biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Drizzle. School kids. :-(
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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Awoke 45 minutes early and aching to the sounds of rain lashing down outside, with the netweather radar map showing a huge swathe of heavy precipitation heading over the city from the south west.
There was a gap in the middle but hitting that exactly looked unlikely so I resigned myself to getting wet.
Another quick check after all the pre-departure stuff had been done revealed that miraculously the rain was just missing me, skirting the city to the west.
The morning air was fresh but still warm for a really pleasant ride in; with generally very positive interactions with others and a number of drivers letting me in / out / allowing it to be shaken all about as appropriate
Sausages were better than expected and I arrived at the office in good time after a really nice autumnal journey; the novelty of how pleasant this is compared to my commuting situation last year (and worse the years before) still not lost
There was a gap in the middle but hitting that exactly looked unlikely so I resigned myself to getting wet.
Another quick check after all the pre-departure stuff had been done revealed that miraculously the rain was just missing me, skirting the city to the west.
The morning air was fresh but still warm for a really pleasant ride in; with generally very positive interactions with others and a number of drivers letting me in / out / allowing it to be shaken all about as appropriate
Sausages were better than expected and I arrived at the office in good time after a really nice autumnal journey; the novelty of how pleasant this is compared to my commuting situation last year (and worse the years before) still not lost
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Mrs CK asked if I wanted the car today as it had forecast thunderstorms and I am glad I did as we had a cloudburst and a big thunderstorm, on top of which the other shift had a major breakdown so we're going to get hammered for overtime tonight
Last night: Had to sit in the office for 15 minutes to let the biblical rains pass; but after that much like the morning I was lucky with the massive tract of rain passing to the south east this time.
Of course I couldn't just play it safe and go straight home; choosing instead to press north for a dangle on the bars and a very disappointing (thanks to previous exertions) attempt to push beyond an active hang towards a pullup.
Until this point it'd been a very nice ride with fresh but warm post-storm air and sunshine, however as I headed back into town it started to rain pretty hard and I got pretty damp, although it could have been worse.
Also I was compelled to have a go at some w*nker in front of me who decided to park his car to my cost. Evidently having found a space on our side of the road instead of indicating he simply stopped, banged on the hazards, smashed it into reverse and started heading straight towards me. I couldn't go around him due to opposing traffic so had to get off the bike and yank it out of the way - with all of about 4" between his back tyre and my pedal when he finally checked his mirrors, saw me and stopped.
As I glared at him through his window he put his hand up somewhat dismissively, this wasn't enough and he was more apologetic after being advised to use his f*cking indicators. I absolutely despise this current, seemingly growing trend of people just assuming that sticking the hazards on allows them to do absolutely anything selfish / dangerous / illegal with impunity; especially when using signals when pulling off the road would at least give others more of an idea what's going on rather than just a heads-up that they're likely to do something utterly moronic.
On to the shop to find four vehicles parked on both sides of the bend on double yellows; missed an opportunity to embarrass one of those responsible as she poked her head out from behind one of the illegally parked vans (evidently having trouble crossing the road as a result) only to get into one of the other problem-vehicles. Had I been quicker of thinking some overtly sympathetic harsh words about the parking might have made her consider her own behaviour.
This morning I miraculously missed the rain again, however it seems the schools might be back as the traffic was back to its bloody awful usual self. A mostly nice sunny, mild ride with a lot of standing water (which the Longboards coped with admirably as usual - still seething that SKS discontinued them
).
Of course it couldn't all be roses and this morning's irritation came in the form of an impatient taxi driver. A bus had stopped on my side of the road with about a car's width between it's rear and the parked cars on the opposite side of the road. A woman and child infront of me on an ebike had already given way to let one car through, and had started to move off to pass the bus when a taxi appeared from the opposite direction at speed and tried to force its way through, causing her to hit the brakes and skid to a stop. She moved out of the way, however I didn't so we all sat there until the bus moved, the taxi driver getting some stern eye contact and a much deserved finger as he passed.
The morning has picked up since getting to the office thanks to quality sausages and an early dose of caffeine; not sure how that's going to pan out for the rest of the day however as I'm knackered and have kickboxing later..
Of course I couldn't just play it safe and go straight home; choosing instead to press north for a dangle on the bars and a very disappointing (thanks to previous exertions) attempt to push beyond an active hang towards a pullup.
Until this point it'd been a very nice ride with fresh but warm post-storm air and sunshine, however as I headed back into town it started to rain pretty hard and I got pretty damp, although it could have been worse.
Also I was compelled to have a go at some w*nker in front of me who decided to park his car to my cost. Evidently having found a space on our side of the road instead of indicating he simply stopped, banged on the hazards, smashed it into reverse and started heading straight towards me. I couldn't go around him due to opposing traffic so had to get off the bike and yank it out of the way - with all of about 4" between his back tyre and my pedal when he finally checked his mirrors, saw me and stopped.
