Tales from today's commute....

[si_c]

Right foot felt a bit odd about half way into the commute home tonight, checked pedal, fine, checked cleats, bolts almost out.

Spent ten minutes picking stones out of the bolts so I could tighten them up. One was almost entirely out.

 

[simon the viking]

Just done the 8 mile commute on MTB for the first time rather than my usual Road bike...

Much harder work... I'm assuming i will get fitter...

But on the plus side lot less skittish obviously so less swerving for pot holes and obviously far better across the rough park track of the route...

 

[ianrauk]

Brrr.. definitely getting cold now. Winter is on it's way. Still in shorts at the moment but in a windcheater. Any colder then base layers and knee warmers are coming out.
Half term here at the moment so a nice clear run in this morning.

 

[Slick]

I've been in long bibs for a few weeks now as there is a definite touch of frost most mornings now. The wind has also been a factor with most runs home being hard work.

 

[rivers]

That was just about the worst commute ever. They are resurfacing part of the B2B, so it's closed for the week and I'm taking the roads. The A37 through Whitchurch was also closed, so a bit of traffic chaos at the start of my commute, which included me getting off and walking up a small incline as trying to get through the traffic was proving nigh on impossible. It took me longer to ride just over 10 miles than it does to ride the 16 going along the B2B. This is going to be a fun week.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Bloody wind, awful head wind all way home. at some points I would have walked faster.

 

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

Finish work in 90mins and I'm absolutely knackered and not looking forward to the 13 miles home. Also have a horrible feeling it's a headwind.

 

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

Home after a not too unpleasant ride home. Very tired though. Yes it was a headwind.

 

[C R]

How many idiots can you find in a short 2 mile commute? Well, three as it turns out. First some older "gent" in a biggish bmw squeezed between me and a car waiting to turn right across the road, almost forcing me into the bushes. About five hundred metres further down I was doing about 20mph, and I can see a car front coming out of a side lane, eased on the pedals, and sure enough, the car came out without really looking, forcing me to grab the brakes hard.

After this section of road I go into a shared path, what could go wrong? Well some dog walker letting his mut in an extending lead take the whole path, I slowed down, called excuse me, and went carefully around him and then the dog, all at maybe 5mph. As I was going past he shouted, "where's the bell?" I ignored him and carried on.

At least it was sunny and not cold, still in shorts and fingerless gloves.

 

[Slick]

How many idiots can you find in a short 2 mile commute? Well, three as it turns out. First some older "gent" in a biggish bmw squeezed between me and a car waiting to turn right across the road, almost forcing me into the bushes. About five hundred metres further down I was doing about 20mph, and I can see a car front coming out of a side lane, eased on the pedals, and sure enough, the car came out without really looking, forcing me to grab the brakes hard.

After this section of road I go into a shared path, what could go wrong? Well some dog walker letting his mut in an extending lead take the whole path, I slowed down, called excuse me, and went carefully around him and then the dog, all at maybe 5mph. As I was going past he shouted, "where's the bell?" I ignored him and carried on.

At least it was sunny and not cold, still in shorts and fingerless gloves.

I've heard the "where's the bell" question a few times on a previous commute, yeah cos the big orange thing on the blue bike vocalising excuse me isn't enough.

 

[gaijintendo]

That was exhausting. A good 30% more effort than usual.

I checked my brakes were not rubbing at the end of the trip, and they weren't. Tyres were fine.

That means it must have been me rubbing and deflated!

 

[gaijintendo]

I've heard the "where's the bell" question a few times on a previous commute, yeah cos the big orange thing on the blue bike vocalising excuse me isn't enough.

I have had the "where's the bell" after vigorously ringing it moments earlier.

And that one time when a couple with HUGE mirrors riding side by side on a tow path, making eye contact with me in said mirrors, and after asking to pass gave me the question... Not sure if I understand their need for bells. I told them I preferred being polite and considerate over ringing bells.

 

[BromyG]

There is a young lady I see (or more correctly 'hear') occasionally riding along the Embankment who insists on ringing her bell at everyone she passes or approaches. You can follow her progress by the constant 'ding', 'ding', 'ding' as she rides along. It's very annoying!

 

[Jenkins]

Clear skies and a low, full moon on the way in at 6am - spent most of the unlit setion near the start of the ccommute riding slowly looking up at the stars.

 

[ianrauk]

Bbbbbrrrrr that was a little bit nippy this morning, but a fantastic sunrise made up for it. I still haven't dug out the knee warmers yet, so have made a mental note to do so. I just had to peddle that little bit harder then usual . I met a couple of other regular cycling commuters en route so managed to tag on to them both as they raced each other, tucking in their slipstream now and again until they chose a wrong lane undertake which meant I was able to overtake and break the elastic. I had to work for it though