fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I'm WFH today, but it looks nice and dry, if cold. Hoping forecast snow/rain doesn't fall tonight as it could leave some dodgy surfaces. Although looking dry and cold for rest of week.
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Friday night was about as windy as I'd want to ride, mostly fun, just one or two instances where it was shoving me and I wasn't completely in control!
Today cold and dry. Got the big gloves out, might have to remember the rest of my cold riding protocol and find my buff and another layer. Fine once I'd warmed up, surfaces all easy.
Today cold and dry. Got the big gloves out, might have to remember the rest of my cold riding protocol and find my buff and another layer. Fine once I'd warmed up, surfaces all easy.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
Beautiful clear frosty morning, and no ice on the roads - perfect.
First day in longs, and 12,000km total clocked up for the year
First day in longs, and 12,000km total clocked up for the year
"Cold" was last night's takeaway from the weather forecast, defining the upcoming ride in my brain this morning.
Knackered already after a fairly crap weekend I was out later than was ideal, this further compounded by the squishy rear tyre’s reminder that I’d not topped it up after Thursday’s puncture / subsequent re-inflation with my stop-gap mini pump. So it was back to the flat after 100 yards or so for some quick abuse with the track pump then out again into the crisp, cold but bright morning.
Two base layers, a fleece, gloves and cycling cap only just kept me from freezing heading into the brutal headwind; both the temperature and direction a significant change from last week.
Honourable knobhead mention no.1 goes to the woman who overtook me on a bend, causing another woman driving in the opposite direction to literally brake to a standstill to avoid a collision. I watched the muppet do exactly the same to another cyclist / driver further up the road – so deliberate and blatant it appeared as if she thought she had right of way over everyone. Sadly neither of the other drivers affected seemed to make any effort to abuse her for her stupidity / selfishness so presumably she’ll just keep doing it until she causes an accident…
Second one was an incongruously half-naked jogger and his dog on the tow path. Taking up the whole path he got a friendly ding in good time as I approached – his response being to turn around and somewhat pointedly state “it would be nicer if you said something” – interrupting me as I thanked him for moving. I kept my mouth shut, however as usual a raft of varyingly offensive retorts came to me as I continued on my way.
Having finally, mostly got warm (and managed fairly well to regulate my temperature with the quarter zip on my fleece) I arrived at the office only slightly late having enjoyed a bit of a tailwind for the outbound leg, the peak on the cycling cap doing a passable job of keeping the low sun out of my eyes since I really didn’t want to stop to crack out the sunglasses.
Currently sat in all my layers and beanie; the office thermometer reading 10 degrees and the weather forecast suggesting “five degrees, feels like two” which at least adds some validity to how bloody cold it felt.
Not looking forward to the ride home in the dark and absence of the warming sun; I guess winter’s finally landed then…
Knackered already after a fairly crap weekend I was out later than was ideal, this further compounded by the squishy rear tyre’s reminder that I’d not topped it up after Thursday’s puncture / subsequent re-inflation with my stop-gap mini pump. So it was back to the flat after 100 yards or so for some quick abuse with the track pump then out again into the crisp, cold but bright morning.
Two base layers, a fleece, gloves and cycling cap only just kept me from freezing heading into the brutal headwind; both the temperature and direction a significant change from last week.
Honourable knobhead mention no.1 goes to the woman who overtook me on a bend, causing another woman driving in the opposite direction to literally brake to a standstill to avoid a collision. I watched the muppet do exactly the same to another cyclist / driver further up the road – so deliberate and blatant it appeared as if she thought she had right of way over everyone. Sadly neither of the other drivers affected seemed to make any effort to abuse her for her stupidity / selfishness so presumably she’ll just keep doing it until she causes an accident…
Second one was an incongruously half-naked jogger and his dog on the tow path. Taking up the whole path he got a friendly ding in good time as I approached – his response being to turn around and somewhat pointedly state “it would be nicer if you said something” – interrupting me as I thanked him for moving. I kept my mouth shut, however as usual a raft of varyingly offensive retorts came to me as I continued on my way.
