markharry66
Guru
back on giant defy, no traffic. Cruised into work, no headwind as such so took the slightly longer route days like this are nice hassle free. Feels like its going to be hot on way home so nice sweat bath to look forward to .
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
So much for getting up early and stopping for a coffee on route. The train in the middle was cancelled and I'm now on a later one 😕
Nice day otherwise and the train is packed with bikes.
Nice day otherwise and the train is packed with bikes.
Flippity flip, it was a hot one on the commute this morning. Luckily the air conditioning on the train was working. Though buggers decided to use a different style train to usual so the bike vestibule was on a different carriage, further to the front of the train where as I use the rear carriages . First world problems as the train was empty anyway.
Its only going to get hotter today and for the rest of the working week. Hot, sunny, blue skies on a cycle commute. There's not much better.
Its only going to get hotter today and for the rest of the working week. Hot, sunny, blue skies on a cycle commute. There's not much better.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Knee still hurts for a few miles then settled down so I'm glass cranking till it warms up
captain nemo1701
Space cadet. Deck 42 Main Engineering.
- Location
- Bristol
On my way into the office at 08.30am today, Bristolian motorbike 'yoof', all dressed in black, ninja mask, no helmet (and likely no test, no licence, no insurance etc), no licence plate came along Bedminster Parade, weaving in & out of traffic on his pit bike. Used pedestrian island as a short cut over to other road before vanishing at speed. Seen these twonks before, but its unusual to see this particular human sub-species out at this time, they're usually nocturnal.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Tempo riding today. Mostly until SCR hit on the main road. All good fun. Back to tempo for the rest fo the week. Too hot!
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Knee hurts now whenever i get out of the saddle so i definitely going to strip the bike as its just not worth the pain .
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
At least the day got better, after a short 4 miles to the station, whilst I never had time for a relaxed coffee, I did have time for the 16 miles route after the station I had planned, which left me with 7miles ride with a colleague to the office. Which of course required a 21miles ride in the 🌞 back to the station at night and whilst I resisted getting off the train early, I gave in to temptation and looped by Yaxley (8 miles). Circa 56miles in total, if I've done my sums right.
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markharry66
Guru
nice ride in this morning loving the bright starts after last weeks doom and gloom (cloudy). Went on flat bar road bike this morning fancied a change always means a slightly slower ride into work. Going towards barriers / width restriction impaitent runt decided ten seconds it would take for someone to get their car through was to long and used the other side of the road didnt look and just went straight through total pillock. Rest of journey okay, Looking forward to nice slow ride home to hot to race.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Heavy cloud and muggy this morning. Sweating like a piglet. Chased a guy on his fat tyred illegal ebike for about 2 miles at around 22 to 23 mph. Poor sod actually had to pedal a bit as soon as he stopped I gained on him. Dropped a couple of other ebikers too. They make good sport when you are on a heavy knobbly tyred MTB with panniers. Wouldn't be so much fun on a road bike.
Great work
While I lack the strength to trouble the (many) illegal ebikes, the legal ones make good sport on the Brompton. I did one yesterday as it happens going up St. Aldates as he evidently hit the limiter and I winched myself past whilst still in the saddle; eliciting an incredulous double-take
Last night I managed a repeat of the pre-pub rings excursion; which while not as euphoric as last time still put me in a great mood for some socialising and contributed significantly to a nice evening with a few friends.
This morning was another cracker, albeit hot and sticky.. I took one of the larger roads today as it looked clear, however this turned out not to be the case so again a fair amount of the journey was spent cruising down the largely deserted opposite carriageway.
After a disappointing weigh-in I'd resolved to limit today's sausage purchase to two, however they looked so good I caved and bought the usual three..
I followed an oldish bloke on an ebike down the tow path who later decided to give me zero warning that was turning off and causing me to come to a standstill. It was all very slow so no drama; just the result of inattentiveness and a lack of consideration. I acknowledged it with a sly sarky comment as I passed; at least he was on a bike of some sort despite looking like the stereotype of the morally-panicked Daily Mail reader.
Further on brought an opportunity to stare deep into the cold black eyes of death itself after a woman on a bike inexplicibly darted out from behind a load of pedestrians coming the other way. She was evidently travelling at the same speed as them and I was close (if thankfully not travelling very fast) so she had zero chance of getting past safely.
I hit the brakes and swerved towards the river, she hit the brakes and swerved towards the walkers; swinging between extremes of steering angle to the extent that it looked like she'd come off... Children screamed, ladies fainted, men wept.. I swore, she apologised and miraculously everyone came away unscathed...
Disaster averted things picked up further down when I clocked my neighbour coming the other way. I usually don't spot her until we're passing , while she always seems somewhat zoned out / concentrating on the task in hand. Unfortunately she doesn't seem to share my enthusiasm for where we live (she's renting and previously lived somewhere more urban) or perhaps cycling; apparently doing so out of functional duress....
It seems she's trying to lose some weight so hopefully this, the need to commute and the glorious weather might get her out a bit more on two wheels
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While I lack the strength to trouble the (many) illegal ebikes, the legal ones make good sport on the Brompton. I did one yesterday as it happens going up St. Aldates as he evidently hit the limiter and I winched myself past whilst still in the saddle; eliciting an incredulous double-take
Fair play. What's the gradient of that road?
When commuting I'm usually on a legal ebike but I have 3 to choose from. Going home up the hill near me which tops out about 9% I've only been overtaken by the illegal ebikes (apart from the usual motor vehicles of course). On the Orbea Gain I'm usually going about 11-12mph up that bit depending on tiredness and headwind. On the Vado SL I'm going about 1mph slower (240w vs 250w and +2kg). On the Cube eMTB I'm bouncing off the limiter. On that bike steeper hills basically don't exist but it's a real effort getting past the limit on the flat or a slight uphill. It weighs a ton (25kg) and has heavy 29er rims shod in 2.6" knobbly tyres but has a lot of torque.
Don't take this as a challenge btw, I freely admit I'm no great shakes as a climber without motor assistance. I just find it interesting that's all.
markharry66
Guru
Felt hot this morning out on road bike, froze a bottle of water last night to keep cool, time I had got to work it had melted all within the space of 36 minutes. Not looking forward to cycling home in 30 degree heat
Yet I am looking forward to it. I'm one of those weirdos who loves cycling in hot weather. Just have to take it a little bit easier.
Going to be even hotter tomorrow and I'm cycling the full 27 miles home. Glorious.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
One of many taking the longer way home last night. From Manchester centre up the ashton canal and then out along the Peak and Forest Canal (many the forest section) through to Marple. I've done it a couple of times before, the forest section is just wonderful riding, smooth grit easy riding beautiful views (no photos sorry). wildlife abundant fish in the canal, goslings etc, and a long bosh back down the A6 home - the latter started to feel tiring. 27 mile.
Warm this morning but very still air, so actually very pleasant.
Warm this morning but very still air, so actually very pleasant.
