markharry66
Guru
got up saw the weather thought sod it stuck alarm clock on and had extra half hour in bed took the car in sat in traffice role on Feb will be back on the bike its offical I hate January
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
Light snow today, no thaw yet but far less bitter than yesterday
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I'll drive tomorrow - WFH. Hip playing up with the cold unfortunately.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Ditto.
Awoke yesterday morning after the forcast had provided plenty of anxiety fuel for today's travels.
I figured the lingering, patchy ice was bad enough to forsake the trip into town necessary for sausages and the time saved appealed as an opportunity to address my sorry state before leaving, so I had eggs on toast instead.
Out into the glorious bright morning wearing all the clothes, taking it very easy and doing my best to pay attention and keep everything straight / steady on the large, inevitable icy patches on the cycle and tow paths. Got to work in one piece if quite late but thankfully without incident.
After a day in the cold office all I really wanted was a hot shower and bed, but instead I had kickboxing. While a little tempted to sack it off my resolve was rewarded by the warm environment and even greater warmth generated by all the exertion.
Before I arrived nothing seemed worse than spending a second longer than I had to outside; however after a good thrashing I headed to the other side of the city for a disappointing, fleeting dangle on the - inevitably freezing - monkey bars and a trawl of various supermarkets' reductions with some success.
A few items scored I headed home; the heat and enthusiasm absolutely drained from my being... arriving back seemingly just in time as my stinging cold fingers increasingly refused to operate correctly.
Only about 17 miles but certain enough given the conditions and a welcome day of exertion and corresponding body high once showered and in bed
This morning I'd half-planned to go into town but it looked that bleak that after another crap night's sleep I opted again for breakfast at home and the short option.
While still overcast by the time I left it'd brightened up a fair bit; the bike and I emerging to find a light dusting of snow on everything.
While still bloody cold it seemed tangibly milder than yesterday; the cycle path fairly deserted with the odd flake of snow falling as I trundled on cautiously.
As the journey continued the snow became heavier to become a gentle flurry. Made it to work marginally less late than yesterday; clearly need to leave earlier tomorrow.
While it's nice to see the snow I'm a bit apprehensive about the journey home, which I think will be pretty direct this evening.
EDIT: Came straight home, tangibly milder even if I wasn't feeling it in the short journey that gave little chance to warm up...
Bonus image of one of the few fellow cyclists encounted on the way in:
I figured the lingering, patchy ice was bad enough to forsake the trip into town necessary for sausages and the time saved appealed as an opportunity to address my sorry state before leaving, so I had eggs on toast instead.
Out into the glorious bright morning wearing all the clothes, taking it very easy and doing my best to pay attention and keep everything straight / steady on the large, inevitable icy patches on the cycle and tow paths. Got to work in one piece if quite late but thankfully without incident.
After a day in the cold office all I really wanted was a hot shower and bed, but instead I had kickboxing. While a little tempted to sack it off my resolve was rewarded by the warm environment and even greater warmth generated by all the exertion.
Before I arrived nothing seemed worse than spending a second longer than I had to outside; however after a good thrashing I headed to the other side of the city for a disappointing, fleeting dangle on the - inevitably freezing - monkey bars and a trawl of various supermarkets' reductions with some success.
A few items scored I headed home; the heat and enthusiasm absolutely drained from my being... arriving back seemingly just in time as my stinging cold fingers increasingly refused to operate correctly.
Only about 17 miles but certain enough given the conditions and a welcome day of exertion and corresponding body high once showered and in bed
This morning I'd half-planned to go into town but it looked that bleak that after another crap night's sleep I opted again for breakfast at home and the short option.
While still overcast by the time I left it'd brightened up a fair bit; the bike and I emerging to find a light dusting of snow on everything.
While still bloody cold it seemed tangibly milder than yesterday; the cycle path fairly deserted with the odd flake of snow falling as I trundled on cautiously.
As the journey continued the snow became heavier to become a gentle flurry. Made it to work marginally less late than yesterday; clearly need to leave earlier tomorrow.
While it's nice to see the snow I'm a bit apprehensive about the journey home, which I think will be pretty direct this evening.
EDIT: Came straight home, tangibly milder even if I wasn't feeling it in the short journey that gave little chance to warm up...
Bonus image of one of the few fellow cyclists encounted on the way in:
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cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
-6 c when I set off although clear till I got close to work where some bits of the cycle path had snow on still from yesterday.
