Tales from today's commute....

[biking_fox]

First time back on the bike after a week visiting MiL. Enjoyable ride in across dawn.

Light brightness is an interesting variable. I've got a lenzyme 800, and I'll seldom run it on full, usually 1 or 2 power levels down - if it's raining I need full. Bright enough to see where I'm going on the unlit paths, but as above unlit pedestrians can be quite tricky to pick out.

 

[Dadam]

Earlier ride in today. I'd have worked from home except our boiler is on the blink and the attraction of a warm shower is not to be underestimated! Dark, dank and chilly. Fine drizzle so I didn't get wet but had to keep wiping the mist off my glasses. I need mini-windscreen wipers!

Speaking of lights I had my Cycliq Fly12 on full beam which I think is 800 lumens and my little Cateye 100 on flash, but struggled to see potholes in enough time. I've just got a new Pavo 840 in the Wiggle sale and started to fit the bar bracket this morning but cold fingers and fiddly allen screws don't mix well. I got it on in the end but not enough room on that side to twist the light on/off. Couldn't be arsed to move it so I'll get it sorted for next time.

 

[cyberknight]

2 and a half hour overtime on late shift meant i didnt leave work till around 1.45 am , it looked like it had been raining but clear so i thought i was in luck and even no wind .
I must have a guardian devil watching over me as within a couple of miles the heavens opened and a nice headwind got up so i was drenched , cold and absolutely knackered by the time i got home

 

[skudupnorth]

Wow, I shall benefit from your handy work tomorrow. Come home in the pitch black down there now. I would hope with my two 600 lumen lights on full beam I would spot something like that before I hit it.

Last week there stopped for a lad there with his chain come off but had jammed and twisted between the chain ring and the frame. I tried to get it out but couldn't. When he stopped me I was paranoid it was a trap and his mates were going to come out of the bushes so didn't want to dismount off my bike. In the end, I had a go but couldn't help him. Hope he got home alright.

There’s been a few instances where I wish I had my trusty Silky saw on the loop line. Luckily I was heading to work so finally got to shift a tree and help everyone out.

 

[skudupnorth]

Finally killed my bottom bracket on the commuter tank so dragged the classic 1983 Elswick Folder out for today’s commute. It’s a brilliant little bike even if the braking technology is a little lairy when the halfwits in cars fail to see your bright lights a pull out on you ! The three speed is a dream and does what it says on the tin

 

[fossyant]

Possibly my last commute for the year today - train on Weds and Friday due to drinkie poos/meals, and I may/may not ride/take train on Thursday - given the chance I'd WFH, but needed in. Steady pace on way back and traffic not too bad in the bits where I use the road. Rain held off but had to divert round the 'bog of doom'.

 

[HLaB]

Cleaned the commuter at the weekend which was a waste of time as it was really mucky today on damp flooded roads. At least for the long bits of my commutes I avoided actual rain and the skies cleared up. I got to the station about 5mins early and carried the bike over to the usual platform. There was a train on the 1st platform. But I assumed that it was the very slow train that leaves 10mins before mine but after stopping at every stop only arrives at the far end 5mins before mine. You know the saying 'Assumption is the Mother of all ' As I got to the regular platform I saw it was my train and peering inside to the waiting room screens confirmed it (they had changed platforms after 2 years). Cue a mad dash round to the correct one. I didn't think it was wise to look for a cycle carriage and jumped in the first one. You can tell its getting near Christmas though as I had enough room to walk my bike down the aisle of 3 or 4 carriages to the cycle store and it was still empty.
At night when I got off the train I thought I'd take the short unsurfaced path over the bridleway (I think it'll be surfaced in time as its the direct connection between my estate and a secondary school. It was firm enough but when I got home I could hear a hiss of air from a p'ture and I bet I got it there.

 

[HLaB]

Earlier ride in today. I'd have worked from home except our boiler is on the blink and the attraction of a warm shower is not to be underestimated! Dark, dank and chilly. Fine drizzle so I didn't get wet but had to keep wiping the mist off my glasses. I need mini-windscreen wipers!

Speaking of lights I had my Cycliq Fly12 on full beam which I think is 800 lumens and my little Cateye 100 on flash, but struggled to see potholes in enough time. I've just got a new Pavo 840 in the Wiggle sale and started to fit the bar bracket this morning but cold fingers and fiddly allen screws don't mix well. I got it on in the end but not enough room on that side to twist the light on/off. Couldn't be arsed to move it so I'll get it sorted for next time.

Since we are speaking of lights. I use the Garmin Varia UT800 backed up by 450 and 500 Niterider Swifts (either flashing or on low beam). The skylight was just enough to trigger the UT800 from high to low beam last night which is a bit interesting on dark country lanes flying down a hill to a bend. The light is triggered full over a certain speed and at the bend but it's a bit disconcerting 😂 If I use my Edge 130plus there's no sensor and the light is always on but I prefer my 1030 which does as its large screen is better for tracking cars in the dark picked up by my Garmin Varia Radar TL. The 130 beeps lights up and by the time the car or cars gets to you goes dark. It is ok for 1 car as you see its lights but not knowing there's a car or cars behind that is a little disconcerting too. #firstWorldProblems 😂

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Since we are speaking of lights. I use the Garmin Varia UT800 backed up by 450 and 500 Niterider Swifts (either flashing or on low beam). The skylight was just enough to trigger the UT800 from high to low beam last night which is a bit interesting on dark country lanes flying down a hill to a bend. The light is triggered full over a certain speed and at the bend but it's a bit disconcerting 😂 If I use my Edge 130plus there's no sensor and the light is always on but I prefer my 1030 which does as its large screen is better for tracking cars in the dark picked up by my Garmin Varia Radar TL. The 130 beeps lights up and by the time the car or cars gets to you goes dark. It is ok for 1 car as you see its lights but not knowing there's a car or cars behind that is a little disconcerting too. #firstWorldProblems 😂

Blimey. Sounds like you're piloting a space shuttle rather than a bike!

 

[skudupnorth]

Talking of lights, fired this 40 year old East German beauty up this morning 😁 it’s just bright enough to be seen by other trail users without blinding them 👀

 

[cyberknight]

Glad i took the car last night , the road i use was closed due to flooding last night .

 

[ianrauk]

Cleaned the commuter at the weekend which was a waste of time as it was really mucky today on damp flooded roads

Oh my days..this is the bane of my life. I did exactly the same on Monday. A near strip down and full relube/grease of all the moving parts. Cassette off and rotors off for a full clean of the wheels. Monday morning... bloody raining.

If I use my Edge 130

Talking of Edge 130. My battery life is now down to lasting a days commute, 2 days at most. So did a bit of detective work on the net, found and got a replacement battery which is higher rated for £14. Am taking it to my go to indie phone shop for him to swap the battery over.

Talking of lights, fired this 40 year old East German beauty up this morning

That really is a fab thing of beauty.

 

[Arjimlad]

First ride into work with the extra lights this morning. Looking forward to riding in the dark soon.

 

[HLaB]

First ride into work with the extra lights this morning. Looking forward to riding in the dark soon.

View attachment 716000

Sorry Mate I Didn't See You 😉

 

[simongt]

As I got back from my TCV task later than expected and was getting dusky, had to rely on the lamp on the back of my bash hat, although I was wearing a hi viz.
On the way, a cyclist drew up next to me to let me know that my rucsac was partially blocking said lamp; something I wasn't / couldn't be aware of. Loosened the rucsac straps, job done.
What a nice manny.
But it does make you wonder how any of us are aware of the effectiveness of our lighting regarding if it's being obscured or not as we can't see it when we're on the bike.