As I glared at him through his window he put his hand up somewhat dismissively, this wasn't enough and he was more apologetic after being advised to use his f*cking indicators. I absolutely despise this current, seemingly growing trend of people just assuming that sticking the hazards on allows them to do absolutely anything selfish / dangerous / illegal with impunity; especially when using signals when pulling off the road would at least give others more of an idea what's going on rather than just a heads-up that they're likely to do something utterly moronic.
On to the shop to find four vehicles parked on both sides of the bend on double yellows; missed an opportunity to embarrass one of those responsible as she poked her head out from behind one of the illegally parked vans (evidently having trouble crossing the road as a result) only to get into one of the other problem-vehicles. Had I been quicker of thinking some overtly sympathetic harsh words about the parking might have made her consider her own behaviour.
This morning I miraculously missed the rain again, however it seems the schools might be back as the traffic was back to its bloody awful usual self. A mostly nice sunny, mild ride with a lot of standing water (which the Longboards coped with admirably as usual - still seething that SKS discontinued them
).Of course it couldn't all be roses and this morning's irritation came in the form of an impatient taxi driver. A bus had stopped on my side of the road with about a car's width between it's rear and the parked cars on the opposite side of the road. A woman and child infront of me on an ebike had already given way to let one car through, and had started to move off to pass the bus when a taxi appeared from the opposite direction at speed and tried to force its way through, causing her to hit the brakes and skid to a stop. She moved out of the way, however I didn't so we all sat there until the bus moved, the taxi driver getting some stern eye contact and a much deserved finger as he passed.
The morning has picked up since getting to the office thanks to quality sausages and an early dose of caffeine; not sure how that's going to pan out for the rest of the day however as I'm knackered and have kickboxing later..
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biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Got drenched last night, intermittent showers only a minute or two long, but very heavy. Busy roads today.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
made the right choice yesterday as i didnt finish till nearly 1.30 am from a 2.30 pm start and its liable to be the same again tonight
Much as i hate not riding it is giving my dodgy knee a rest too which is probably a good thing .
Much as i hate not riding it is giving my dodgy knee a rest too which is probably a good thing .
Ooh..all this rain you are all talking about. Sorry to hear that.
No such thing here in Crete. 34° hot sunshine weather all week.
Back home on Saturday and the weather forecast for when I'm back on the commute next week is looking pretty good.
No such thing here in Crete. 34° hot sunshine weather all week.
Back home on Saturday and the weather forecast for when I'm back on the commute next week is looking pretty good.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
spen666
Legendary Member
Today - was a Marti Pellow Ride to my worksite for today ( home) - WET WET WET
I set off on a ride, got 1 mile down the road and the heaven's opened, not just a bit of rain but a torrential downpour, so I cut short my ride into a 5 mile loop. Got home, changed out of wet kit and by time I had put that out to dry, the Sun was out and the sky blue, and its remained like that since then
I set off on a ride, got 1 mile down the road and the heaven's opened, not just a bit of rain but a torrential downpour, so I cut short my ride into a 5 mile loop. Got home, changed out of wet kit and by time I had put that out to dry, the Sun was out and the sky blue, and its remained like that since then
Thorn Sherpa
Veteran
- Location
- Doncaster
Tad bit moist on the ride back, soon as I get home the rain stops 😂
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
Today’s commute along the Bridgewater canal and Roe Green Loop Line from Timperley to Bolton. Wouldn’t have wanted to be stuck in a tin box along Worsley Road, kids are back in school so the gridlock begins
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Quite a different commute from yesterday's damp start dry and bright. Which seemed to have put drivers in a better mood, they were all patient and it was rather non-eventful.
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Yesterday was interesting: Brompton to the station in a mad rush because I thought I was late, missed doing the washing or cleaning up breakfast. Arrive six minutes before the train was due, and an announcement came on saying it was delayed by 15 minutes. Back on Brompton, return to flat, empty washing into washing machine, start washing machine, tidy up breakfast, back to station in plenty of time for train.
On the train, a gentleman was trying to involve me in a conversation with his imaginary friends. This used to bother me before I worked in Psychological care; now I just ignore it on the basis I'm off duty.
The return was odd: It looked like the train had emptied so we piled on and found a couple with bikes still hadn't exited the train, I stepped sideways to get out of the way (Brompton was folder, so this was fairly simple) only to have a mother and teenage daughter come up behind me, complain, and push through the gap. It's unusual in Germany and earned them the ire of other passengers...
On the train, a gentleman was trying to involve me in a conversation with his imaginary friends. This used to bother me before I worked in Psychological care; now I just ignore it on the basis I'm off duty.
The return was odd: It looked like the train had emptied so we piled on and found a couple with bikes still hadn't exited the train, I stepped sideways to get out of the way (Brompton was folder, so this was fairly simple) only to have a mother and teenage daughter come up behind me, complain, and push through the gap. It's unusual in Germany and earned them the ire of other passengers...
spen666
Legendary Member
Sounds like my every morning
