Tales from today's commute....

[Jenkins]

Unfortunately it hadn't, but it was a new problem. The majority of services were cancelled 'due to an incident', apart from two of the slow trains (all the later slow trains were cancelled). So I rushed to the station to get one of the two that weren't cancelled and they were warning it could be subject to delays between Huntingdon and Peterborough. Being a really nice evening despite the strong headwind I decided to get off at Huntingdon and cycle the 18miles home.

I decided to go by the quiet Holme Road and hopefully say hello to a local chain gang around 6.45pm, when something came up behind me tonight and peeped their horn. I actually thought it was an artic driver who waited patiently to pass before I passed him again in a layby. It just seemed like a toot 'I'm here'. As I was doing less than 16mph into a strong headwind and lugging a heavy lap top, I thought I'd return the favour and moved towards the verge and looked for the first gap to pull into. About 30s later they came by and stopped 'Get on the cycle path'. What cycle path I responded? Instead of overtaking though when he had plenty of time to do so he slotted in behind me and waited longer for another safe gap before accelerating at speed but giving me reasonable space 😕

Unfortunately I use the camera in a waterproof case so the sound is not good.
View: https://youtu.be/-f3lR2Y0UD8


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Someone decided it would be a good idea to sit on the arch of the Crescent Bridge on Thorpe Road. I got held up at Peterborough trying to get back to Felixstowe and the automated station announcement just couldn't keep up with the cancellations & delays.

 

[markharry66]

Unfortunately it hadn't, but it was a new problem. The majority of services were cancelled 'due to an incident', apart from two of the slow trains (all the later slow trains were cancelled). So I rushed to the station to get one of the two that weren't cancelled and they were warning it could be subject to delays between Huntingdon and Peterborough. Being a really nice evening despite the strong headwind I decided to get off at Huntingdon and cycle the 18miles home.

I decided to go by the quiet Holme Road and hopefully say hello to a local chain gang around 6.45pm, when something came up behind me tonight and peeped their horn. I actually thought it was an artic driver who waited patiently to pass before I passed him again in a layby. It just seemed like a toot 'I'm here'. As I was doing less than 16mph into a strong headwind and lugging a heavy lap top, I thought I'd return the favour and moved towards the verge and looked for the first gap to pull into. About 30s later they came by and stopped 'Get on the cycle path'. What cycle path I responded? Instead of overtaking though when he had plenty of time to do so he slotted in behind me and waited longer for another safe gap before accelerating at speed but giving me reasonable space 😕

Unfortunately I use the camera in a waterproof case so the sound is not good.
View: https://youtu.be/-f3lR2Y0UD8


View attachment 772919

View attachment 772920

the important question for me would be on the video did you make the backing music on a zx spectrum for added 80s effect?

 

[markharry66]

Another lovely morning slightly colder than yesterday but still in t-shirt, enjoying longer commute in. Long may this continue. Not seen many cyclists out there.

 

[HLaB]

the important question for me would be on the video did you make the backing music on a zx spectrum for added 80s effect?

Just a randomly picked YouTube background to get rid of the muffled background noise. I never even listened to it. Yesterday was a long day. Which probably shows 😂

 

[Arjimlad]

Did not enjoy the ride this morning despite the lovely weather. I may be too sensitive to tailgating but I had two drivers getting well within the "2 second rule" at 20mph, and then a third where the rear video really shows how stupidly close they got to my back wheel & just sat there. I turned in the saddle to make eye contact and ask the driver to back off, whereupon she executed a nasty close pass. I then shortened my intended route. Just had enough of these chumps today.

 

[cyberknight]

Last few days i have been riding in mid afternoon for late shift so warm with a chillier ride home around midnight but its been so hot and humid in work even though i have a water bottle with me and drinking extra i can barely pee .

 

[fossyant]

Charging the 'commute' Garmin 200.... what's occurring ?

