Tales from today's commute....

[Andy in Germany]

Frequently see blokes on the Bristol Railway Path doing about 20mph uphill not pedaling at all. Also those people on bikes with really fat motorbike type tires. The rolling resistance must be huge and you can't go that fast uphill either.

Don't know if it helps, but we occasionally get customers with this sort of bike at work. The bikes are invariably... imported, and while they generally conform to local regulations, the owners find that their internet bought bike has lots of non-standard parts, brakes with unknown hydraulic fluid, motors we can't repair; tyres we can't replace; batteries which no longer hold a charge that we can't order... and on, and on... and because the bikes are made very cheaply, the original parts are failing.

So look at it this way, in about five years many of these bikes will vanish and/or be replaced, leaving the owner with a large bill and a scrap bike, while you keep pedalling and getting fitter...

 

[markharry66]

Feels like autum is here, had to put full length Gloves on this morning luckily I carry them all year round downside of this is i had forgot to wash them last time I used them, they were a bit smelly also had boil in the bag (high Viz jacket on). Thames water still camped out on the hill with temporary traffic light, according to the sign should have been finished two days ago probably left it there to cause maximum annoyance over the bank holiday weekend. Upper wickham lane only finsihed digging road up about week ago. Bored with digging up the same section voer and over again they have moved 300 yards down the road this has of course caused maximu traffic carnage on the way home pi**sing everyone off mission achieved. Fiday legs, no cycling this weekend .

 

[HLaB]

A nice fast and quiet commute for me this morning and a bit of train fettling. My headset since a 3.5h drenching the other week has been right juttery. Packed it with grease and put it exactly to torque and it was still juttery. I'm suspecting as the bike was built pre torque wrench, the headset bolt was overtightened at that point and just needed a few more lbs 🤞

 

[palinurus]

I'm so old. I can barely get the electronic speed sign thing to show 25 these days.

 

[HLaB]

Straight forward commute in, aided by a tailwind. Seemed to get nearly every light on red though.

 

[captain nemo1701]

Plenty on the greenway near me, apparently the lack of rain is causing them to drop earlier.

Autumn: hundreds of cyclists pounding rotting leaves into the path creating 'tire mulch'. So much of it got sprayed up onto by bike frame once that when it dried, I peeled it off like flexible cardboard.

 

[captain nemo1701]

Witnessed a piece of dumb 'n' dangerous private escooter riding today. As I was sat at the end of the cycle lane (red dot) bloke on escooter whizzes by, jumps onto road and for a few seconds, went against traffic flow so he could reach opposite pavement (yellow line). There was traffic coming down the hill onto the roundabout, so IMHO, dumb gamble.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Went to station, realised I'd forgotten something. I had six minutes until the train came so I raced home, grabbed the item, and raced back.
It turns out this takes six minutes and ten seconds.
Cycled the eight very pretty kilometres to Rottenburg, caught the train from there the Tübingen, arrived about 20 minutes later than usual.

 

[dicko]

I cycled into Derby city centre called ‘the spot’ where there are bike parking stands. I was shocked to find most of the cycles were attached to the secure stands with just a flimsy chain or cable lock around the crossbar. Most cycles had QR wheels but no locks attached and could be quickly removed by undesirables. To be fair there was a lot of people about but there’s just no excuse to not lock your bike properly.

 

[Dadam]

I cycled into Derby city centre called ‘the spot’ where there are bike parking stands. I was shocked to find most of the cycles were attached to the secure stands with just a flimsy chain or cable lock around the crossbar. Most cycles had QR wheels but no locks attached and could be quickly removed by undesirables. To be fair there was a lot of people about but there’s just no excuse to not lock your bike properly.

A colleague lost a nice Ribble flat bar road bike in Leeds a couple of years ago. He'd gone to give blood but locked his bike with a cable lock.
I have a cable lock but only use it for a cafe lock when the bike is under my view at all times.

I use one of these to secure the front wheel of my utility bike. Most opportunists who'd nick a wheel won't be carrying a set of obscure security bolt bits/keys.

 

[united4ever]

Puncture in the way in. Changed tube and got to work late. Down to the bike racks after work, quick squeeze of the tyre and yep, flat again. Took the train home.

Front wheel at least which is a bit easier to change. 4th time in a month. Couldn't see any likely culprit stuck in the inside of the tyre when I changed it. Done about 5k miles on these so ordered new tyres. Marathon plus too.

 

[ianrauk]

Lovely morning here in Rochester. The Med looking very nice in the sunshine. 14° at the moment and no wind, so perfect cycling weather.
We had rain yesterday just before the commute home. Thankfully it had stopped before I left work, but the roads were wet. Meant for an evening bike clean.

 

[spen666]

Nearly had a nasty accident this morning. Heading along the Greenway in East London, a squirrel on the grass at side of path was spooked by my presence and decided to escape from my presence....by running across the path, missing my front wheel by about an inch.

I thought Tufty taught road safety

 

[HLaB]

I got the bike lane comment last or maybe it was to a cyclist in it to a ped. Street view is up to date with barrier either side of the shared path. Regardless of the barriers though I will never use it as its usually full of peds.

 

[markharry66]

Second to last commute in at last temporary traffic lights gone, no wind this morning last two morning had headwind on way in and back. Still mil, make the mistake of putting cheap hi-viz sweat bag on this morning. Arrived at work feeling like a used tea bag. Now lookinig at second hand flat bar bike for winter commutes find it easier in winter. Shotting over the hill as come into Abbey wood this morning in a 20 zone I was doing 20 got told I should be in the cycle lane which is full of glass.