Tales from today's commute....

[Exile]

Tiniest bit of drizzle blowing in the air when I set off, the sort that makes you think rain's just minutes away. It never came though, which is fine by me.

First main road of my commute has passed the edge as far as structural integrity goes. So many ruts and potholes that they're now linking up and the whole surface looks about three weeks away from breaking up.

Phoned the council to report it as dangerous due to the cracks almost grabbing my 35c tyres, and got told someone will have a look. Not holding my breath since that's exactly what I got told the last time I reported a dangerous road surface and it's still not fixed a year later.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Just before I headed out the door I realised I'd not checked my tyres last night. Both felt a little deflated, rear one done, moved onto the front and as I was unscrewing the valve head the whole thing decides to unscrew and pop out. Went back in ok and inflated with no issues, just put me on the back foot.
So with my rear blowout last night, @MisterStan and @ianrauk this morning, the Fairy is definitely knocking about!

 

[ianrauk]

Just before I headed out the door I realised I'd not checked my tyres last night. Both felt a little deflated, rear one done, moved onto the front and as I was unscrewing the valve head the whole thing decides to unscrew and pop out. Went back in ok and inflated with no issues, just put me on the back foot.
So with my rear blowout last night, @MisterStan and @ianrauk this morning, the Fairy is definitely knocking about!

The heartless bastard...

 

[Arjimlad]

Tiniest bit of drizzle blowing in the air when I set off, the sort that makes you think rain's just minutes away. It never came though, which is fine by me.

First main road of my commute has passed the edge as far as structural integrity goes. So many ruts and potholes that they're now linking up and the whole surface looks about three weeks away from breaking up.

Phoned the council to report it as dangerous due to the cracks almost grabbing my 35c tyres, and got told someone will have a look. Not holding my breath since that's exactly what I got told the last time I reported a dangerous road surface and it's still not fixed a year later.

Report it at Fill That Hole and a record is created that can be used by other riders in future, if the Council don't get on with the repair. Makes them more accountable !

http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/

 

[MisterStan]

Just before I headed out the door I realised I'd not checked my tyres last night. Both felt a little deflated, rear one done, moved onto the front and as I was unscrewing the valve head the whole thing decides to unscrew and pop out. Went back in ok and inflated with no issues, just put me on the back foot.
So with my rear blowout last night, @MisterStan and @ianrauk this morning, the Fairy is definitely knocking about!

Need to be careful with those removable cores - they could take your eye out.

Or land in a ditch as they fly out never to be seen again. DAMHIKT

 

[L Q]

1st commute for over 2 weeks and didn't I know it, legs felt tired this morning when I got to mile 6. Its only 9 miles each way but in a month I am planning on the full 21 miles each way.

 

[Jenkins]

Misty and cold with a slight drizzle on the way in first thing. Made good time and missed a heavy shower by a couple of minutes.

The return trip was painfully slow though. Spent the morning striping down, sorting and re-palletising and shrink wrapping around 200 cartons of counterfeit perfume gift sets ranging in weight from 25-40kg each which may not sound much, but there's only just over 70kg of me!

My arms, back and thighs ached as we've not had to do this for a while so I'm out of practice. Combined with the wind blowing from the north and east straight off the North Sea meaning a headwind for the majority of the first 7 miles of my route home and a slow slog was the best I could manage.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Coming home, head wind was one of those when you stop the air is really but as soon as you get going its like your tyres are stuck i

 

[Spartak]

Good commute this evening cycling towards the setting sun 8-)

 

[Nocode]

Thought I'd extend the commute through Biggin Hill again tonight and double my usual commute, that's another 30 miles done - 45 in total for today.

There was a bit of drama going through Lewisham tonight, 3-4 police cars and a police van all surrounding another car. The driver was being dragged-out of his car by about 6 police officers and put face down in the road. Traffic all ground to a halt, lots of commotion - not sure what on earth was going on, seemed very 'physical' to me. Another cyclist decided to stop in the small gap between the police van and central traffic island meaning I couldn't get through. He just sat there gawking at the scene unfolding before him. I sat a good 10 metres back from the scene among some traffic - slightly apprehensive about cycling past it all (not that I could initially because the cyclist was blocking the way!) just in case, especially given the number of police on the scene to detain what looked like one person!

 

[ianrauk]

Thought I'd extend the commute through Biggin Hill again tonight and double my usual commute, that's another 30 miles done - 45 in total for today.

There was a bit of drama going through Lewisham tonight, 3-4 police cars and a police van all surrounding another car. The driver was being dragged-out of his car by about 6 police officers and put face down in the road. Traffic all ground to a halt, lots of commotion - not sure what on earth was going on, seemed very 'physical' to me. Another cyclist decided to stop in the small gap between the police van and central traffic island meaning I couldn't get through. He just sat there gawking at the scene unfolding before him. I sat a good 10 metres back from the scene among some traffic - slightly apprehensive about cycling past it all (not that I could initially because the cyclist was blocking the way!) just in case, especially given the number of police on the scene to detain what looked like one person!

What time was this?

 

[Nocode]

What time was this?

Round about 17.30-ish. Right outside the Turkish Food Centre here. Thinking it may be connected to this -> Lewisham man arrested on suspicion of murdering women found in burnt out car in West Sussex.

 

[ianrauk]

Round about 17.30-ish. Right outside the Turkish Food Centre here. Thinking it may be connected to this -> Lewisham man arrested on suspicion of murdering women found in burnt out car in West Sussex.

I left work in Deptford at 17.30.. so must have all been done and dusted by the time I got to Lewisham.

 

[Simontm]

Lovely fast ride home via Wimbledon and a cheeky with some mates. Numpty count: 1 - me! Gearing down in the run up to the lights at Maple/Brighton Road as they had just turned red, I was filtering on the right to go into the ASL when I got caught by the light change. Fortunately, only a few swear words from the Beemer I had to overtake... Oh the irony

 

[HLaB]

Patches of freezing fog plagued both my commutes but in between in the morning I had a close encounter with an impressive bird of prey, I'll have to check if the camera captured it. At night I took a longer diversion, probably won't take it often as I don't fancy having to do nearly 21mph for 3 miles into a headwind on a busy road often but at least it was light. When the light finally faded took a long straight road, passing lot of signs of 'road closed' but just as I got to the closure a local cycling club came by and I followed them through the barriers. I would've liked to have been towed along for a bit but unfortunately I was going straight up Harby Hill and they turned left almost immediately, so I thanked them and headed off. AM & PM Ride with GPS corrects the ride to 1535ft and 16.5mph, strava cheats me out of both