Off-road commuting
- Thread starter G3CWI
- Start date
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So the return. I decided the off road section would be shortened. I'd been thinking about 'the barrier' and whilst I didn't mind climbing down the 6ft vertical bit, I figured it might be a bit different going up it. So I figured I'd stick on the road the first two or three miles and pick up the trail later on.
Bad idea.
Within the first mile I'd had 2 examples of why the off roads better. Not bad to say 25% of that I was on a cycle path at the side of the road.
1 - approaching queueing traffic at the motorway roundabout. Steady speed, why rush to join the queue? I'm in a strong secondary and after a shoulder check I'm moving into primary. Flat bed van comes alongside. and soon as the cabs past me... I don't exist. He quickly starts moving left and squeezing me out. Gets a full volume "Oi!". I see him check the NS mirror and he shoots without looking into the offside lane and upto the junction...?
2. about a quarter mile past the RAB pinch point due to a pedestrian island. Black cars been behind me for a while. I've kept shoulder checking. Oncoming traffics made a safe OT unviable, so he's stayed back. There's a gap and just enough time before the island for him to pass so he goes for it, nice and wide. I'm too close to the island now for a safe OT, so after a shoulder check I'm strengthening my road position. I'm going past the island... and the red estate car sails through on my right. My "Oi" and upturned "what was that?" hand signal just gets a left hand swerve and a Gareth Hunt 'just look at the coffe beans' hand signal.
(20 seconds later the coppers passed....)
I'm now really looking forward to that last bit of TransPennine Trail being connected properly. Meantime, I'm not going to be doing the commute every day, so I'll sus a route to get back onto the trail that avoids the road as much as possible.
Bad idea.
Within the first mile I'd had 2 examples of why the off roads better. Not bad to say 25% of that I was on a cycle path at the side of the road.
1 - approaching queueing traffic at the motorway roundabout. Steady speed, why rush to join the queue? I'm in a strong secondary and after a shoulder check I'm moving into primary. Flat bed van comes alongside. and soon as the cabs past me... I don't exist. He quickly starts moving left and squeezing me out. Gets a full volume "Oi!". I see him check the NS mirror and he shoots without looking into the offside lane and upto the junction...?
2. about a quarter mile past the RAB pinch point due to a pedestrian island. Black cars been behind me for a while. I've kept shoulder checking. Oncoming traffics made a safe OT unviable, so he's stayed back. There's a gap and just enough time before the island for him to pass so he goes for it, nice and wide. I'm too close to the island now for a safe OT, so after a shoulder check I'm strengthening my road position. I'm going past the island... and the red estate car sails through on my right. My "Oi" and upturned "what was that?" hand signal just gets a left hand swerve and a Gareth Hunt 'just look at the coffe beans' hand signal.
(20 seconds later the coppers passed....)
I'm now really looking forward to that last bit of TransPennine Trail being connected properly. Meantime, I'm not going to be doing the commute every day, so I'll sus a route to get back onto the trail that avoids the road as much as possible.
OP
OP
G3CWI
Veteran
- Location
- Macclesfield
I have been out route testing today. The off road part is nice. Runs through a wood. Then across a field and finally to a gate and through the garden of a house and down their drive. It appears me save 4 minutes as well as eliminating dicing with death turning right onto and off a main road. Just hope that weather holds until Wednesday for the first real run.
lb81
Senior Member
- Location
- Blaze'n'smoke, Hampshire
I regularly do about 10 miles in to work over some military ranges. Can be really muddy at times with some big climbs and descents but worth every moment and i would take it every time over the road option!
Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
It all depends on how off-roady your commute is. I have a partial commute through the woods, and I actually use slick commuting tyres on my old mtb frame. Having said that, there have definitely been times when it's rained a bit and I would have liked some mtb tyres. In fact, going forward once my slicks wear out I'll probably look at getting tyres that aren't slick but also aren't big chunky mtb tyres -a sort of compromise between the two.
Oh yeah, given a choice for commuting -off road, every time! It's a very fortunate person who has an off road commute. Anytime you get away from motor vehicles is a huge plus in my opinion.
Oh yeah, given a choice for commuting -off road, every time! It's a very fortunate person who has an off road commute. Anytime you get away from motor vehicles is a huge plus in my opinion.
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Does pavement riding qualify as being off-road?
The GBW is paradise
(when not flooded).
The GBW is paradise
(when not flooded).
Edwards80
Über Member
- Location
- Stockport, UK
I occasionally use the MTB to commute down the Trans Pennine Trail - Only tip would be to use panniers if you're carrying any weight. I found a rucksack gave some grief due to the extra bumping about if I had any weight in it, not a problem on the road (although the roads aren't much better than a rutted track in places!)
