Tales from today's commute....

[Tynan]

A beautiful ride in but a rather depressing one home, the mild weather seems to have encouraged a lot of riders to have kept going, lots of undertaking, cutting up and it seems to be fashionable to ride fast up the outside of a line of traffic and then cut in at pace at the front of the lights, presumably trusting to chance that the lights aren't about to change. Too many riders relying on drivers allowing for them. And I watched the rider in front of me make a U turn when the lights ahead went red and come very very close to being hit by another rider bombing down the outside of the traffic and straight through the red, I can only assume he had time to just avoid the bloke that must have appeared in front of him rather suddenly.

 

[Black Country Ste]

Cut up by an overtaking cyclist who then slowed down. Cheers mate.

 

[jagman.2003]

Not a good start to commute home. All geared up up, lights flashing in excited fashion for tailwind assisted ride.
As I wheeled the bike out of the rack the front tyre gave that sad, deflated squeak....p***ture time. Rim tape failed me.

Quick tube change brought new luck. Several personal records & fastest average speed on that route for Claude.

 

[robjh]

Two great morning rides so far this week, loving the mild weather and the early daylight as well as all the autumn colours.
14.5 miles home in the dark last night, about 12 of them on unlit country lanes. It was so warm that I had to stop and take my sleeves off, and the miles just flew by - one of those rides that remind you why cycle commuting is just so great. I'm hoping for the same tonight but am preparing for rain

 

[confusedcyclist]

What amazing weather compared with last night's drizzle. I could get used to this winter riding lark.
Crisp, clear and took back a KOM.

 

[JoeyB]

The commute this morning was a bit easier without a heavy bag on my back. My legs weren't as tight or stiff either. Weather was kind, roads were wet but it never actually rained!

 

[clf]

Frightened a poor chap this morning getting into the canal towpath, He was going a fair lick as my front wheel popped out from the concealed path, could have been messy if I failed to look before pulling out.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I got stuck in no man’s land today.
I had to be at work for something, which being late was not an option, so I left mega early in case I got a puncture. My first puncture of the year was today…
I was stuck at about 2 miles from work, in that tricky place of shall I fix or just walk, it’s not that far!
Well I learned it’s quicker to fix it than walk the rest of the way
Took me about half an hour to walk it, I could have fixed it twice in that time, but after 10 minutes I kept thinking it’s not worth it, but I had already committed!
So at lunch time it’s off to fix a puncture for me!

 

[Beebo]

Very mild again, shorts and and short sleves.
Managed to miss the rain, the roads were very wet, but nothing falling from the sky.

Took me about half an hour to walk it, I could have fixed it twice in that time, but after 10 minutes I kept thinking it’s not worth it, but I had already committed!
So at lunch time it’s off to fix a puncture for me!

I find the "pump and dash" option works best when I am very near work or home. It's quicker than a full repair, even if you have to re-pump a couple of times.

 

[ianrauk]

Very mild again, shorts and and short sleves.
Managed to miss the rain, the roads were very wet, but nothing falling from the sky.

exactly the same for me....

 

[confusedcyclist]

I got stuck in no man’s land today.
I had to be at work for something, which being late was not an option, so I left mega early in case I got a puncture. My first puncture of the year was today…
I was stuck at about 2 miles from work, in that tricky place of shall I fix or just walk, it’s not that far!
Well I learned it’s quicker to fix it than walk the rest of the way
Took me about half an hour to walk it, I could have fixed it twice in that time, but after 10 minutes I kept thinking it’s not worth it, but I had already committed!
So at lunch time it’s off to fix a puncture for me!

I have made this mistake before but not while cycling, I tried this walking thing that I keep hearing about. Some simple maths always helps, walking pace 4mph, with 2 miles to go your definitely looking at 30 mins walk. Cycling lulls you into a false sense of 'yeah that won't take long' when it comes to travelling those distances!

 

[Ganymede]

I think my utility cycling is having an effect on my OH... he has to go and pick up a mended car and has just said "hmmm... if I put the bike on the train to that nearby station I could cycle to the garage to pick up the car" Me: I think this is because my "commute" yesterday was delivering a hire van back to the depot, taking my bike in the back and then using it to get home by train and riding. And the weather's fine... it might just work!

OK, replying to self, but just to point out that Mr G has indeed gone out (in a light drizzle), by bike, to do this thing.

I have created a utility cyclist.

 

[Origamist]

Was about 1C or 2C when I left this morning - that's 10 degrees cooler than yesterday and quite a shock. A fair bit of mist too...

I think someone whistled at me this morning, but I could have been imagining it.

 

[Origamist]

It was dark, raining, I had an untested new light, I had wrapped my shoes in cling film under my overshoes, I'm recovering from a bit of a weird virus and my head wasn't in the best of places. So it only seemed logical to extend my commute by 10 miles on some pitch black country lanes.

I jumped on the train half way home as my heart wasn't in it last night!

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Very mild again, shorts and and short sleves.
Managed to miss the rain, the roads were very wet, but nothing falling from the sky.

I find the "pump and dash" option works best when I am very near work or home. It's quicker than a full repair, even if you have to re-pump a couple of times.

I tried that at a red light by the time I had some air in and got the pump back in my pocket they had changed back to red ! Lol
So as It was down hill just roled down unt it was flat again!

I have made this mistake before but not while cycling, I tried this walking thing that I keep hearing about. Some simple maths always helps, walking pace 4mph, with 2 miles to go your definitely looking at 30 mins walk. Cycling lulls you into a false sense of 'yeah that won't take long' when it comes to travelling those distances!

well as I say to people you only do it once!
Fix it there and then is the way forward!