Apparently today was national cycle to work day so it would be rude not to ride in. Out at 0615 went right out of the drive instead of left. Through Newtown Linford and cut through Bradgate Park which was deserted more chance of being taken out by a deer than pedestrians .Back to Cropston ,Rothley ,Mountsorrel then Quorn a couple of loops of the village 11.1 miles .Bit chilly this morning but still went for shorts and short sleeves .Homeward took a different route Quorn ,Woodhouse ,Swithland ,Rothley ,Cropston and back through Bradgate Park and Home 12.1 miles in nice weather watching the darkening sky's in the distance but the rain held off.
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Morning commute nice and the homeward one, generally the same apart from one lady who twice gave me zero space...
First time in a long while I nearly came a cropper. Complete and utter xxxxxx woman driver in a little sh!tbox decided to over take and immediately left hook me. Left me very little room. Good thing the spidey senses were tingling and managed to brake and stop in time or she would have hit me. She got some very loud, rude words and hand gestures aimed in her direction.
Apart from that, it was a great commute. Nice cheeky tailwind and managed to dodge the incoming rain... again.
Apart from that, it was a great commute. Nice cheeky tailwind and managed to dodge the incoming rain... again.
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
After losing my office bike parking space and director level comments about it being unsightly in the office I haven't commuted for a while and concentrated more on club tt's. Well last night I thought sod it, and part cycled in as a leg loosener for the NCCC TT. The country road I normally take is shut so I diverted through town.
Lol on the way back tonight someone fancied my back wheel as I leisurely spun to the start of the TT, so I dropped the pace then suddenly upped several fold, it worked, he was dropped in seconds and worked as a warm up for the TT too, a pb 26.04 :-)
Lol on the way back tonight someone fancied my back wheel as I leisurely spun to the start of the TT, so I dropped the pace then suddenly upped several fold, it worked, he was dropped in seconds and worked as a warm up for the TT too, a pb 26.04 :-)
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Bumped into a regular (or rather he caught me) on the loop - he is as quick as me but has gears. He had recovered from the last time I saw him with a gashed chin having hit the deck on diesel.
Headset pre load washer got a quick clean and a dollop of coppa slip. All quiet and no clicks on the headset test track that is Alexander Road.
Getting changed this morning was a case of showing various security passes to numerous security guards as our building is being used as a base for the 2015 Sainsburys Youth Games so if full of hundreds of teenagers and staff running the games.
Headset pre load washer got a quick clean and a dollop of coppa slip. All quiet and no clicks on the headset test track that is Alexander Road.
Getting changed this morning was a case of showing various security passes to numerous security guards as our building is being used as a base for the 2015 Sainsburys Youth Games so if full of hundreds of teenagers and staff running the games.
Origamist
Legendary Member
Wind a tad stronger and still a head/crosswind. Temp about 9C so went with arm-warmers but left the gilet at home...
Front mech is playing up again. Instead of sorting it out, I'm going to get a narrow/wide chainring for a 1x10 option for autumn/winter. With a 44t mated to a 11-28 cassette, I'll be fine.
Front mech is playing up again. Instead of sorting it out, I'm going to get a narrow/wide chainring for a 1x10 option for autumn/winter. With a 44t mated to a 11-28 cassette, I'll be fine.
MickeyBlueEyes
Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat.
- Location
- Derbyshire
I've been a bit nippy across my chest the last couple of mornings so thought I'd throw on another base layer, hmm... far too warm this morning!
Had a tool cut me up, I was shifting along at around 30-32mph approaching a left hander, I heard the car and knew they were going to try and get round me before the bend. Clearly there was no thought that anything might be coming the other way so when it did the driver just took evasive right in front of me. As I'd got momentum I shifted alongside him and to be fair he did apologise, but, I said to him, look chap, it ain't about the apologising, have the noodle to not drive like a tw@t in the first place... After that was just a standard run.
