Tales from today's commute....

[HLaB]

What a change from the weekend it was depressing today but at least yesterday's wind has subsided now its here. Nothing really special happened except I thought I'd explore a new path.

 

[Matthew_T]

I am off most of this week too so have a few good rides planned. Got training on Friday though and then work on Sat so my week will be a bit shorter than everyone elses.

 

[Frood42]

Up at 6am, it was raining, knew it was coming, but I was hoping that after the joy of the weekend sunshine the rain might hold off until I got to work, no luck.
I had already decided to do 20miles this morning, so out came the waterproof shorts and waterproof jacket , and boy was I glad of them. I was dripping everywhere when I got into work and I was half expecting the shorts to fall down they were that wet.

However I had one of my best rides along that route up to Epping and down to Ilford, 20 miles in 1hr 26mins, not bad for me.

I think it helped that I bought new Schwalbe Marathon plus tyres at the weekend, I think they are 700x28.
They are thinner than am I used to, and I do feel more of the bumps, so my rear is not currently thanking me...

Bring on this afternoon, if my clothes dry I think I will do the return trip, if not then I will stick to the 10miles (my backup clothes are not really suitable for 20miles in the rain...)

 

[HLaB]

I thought similar as I'd planned a short recovery commute that it'd be glorius and I would have wasted the morning, fortunately I was wrong.

 

[ManiaMuse]

Wet and raining fairly hard when I set off so put on wet gear and took it easy.

But actually it wasn't that bad apart from avoiding the puddles. No wind, traffic was light because of half term and and got really lucky with traffic lights for a change.

Probably made it in quicker than some days when I'm actually in a rush.

 

[potsy]

Was expecting a soaking this morning, quite happy to see it had stopped raining long enough for me to get to work

It's back again now though, doubt I'll avoid it twice

Forgot about school hols, should be a quiet ride home.

 

[Steve Saunders]

Cycling along a long straight piece of road, with cars parked along side. Nothing in front of me, in my direction, but a few cars heading towards me. No problem as the road is wide enough for a car (or van) plus me on the bike with plenty of room.

That was until a dozy cow decided to start edging out in to the road from a parking space - forcing the other cars into my space. I stopped to allow them to pass, and continued on my way and then had to stop rather quickly as the dozy cow then proceeded to just pull right out of her parking space without looking behind. She obviously assumed because a car had just past her that it was safe to go, so didn't bother looking. Full on emergency stop, on the road bike, on wet roads, and the back wheel started to swing round. Not exactly what you want when you're clipped in with SPD-SL's.

In hindsight I probably should have expected her to just pull out, but if she'd have looked should would have seen me as I had the bright lights flashing on my handlebars this morning. I did rather loudly suggest that she might want to try looking before pulling out of a space next time. Kind of spoilt the ride in after that.

 

[apb]

The rain has held off so far up here. it's been overcast and cool, good times.

 

[Steve Saunders]

Normally on the road bike I'd be averaging about 18.5mph + to work, it's relatively flat. Today however I was averaging 16.2mph and it felt a real effort to get that. I stopped a couple of times thinking I had a rear puncture - nope - and that my clip-on mudguard was rubbing (about 2 mm clearance) - nope not that either. I just put it down to delayed fatigue from the 85 mile ride I did at the weekend that contained more climbing than I'm used to (~ 5000ft).

I was giving the bike a quick once over in the office at lunchtime, and spun the front wheel - or should I say "tried to" - as it stopped almost dead. I'd only been riding to work with the front brake rubbing on one side. That'll be why it was hard work then

 

[Cycleconvert]

Bike is in for it's first service to check everything is bedded in. Even though the weather is miserable I miss it.

 

[Spartak]

It was VERY wet

 

[DWiggy]

I got SOAKED and because its not exactly cold the radiators are off so having to dry cloths with a portable heater! also does anyone know of a decent front mudguard as feet are getting a real soaking, I have a swan rear guard (post fit) thats fantastic but having trouble re-front as no clearance?

 

[musa]

I got SOAKED and because its not exactly cold the radiators are off so having to dry cloths with a portable heater! also does anyone know of a decent front mudguard as feet are getting a real soaking, I have a swan rear guard (post fit) thats fantastic but having trouble re-front as no clearance?

raceblades prehaps
or a new bike

 

[musa]

As for my ride today, wet wet wet left home it was damp...had a trial shift at a new job started pouring down...

 

[HLaB]

Drizzle for me this morning but it looks pretty wet tonight