Tales from today's commute....

[wafter]

Bright but conspiciously chilly this morning; forecast suggests "9 degrees, feels like 8" for 09:00, so probably a degree or two less when I left about an hour earlier.

The cold was bracing in the thin walking trousers and long-sleeved base layer; the worst being felt predictably on my exposed hands - for which I currently have little useable protection.

Close-passed by an impatient 100-year-old in some vile Bentley Chelsea tractor, then had the pleasure of some stupid woman coming too close for comfort as she passed another cyclist from the opposite direction.... but otherwise all was well.

Most roads were static or close to, taking the usual opposite carriageway into town for most of the journey. Sausages were good despite watching in horror as the sausagemonger left the most cooked offerings in the cabinet.

Tangibly fewer people on the tow path made for a nice ride; sedate as I'd left in good time this morning despite being utterly knackered already.

Now in the office, reminded of the knife-edge to be negotiationed if one is to stay warm in the cold office after arriving sweaty and wearing little.

Hands have just about warmed up, feet less-so. Not looking forward to the inevitable temperature drops to come..

 

[fossyant]

Dropped the car off for MOT - was surprised to see a frost and ice on the windscreen.

 

[biking_fox]

Still a couple of puddles left from Saturday's deluge! Otherwise only a bit of tree debris around. Cold but no frost here, and the sunlight felt warm. easy riding.

 

[markharry66]

Now start the first half of the commute in the dark only really gets light just past the half way point. Having had a few near misses and close passes last week decided to upgrade lights at the front now have four ligths at the front and two red blinking on the back, ones on the front just fixed light not strobing. I thought more light there might be more chance of getting seen in the dark. It made sod all difference this morning. Women backing out of the drive decided did a flipped her car round without looking on main beacuse I swore at her then decided punishment pass me a bit further up the road. Frost cant be far off if this morning is anything to go by was a nip in the air this morning. Broke new winter gloves on first outing this morning so not in best of moods anyway. Should have stayed in bed.

 

[spen666]

Noticeably chillier this morning on my commute to my place of work - aka my home. Time to dig out the winter kit

All the schools back now, so lots of parents driving their motorised weapon oblivious of the dangers their lack of judgement, inappropriate speed and stopping on junctions, double yellow lines, zig zags etc is causing.

Noticed lots of pupils clearly trying to challenge school uniform rules as we all did when we were at school.

These days you often read in the newspapers of pupils being sent home or put in isolation because their skirts are deemed to have failed the latest rule on skirt length. I do not recall this ever happening at my school when I was there last century and was pondering why that was.

Are schools stricter on uniform rules now
Are pupils more likely to defy rules now

Or could it be I was at an all boys school so no one wore skirts?

 

[fossyant]

Or could it be I was at an all boys school so no one wore skirts?

Ah, no wonder you've turned out a bit weird ! LOL.

 

[cyberknight]

3 c according to a work mate this morning, it's ruddy felt like it too 🥶

 

[C R]

Are schools stricter on uniform rules now
Are pupils more likely to defy rules now

Some schools around here have resorted to draconian punishment regimes for relatively minor infractions.

 

[fossyant]

Going to have to watch it this week if it's frosty. Hopefully surfaces will be dry. Didn't have a good experience of ice back in January.

 

[Vantage]

Some schools around here have resorted to draconian punishment regimes for relatively minor infractions.

Probably trying to nip it in the bud before it escalates.
I think those of us born in the mid 70s were the last to face getting the cane when we bent the rules.
But now nowadays. Oh no...it's off to a warm, dry room to reflect on ones poor civility toward others. The horror of it!

 

[markharry66]

Cold start again, notice less and less cyclists on the road as temperature drops. Start off in the dark and hit light half way through journey. Lost last years winter gloves, broke the new ones Monday zip broke. Put on spare set only for the wind to go straight through them. Had ski socks on this morning legs still felt cold. Not looking forward to blocks of ice feeling in feet you get in January. Overshoes tomorrow if this keeps up. Not looking to Thursday as off the bike and have to travel in central london via train cant stand that.

 

[ianrauk]

@markharry66 for your winter tootsies, get a pair of waterproof socks. Sealskinz or such like. As well as keeping yer feet dry, they are brilliant for keeping out the cold, and worn along with overshoes, well, I think yer tootsies will be toasties.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

@markharry66 for your winter tootsies, get a pair of waterproof socks. Sealskinz or such like. As well as keeping yer feet dry, they are brilliant for keeping out the cold, and worn along with overshoes, well, I think yer tootsies will be toasties.

+1 for waterproof socks, easier than overshoes to get on and off and much easier to get ones big enough for my size 50s too!

Freezing again, but beautiful. Pogies on - tried for the first time last winter and now swear by them.

 

[spen666]

Had to go to the employer's offices today. Lovely ride in, chilly but bright sunshine and traffic seemed very light.
got to work, into showers then realised I had forgotten my shirt - so sat herfe in suit with cycling top under jacket

 

[wafter]

Last night - left work knackered, two minds about kickboxing but went anyway and was all over the place. Onward to M&S where the only score was a kilo of carrots, then the long way to Waitrose via the tow path an Witham to be rewarded with a proper haul of yellow-stickered stuff; a whole basket of top-end food for less than £20

Saw a really nice Bianci road bike (lugs, chrome and Campag) parked outside; nearly said something to the owner as he unlocked it but tbh was past the point of soliciting any more social interaction for the day.

The evening weather was really pleasant although as soon as the sun went down the temperature plummetted so I had to layer up - rediscovering my merino neck tube / buff which tbh looks fabulous

The increasingly cold, tired ride home was made all the more fun by dropping my chain turning off at the bottom of George St - I thought it'd just come off the chainrings and was surprised to find that it had actually separated at the quick link. Not sure what I'd done to precipitate this as my memory's sketchy - possibly a combination of a worn / sloppy ("reusable") link and down-shifting and stopping pedalling / pedalling backwards as I came to a halt to get the pedal position correct to set off again.

Struggled to sort it out in the middle of the turning box with two heavily-laden panniers and the bike resting against my face, eventually got one side on which was enough to hold it in place and allow me to drag the bike to a more appropriate location without the chain coming off.

QL refitted I was back on my way, albeit with even less faith in the Fuji's already somewhat sketchy drivetrain than I had previously. May or may not replace the quicklink as I have a few spares..



Another gorgeous, bright, cold morning today.

Left late and groggy as I feel like I'm coming down with whatever's going around; dressed more appropriately today in LS merino base layer, cheap regatta fleece and the mid-weight gloves I'd forgotten I'd got - which were very welcome.

A nice steady waft in kept internal temperatures in check with the only bit getting chilly being my growing expanse of forehead. The traffic was odd - heavy in areas I'd not usually expect, light in others. Ring road was rammed again. Not a huge amount of folks about on the tow path / generally, which was nice.

Dishonourable mentions today to the knobhead who crawled past me only to signal left and cut across me, then later the stupid woman on the high street who appeared "bike blind" - stepping out boldly from behind a parked bus; I think she'd have walked straight in front of me were I not being followed by another bus, while she very obviously intentionally walked in front of a mother and child riding the other way when she was unable to cross anyway due to traffic on my side; causing them to stop and blocking the road completely - selfish idiot.

Sausages were fantastic, a bit late to work but I guess that's better than calling in sick. I've got the rings with me for the way home but I think that's wishful thinking..