Tales from today's commute....

[biking_fox]

What I dislike about riding in the rain on public roads is being soaked by cars, that and the concern that the lack of visibility means the drivers may not be seeing me. It's bad enough being near-missed in the clear day light.

Wear Proviz! If they're looking (which is admittedly a different question!) then they'll see you. The latest fluro-reflective blend is very bright in all light conditions.


Today's ride - classic April, yesterday was unpleasantly wet going home. Today it's bright and sunny.

 

[wafter]

Those who commute by bike, do you still do even if weather horrendous? And in winter in dark in horrendous weather? If so is that through necessity or by choice?

Fair play for doing so, as a confirmed fair weather softy I couldn't.

Yes; over the past two years I've arguably been fairly lucky with mild-ish winters, and while often less-than-fun at no point did I ever find myself wishing I'd taken the car since the journey had become so frustrating, angry and utterly hateful.

Other than that I'm very much a fair-weather cyclist too, but with the commute it was easily the lesser of two evils.



Yesterday was bloody blowy in the morning; the tailwind making for a lightning-fast jaunt to the sausage shop and a slightly sketchy slog back towards work along the tow path; dodging much fallen detritus on the tow path.

Yesterday was also the first day this week I didn't have to re-enter the flat in the morning to recover something I'd forgotten - instead taking until I'd got all the way to work to realise I'd left my water bottle on the side..

Despite feeling pretty burned out after work it was arguably a rings-day (which usually sees me consuming a lot of water) so it was a direct ride back to the flat to collect the water bottle, then out somewhat under duress and obligation to the North for some dangling.

As I rode the skies cleared to reveal a bit of sun and everything became more pleasant. Managed a pretty decent session on the rings - still behind the curve but showing some improvement, I think due to the more regular sittings now the weather's better.

Afterwards I cut across Port Meadow and down Binsey lane to Waitrose to have a sniff around the reductions; with 15-20 minutes of farmers-carrying the Brompton around the shop further hammering my core - but again definitely being more manageable than when I first started doing it so great to see some progress.

Back to the flat on a long, meandering route through a quiet city; knackered upon arrival but with a pretty strong body high after about 25 miles and all the other exertions. Collapsing in my my lovely new (relatively speaking) enormous bed after a shower and some dinner felt very much deserved

 

[fossyant]

I usually commute all year all weathers and did used to feel very smug with my ice tyres. Unfortunately, I'm going to knock commuting in icy weather on the head permanently, after this year's fall in January (extensive pelvic fractures are not fun). I'll hopefully be back commuting in a few months, just in time for winter. Currently doing a little turbo training and hope to be back 'in the wild' for May, when I'm on holiday and can ride round the lake at Bala.

 

[cyberknight]

worst bit of y commute for wet is the mile and a half by work on the cyclepath that runs next to a dual carriage way , loads of lorries means a lot of spray so i can be literally soaked to the skin in that section even if i was relatively ok till then .

 

[nealmo]

All weathers for me the only days ive missed in the last 7 years were two days when the beast from east dropped over a foot of snow and made cycling impossible. Ice tyres are great as long as you dont abuse them no harsh breaking or sudden changes of direction and your general obsolutly fine even on black ice.

 

[Jenkins]

Those who commute by bike, do you still do even if weather horrendous? And in winter in dark in horrendous weather? If so is that through necessity or by choice?

Fair play for doing so, as a confirmed fair weather softy I couldn't.

I think in the last 5 years of my working life I only failed to cycle commute on a couple of occasions - once weather related with storm force winds forecast (it turned out not to be quite that bad) and once because a homebound train left me with only 15 minutes to change and get to work before the shift started.
Things were made slightly easier by having a commute that could be made as short as 3 miles each way (I generally did 10-15 unless icy) and then going part time and NOH for the last 18 months reducing the likelihood of weather related problems.

 

[blackrat]

"..when the beast from east dropped over a foot of snow and made cycling impossible."

Growing up in Norwich and going to Gt. Yarmouth for the 'seaside', those North Sea winds howling over the sands and racing up Regents Street made us strong, so no worries about cycling anywhere near the east coast for us Norfolkmen.

 

[HLaB]

"..when the beast from east dropped over a foot of snow and made cycling impossible."

Growing up in Norwich and going to Gt. Yarmouth for the 'seaside', those North Sea winds howling over the sands and racing up Regents Street made us strong, so no worries about cycling anywhere near the east coast for us Norfolkmen.

Up north for a change got it lighter when the Beast from the East struck. I was in Edinburgh at the time and I can remember commuting on -13deg roads because they were bus routes. There's no way I would do that now!

 

[markharry66]

Out on the giant defy this morning, has run in with bus drivers, who didnt like my assessment of this driving, mot sure if anyone else has this in their local area abbey tours seem to be taking on replacement bus driver work for regular bus company seen a few bits of dodgy driving. Todays was stop dead on a narrow pass without indication or checking whats behind you all to let your mate in the other bus pass. Waited till he got to the other bus stop and let him know what I thought. Strava playing up I have done a lot of work on distance and speed since last year but I am sure I havent reached this point where I can average 25mph and have a top speed of 168mph.

 

[biking_fox]

Another fine morning's ride, soul affirming. Birds, sunlight, and verdant plants, no wind, just a joy to be out. Sadly have to stop at work.

 

[C R]

First bike commute since my operation. Glorious weather, felt great turning the pedals again.

 

[ianrauk]

First bike commute since my operation. Glorious weather, felt great turning the pedals again.

Good to hear.

 

[cyberknight]

Still very cold with patches of freezing fog for me so still in winter gear going to work, should be 16 c when I come home though

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Wonderful sunny morning, took advantage of first meeting later than usual to take in a couple of cheeky extra hills (600m climbing) on the way, was rewarded with a hare crossing in front of me.

Have been trying pretty hard to lose a few lbs in the six weeks or so, definitely feeling some benefit today.

 

[wafter]

Out just in time on the Brompton; an apparant tailwind into the city making up for the slightly late start.

I thought I'd be using the cycle / tow paths into town more than I am but for some reason I'm preferring the road currently - probably because it makes the route a bit more circular and less in-and-out. Regardless, it's nice to have options

Traffic is relatively light until getting close to the city where it now starts to back up - it'll be interesting to see how bad it gets once everyone's back from holiday. Thankfully since most of the traffic is inbound I can often sail down the outside in the middle of the outbound carriageway.

Happy to find the sausages were more crisp than their pliability through the bag might have suggested after arriving at work on time having finished the route on the tow path.

Fairly bright and noticeably warmer today with a nice, low-cost, low-stress mosey to all of the necessary places. Finally the ideal for living I've been craving for so long is realised