Tales from today's commute....

[HLaB]

The weather is a wee bit warm so the train network is total chaos again. Thank goodness I wasn't trying to get to Cambridge the Hitchin to Cambridge line was totally wrecked. That meant all the Hitchin folk were on the Peterborough train that also stops at Hitchin but veers off before Cambridge. Some of the Cambridge folk were trying to go by Peterborough too. I thought there'd be no chance of getting a bike in but someone was already in there with an unfolded folder. I think the Folder guy was probably caught up in the chaos because he was getting off at Hitchin. So we slotted my bike in behind. I wanted back to test the newly fitted BB in the good bike but with the weather being so good I gave into temptation and got off a stop early.

 

[katiewlx]

I've resolved from this morning to only report the worst close passes to the police, and four miles into my ride.....

View attachment 811802

yep know that feeling all too well 😿

 

[markharry66]

yep know that feeling all too well 😿

really sorry to hear that

 

[markharry66]

Anyone commuting this week fancied it but never ridden in heat like this.

 

[Drago]

Anyone commuting this week fancied it but never ridden in heat like this.

I used to commute all year round, as low as minus 18 and as high as the high 30s, but I was young and dumb.

 

[biking_fox]

Anyone commuting this week fancied it but never ridden in heat like this.

Yes - although oop north it's not so bad yet.
Same as riding in the cold - be prepared. Minimal exertion - low gear just ticking over. Oddest thing to watch out for might be melted tarmac!


I got properly squeezed today - worst in a long time. In moving traffic, a car drifted past wide, but then just pulled back in as if I'd ceased to exist - I was literally still level with their front doors. Hauled on the anchors and dropped back. Got some proper shouting and waving form me, but I don't think they even noticed.

 

[fossyant]

Our road starts to melt in the heat - you can see there tyres are 'turned' as people pull on/off their drives. WFH today, but AC is on. I will be taking it easy this week as I ran out of drink on Saturday's ride - warmer than I thought !

 

[ianrauk]

Anyone commuting this week fancied it but never ridden in heat like this.

It's really not a problem as long as you keep hydrated and take it easy.
I also use UV sleeves on my arms if the sun is especially fierce.

 

[fossyant]

It's really not a problem as long as you keep hydrated and take it easy.

This - it's usually OK in the morning, you'll get very sweaty, but evenings then it's knock the pace off slightly,

 

[Alex321]

Anyone commuting this week fancied it but never ridden in heat like this.

I have on occasion. And if I'm not too stiff, I will on Wednesday (I only have two days a week in the office - Wed & Fri).

But it hit 33 while I was out today, and that didn't really bother me, so not too worried about that aspect. The first time I rode the Bwlch was the hottest day of that year, at 35C.

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

Still commuting morning and afternoon to work, like others have said steady away is the way forward. Working around glass furnaces kind of prepares you for the warm days so I'm lucky in that sense!

 

[katiewlx]

I wont be riding much this week, not because of the heat necessarily, just trying to protect my sore knee abit, before some planned long rides at the weekend.

plus I could do with a break from the crazy people I meet on the road normally when Im cycling

but heat wise, as everyone else has said, just knock the speed back abit, mornings are generally fine, evenings afternoon it will feel more intense, the roads soak the heat all day and do a good job of reflecting it back at you, plus motorists get much grumpier too I find in the heat, but Id probably pack ice cubes in the drinks bottle, and have one left in the fridge at home, so you can cool down quickly and keep hydrated.

Ive certainly cycled in the heat in this country, 36C I think, maybe 37C and it was unpleasant to say the least, like how youd imagine cycling in a fan oven is like, because even with the breeze of moving, its just really warm air so provides no respite at all, and Ive seen people pass out through heat stroke on a sportive, so just be mindful dont cook yourself.