Having finally, mostly got warm (and managed fairly well to regulate my temperature with the quarter zip on my fleece) I arrived at the office only slightly late having enjoyed a bit of a tailwind for the outbound leg, the peak on the cycling cap doing a passable job of keeping the low sun out of my eyes since I really didn’t want to stop to crack out the sunglasses.
Currently sat in all my layers and beanie; the office thermometer reading 10 degrees and the weather forecast suggesting “five degrees, feels like two” which at least adds some validity to how bloody cold it felt.
Not looking forward to the ride home in the dark and absence of the warming sun; I guess winter’s finally landed then…
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cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
The front derailleur had seized so i had to use both hands to upshift this morning and the rear wheel bearings were rattling along with the brakes that seem to have glazed over , ffs i only left it for a week and before that it was fine ,Got home and decided to take another bike tomorrow which was buried at the back of the other shed so i had to dig it out before it got too dark and cold.
markharry66
Guru
didnt cycle into work today as wife needed a lift to work, thats my excuse for bottling it today. Cant believe the amount of cars out and about early morning pictch black without their lights on and people pulling out of drive ways backwards on to the main road.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
A nice mild 2 deg here today, thanks to a baselayer under the cycling jersey and jacket, and heated gloves. I had rubbing mudguards from putting the bike in the back of the car on Friday. And whilst I sorted them enough to get the wheel free, they were still whistling. I thought I'd better get down the road before the whole world wakes up. 1/4 of a mile down the road though I stopped and made them silent.
I got through the whole estate without a car (usually they all appear when I'm few minutes late). Cycled up to the only hill on route that has got a narrowing and whilst most drivers give way if I'm anywhere close to it (its well designed that way), I was no where close, cycling uphill and today's polite driver decided to wait. You could have got three cars through at a push before I got there 👍
The dawn was just about to come up as I got to town which was a good thing as it was full of Ninjas, bizarrely a lot of them cycling on the cyclepath, rather than shaving of a few seconds and cycling their desire line through the pedestrian precinct.
I got through the whole estate without a car (usually they all appear when I'm few minutes late). Cycled up to the only hill on route that has got a narrowing and whilst most drivers give way if I'm anywhere close to it (its well designed that way), I was no where close, cycling uphill and today's polite driver decided to wait. You could have got three cars through at a push before I got there 👍
The dawn was just about to come up as I got to town which was a good thing as it was full of Ninjas, bizarrely a lot of them cycling on the cyclepath, rather than shaving of a few seconds and cycling their desire line through the pedestrian precinct.
Chappy
Guru
- Location
- Dorchester
Hit -1 for the first time here down south, thankfully my current role allows me stand in front of a radiator to warm up before showering. 
Strangely though traffic was very light the whole way in.
Strangely though traffic was very light the whole way in.biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Cold damp heavy still air, starting to rain as I got in. My least favourite conditions is lowC rain - worse than storms, ice and even headwind.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I avoided the rain so was quite pleasant and dry (looks out the window and it's now raining). Maybe 2c Road was bone dry outside my home and there was no frost, so grabbed the cold weather gear and headed out. Left the ice tyred wheels on as the new tyres needed bedding in. Rolling resistance seems better on new rubber (old tyres were 15 years old) but slow compared to standard tyres. Added maybe a couple of minutes to the ride. Pleasant enough ride.
Keeping a close eye on the forecast though - will bail for the van if it's wet and frosty. - I was asked last night if I would ride. Said if it's dry yes, wet and icy, no.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Latest forecast is showing above freezing tomorrow morning, but potentially colder for Thursday commute.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
On the weigh cx build today and it feel really twitchy compared to other bikes so i will flip the stem to lower the bars to see if it makes a difference.The home commute was against the wind so a slog and i had to detour as my usual route is uphill where some roadworks are so i cannot get through in time .
