ah but which one looks after the roads ? or is it just Suffolk that has this odd arrangement. the county council are supposed to do the roads, except the bits highways england look after, whilst the local councils pass the buck to the county council
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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ah but which one looks after the roads ? or is it just Suffolk that has this odd arrangement. the county council are supposed to do the roads, except the bits highways england look after, whilst the local councils pass the buck to the county council
first week back cycling this week, and the first two days, dare I say it I might even have been enjoying it as not much traffic about so no conflict, weather not too bad, apart from one dog walker letting their dark coloured dog walk off the lead on an unlit section of shared path (I avoided it) not much to report.
then came today
firstly the weather, rain, albeit not torrential but enough to give you a soaking,and a stonking head wind, which I had to basically ride the whole way into, and then due to the weather 2-3 times more traffic on the road, and boy did it feel like being a fish in a barrel surrounded by people with pointy sticks.
I hadnt even got 1/4 of a mile from my doorstep, and Id already had a taxi punish pass me, with the passenger rolling down the window (giving it was bucketing down they werent taking in the glorious weather) giving me some verbals, for simply existing I think as I hadnt done anything but ride along my road, they then turned almost immediately into the nearby doctors surgery, and I had half a mind to follow them, and give some verbals back.
but I didnt, however that adrenalin rush caused me to up the pace way into the red zone into this head wind and I was absolutely wrecked before too long, however the continued close passing from motorists at least gave me something other to think about than my legs and bursting lungs.
I genuinely dont think a single driver that passed me today, chose to give me space, by that I mean none of them went oh look a cyclist theyve got lights, hi viz, this weathers quite bad Ill give them some space.
those that gave me any space, almost all were in reaction to me getting close passed by the car in front of them, me waving my arm or various appendages, at that car driver who had close passed me, and them probably then noticing my pass pixi sign.
I even had a learner driver do a pass which was marginal, but maybe better than what everyone else was capable of doing, but as soon as they were barely past, chopped straight back in front of me.
then when I goto work found the heating in the changing rooms was broken, or some daft idiot has somehow managed to open the fanlights, so nothing was going to dry in there today and I had to have bits of kit placed strategically under my desk to make best use of the office heating.
at least the wind was with me on the way home and it wasnt raining, roads still full of crazy drivers though.
then came today
firstly the weather, rain, albeit not torrential but enough to give you a soaking,and a stonking head wind, which I had to basically ride the whole way into, and then due to the weather 2-3 times more traffic on the road, and boy did it feel like being a fish in a barrel surrounded by people with pointy sticks.
I hadnt even got 1/4 of a mile from my doorstep, and Id already had a taxi punish pass me, with the passenger rolling down the window (giving it was bucketing down they werent taking in the glorious weather) giving me some verbals, for simply existing I think as I hadnt done anything but ride along my road, they then turned almost immediately into the nearby doctors surgery, and I had half a mind to follow them, and give some verbals back.
but I didnt, however that adrenalin rush caused me to up the pace way into the red zone into this head wind and I was absolutely wrecked before too long, however the continued close passing from motorists at least gave me something other to think about than my legs and bursting lungs.
I genuinely dont think a single driver that passed me today, chose to give me space, by that I mean none of them went oh look a cyclist theyve got lights, hi viz, this weathers quite bad Ill give them some space.
those that gave me any space, almost all were in reaction to me getting close passed by the car in front of them, me waving my arm or various appendages, at that car driver who had close passed me, and them probably then noticing my pass pixi sign.
I even had a learner driver do a pass which was marginal, but maybe better than what everyone else was capable of doing, but as soon as they were barely past, chopped straight back in front of me.
then when I goto work found the heating in the changing rooms was broken, or some daft idiot has somehow managed to open the fanlights, so nothing was going to dry in there today and I had to have bits of kit placed strategically under my desk to make best use of the office heating.
at least the wind was with me on the way home and it wasnt raining, roads still full of crazy drivers though.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Well, the uneventful commutes ended this morning. Less than two miles into the ride, someone pulled out on me on a quiet back street. I'm afraid I woke up all the benefit claimants on the street as I locked up the rear wheel (on a heavy old MTB, with panniers and canti brakes - that tells you it was a hard stop). And yes, I rarely see anyone on this street as it's benefits town - different story at 5:30pm which is why I avoid it.
