Tales from today's commute....

[Davidsw8]

More road closures in Westminster today, traffic was gridlocked all the way between Lambeth Bridge and Horse Guards, so much so that I had to walk my bike half the way as it was impossible (and very dangerous) to cycle through. Cars and motorbikes and taxis all just cramming into each other at right angles, was madness!

And I couldn't see a reason for the roads being shut, Parliament was yesterday....

 

[Frood42]

A bit blowy on the commute in today, but still some sun. Took the short route again today(10 miles) as I have decided to have a sort of break this week on doing much distance. Friday will be the short route as well, because in the evening I am going to see the new Star Trek film. Hopefully a shorter week will save up some energy for the Saturday leisure ride and I can perhaps go a little bit faster.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

Well that was a bit of drag this morning, once I got up and over the first part of North downs the wind had picked up, not blustery just a constant drain on the legs. Supposed to get up to 20mph+ this afternoon with gusts of 50mph. Not sure if I am looking ofrwatd to that or not as some sites say it will be WSW and othe SW! Either glad its not going ot be a headwind...

your the lucky one i head the other way! so head wind for me .. :-(

 

[robjh]

Highest ever average for my 12 mile commute this morning, at 19.3 mph. I suspect the wind had more to do with it than my superb state of peak fitness. Going to pay for it tonight though, with the wind expected to be gusting at 40-50mph into my face. Oh, and heavy rain too.

 

[Andrew_P]

your the lucky one i head the other way! so head wind for me .. :-(

Yeah will be thinking of you North to South afternoon riders!! Might try and keep something in reserve and improve my position on the Coulsdon Bypass burn, as long as there is not too much traffic.

I too wondered if I see you in the morning\afternoo but pretty sure we must just miss each other, I pull on to the A23 just north of (what was) Fitness First Purley around 7-7.10am I reckon you are closing in on Croydon by then? I come through Redhill normally 3.30ish Mon -Wed and 4ish Thurs/Fri

Anyway most days I am either in a plain black Gore jacket, nearly always Castelli shorts and a Black Specialized bike and black helmet, Ninjaesque except for all the silver reflective parts and the yellow rucksack

 

[HLaB]

Its becoming a regular occurrence for me but I wen for a loop over Morborne Hill Bump on the fixie. Beautiful sunshine but fresher in a strong wind. I was only 13.8mph for the first 10miles (OK part of that was through Thorpe Meadow/ Orton Mere where there too many peds to go fast anyway) but once I crested the bump and headed towards town my average went up to 15.7mph; if I done my back of the fag packet maths right that was 18.4mph for circa 7miles. Guess where I had the tail wind It then fell to 15.6mph as I got back into town traffic, dismounted and crossed a pelican to a shared use path etc in the last mile and a bit.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

Yeah will be thinking of you North to South afternoon riders!! Might try and keep something in reserve and improve my position on the Coulsdon Bypass burn, as long as there is not too much traffic.

I too wondered if I see you in the morning\afternoo but pretty sure we must just miss each other, I pull on to the A23 just north of (what was) Fitness First Purley around 7-7.10am I reckon you are closing in on Croydon by then? I come through Redhill normally 3.30ish Mon -Wed and 4ish Thurs/Fri

Anyway most days I am either in a plain black Gore jacket, nearly always Castelli shorts and a Black Specialized bike and black helmet, Ninjaesque except for all the silver reflective parts and the yellow rucksack

I cross tesco/ purley cross at 6:45/7am so im at fitness first bit before that so yea must just miss each other and on return hit home at 5:30 so pass fitness first at around 5pm red black white cannondale caad8 black helmet plain black tights/shorts grey backpack and nearly always red or orange jerseys.

 

[kipster]

A bit blowy for the ride in this morning which made for a slow hard slog, but thought coming home should be ok. Just went out to pick up a bit of lunch and the wind is all over the place so it could well be a slow hard slog home and the rain is expected about the time I will be leaving. On the plus side I can check out how good the new panniers are at keeping the rain out. Looking forward to new tyres being delivered and putting the Kenda 8 blocks away for the summer (they came on the bike and I had to use the weather as an excuse to replace them!).

 

[subaqua]

big headwind on the way in . can't wait for the ride home

 

[Andrew_P]

Getting quite gusty here, not sure there is going to be much benefit seem to be all over place..

 

[HLaB]

Getting quite gusty here, not sure there is going to be much benefit seem to be all over place..

Its supposed to be 51mph by the time I go home, I might give this evening's ride a miss commuting will be enough exercise

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I'm looking at a 25mph headwind and rain for when I leave, don't think I will be doing the extended route tonight.

 

[Archeress]

Sounds unpleasant . The tunnel in the photo above is in my commuting video, from about 3:20 to 3:40:

Hi Victor, looks like a fantastic commute you have there. Loved the section with many bends (where you rang your bell for the runners). I also love the signs put up along the route. Bristol reckons itself to be a "cycling city" but I think the council should watch this video to see how to do it properly.

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[HLaB]

I'm looking at a 25mph headwind and rain for when I leave, don't think I will be doing the extended route tonight.

Likewise I looped a bit west (about 9 miles) of my destination to get a tail wind last night I don't think I'll be doing that tonight

 

[DWiggy]

Looking really gusty out there now, might wimp out tonight as some of those gusts are really quite fierce and i'm heading West so a lot of side wind!