Had a tool cut me up, I was shifting along at around 30-32mph approaching a left hander, I heard the car and knew they were going to try and get round me before the bend. Clearly there was no thought that anything might be coming the other way so when it did the driver just took evasive right in front of me. As I'd got momentum I shifted alongside him and to be fair he did apologise, but, I said to him, look chap, it ain't about the apologising, have the noodle to not drive like a tw@t in the first place... After that was just a standard run.
MickeyBlueEyes
Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat.
- Location
- Derbyshire
Just realised, if I fancy a 59 mile return leg today it would take me to over 10'000 miles this year. Damning point is I've only realistically got 2.5 hours to do it... Gah, might have to wait till Monday.
for a Friday it was sort of eventful, pulled to the kirb to bump up and take of the top layer, didn't think kerb would be slippery hit at wrong angle, slammed bike into inner thigh and a nice pedal like graze down ankle, didn't fall off and recovered like a pro still felt a complete numpty ;-)
then further on said commute the fairy doth hit me for the first time in two years, so it's time to switch the new tyres over to the old faithful marathon plus's.
then further on said commute the fairy doth hit me for the first time in two years, so it's time to switch the new tyres over to the old faithful marathon plus's.
This morning at 3:30am heavy wind and rain. I headed out to work and about 2 minutes up the road I saw some gal walking out in the rain. I saw 2 taxis pass her and as I passed by she jokily asked for a backie. She didn't sound or look drunk, wasn't abrupt and didn't shout at me as I passed by so I decided to spin round and said she could sit on the pannier rack if it held her ok (she clearly needed the help). It was a little odd and probably uncomfortable as hell for her cos of my fat arse and my pannier.
Turns out she was let down by a friend to lend money off that night and was making her way to another friend to lend money for her daughter to get to school that day. I got her 2&1/2 miles up the road she gave me a thank you and we went our separate way.
I have not been able to stop smiling/chuckling about this, lads at work were laughing about it too. Most of all I'm pleased my pannier didn't break
If I had the money on me to give her I would have but this was far more entertaining for me.
Turns out she was let down by a friend to lend money off that night and was making her way to another friend to lend money for her daughter to get to school that day. I got her 2&1/2 miles up the road she gave me a thank you and we went our separate way.
I have not been able to stop smiling/chuckling about this, lads at work were laughing about it too. Most of all I'm pleased my pannier didn't break
If I had the money on me to give her I would have but this was far more entertaining for me.
absolutely mental traffic on the way home yesterday, I'm certain it wasn't as bad as this last time kids were at school, unless I've got used to the summer quiet period. This morning the road in Willingham north of Cambs was due to motorcycle accident 
there's a junction very close to ped crossing and co op car park exit where things have gotten quite close a few times and this morning there was a bike in the road and ambulance + a few people milling around with police road closed signs. Trying to keep an eye out on the local news to see if the rider is ok.
Due to this incident I had to take a different route to work which was actually very refreshing, ignored the guided busway and went through Rampton/Cottenham and across the A10 - quite tricky on a bike, if you follow the cycle path you have to cross right in front of new traffic joining the road so there's never a suitable gap. I ignored this stupid arrangement and joined the cars properly and everything was fine but would be quite difficult if you don't have the confidence/fitness to stand up and go for it. My faith in humanity was slightly improved when someone waited patiently for a blind corner, I waved thanks afterwards and they gave a flick of hazards and a nice wide pass, its nice to see someone awake and who knows what they are doing
there's a junction very close to ped crossing and co op car park exit where things have gotten quite close a few times and this morning there was a bike in the road and ambulance + a few people milling around with police road closed signs. Trying to keep an eye out on the local news to see if the rider is ok.Due to this incident I had to take a different route to work which was actually very refreshing, ignored the guided busway and went through Rampton/Cottenham and across the A10 - quite tricky on a bike, if you follow the cycle path you have to cross right in front of new traffic joining the road so there's never a suitable gap. I ignored this stupid arrangement and joined the cars properly and everything was fine but would be quite difficult if you don't have the confidence/fitness to stand up and go for it. My faith in humanity was slightly improved when someone waited patiently for a blind corner, I waved thanks afterwards and they gave a flick of hazards and a nice wide pass
, its nice to see someone awake and who knows what they are doingYet again it was really windy tonight and a headwind for most of the way home which wasn't fun.