More idiots near work jumping red lights (cars).
Oh and the rain held off, just spits and spots.
More idiots near work jumping red lights (cars).
Oh and the rain held off, just spits and spots.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
Dull, dreary, uneventful.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
That's the same practically everywhere in England currently. You have a few unitaries (County Council and Local Council combined), like Peterborough CC. There's plans to make more unitaries but we'll see.
Sunset was 16:30 yesterday, and while it was noticeably lighter than a few weeks ago it was too overcast and wet to appreciate it. Looks similar today (I leave early so it will be some time before it is getting light when I arrive at work let alone leave)
Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
Close punishment pass from a dullard in a small black Mercedes, after I had negotiated a flooded road which made it harder for drivers to overtake, so they had had to follow behind me for quarter of a mile or so, poor loves. Other drivers with less fragile egos/tempers passed me beautifully wide after this, so it was just chumpchops who had to display his rage. Makes for a nailed-on "positive outcome" report to the police though, so that's all for the greater good.
It was wet in places, not actually raining hard but a trifle moist. 10 miles done. Need to drive tomorrow, unfortunately.
It was wet in places, not actually raining hard but a trifle moist. 10 miles done. Need to drive tomorrow, unfortunately.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Dark and drizzly turning to proper rain when I got about 3 Miles to work so I just plodded on as by the time I had stopped and got the rain gear on I probably would have been just as wet.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
It's good isn't it.. whoo. Noticeable on my commute home this week.
Gwylan
Guru
- Location
- All at sea⛵
Have a noon rendezvous for a wander in the country. Bike will require a good wash afterwards.
Further detail may follow.
Further detail may follow.
Gwylan
Guru
- Location
- All at sea⛵
Excellent hour out in the lanes. Wet & muddy.
Thorn Sherpa
Veteran
- Location
- Doncaster
Soggy commute there and back today, temps not bad though so not all bad.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Steady Eddy on the way home. Rain held off. That's it this week. Fake lunchtime commute on the turbo tomorrow
Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
I let the 2020 (and on) pandemic get me out of the habit of bicycle commuting, and in subsequent years I didn't do anywhere near enough of it. It's by far one of the dumbest decisions I've made in recent years.
Anyway, I started work again for the year this week, and I did the return bicycle commute on Monday, then train on Tuesday, bike again on Wednesday, train yesterday, and just got to work on the bike again today (yes, it's Friday in my time zone
). My legs are starting to feel good again, and my energy levels are much higher than at the start of the week.
With my commute, doing it by bicycle is something I really need to do regularly, because it's almost 30km each way, with roughly 250m climbing to work and 370m from work (because work is at 20m elevation and home at 130m). So being out of practice with such a commute can be (literally) painful.
It also doesn't help that I'm not getting any younger.
So let's hope I keep doing it, and don't let anything discourage me.
Anyway, I started work again for the year this week, and I did the return bicycle commute on Monday, then train on Tuesday, bike again on Wednesday, train yesterday, and just got to work on the bike again today (yes, it's Friday in my time zone
). My legs are starting to feel good again, and my energy levels are much higher than at the start of the week.With my commute, doing it by bicycle is something I really need to do regularly, because it's almost 30km each way, with roughly 250m climbing to work and 370m from work (because work is at 20m elevation and home at 130m). So being out of practice with such a commute can be (literally) painful.
It also doesn't help that I'm not getting any younger.So let's hope I keep doing it, and don't let anything discourage me.
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
A bit of VO2max this morning as I was a couple of minutes late but that's about the only thing to report as traffic was light and what little traffic there was was patient and gave decent overtakes.
