Disadvantage of Car Ownership

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Sh4rkyBloke

Jaffa Cake monster
Location
Manchester, UK
L/S Base layer, L/S jersey over the top, cycling shorts with 3/4 length overshorts and my trusty winter boots. Got wet and have to say my shins were bloody freezing within the first couple of miles, but all in all not a bad ride. Not looking forward to the ride home if my kit isn't dry though! :sad:
 
Barka barka bark......cluck cluck cluck............. chickens

Flaming cold and wet getting bike out of garage, even walked past our two cars without a flinch. Bit breezy on the road - at one point I was blown within a couple of inches of a curb (botty clenching moment) but TBH, was fine.

Take the car today, or later in the week when it might be really nice (or not as bad) and I wished I was cycling ;)
 

Tynan

Veteran
Location
e4
longs, ss base, long top, gillet, overshoes, jobs a good'un, it wasn't nice at all on the first half into a really quite strong wind

however I had no front brakes after the 'suddenly' ran out of rubber, so back brake only, not really good enough on a day like today, thanks heaven for the crappy conditions to keep me going at a conservative pace, off to Evans if/when it stops raining for some doubtless swearing and cursing brake fitting outside the back of work

serve me right for not doing it on Saturday although it was a mental day
 

MartinC

Über Member
Location
Cheltenham
You can take care of the personal comfort part with the right clothing. But there are 3 safety factors that you can't mitigate on a bike - strong winds, ice and fog. If you make a decision that any of these make a particular commute too dangerous then that's a sensible judgement and not a wimp out.
 

gaz

Cycle Camera TV
Location
South Croydon
*sits back in arm chain* aaaaaah i'm not working this week
biggrin.gif
 
OP
OP
BSRU

BSRU

A Human Being
Location
Swindon
You can take care of the personal comfort part with the right clothing. But there are 3 safety factors that you can't mitigate on a bike - strong winds, ice and fog. If you make a decision that any of these make a particular commute too dangerous then that's a sensible judgement and not a wimp out.

Agree, I called it a wimp out because if had been windy and cold I would have no problem, just the addition of the horizontal rain made me wimpy, plus I have plenty of recently bought protective clothing unlike previous years when I had none.
 
OP
OP
BSRU

BSRU

A Human Being
Location
Swindon
*sits back in arm chain* aaaaaah i'm not working this week
biggrin.gif

Lucky for some, although I have two weeks paternity leave coming up very soon, just do not know when exactly.
 

pshore

Well-Known Member
Does nobody but me think, strong headwind on the way to work equals record beating time on the way home. Bring it on !

The rain is a bit of a downer when its cold though, that's why I took the motorbike today. Although exposed to the elements, it's not so bad as you have a full face helmet and screen to keep the rain out and you don't get sweaty in waterproof clothing.

I keep wondering if full face helmet on the tourer would make rain more bearable. hmmmm
 

MartinC

Über Member
Location
Cheltenham
Does nobody but me think, strong headwind on the way to work equals record beating time on the way home. Bring it on !

I admire your optimism. In my experience cycling isn't like that. A strong headwind on the way in will result in a equally strong headwind on the way back at the end of the day or if you're really lucky no wind. Like the p******e fairies like their little jokes the wind goblins ensure that headwinds are never balanced out by chuff winds.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
I admire your optimism. In my experience cycling isn't like that. A strong headwind on the way in will result in a equally strong headwind on the way back at the end of the day or if you're really lucky no wind. Like the p******e fairies like their little jokes the wind goblins ensure that headwinds are never balanced out by chuff winds.

This ^^^^
 
Don't feel bad. I used to cycle commute whatever the weather, but nowadays I'm a softie. I hopped on a bus.

Wouldn't have though if I'd had to do the same going home. The home leg is horrendous. (Bus crowded every time, takes ages, standing room only, windows steamed up and generally half the folk on board coughing, sneezing, spluttering and generally sharing various germs with those of us trying to stay healthy).

Fortunately today Mrs B is giving me a lift so the fact it's still piddling down out there is of no consequence. Plus I won't have to spend time drying the bike when I get in.
 
It was a great ride this morning!

Severe gusty crosswind, rain enough to soak me, even running down my face under the helmet. But it was a joy to be on the bike.

When I sell my car, I wil be a bit sad. At the moment, every time I go out in the morning, I smile when i see it sat there because I know I don't have to drive.

Looking forward to the ride home (partly because I know my socks are dry (I brought a spare pair anyway))
 
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