Looks like we had some snow at home after sunrise so I'm hoping it will melt before I go home
Looks like we had some snow at home after sunrise so I'm hoping it will melt before I go home
Cold. Some of the quiet roads aren't completely clear of the refrozen tiny amount of snowfall from last Friday. Spiky tyre up front today (15+ years old but still in good shape- I don't use it often). Pretty comfortable with my usual winter gear. Put my back out yesterday putting on an overshoe, once I get on the bike I feel fine until I have to get off it again.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
mostly melted for the homeward bound ride apart from a few sections of broken compacted snow on the single track lane , i misjudged the sunset as i could have done with putting my lights on by the time i got home it was very dull but i thought for 5 mins that it was an issue i may as well plod on .
Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
-3 to -5 for me this morning.
I had an extra layer on, a light fleece jumper under the jacket which made a big difference to comfort. Heated gloves (very cheap Aliexpress specials with 3xAA batteries per glove) kept my hands quite warm with thin Decathlon liners. Sealskin waterproof socks kept the feet warm too.
Halfway along an icy deserted country lane, 3 roe deer trotted along ahead of me. I would not have attempted this route without the studded tyres. It was a very enjoyable ride if a couple of mph slower on the usual average speed.
I had an extra layer on, a light fleece jumper under the jacket which made a big difference to comfort. Heated gloves (very cheap Aliexpress specials with 3xAA batteries per glove) kept my hands quite warm with thin Decathlon liners. Sealskin waterproof socks kept the feet warm too.
Halfway along an icy deserted country lane, 3 roe deer trotted along ahead of me. I would not have attempted this route without the studded tyres. It was a very enjoyable ride if a couple of mph slower on the usual average speed.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Turbo for me after work.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
Snow melted, normal dark cold and damp midwinter day, easier back on the normal bike with normal tyres.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
Yep. I drove in today after one look at the road.
When I arrived, nearly went Arse over tip on the pavement between the car park and th co-op near the office. Definitely not a safe day for cycling in the morning.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Last night fine - one slight twitchy moment on a residual ice patch, but warmer and even the rain mostly held off.
This morning bounced off the black ice (very slowly had seen it coming) and then it rained into the city. Roads all fine, just an exposed section of off-road that had iced up.
This morning bounced off the black ice (very slowly had seen it coming) and then it rained into the city. Roads all fine, just an exposed section of off-road that had iced up.
How long did it take you to get home on that?
Amazed this morning to awake just on time after nine glorious hours of uninterrupted sleep - can't remember the last time that happened
Temperatures higher and sky bright I opted for the full journey today for the first time this year; leaving on-time-ish and heading into town on the road. Seems my optimism about the state of the roads due to the higher temperatures was mis-placed and as others have found it's still very slippy out there.
The roads / routes seem potentially more treacherous than past days as the ice is a lot less visible and manifest in new areas; the dusting of crushed snow on the drive having disappeared and been replaced by a much less obvious but far more treacherous coating of ice.
Still… the roads were deliciously quiet, the air temp far less biting than it’s been and all was fine as I plodded on carefully; mindful that the areas I’d previously learned to be safe were now very likely not.
While I’d made good time as I reached town I felt that miserable feeling of the rear tyre getting soft, and sure enough I’d picked up another f*cking puncture.
Fortunately I was pretty close to the covered market so pushed the bike the rest of the way, scored some sausages and set about sorting the situation in the relative warmth of the largely deserted shopping area.
While punctures are never fun I was really lucky with the timing of this one – the higher temps meaning I could actually feel my fingers, the shelter and conspicuously clean floor of the market making the job tolerable and my preparedness allowing for as fast-a-turnaround as possible.
Bike flipped and hoods / saddle protected by the emergency towel and placcy bag always carried in the panniers, tyre off easily (thanks Schwalbe!) and puncture identified pretty quickly by inflating the tube and listening for leaks whilst rotating it past my ear.
The corresponding area of the tyre was inspected to reveal a thorn poking through the carcass; removed cleanly with my ever-useful pocket knife.
Replacement tube in, rear wheel reassembled and fitted after several-hundred lashes from the mini pump, everything slung back on the bike and I was on my way again – now about fifteen minutes late.
I'd brought the camera in the hope of getting some nice shots on the tow path, however I took the most direct route through town in the interest of time; arriving predictably late but it could have been worse.
While frustrating I find the thorn easier to deal with since it can be dismissed more as an “act of god” than the result of someone else’s selfishness / stupidity (as with the broken beer bottle that got me last month). We’ll not think too hard about the council’s hedge-trimming policy...
Sausage consumed and having nearly ended up on my arse on fresh ice at work (ironically when off the bike), I suppose I’d best get the tube patched. Finger’s crossed a “warm” day bins off most of the ice before it’s time to go home…
EDIT: Today the cycling gods evidently took pity on me with a need to see a client in the city, so after a run out into a brutal headwind I got a bit of time on the tow path on the return leg for a welcome six extra miles to add to the day's total
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