Tales from today's commute....

[fossyant]

First day back to commuting on the bike after nearly 3 weeks off (not even touched a bike) - I'd driven the two days before my holiday as I wasn't risking an accident like in January before we flew to Madera.

Set a pretty good time, one of my quickest on the 'tank' - must have had a good rest.

 

[spen666]

Set off this morning, just as sun rising, its chilly, but once sun has risen, it was glorious.

Even more enjoyable today watching those who normally crowd themselves into metal boxes on rails, instead crowding themselves into metal boxes on snarled up roads.

So nice to sail past the never ending snakes of stationary queuing vehicles

 

[ianrauk]

but to cap it all, nearly got crushed by a lorry, who overtook in a really dangerous way and spot and decided to pull in once the cab had passed me

Scary stuff.

 

[ianrauk]

I escaped the rain this morning though looking out the window at work it's looking like its incoming and looking at the weather radar app, it's going to be a wet ride later to the station. Waiting and sitting on a train whilst in wet clothing. Nice.... not.

I did have a very nice ride in though. Met up with a long time fellow A21'r and we had a nice chat. He's quicks and likes to talk whilst powering along. Of course I didn't let on that I was breathing through my ears whilst trying to keep up.

 

[spen666]

I got out and did my ride early - took waterproofs with me, but just beat rain by a few minutes

 

[fossyant]

Got caught by the thorn fairy last night, and it was a double. Found the first, but no sign of the second. Must have been loose in the tyre as put new tube in and that went down. Put in second and that was fine. Inspected original tube and found two holes... hmm. Inspected the replacement tube and there was a loose thorn on the tube.

Rear gears have been playing up on bottom two sprockets - trying to down shift to lowest. Only thing left to check is to replace the jockey's for some Shimano ones that arrive today. Been running cartridge bearing ones for years. Don't really use the lowest two other than on a stretch going into work as it's slightly downhill, but very bumpy ! Every other sprocket shifts perfectly, but this is a seven speed setup, using 8 speed spacers and sprockets from an 8 speed cassette.

 

[straas]

Rusholme is a really community orientated place; for example, everyone shares a single brain.

 

[fossyant]

Rusholme is a really community orientated place; for example, everyone shares a single brain.

You don't ride through it. Bad enough early on New Years day with no-one about.

 

[C R]

Rusholme is a really community orientated place; for example, everyone shares a single brain.

No changes in 25 years, then.

 

[Andy in Germany]

You don't ride through it. Bad enough early on New Years day with no-one about.

I went to find it on Google Earth.

I see your point.

 

[fossyant]

I went to find it on Google Earth.

I see your point.

The cycle lane is a nightmare, and it's a very busy place in the afternoons onwards.

 

[fossyant]

New Shimano jockey wheels fitted - top one wouldn't come off the bolt ! Hope this fixes the shift - seems perfect in the stand. Can't test tomorrow as I'm on airport duty before work.

 

[markharry66]

Looked colder that it actually was, got caught out again wore my hi-viz and boiled in a bag, sure I could have got away with fingerless gloves, due to cloudy sky left in the dark this morning, not something I enjoy doing but wont be far off and wil be doing it every morning. Anyone got any advice on stopping deekheads overt taking last minute on round abouts and traffic lights these deekeheads are dangerous not sure how you prevent the overtake getting a bit sick of it now literally as right on round about attemting to move on to it.

 

[C R]

Looked colder that it actually was, got caught out again wore my hi-viz and boiled in a bag, sure I could have got away with fingerless gloves, due to cloudy sky left in the dark this morning, not something I enjoy doing but wont be far off and wil be doing it every morning. Anyone got any advice on stopping deekheads overt taking last minute on round abouts and traffic lights these deekeheads are dangerous not sure how you prevent the overtake getting a bit sick of it now literally as right on round about attemting to move on to it.

Re the overtakes. when approaching the problem areas I always move to the centre of the lane to deny them the space.

 

[Andy in Germany]

In Tübingen, todays commute was briefly paused on the Alleenbrücke as several cyclists and a bus waited for a squirrel to make its fluffy mind up about which way it wanted to go.
Eventually it decided to bounce off over the cycleway and pavement and into the woodland on the Neckarinsel, and we were free to continue on or way.