I was very nearly taken out on my ride home today by a silver Mercedes which pulled out of a side road and came within centimetres of ploughing straight into the side of me. I think that the only thing that made him stop in the nick of time was the fact that another cyclist who was just behind me shouted so loudly at the car it caught the drivers attention. Therefore thank you very much to whoever that cyclist was who prevented me from being taken out.
Later on in my ride I saw one of the other cycle commuters that I see on a regular basis and he looks a bit like Bill Bailey so that cheered me up on what was a pretty miserable ride home in the wind and drizzle.
Hope that everyone has a good weekend.
John
I was very nearly taken out on my ride home today by a silver Mercedes which pulled out of a side road and came within centimetres of ploughing straight into the side of me. I think that the only thing that made him stop in the nick of time was the fact that another cyclist who was just behind me shouted so loudly at the car it caught the drivers attention. Therefore thank you very much to whoever that cyclist was who prevented me from being taken out.
Later on in my ride I saw one of the other cycle commuters that I see on a regular basis and he looks a bit like Bill Bailey so that cheered me up on what was a pretty miserable ride home in the wind and drizzle.
Hope that everyone has a good weekend.
John
Coming up from Aldgate/Whitechapel last night.
Twice in the last four return (night) commutes a car in the left hand turn lane has misread the signal and almost crossed into me (he had the red and I had that little green cycle thingy).Meaning im having to stop and shout "STOP" at them.Im getting pretty p1553d off with it now.This is going towards Whitechapel but same basics as coming from Whitechapel (where it happened).All they see is a green and of they go.What the traffic signal is showing is the same basics as last night.
Roughly 930pm but last might was 1030pm.
Also SMIDSY after Mile End junction (on ride in) next one on with the college on the right.Van crosses from the right into my path as I ride through the junction,didn't see me in all my Hi-Viz while I was in a perfectly good nvisible road position for once with nothing blocking his sight at all.No other traffic apart from Cars waiting to come out of the left hand turn lane when the lights change.I can understand some SMIDSY's but not that one.Perhaps his mind drifted off.Should be IDSY.Stopped about ten yards short.
Obviously though even wearing Hi-Viz isn't foolproof but generally ok.
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HarryTheDog
Legendary Member
- Location
- Basildon Essex
After a excellent Sunday pootling through Thetford Forest trails on my MTB in brilliant sunshine and watching the tour of Britain highlights last night and seeing ex club mate Conor Dunne in a 4 man breakaway winning the points jersey, I was in a excellent mood.
This of course got ruined,
overtook a small old escort van in standstill traffic through Harold Wood, the guy then gave me a really nasty punishment pass later nearly taking my elbow off with his wing mirror, then the twonk turned off left immediately afterwards.
The mood was lifted in Rainham by me spotting a middle aged man in a business suit walking towards me with a proper babies dummy in his mouth, he looked completely normal apart from that.
Nobody serious to play with just a few pootlers to overtake, got to watch a little race with 3 guys battling for the KOM of the Canning Town flyover hill. Pity I had not been closer I could have joined in, as it was I caught them on the downhill.
This of course got ruined,
overtook a small old escort van in standstill traffic through Harold Wood, the guy then gave me a really nasty punishment pass later nearly taking my elbow off with his wing mirror, then the twonk turned off left immediately afterwards.
The mood was lifted in Rainham by me spotting a middle aged man in a business suit walking towards me with a proper babies dummy in his mouth, he looked completely normal apart from that.
Nobody serious to play with just a few pootlers to overtake, got to watch a little race with 3 guys battling for the KOM of the Canning Town flyover hill. Pity I had not been closer I could have joined in, as it was I caught them on the downhill.
