Tales from today's commute....

[hennbell]

Had a moment this morning, came upon a contruction site blocking the entrance to work. Spoke to the workers to determine best course of action to get to door. As I entered the ditch to get around the construction area there was a slight downhill. Then the front wheel slips into the perfectly sized divot. The front wheel comes to a stop, the bike continues in a slow arc. To make it worst my weight is further forward than normal due to the downhill section. Fortunatly the clipless pedals work to perfection as I hop over the drops. Why does this stuff always happen in front of construction workers?

 

[HarryTheDog]

Caught up with a young guy I have cycled with a couple of times. He rides his grandfathers old steel race bike a Pat Hanlon frame with original running gear. Seems his gran was quite a succesful rider as well. . When I got home I did some research on Pat Hanlon bikes and his gran.She got bronze in the national championships in 1958. Turns out Pat employed someone with my surname as a frame builder, my family comes from London so hey one of my relations may have made the guys bike.

 

[ianrauk]

Turned a bit nippy for the ride home. Had to keep the pace up to keep warm. Also had a few (large) spots of rain, but nothing to really moan about. The wind also seemed to change direction. It was more from the side so very little help from the weather gods tonight.

I got done on Bromley Hill, little titchy fella on a road bike. I tried to keep up with him up the hill but he just managed to snap the elastic that was pulling me along with him. I blame my dodgy knee.......and the bad traffic.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

The minutiae is taking time to bed into my brain. Four days in and I'm always forgetting something. First day I was so preoccupied with getting all my cycling clobber together I forgot my security pass. Last night I got out to the bike parking and found I'd left my keys in my desk so couldn't unlock the lock. Just now I realised I left my jersey and shorts in the toilet cubicle I got changed in at work. Not-too-nonchalant dash to look, found they were still hung up behind the door. Phew! On the plus side, the weather's turned easterly today so that should push me home a bit.

 

[Origamist]

14C but the wind had sneakily become a light x wind...

Am thinking of changing my route slightly as there is a right hander off the A50 that is causing me the occasional problem.

Off to Palma tmrw for beers, tapas and maybe a little cycling...

 

[400bhp]

14C but the wind had sneakily become a light x wind...

Am thinking of changing my route slightly as there is a right hander off the A50 that is causing me the occasional problem.

Off to Palma tmrw for beers, tapas and maybe a little cycling...

The turn off onto Middlewich Rd? Cars hammer it down that stretch of the A50

 

[400bhp]

Great ride home - floaty day. Wasn't really thinking about speed but flew home. Hopefully many more days like today.

 

[MisterStan]

A tailwind!

 

[Origamist]

The turn off onto Middlewich Rd? Cars hammer it down that stretch of the A50

Yep, that's the one! Normally it's tough moving out with fast, same direction traffic, but it was a different type of problem tonight.

I was in the right turn refuge and oncoming cars were overtaking cyclists on the approach to the junction. This meant they were heading straight for me as they were giving the oncoming cyclists plenty of space. I wasn't so worried about the first car, but the third, a Ferrari, must have seen me late (playing follow the leader) as he moved back in late.

In those situations you feel very small and vulnerable with traffic bearing down on you at 60mph. I half-heartedly waved at the cars to make myself more conspicuous, but that's just desperation really.

Will try the next junction a mile or so further down the road...

 

[fossyant]

No commute as off this week. Did a hilly 20 miler earlier in the week in N. Wales - first 3 miles are 600 plus feet of climbing - fairly brutal as no warm up, then did just 11 miles today - 3 to Nant Hall for lunch and 2 pints and then 3.5 to Talacre for a pint and a coffee, then 3.5 back to the caravan.

 

[HLaB]

No commute for me either, today was the last of the early start TT's (back to regular time next week) and I needed to drive to make it.

 

[400bhp]

Yep, that's the one! Normally it's tough moving out with fast, same direction traffic, but it was a different type of problem tonight.

I was in the right turn refuge and oncoming cars were overtaking cyclists on the approach to the junction. This meant they were heading straight for me as they were giving the oncoming cyclists plenty of space. I wasn't so worried about the first car, but the third, a Ferrari, must have seen me late (playing follow the leader) as he moved back in late.

In those situations you feel very small and vulnerable with traffic bearing down on you at 60mph. I half-heartedly waved at the cars to make myself more conspicuous, but that's desperation really.

Will try the next junction a mile or so further down the road...

You could come up Seven Sister Lane, then do a right/left on the A50 to get on Middlewich Rd?

 

[HarryTheDog]

Cracking ride in, bombing along with partial tailwind, which means slow ride home. No other cyclists going my way which was suprising.
In Hornchurch some numpty pulled out of their house from the right without seeing me at all, I gave them a very loud OI! as I nearly got hit by their passenger door, the guy jumped in his seat and nearly appeared out of his sun roof, I got a waved apology.

 

[Gains84]

Really bad case of Friday legs today (and yesterday for that matter) upped my mileage a touch but think im still caning it too much, cant pace myself with running, riding, walking or anything it seems!lol
Been on the better bike since Tuesday and a few fit niggles to sort over the weekend but been interesting riding it properly first time in a year...had to dust it! :S
Looks like a slight push home fingers crossed looking at the wind so hopefully a nice end to the week.

 

[apb]

chilly this morning