Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Where did all the cyclists go this morning - it's only a bit of rain!!
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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kevin_cambs_uk
Guru
- Location
- Near Cambridge
Well four hard days, but 4 days off !
Still at 100% for the year, which ain't bad!
Still at 100% for the year, which ain't bad!
HarryTheDog
Guru
- Location
- Basildon Essex
Long commute today as I have tomorrow off. Going through Barking a guy on a Trek 29er in front of me came off on one of those horrible marble type paving slabs with ribs in it, he took it at the wrong angle. Stopped and made sure he was ok.
Then coming out of Barking I realised I had picked up company. Guy my age, shorts, jersey,huge beard riding a old piece of unbranded yellow gas pipe with running shoes on. He stayed behind me for half a mile semi drafting at 20mph. He then did the correct thing and did his turn but upped it to 22 mph. This gave me a breather so half a mile later I took it on and gave it 24mph. We went through a junction and took separate routes so he ended up in front again. Coming to another junction into Canning town I took to the road and ended up in front. The fun ended there as he disappeared, I was looking forward to a sprint battle up the Canning Town slip road hill but it never materialised.
Then coming out of Barking I realised I had picked up company. Guy my age, shorts, jersey,huge beard riding a old piece of unbranded yellow gas pipe with running shoes on. He stayed behind me for half a mile semi drafting at 20mph. He then did the correct thing and did his turn but upped it to 22 mph. This gave me a breather so half a mile later I took it on and gave it 24mph. We went through a junction and took separate routes so he ended up in front again. Coming to another junction into Canning town I took to the road and ended up in front. The fun ended there as he disappeared, I was looking forward to a sprint battle up the Canning Town slip road hill but it never materialised.
MisterStan
Label Required
- Location
- Out there somewhere
Last night was all about dragging a couple of wheelsuckers home on the busway - neither of them would go to the front. Got a bit pissed off so dropped them, it hurt to do this with the headwind but there you go.
This morning I bumped into a guy who used to have a nice steel framed Gazelle, he's now got a very nice Dolan, he knew how to take a turn on the front, so a nice quick run in. (@kevin_cambs_uk I can never remember his name - do you know it? Think he's from Peterborough...)
This morning I bumped into a guy who used to have a nice steel framed Gazelle, he's now got a very nice Dolan, he knew how to take a turn on the front, so a nice quick run in. (@kevin_cambs_uk I can never remember his name - do you know it? Think he's from Peterborough...)
kevin_cambs_uk
Guru
- Location
- Near Cambridge
I don't know if cleaning all the grot from the inside of my chain last night had an effect far beyond the predicted or if there was an undeclared tailwind on the way in this morning, because it felt like I was flying.
The chain is definitely quieter and shinier though :-)
The chain is definitely quieter and shinier though :-)
Origamist
Legendary Member
I thought I was going to be getting a lift with the air ambulance last night, or worse. Young male driver (with friends on board), in a small car with lowered suspension, tinted rear windows (ticks all the boxes) overtakes at approx. 60mph on a blind bend when a 4x4 appears in the opposite direction. I was about a metre from the hedge when the lads in the little hatchback beep (!) and cut back in, missing my front wheel by about a metre and missing the 4x4 by less than a foot. I'd like to say I took evasive action, but I froze as I was convinced the two cars were going to crash and they were going to ricochet into me...Naturally, I passed the small car in traffic when we hit Middlewich and had a good look at the young lad driving but carried on going, glad to be still able to turn the cranks...
This morning was nice - wind had died down and not too chilly. Gears are graunchy, but the new drivetrain after Easter should sort that.
This morning was nice - wind had died down and not too chilly. Gears are graunchy, but the new drivetrain after Easter should sort that.
Was just crossing the station car park when there was a bang and a hiss... lept off the bike in a hurry (Bromptons are very unstable with a flat front tyre if you have a heavy front bag on like me, due to all the weight over the front wheel). Carried it down to the platform and had the wheel off by the time the train arrived. Got the patch on during the journey but was far too impatient about getting it all back together again and it didn't hold, so I just walked home (it is only about 15 minutes).
Binned that tube and put in a new one. I think I should get a new front tyre, though, there's quite a hole in this one now (as well as a bunch of other cuts).
Binned that tube and put in a new one. I think I should get a new front tyre, though, there's quite a hole in this one now (as well as a bunch of other cuts).
Panter
Just call me Chris...
- Location
- Sittingbourne, Kent
Mercifully, no headwind this morning and the slight tailwind is even forecast to turn 180 degrees this afternoon so there's half a chance I could get blown home, here's hoping!
I stripped the wheels down last weekend, cleaned all the crud out of the hubs and regreased them so the bike is actually a bit easier to ride now, it even freewheels! (a bit)
Still have the issue of the front brake binding and no front mech, but will hopefully sort those out over the weekend and at least the rear wheel does freewheel for a few revolutions now which is a vast improvement.
I stripped the wheels down last weekend, cleaned all the crud out of the hubs and regreased them so the bike is actually a bit easier to ride now, it even freewheels! (a bit)
Still have the issue of the front brake binding and no front mech, but will hopefully sort those out over the weekend and at least the rear wheel does freewheel for a few revolutions now which is a vast improvement.
Hacienda71
Mancunian in self imposed exile in leafy Cheshire
- Location
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
Sunny this morning for me. My commute is pretty rural. I see the odd cyclist some of whom are regulars. Today was an exception to that rule. Crossed with a Condor JLT rider, then two U23 GB riders. Then passed three stationary young guys on expensive looking bikes half way up Oak Road, then two more who were moving 200 yards further up the hill then one of the Stockport Clarion guys who is a regular I have seen before crossed with me. Dry day and they are all out. 
MisterStan
Label Required
- Location
- Out there somewhere
Where is that Stephen?
Stephen C
Über Member
It's the road from the A505 heading towards Babraham, part of my "avoid the A1307" route: https://goo.gl/maps/nOgJ3
best part of 1400 miles since October. My plan was to put the bike away in November until around now, but I carried on regardless
