Highlights of your commuting year.

[benborp]

In the true spirit of gearing up for everything at least a month too early, and as some of us have already hung up our cleats for the year, I was wondering what everyone's best memory from their last years commuting would be?

For me there was:

the day I took the good bike in and extended the trip home by about 30 miles accompanied by a friend.

the three weeks travelling out to east London was an invigorating change of scene that showed me a different London.

the unexpected meetings (some of them with forumites) while cycling in or while sitting on the Cut watching the evening rush build.

the day no-one overtook. That was a bit weird.

What were yours?

 

[MacB]

my first full commute, getting lost both ways and almost giving up at the end

getting clipped by a lorry and being fortunate enough to bounce along the side of it rather than under

my first strong headwind and stopping to check brakes as thought they must be binding

my first ever social ride and meeting Teef & Co(akin to the building firm Bodgit & Leggit)

my first ever night ride and discovering that I love a well organised ride where all the thinking's done for you

all the social rides since and all the people I've met, and babbled to, en route

trying to introduce the lovely Jane to the joys of cycling only for her to break her leg and ankle in multiple spots, still feel guilty over that, but will laugh if she sets of an airport metal detector

making some progress, with some backwards steps, on the learning curve re bikes and cycling

making others envious over my choice of handlebars

all in all it's been a great 2009

 

[thomas]

All those pork pies I scoffed in my lunch break, without having to feel guilty as I'd just cycled 13 miles into work that morning

 

[potsy]

my highlights
1-1st commute 18 miles round trip didn't think I would make it.
2-1st time I got up my 'big' hill without getting off.
3-1st time I did all 5 days in the week.

my lowlights
1-nearly getting taken out by a lorry on a rab,he never saw me.
2-getting 3 punc*ur*s in 1 day
3-getting soaked

 

[hackbike 666]

Highlights

No p*nct*r*s so far,trying to last the whole of 2009 without the same.
Possibly recovering from loss of form which has affected me for the last year on the bike.


Lowlights

The snow in Febuary resulting in a nightmare ride and a (too) close encounter with the lorry behind me as the front wheel slipped and one of those Pre Booked idiots cutting me up in deep snow and ice on same commute.Muppet.

(Upper+Lower Thames Street)

 

[gbb]

Beating the heaviest of snow to get to work. It was hard, foolhardy and dangerous even, but i wasnt beaten and kept my 100% commuting record.

 

[DJ]

Good idea for a thread this, My highlight was going for the whole year and only using my bike for my commute no other form of transport at all.
That has given me endless satisfaction and spurs me on on these wet days to carry on that record.

 

[potsy]

my first full commute, getting lost both ways and almost giving up at the end

getting clipped by a lorry and being fortunate enough to bounce along the side of it rather than under

my first strong headwind and stopping to check brakes as thought they must be binding

my first ever social ride and meeting Teef & Co(akin to the building firm Bodgit & Leggit)

my first ever night ride and discovering that I love a well organised ride where all the thinking's done for you

all the social rides since and all the people I've met, and babbled to, en route

trying to introduce the lovely Jane to the joys of cycling only for her to break her leg and ankle in multiple spots, still feel guilty over that, but will laugh if she sets of an airport metal detector

making some progress, with some backwards steps, on the learning curve re bikes and cycling

making others envious over my choice of handlebars

all in all it's been a great 2009

I've done this as well

 

[Dayvo]

Highlights:

Plenty of speed on the downhill home, requiring good skills, daring and a fair amount of luck.

Good demanding uphill on the way in early in the day.

Managed to cycle every day regardless of the weather (lucky, really, as it is my ONLY means of getting to work).

Lowlights:

My commute was only 6 km (but next year it'll be slightly longer and more varied - new address - and hope to have red-hot Cannondale in my stable!).

 

[The Eighth Man]

Highlights:
When people say"you are on your bike in this weather?"

 

[GrasB]

Highlight: I've only use the bike & cross country skis besides when I've been to injured to even walk across the site without stopping!

 

[hackbike 666]

Good idea for a thread this, My highlight was going for the whole year and only using my bike for my commute no other form of transport at all.
That has given me endless satisfaction and spurs me on on these wet days to carry on that record.

Same here since Feb 2003.

Wet weather is not a problem.Snow and ice probably is.

 

[upsidedown]

Not using the car once to get to work, and realising that i no longer need a car to get to work, no matter what.

 

[MacB]

I've done this as well

I was genuinely gobsmacked, one of those, you don't really believe it until it happens, moments. At 18 stone, on a heavy bike with full panniers, I was actually having to pedal going downhill to keep the bike moving.

You get that knowing look from people that don't cycle as well. Amongst the usual comments they normally throw in a 'you must hate the rain'. When I say it doesn't bother me(shower and change both ends of commute) but the wind does. They get that look of patronising disbelief, subtle, but it's there.

 

[Keith Oates]

Managing to commute every day except when I've been away on business trips or holidays. There was also one short break due to a heavy cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!