 

[simongt]

Not actually a bike commute to the cat sanctuary where I volunteer as the route is too long and busy main roady to make it a safe and practical option.
However, driving along a wee lane I use as a shortcut, I came across a dead deer in the middle of said lane.
As is my habit, I got out to move the deer onto the verge so it wouldn't be crushed into the tarmac by other vehicles. Fresh blood & innards on the road and had obviously only happened a few minutes earlier. As I lifted it over onto the side, an about to be born, but dead fawn slid out of the back of the dead deer.
Not sure what was worse, the fawn, or that someone hadn't bothered to stop and move the carcass.

 

[fossyant]

Permission from 'the boss' granted - back on the commute tomorrow, four months after breaking myself.

 

[markharry66]

Not cold but looks cold, tempted to put hi-viz on didint and was expecting rain as dark grey and cloudy. The headwind that always follows me into work was back again thanks for that. Nice to know coming up to a traffic island cars take priority nice squeeze pass on traffic island this morning got the hand sign thats not in the highway code.

 

[cyberknight]

Not cold but looks cold, tempted to put hi-viz on didint and was expecting rain as dark grey and cloudy. The headwind that always follows me into work was back again thanks for that. Nice to know coming up to a traffic island cars take priority nice squeeze pass on traffic island this morning got the hand sign thats not in the highway code.

it was chilly last night , i was back in spring gear .
went on the weigh cx build to test the new bar set up and although the reach feels right as it has a short head tube it means the bars are a little to low so i had pain in the shoulders by the time i got home so i will have to put shorter stem on it or flip the current one to raise the bars.

 

[fossyant]

Back on it. Stopped a couple of times as the back wheel was rubbing out the saddle. Once at work, discovered the rear brake bridge bracket had slipped nearer the tyre. A quick pull on the mudguard sorted it.

Despite four months off and a couple of stops I managed the route in 41 minutes which is as fast as it gets on the MTB, so pleased I'm not super slow.

Lovely morning though. Over 20 minutes quicker than the car.

 

[wiggydiggy]

The disadvantage of irregular commuting is it seems to be an absolute faff as I've no routine anymore. I think I'm going to work out a 'work kit' and leave some stuff in a locker (even if its only used once a month or less) as it just seems to take ages packing and unpacking at either end.

On a more positive note it wasn't boiling hot this morning, quite cool with a bit of a breeze. Plus the segregated bike lane down Whitehall Road (in Leeds) although not finished is useable and that makes that rather horrible road quite pleasent. Its still jammed near the Dragon Pub though, no easy way to filter so that slows it down a lot.

 

[fossyant]

The disadvantage of irregular commuting is it seems to be an absolute faff as I've no routine anymore. I think I'm going to work out a 'work kit' and leave some stuff in a locker (even if its only used once a month or less) as it just seems to take ages packing and unpacking at either end.

On a more positive note it wasn't boiling hot this morning, quite cool with a bit of a breeze. Plus the segregated bike lane down Whitehall Road (in Leeds) although not finished is useable and that makes that rather horrible road quite pleasent. Its still jammed near the Dragon Pub though, no easy way to filter so that slows it down a lot.

I had to remember my routine so it took a bit longer to get ready. I have certain things in each pannier then remember to put my glasses in one shoe and keys, wallet and door pass in another. Took a little longer at work too just remembering what needed doing

 

[wiggydiggy]

I had to remember my routine so it took a bit longer to get ready. I have certain things in each pannier then remember to put my glasses in one shoe and keys, wallet and door pass in another. Took a little longer at work too just remembering what needed doing

My old routine I had it all figured out, I'm just out of pactice. I did treat myself to using 2 panniers today rather than squeezing it into 1 again. The little things like remembering I need to take coffee as I won't buy drinks keep catching me out so if I've got the locker now at work (its all hotdesking so no leaving stuff on a desk) I'll build a little work kit of stuff and actually write down what I have so I don't forget!