18 mile commute this morning to First Aid Refresher Training. Dusted down the BMC road bike for it's first outing in 2025. I did a few extra miles on the way home but my hip is killing me. Also I forgot how much I hate riding a road bike through the city. Thankfully the hub is making horrendous noises and vibrating the whole bike so gives me a good reason to jump back on the trusty Whyte hybrid for tomorrows return visit.
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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Thorn Sherpa
Veteran
- Location
- Doncaster
Passed a young deer this morning in a field just off the a635, first time I've spotted one in the nearly 3 years I've been commuting this route.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
A relaxed but fast commute for me thanks to the roaring tailwind. It started to spit as I left the house but fortunately I got into the train before it really started. It was a deserted commute in most places until I got to town when I had to wait at the car centric toucan crossing for ages despite someone having pressed the button way before I arrived 🤦♂️
Official British summer arrives in all its aquatic glory.
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Took the van, couldn't be bothered with the wind and rain. Supposed to be getting back into it gently. Did mean I could pick up porridge and coffee though (for leaving in the office).
Thorn Sherpa
Veteran
- Location
- Doncaster
Yes I got rather wet this morning, half hour near the furnace will sort the clothes out though 🔥
Are you now all the colours of the rainbow and identifying as a gender-fluid great-crested newt?
If we ever require a program of enforced population reduction, I think the producers and readership of the Express would be a great place to begin..
Today was a ride of two halves. Into town was quite nice - spitting but manageable with the pre-emptively-donned waterproofs providing a welcome wind break. Traffic was backed up maybe half a mile to the ring road, however barring a few stops for oncoming cars I just smugly sailed past in the middle of the opposite carriageway
Passed the park and ride evidently just after one of the busses has disgorged itself; exchanging smiles with two apparently unconnected ladies also on Bromptons. I think they carried on up the Abingdon road; but suspect if they were going to town they might have preferred the quiter back route I've become accustomed to taking.
Sausages snaffled the journey back out was far less fun - the rain having got heavier and now in my face thanks to the orientation of the bracing wind. In addition the stop at the butchers had allowed time for some heat to accumulate inside the waterproofs which were now feeling a bit sweaty.
Nearly took the Fuji today as the Brompton's back to filling its frame with detritus since my extended mudflap fell off, although ultimately I couldn't be arsed to transfer all the gear over in the limited time I had; nor lock the Fuji up outside the covered market instead of sneaking the Brompton in.
I'm looking forward to having the "new" CdF setup for this duty, although thanks to my lack of time and an absence of any clear path of how to proceed with some parts that seems a long way off...
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Blimey. Been working long at the chasm of doom?
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Looked out the kitchen window at the downpour and frowned. Wasn't actually raining as I dressed up in jacket and legs. Didn't rain all ride in! very sweaty though. Hope for equal luck this afternoon!
Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
Just 4.7 miles this morning due to the welcome wet-stuff. Ideally it could have fallen from say 11pm to 5.30am but there we are. Donned BBB overshoes and my packable Galibier jacket. Shorts are drying in the shower room.
Spotting a driver using their phone at the lights is a very common sight. Not often you get the two phone driver but had one this morning. Last time I seen one, it was my friends wife.
On the way home, the wind was hectic. It was a tough slog! 38 mile round trip today.
On the way home, the wind was hectic. It was a tough slog! 38 mile round trip today.
Tonight's ride home has been an absolute cracker 
If pub is to be had there's usually an hour to kill between the end of work and said activity; traditionally the hour has been spent wasting on the internet, browsing tat in the local tat outlets or - when the Routier was at work - a bit of a local blast.
Today I was initially torn between hanging round for the pub or going home via the rings; still feeling pretty good at the end of the day I decided to do the rings then pub afterwards if I felt like it.
So it was off to the other side of the city for a bit of a dangle - less-accomplished than usual but I'm still recovering from various follies and have had no carbs today, so I'm happy enough with what I managed. I felt great for the effort so smashed it back across town to the pub; where a great few hours was had unrepentantly exploiting the post-exercise high in a social environment - a very rare occurance round here.
Lights forgotten and things to do the Brompton was mercilessly ragged along the tow path home as dusk descended; setting a 2nd-personal-best Strava time on one segment of the cycle path.
While the absence of carbs has definitely curtailed peak output, after about 26 miles and a day's work I feel like I could go still go on for miles. Really hoping to make the diet stick this time; and while the primary goal is weight loss, being reminded of the other benefits is definitely giving me more than enough motivation to continue currently
If pub is to be had there's usually an hour to kill between the end of work and said activity; traditionally the hour has been spent wasting on the internet, browsing tat in the local tat outlets or - when the Routier was at work - a bit of a local blast.
Today I was initially torn between hanging round for the pub or going home via the rings; still feeling pretty good at the end of the day I decided to do the rings then pub afterwards if I felt like it.
So it was off to the other side of the city for a bit of a dangle - less-accomplished than usual but I'm still recovering from various follies and have had no carbs today, so I'm happy enough with what I managed. I felt great for the effort so smashed it back across town to the pub; where a great few hours was had unrepentantly exploiting the post-exercise high in a social environment - a very rare occurance round here.
Lights forgotten and things to do the Brompton was mercilessly ragged along the tow path home as dusk descended; setting a 2nd-personal-best Strava time on one segment of the cycle path.
While the absence of carbs has definitely curtailed peak output, after about 26 miles and a day's work I feel like I could go still go on for miles. Really hoping to make the diet stick this time; and while the primary goal is weight loss, being reminded of the other benefits is definitely giving me more than enough motivation to continue currently
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Thorn Sherpa
Veteran
- Location
- Doncaster
Haha just over 2 years, it may look a bit gloomy and industrial but the clothes drying facilities are top notch 😂
markharry66
Guru
every reason to be angry poor judgement on their part could have been your life,
