Tales from today's commute....

[Mazz]

Very very wet riding in this morning. So much so that for the first time ever on my commute I wore those binmen-style hi-viz over-trousers with reflective hoops on the legs. Glad I did - It did a decent job of keeping my legs dry.

 

[wafter]

I wonder what happened to that boat. Has it been like that for a while?

Me too. It's probably only been like that for a week or two; sadly there always seem to be one or two disasters on the canal and river.

While this one's arguably not so bad as it's evidently a leisure craft, it's horrible to think that some of them were potentially someone's home.

I remember one on the canal last year that someone with evidently zero practical skills was trying to "improve", but their pitiful efforts only ever seemed to make it worse until the point that one day it'd clearly had enough and sank.

There's also a burnt-out canal boat at a similar place on the river (opposite Christchurch college) and what looks like a pontoon submerged a bit further up. There also appeared to be a bit of a lashed-up houseboat partially capsized; although I think that got re-floated fairly quickly and I don't recall seeing it recently.

Living on the water looks tough and I think for many it's a last resort.

I would guess it moored with tight ines while the river was in full flood, and as the water level ha=s dropped it is now held up by the lines.

A reasonable assumption although currently it looks like the water's still rising..

 

[fossyant]

That was hard work. At least it didn't rain or snow.

 

[ianrauk]

Yet I had rain this morning and this evening. Looking for the same tomorrow.

 

[HLaB]

A wet into a stiff headwind but that is about all to report. I think the rain had actually lightened from that which woke me up in the night, it was still depressing though.

 

[biking_fox]

Not as wet as forecast. A bit of drizzle setting off but the dark threatening clouds held off long enough to get to work. Fingers crossed for the return. Still windy! Longest sustained spell of strong gusty winds I can remember - 3 days and counting.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Still perishing cold. Still very windy. Still damp.

Birdsong and light to brighten the ride though.

 

[cyberknight]

Car.
Lanes were flooded and a village I go through had a flood running down a hill crossing the main road through maybe 4-5 inches at the time, the houses on the other side regularly get flooded if the weather is really bad as the wash from passing vehicles forces water high enough.
Heavy rain and 4 c when I set off

 

[ianrauk]

Wet as forecast both yesterday and today, both directions. Temperatures in very low double figures so not too cold thank golly.
Rainy Commute #11 for the year.
It would have been higher as I have only cycle commuted yesterday and today this week and it's rained the whole time.

Left work in the daylight yesterday.. yay..

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Still perishing cold. Still very windy. Still damp.

 

[HLaB]

Pretty wet and flooded when I got off the train, it seemed to rain all day but thankfully the floods were gone for my short cycle to the station. I had to wait a stop for a seat but I can type now.

 

[ianrauk]

Daylight is here...or very nearly.
A lovely sunrise this morning and no rain. We have some respite from wetness here in the south east for at least the whole of today. Rain is meant to return tomorrow evening.
Still on the folder. I must admit, I am enjoying riding it. And it saves the nice big boys bike getting all mucky.

 

[biking_fox]

Monday morning riding, still better than sitting in traffic jams. A respite form the wind of last much appreciated. My usual off-road work blocked by contractors rather bizarrely just before an exit point, so you have to retrace 1/2mile to the previous one. Had been signed that the work was coming, but I'd expected the closure to be at the access point, not randomly beforehand.

 

[wafter]

Today's commute began with a delightful breakfast of conflict.

Gaining on another slower cyclist as we approached a raised zebra crossing a van overtook me, cutting in infront to squeeze in between me and the cyclist ahead before inevitably braking for the crossing and causing me to brake too. Here the van remained; hanging ominously close behind the cyclist infront, unable to overtake thanks to the very obvious and clearly visible line of parked cars and vehicles travelling towards us on the other side of the road.

As the van drew further across me towards the kerb, out of frustration I gave the back of it a tap with to soft outside of my fist; inviting the inevitable torrent of abuse through the now open window after the van braked to draw level. While I usually give as good as I get I really had no appetite for it this morning; I think partially because I knew any attempt at reasoning would be futile considering the dickhead's actions to this point, and also that I was genuinely fearful of the outcome of escalating the situation for the same reason.

Instead I just refused to engage; continuing to look ahead and keep my mouth shut while pulling onto a parallel side road and coasting, forcing the van w*nker to stop completely if he wished to to continue his abuse. Fortunately he evidently thought better of it and carried on.

It was a livered van for a local company and I was mulling submitting a complaint to them - however ultimately while his driving was poor and his conduct grossly disproportionate, his actions were arguably selfish and inconsiderate rather than outright dangerous (towards me at least), while I'm aware of my part in escalating the situation. Further, I've seen the van around and the last thing I want to do is perpetuate a grudge towards me it the mind of some irrational, reactionary idiot who could just decide to run me over because he's having a bad day.

All that said I don't really regret my actions as I'm sick of being treated as if I'm expendible in the face of other peoples selfishness / stupidity, and had I done nothing this lack of assertiveness would have eaten away at me all day.

This once more gave rise to thoughts of getting a camera for the bike, but again I suspect that while the driver's actions were unnecessary and inconsiderate I doubt they'd be enough to earned him a telling off from the babylon.

Thankfully the rest of the ride was mostly nice and chilled; although the last stretch of the tow path was convincingly flooded thanks to water flowing over the path into the river from the adjacent meadows. At first this was a little adventure; relishing the challenge of trying to keep going whilst keeping my feet out of the torrent by keeping the cranks close to horizontal and giving a bit of input, back-pedalling slightly and repeating.

This worked until it didn't; my feet eventually succumbing to the the wave deflected from the for-once counterproductively low mudflap on the front Longboard mudguard.

At least the wheels and probably mudguards got a bit of a clean though

Now sat in the office in a spare pair of socks and my "office clogs" while my shoes and socks dry out over a hot server....

 

[Arjimlad]

Usual bit of wet road, there are so many potholes all over it now after the rain & heavy vehicle movements.

I have reported them to the council but I am not holding my breath for any action soon.