Tales from today's commute....

[zaza123]

I saw the strangest thing this morning. It was zero degrees here so a bit cold and I was coming to the top of an incline when I saw a guy pedalling up ahead but I was catching him quickly. Anyway, turns out he was on a folding bike with shorts but was pedalling with only his left leg. His right leg was dangling like a spare part, no wonder he was going slowly up the incline. As I passed I asked him if he was OK and he responded enthusiastically in the affirmative and added "I shall be glad when I can use both legs again". Bear in mind that his right leg was dangling in shorts in zero degrees. I was dumbfounded. If I see him again I shall try and get the story.

 

[Simontm]

Well one for @ianrauk numpty count:0 what a change, must be the added vitamin D

Had a vigorous thank you from a UPS van I let out as I was turning in followed by an HGV letting me into the same road! Then two cars let me through a tight road Even had a lovely tow from a Scottish dog lover (judging from the stickers on the rear). Although I couldn't go faster as she refused to overtake another cyclist

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Rear bearings in my wheel are shot. 1000 miles and knackered. In fact the whole wheel since putting it on in December has been rubbish.
So ordered a new set of Mavic wheels.
When you go to work by bike , you have to have these things!!

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Helped a guy out today who had punctured but his spare tubes were also no good. So did him a swap of a good one from me for one his punctured one, which I fixed at lunch time.
I ended up catching him up going home, but I did not know until he thanked me again for helping him out.

That's what I love out us cyclists we all look out for each other.

 

[hennbell]

We got 2 foot of snow over the weekend, was off the bicycle for 3 days as everything got cleaned up.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Much better weather tonight, didn't need the lights for the first 7 miles, was still pitch black by the time I got home.

 

[The_Cycling_Scientist]

Can't say I officially commuted today as I was off work, but did manage to get a nice 14.8mile round trip done around Cambridge in the sunshine! Would of been a crime not to enjoy it, and tested out riding with toe straps... Miles better and so much more control (even if my chain did eat a lace on my boots) next on my shopping list... Proper cycling shoes!

Could of done with you week ago Monday Kev! I had two punctures that day (one on the mrs bike that was instant flat and then on my rear fixed gear wheel a hour later) :P

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Thanks to my new habit of riding up a 130m long 20% grade hill just near the end of my daily commute home, I'm even more fit than usual. My legs barely notice the hills, and I weigh less than I have in about 20 years.

 

[Exile]

Had my first me vs pedestrian collision this evening. I was filtering up the right of a line of standing traffic, they crossing between the traffic. They stopped, then stepped out literally four feet in front of me. Luckily, something had subconsciously made me squeeze the brakes and unclip, so I'd already scrubbed speed and was travelling at little more than a brisk jog when we collided. No harm to her or me, both carried on after that most British of moments, the duelling apology "I'm so sorry" "No no, entirely my fault". Not a pleasant experience though, and knocked my filtering confidence a bit,

Funny thing is, if you'd asked me to rank where I felt most likely to hit a pedestrian, where it happened wouldn't have even made the top 10.

 

[HLaB]

Despite all my thermometers saying it was above zero, the country lanes were covered in ice, yet to avoid the tipper lorries heading to a local dump, I took an even smaller country lane. Probably not the best choice :-/

This evening was beautiful, mild and light however, so I headed for a wee bit of an explore. The video of the beautiful sunsetis still uploading, if I remember I'll add a link to it tomorrow to bore you some more ;-)

 

[ianrauk]

Had my first me vs pedestrian collision this evening. I was filtering up the right of a line of standing traffic, they crossing between the traffic. They stopped, then stepped out literally four feet in front of me. Luckily, something had subconsciously made me squeeze the brakes and unclip, so I'd already scrubbed speed and was travelling at little more than a brisk jog when we collided. No harm to her or me, both carried on after that most British of moments, the duelling apology "I'm so sorry" "No no, entirely my fault". Not a pleasant experience though, and knocked my filtering confidence a bit,

Funny thing is, if you'd asked me to rank where I felt most likely to hit a pedestrian, where it happened wouldn't have even made the top 10.

It's always the unexpected.
My only ped/bike interface was a part of the road that only a moron would cross seeing as there is a proper crossing point a few yards further. Chap just walked out in front of me without looking, bang I went into him and down. Luckily the flatbed coming towards us managed to stop in time. The ped started ranting at me until the flatbed driver started having a go at the ped as he saw what happened.

 

[MisterStan]

Saw an owl again on the way home! It was a lovely clear evening, beautiful ride home.

 

[400bhp]

It was a lovely clear evening, beautiful ride home.

Aye, it was. My first (slightly) extended commute. Only an extra 4 or so miles but all good.

 

[Exile]

It's always the unexpected.
My only ped/bike interface was a part of the road that only a moron would cross seeing as there is a proper crossing point a few yards further. Chap just walked out in front of me without looking, bang I went into him and down. Luckily the flatbed coming towards us managed to stop in time. The ped started ranting at me until the flatbed driver started having a go at the ped as he saw what happened.

Thankfully I was able to stay upright (as was she) but there was a split second after I saw what was happening when I thought "That's a very expensive looking Mercedes about to break my fall...".

Where it happened there wasn't a crossing for at least a hundred metres in either direction (one of the few places on my commute where that's the case, actually), but I reserve a special kind of hatred for those people who are seeming unable to use crossings ten yards away from them. I was always brought up to use them if they were there, but then I was also taught to look both ways when crossing, not to climb pylons and that railway yards weren't for playing in.

Sorry, went a bit "Back in my day..." there.

 

[DWiggy]

Worst commute ever!! ...had to drive!