Tales from today's commute....

[Drago]

Took my first Gold medal in the cycle commuting Olympics today. I had slowed a bit to take on some water, and as I did so I noticed a roadie coming up fast behind. Young lad, couldn't have been 30, flash looking drop bar machine, all the lycra proclaiming his alleigance to some cycling team or other.

I quickly slipped the bottle back in the cage and opened the taps. At one point he was about 10 metres behind and I seriously though he'd get past, but for a mile this was the closest he could get, and after that he started falling back. There are all narrow country lanes, up hill and down dale. As we get to the first roundabout on the edge of town I'm about 100 metres ahead and I watchinh him in my mirror go round it and head back the way we'd come, so I think he'd gone out of his way to try and scalp me.

I may be 43, I may be on an MTB laden with panniers, but I do this sort of thing for a living sonny - you could've picked an easier target

Arrived at work to find I'd knocked a further 1m 14s off my best time. Result.

 

[Spartak]

Rode in today with Little Spartak's bike seat still fitted - to carry my rucksack !
Amazing how much extra room you are given on the road with a child seat attached !

 

[ianrauk]

Rode in today with Little Spartak's bike seat still fitted - to carry my rucksack !
Amazing how much extra room you are given on the road with a child seat attached !

Even more with a child's trailer....

 

[benb]

Rode in today with Little Spartak's bike seat still fitted - to carry my rucksack !
Amazing how much extra room you are given on the road with a child seat attached !

I've noticed this too.

 

[GrasB]

Amazing how much extra room you are given on the road with a child seat attached !

I'm thinking it's more to do with the perceived size of the vehicle. I say this as the simple act of putting a tail fairing on my 'bent has made drivers make a much wider birth.

 

[Anders]

1st ride in 3 weeks and despite doing a shed load of running including 30k at the 24hr Thunder Run.. my 7 odd mile trip to the office was hard work . Least the rain held off

 

[Sandra6]

It's only a short ride, but jeez I got wet!
After a horrendous amount of rain earlier in the day the rest of the afternoon was dry, until about quarter to home time when it started again and did not stop!
I was sorely tempted to buy a mudguard before I set off, would've saved a soggy bottom if I had!

 

[400bhp]

Had a real nobber this morning.

7am, quiet wide road, minding my own business - a car passes within a foot of me. Absolutely no need to as the road was empty.

I caught him up at some shops a mile or so down the road where he was buying a paper. I asked him to please give cyclists more room in future. The reply was staggering:

Something like " I should have been in the cycle lane" (there wasn't one). I was being selfish by not using the [non existent] cycle lane. I said to him that he was essentially admitting to giving me a punishment pass, which he replied that he wouldn't put another road user in danger .

I gave up and cycled on. I regret not taking his details and passing them on to the police-so they have a marker on him when [not if] he does this again.

Crazy.

 

[fossyant]

Not much to report. 3 dead pidgeons within 1 mile - all just dead on pavement/side of road - no UFO sightings in Stockport is there ?

Couple of stupid pull outs - folk passing parked cars, pull into my lane as I'm approaching. One 'very' fat mini driver saw me, pulled right out into my path, then as I shouted 'Oi' just got the 1000 yard stare. God she was struggling with the car - looked like she was squeezed in tight.

Oh and Stockport Road - Vernon Park to Morrisons (Bredbury) is getting another top dressing - it's only lasted 12 months. Shocking job last time that's still left loads of loose stones. Maybe we will get a better job this time ? Let's hope it doesn't get left as dangerous last time - was like loose gravel last time !

 

[Edwards80]

Not much to report. 3 dead pidgeons within 1 mile - all just dead on pavement/side of road - no UFO sightings in Stockport is there ?

There were 2 dead pigeons on Brinksway alone this morn. I'm guessing there is some sort of civil pigeon war on or something. They seemed intact, not the usual half squashed offerings*.

*Much easier to make them presentable on the dinner plate.

 

[ianrauk]

Not much report for me also.
Lovely tailwind home last night which resulted in a nice fast commute.
The morning commutes I have changed from bombing down the A21 as fast as possible to going through the waterlink way which forces me to go slower and enjoy the river scenery. Makes for a nice relaxing ride to work rather then the out and out commuter racing stuff.

 

[fossyant]

There were 2 dead pigeons on Brinksway alone this morn. I'm guessing there is some sort of civil pigeon war on or something. They seemed intact, not the usual half squashed offerings*.

*Much easier to make them presentable on the dinner plate.

That's two of them. One more near the viaduct on the pavement.

 

[dawesome]

On Pottergate a cat looked at me then sicked up grey matter, then outside The Wild Man a seagull was pecking at a squished pigeon.

 

[BSRU]

It's only a short ride, but jeez I got wet!
After a horrendous amount of rain earlier in the day the rest of the afternoon was dry, until about quarter to home time when it started again and did not stop!
I was sorely tempted to buy a mudguard before I set off, would've saved a soggy bottom if I had!

Last night I got caught in a downpour ten minutes from home and mudguards made no difference to me getting soaked.
Fortunately it was rain as it was so heavy I was instantly wet, so could not get any wetter.

 

[ohnovino]

Edge Lane is a multi-lane dual carriageway that links the M62 to Liverpool city centre. It's very busy and very scary; effectively an extension of the motorway. If you dare to ride along it you really need to have your wits about you.

Unlike the gentleman I saw yesterday, who was slowly weaving all over the road because he was using both hands to play with his Blackberry, completely oblivious to the wave of traffic approaching him

Seriously considered riding after him and "encouraging" him to ride properly, but a passenger leaning out from a passing car did that for me. Some people need proper cycle training, but some just need two brain cells to rub together.