people cycling into work now. On the roads there doesn't seem to be much difference in numbers. What I have noticed is that there are three clear groups out on the roads now. The experienced riders (long sleeved jerseys and tights now); the commuters in civvies/work clothes; and those who've just taken up the sport in the shorrts and jerseys they bought in summer and look like they're freezing now.
 

Maz

Guru
Since I've been riding the road bike, I now get the occasional nod from roadies who used to blank me out before!
 

Ivan Ardon

Well-Known Member
Not here the weren't, a bit of mid October sunshine meant all of the Sheffield stands were full today, so I had to risk a wheel-bender. Once the clocks go back, I'll have a stand to myself until next May or thereabouts.
 

neslon

Well-Known Member
Location
The Toon
Its not really any colder or wetter than a few weeks ago, just darker. Does that really put people off commuting? Personally,I don't mind as long as its not windy (see untold winges passim)
 

threefingerjoe

Über Member
Ahhh, the changing seasons! I must ask, though, what is a "real cyclist?" Is it the competitive cyclist on a stripped road bike in full kit, hammering along in nice weather (but asks questions like "How do you STORE your bike for the winter?") or, perhaps, is it the little old man with full mudguards and pannier rack, who commutes in all weather including the ice and dreaded wind?

Joe
 

summerdays

Cycling in the sun
Location
Bristol
I don't think I've seen any difference in the numbers of cyclists - still plenty, but then the weather has been pretty good for the last week or so. Yesterday the stands at the office were half empty (I thought it might be as the security gate was broken), but it turned out some other department was off on a training do elsewhere.
 
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