Tales from today's commute....

[ianrauk]

Been a little while since I had a wet commute. Had a 10 minute heavy downpour this morning. No need for wet weather gear as it wasn't cold and was near enough dry by the time I got to work.

So that's the 15th rainy commute for 2022
Same period last year. 14 rainy commutes

 

[HLaB]

We were lucky just up the road in Hertfordshire. It was a little damp in the morning (mainly from the road surface) and in the evening everything was bone dry

 

[Andy in Germany]

The first 5k of the commute on Mondays is flat and on a paved "Feldweg" closed to traffic but paved. It also runs alongside the main road which my colleague drives along, so of course I try to be as far along as possible before she overtakes me in her car.

Today the tailwind was so strong I was in the big ring the whole way, but I didn't see her car so I assumed I'd missed it or she'd passed me as I went behind a building.

Then she passed the end of a street in the next town as I was approaching the junction. The way through this town for cars is a bit longer than for bikes so I pushed it a bit and caught up with her in the main road.

I bet she didn't notice.

The second half of the ride turns towards the south so the tailwind becane a vicious cross wind that dropped twigs in me and tried to blow the bike sideways, which isn't fun when riding along a 5m high embankment; I was glad to get back out of the wind...

She didn't notice...

 

[hennbell]

17° so stopped to take jacket off and snapped a quick pic. GF text to say she was leaving work late so 4 miles became 10. Bike is in urgent need of service, lots of squeaks, creaks amd crunches. Tomorrow will be its last commute for a while while it gets stripped down for the new groupset, headset and full service.

View attachment 646012

A new groupset would be nice. I've been trying for 2 years to get a mechanical groupset to update my Trek Emonda, no luck at all unless I put on mixed lower quality bits, nothing even close to 105's. Local bike store still thinks we have a year until things go back to normal.

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

@hennbell I've managed to get a full SRAM NX 1 x 12 grouspet from wiggle. Its probably not as sought after as others to be fair and the 3 x 9 Alivio/Altus on mine now is knackered so anything is an upgrade and more than acceptable on a commuter/utility bike.
My mates been upgrading some bikes with SRAMS etap groupsets and has had to buy parts from all over so understand the annoyance.
I know Merlin have some Ultegra disc grouspets in stock as I'm debating upgrading my Cube from 105, think they have some 105 sets in too.

 

[hennbell]

@hennbell I've managed to get a full SRAM NX 1 x 12 grouspet from wiggle. Its probably not as sought after as others to be fair and the 3 x 9 Alivio/Altus on mine now is knackered so anything is an upgrade and more than acceptable on a commuter/utility bike.
My mates been upgrading some bikes with SRAMS etap groupsets and has had to buy parts from all over so understand the annoyance.
I know Merlin have some Ultegra disc grouspets in stock as I'm debating upgrading my Cube from 105, think they have some 105 sets in too.

My frame is rim brake only, this is also part of the problem. Its my nice bike so I want a mostly matching groupset.

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

@hennbell Apologies, I assumed disc my bad for being such a convert and assuming this is what everyone needs .
Bad times for bike parts isn't it, hopefully there'll be some stock soon, even ebay is short on stuff at the moment

 

[si_c]

A new groupset would be nice. I've been trying for 2 years to get a mechanical groupset to update my Trek Emonda, no luck at all unless I put on mixed lower quality bits, nothing even close to 105's. Local bike store still thinks we have a year until things go back to normal.

Merlin have the R7000 rim brake groupset in stock now, discounted.

 

[DCBassman]

Merlin have the R7000 rim brake groupset in stock now, discounted.

Shipping to Canada won't be cheap...

 

[GeekDadZoid]

3 commutes to the city centre this week, mostly uneventful however I have been getting quite a few close passes, so yesterday got my camera back in action. Behaviour was much better today, maybe coincidence.

 

[hennbell]

@hennbell Apologies, I assumed disc my bad for being such a convert and assuming this is what everyone needs .
Bad times for bike parts isn't it, hopefully there'll be some stock soon, even ebay is short on stuff at the moment

No apology required, I am a convert too, my wallet unfortunately is not.

 

[Elybazza61]

Yesterday had a very pleasant short commute from Waterbeach to Cambridge; mostly off road and cycle paths so only had to deal with cows, swans,runners and rowing coaches

And three more from previous commutes;

 

[Elybazza61]

Yesterdays pleasant commute on the Stayer all-road(Saturdays much better and quieter on the road);seriously thinking of retiring the Helium to the turbo as not that much slower on this and far more comfortable.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7214180177

 

[Jenkins]

As of next week my commuting mileage will take a bit of a hit as, after nearly 38 years of shift & weekend work, I'm taking partial retirement and moving to 3 days per week on normal office hours.

I will be starting my final late evening commute home in about half an hour

 

[HarryTheDog]

Cycle commute in and out was fine, it rained on the way to the railway station but it kept the dog walkers at home so made my journey quicker.
The real pain came on the train. A young man got on the train playing music on a bluetooth speaker.
It was absaloute filth, with swearing and lots of references to sex and ladies parts.
I thought this guy is deliberately trying to provoke someone and it was having the desired effect on me.
Then his mum rang and I realised he had the body of a 20yr old but the mind of a child.
Luckily he got off at the first stop without someone giving him a slap.