Tales from today's commute....

[ianrauk]

Trains back to normal for this mornings commute. It was spitting with rain for the cycle to work but it never really became much more then that, so not classing it as a rainy commute. Realised whilst cycling that I had test packed my LEL saddle pack and of course my waterproof is in there. Luckily wasn't needed and fingers crossed for a dry ride home later today.

In regards to @markharry66 's problem with the road. I am lucky that the majority of my commute, which is on the A21 is mostly bus lanes so apart from junctions I don't have a lot of interactions with poor drivers. Though there was one today who had no regard for the laws what so ever. Undertaking cars, using restricted bus lanes, parking in an ASL at a junction. Bell End!

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Plums! Will be back for (many) more tomorrow; this was all I could for in the single small water bottle I had with me.

View attachment 781786

Another visit tonight...

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-foragers-thread.273993/page-17#post-7466653

 

[HLaB]

I got to Pottyboro at the end of the pm peak hour which is normally chaos but thanks to gas works and the resulting one way closure London Road and the climb over the railway line was a bliss.

 

[markharry66]

lol Road work season has began and in full swing not that it evers stopped on some roads, got to love the temporary road lights, motoristis honking and electronic light on red. The look of complete anger as you filter past to the front of the que. Upper wickahm lane welling must be on 6 or 7 set of traffic lights this year. Thames watere, gas, electricity all have dug up the road this week its time to re-surface the road before its dug up again nextweek. Nice ride in this morning, virtually traffic free, a bit of rain was expecting a downpour on way in thankfully never happend. Have new set of gator skin tyres have been breaking in. I have read a lot of bad reviews on them seem okay, little bit dodgy over wet drain covers apart from that pretty solid oommute tire so far. Lights on again this morning, noticed a lot of other road user didnt bother.

 

[biking_fox]

Always nice to get appreciation from fellow riders, my trackstand skills are slowly developing. I was more impressed they'd ridden into Manchester centre from Congleton, some 45k, which is a decent commute by any standards.

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

Aftermath of the fire behind manvers, no more fires on my commute back hopefully they've run out of matches or lost their lighter.

 

[katiewlx]

Sounds a right pain☹️. Why don't you change the tyres to something more resistant?

its a fair question and one Ive pondered alot lately, even bought a replacement tyre a while back, after a double puncture within a week,with the intention to replace these tyres for ones that are more resistant.

but Ive not fitted it yet as Im kind of torn on the whole I know the more puncture resistant tyres are a right pain to get on and off the rim before you even fix the inner tube, whereas these tyres are so easy to get off in comparison, whilst dealing with more punctures is a pain, theyre alot more easily fixable at the same time.

so which is better less punctures, but more grief trying to fix it when it does happen, or more grief because more punctures but which are dead easy to fix.

at the moment the easier to fix side is winning in my head, but maybe Im kidding myself in so far as I think as long as keep the channels on the tyres clear, especially after rain affected rides I can avoid the inevitable.

 

[markharry66]

took one look at the weather outside this morning thought rollocks took the car in.

 

[fossyant]

Fine up in Manchesterland. Missed the rain this week, just had winter boots on for Tuesday am's ride in. Tired last night after an all day training session. Took it easy this morning. Only 2 minutes slower than a quick ride over 10 miles. Quiet out, not many cars or pedal bikes.

 

[biking_fox]

Fine up in Manchesterland. Missed the rain this week, just had winter boots on for Tuesday am's ride in. Tired last night after an all day training session. Took it easy this morning. Only 2 minutes slower than a quick ride over 10 miles. Quiet out, not many cars or pedal bikes.

Whereas, riding more or less on similar patch, I thought it busier than usual, a lot of bikes on the loop and cars on the roads in.

 

[fossyant]

Whereas, riding more or less on similar patch, I thought it busier than usual, a lot of bikes on the loop and cars on the roads in.

Weird init. I was even 10-15 mins later than usual. at work by 8:10am though.

 

[united4ever]

Wasp got into my vest somehow on the way home. Felt some pain, could see it and brushed it out but could see the stinger hanging out of my belly. Got home and had a few seperate blotches so not sure if it stang me more than once and the stinger only got left in the last one or if the other blotches were some kind of reaction. Still a bit sore today but no big deal.

 

[markharry66]

cycled most of the weekend, decided to out the old flat bar frakenstien bike yesterday as gear cables needed an up date. Forogt how much fun they are to ride and how laid back they are compared to ride bike. Slower into work on it but with all the temp traffic lights on my route at the moment past caring about what speed I am doing. Nice enjoyable laid back cycle into work. Sun was out for a bit. Cant believe we are in August and summer is almost finished.

 

[biking_fox]

Much nicer than it could have been, warm, tailwind and sympathetic traffic lights. I'll take a medium but easing bit of rain with that. Even saw some other cyclists out!

 

[wafter]

Aftermath of the fire behind manvers, no more fires on my commute back hopefully they've run out of matches or lost their lighter.

View attachment 781991

... or ideally become trapped and perished as a result of their twattery.


Today saw an almost perfect commute. Up early after some thankfully-not-as-bad-as-usual sleep, with Black Sabbath, Q Lazarus and Bronski Beat for breakfast as I made lunch and mixed my supplements like a proper grown-up.

Out early into the comfortable but cooler, less humid and suspiciously autumnal-feeling air; absolutely smashing it on the straight leg in. I did wonder if this had anything to do with the kilo of creatine monohydrate that landed on my doorstep recently, however the return leg quickly confirmed the presence of a pretty stiff headwind... dampening my hopes although my HR was also pretty elevated on the way in so perhaps the supplement is having some effect; time will tell.

Said the now customary hello to the skinny bald black bloke I pass every morning before the park and ride - he started it; not sure if I know him and have forgotten, he was mistaken or is just very friendly but he seems like a decent chap and it's nice to be nice

Had settled on two sausages this morning, however a surprisingly kind number on the scales this morning, hunger and joy from the ride as well as some particularly crisp looking examples in the oven pushed me to three.

Back out towards work on the tow path with lots of smiles from people coming the other way - probably because of the big grin on my own face.
Missed some of the regulars (moustachioed alt-bike dude and the girl of unfeasibly billowy-skirts) but did manage to get an unprecidented proper smile from the pink-haired, bespecticled yummy mummy who I often pass / I think lives near me and have been smiling at politely for months as we pass. She was out for a jog so probably riding high on endorphins too...

Running properly early I forsook the usual exit from the tow path and continued almost back to the flat, before cutting across the river further out and looping back round to work.

Now sat contemplating my next move with some nice house going on; my long-range meat-assessment instincts vindicated by the sublime sausages consumed in the blink of an eye.

For this brief moment in time life feels very, very good