cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
no riding for me ( see mundane news )
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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On balance a decent ride back. Nice to leave work in the convincing light and tolerable temperature, into town and it seemed that the weather had brought out all the cyclists with great swathes of our number pouring down the roads and most weren't hanging about.
Did the first (that I can remember) "full" post-work ride; out north, back in along the tow path, stopped at the park for a dangle then on to the shops to (largely unsuccessfully) hunt bargains.
My energy and enthusiasm waned whilst in the supermarket and I left feeling crotchety and tired, although the ride back was objectively decent.
24 miles today, the weekly and monthly mileages slowly creeping up again
Did the first (that I can remember) "full" post-work ride; out north, back in along the tow path, stopped at the park for a dangle then on to the shops to (largely unsuccessfully) hunt bargains.
My energy and enthusiasm waned whilst in the supermarket and I left feeling crotchety and tired, although the ride back was objectively decent.
24 miles today, the weekly and monthly mileages slowly creeping up again
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Decent ride home, but some cyclists are a bit shoot.
Got jumped at a set of lights by a bloke on a gravel bike, fine I thought , lots quicker bike than mine. He shot off, put some distance into me (I'm on a commuter MTB with knobblies), but I quickly caught him on any inclines, then he'd be off as it levelled out. Had to freewheel at one point so I didn't pass. He just had no power on a slight incline, and I was going easy. Pulled up at the back of a traffic queue, so he filtered through it. Just as I was setting off, behind a car, whilst in primary, some other cyclist then tries to undercut me. Comes slightly past but they have no acceleration and drops off the moving cars and me. Roll on a junction and I can see him coming up as I'm waiting to turn left after a couple of cars, again almost undercuts me until I signal. I was stationary at this point and less than 1m from the curb waiting to go left.
Some of these folk don't help themselves. Zero road scene even with other cyclists.
Got jumped at a set of lights by a bloke on a gravel bike, fine I thought , lots quicker bike than mine. He shot off, put some distance into me (I'm on a commuter MTB with knobblies), but I quickly caught him on any inclines, then he'd be off as it levelled out. Had to freewheel at one point so I didn't pass. He just had no power on a slight incline, and I was going easy. Pulled up at the back of a traffic queue, so he filtered through it. Just as I was setting off, behind a car, whilst in primary, some other cyclist then tries to undercut me. Comes slightly past but they have no acceleration and drops off the moving cars and me. Roll on a junction and I can see him coming up as I'm waiting to turn left after a couple of cars, again almost undercuts me until I signal. I was stationary at this point and less than 1m from the curb waiting to go left.
Some of these folk don't help themselves. Zero road scene even with other cyclists.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Other than a white range rover with full beam headlights on in the daylight a fine ride in.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Decent steady pace in. Got jumped at the lights near work by a colleague on his hybrid with a baby seat on. My excuse is I'm warming down and he only has a 2 mile ride.
Two homeless guys loitering by the bike shed entrance in the car park - one muttered to my colleague that the door handle was broken (fortunately not the door that opens). The minute later I got there, one was having a piddle against the side of the shelter. Lovely. Reported to security. We do have an issue with homeless going onto the top floor of the car park and having a dump up there though ! Gross
Two homeless guys loitering by the bike shed entrance in the car park - one muttered to my colleague that the door handle was broken (fortunately not the door that opens). The minute later I got there, one was having a piddle against the side of the shelter. Lovely. Reported to security. We do have an issue with homeless going onto the top floor of the car park and having a dump up there though ! Gross
Wow, I've only seen the odd one or two daffs in full bloom where I live - that's incredible.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
Dull on the way in, wet on the way home.
Thoroughly enjoyed it for some reason!
Thoroughly enjoyed it for some reason!
Andy in Germany
Legendary Member
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Yesterday was the first moderately dry day in weeks, and the wind was westerly in the morning and easterly in the afternoon, so a bidirectional tailwind. Also, I had a short day at work...
Of course, that meant riding to work in the dark, in thick fog, on a cycleway that isn't lit for most of the way between here and Rottenburg, but that would be fine. After all, what could go wrong?
Well, there were a couple of slightly hairy moments when I found I'd underestimated my speed, but the state and local governments have made a lovely cycleway along the Neckar valley, and they've considerately painted white lines down both sides for a lot of it, which helps tremendously when visibility can be measured in feet.
Between Rottenburg and Tübingen the valley widens and visibility improved, which would have been an improvement except that there was still enough to fug up my glasses.
I arrived on time, then the fog lifted, and the sun came out, and I had to peel off two layers to ride home...
Between Tübingen and Rottenburg, Wurmlinger Kapelle on the hill in the distance.
Beyond Rottenburg, narrower valley and those very useful white lines.
Nearly home: this view always cheers me up.
Of course, that meant riding to work in the dark, in thick fog, on a cycleway that isn't lit for most of the way between here and Rottenburg, but that would be fine. After all, what could go wrong?
Well, there were a couple of slightly hairy moments when I found I'd underestimated my speed, but the state and local governments have made a lovely cycleway along the Neckar valley, and they've considerately painted white lines down both sides for a lot of it, which helps tremendously when visibility can be measured in feet.
Between Rottenburg and Tübingen the valley widens and visibility improved, which would have been an improvement except that there was still enough to fug up my glasses.
I arrived on time, then the fog lifted, and the sun came out, and I had to peel off two layers to ride home...
Between Tübingen and Rottenburg, Wurmlinger Kapelle on the hill in the distance.
Beyond Rottenburg, narrower valley and those very useful white lines.
Nearly home: this view always cheers me up.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Wet return. Got the scare of my life setting off from some lights when a lad on a road bike cut past my right elbow with no room to spare. Got a few expletives muttered and an apology from him.
Looks idyllic - and deserted - are there many cyclists on this route?
Andy in Germany
Legendary Member
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
It is idyllic. There will be more cyclists on the route now the weather has warmed up but less than you'd think. It runs for the length of the Neckar and although some of the more rural parts are gravel, and it's clearly aimed at tourists (it's a bit indirect sometimes) rather than commuters it is well signposted throughout, and has additional signs to places to stay, eat, or get your bike fixed.
There are seven major rivers in Baden-Württemberg and they now all have cycleways like this, supported by our state government.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
The drizzle is back (not the lemon kind) making it seem darker again. The only thing of note was every light was red. Which meant I was unclipped and a fraction slower to the concrete centre margin section where cars can't overtake. The car behind me tried to take advantage of that but as I said I was only marginally slower so they almost crashed into it. I had to keep the primary position at the crest of the hill when there's enough space to overtake if I'm in the secondary. They didn't like that but if I hadn't they would have had a head on crash over the blind crest. I don't think they appreciated having to wait another half second to overtake. When I caught them up at another red light a half a mile later. They made sure that they were hard against the kerb so I couldn't undertake. Lol, they were so far left I could have easily overtook on the right but I didn't need the aggro. Unfortunately they jumped through the next red light which if it had been green for me would have gave me the opportunity to catch them at the next red light.
Puncture day today. On the big boys bike the Planet X, changed from the Tern folder as I am cycling all the way home this afternoon.
Heading to the station, nearly there and heard the psst, psst, psst as the wheel turned. Buggerations and botherations. Oh well, I'll have 35 minutes on the train to replace the tube in relative comfort.
Checked the tyre on the platform and there's a cm gash with a bit of glass sticking out.
On train, wheel off, innertube out. Check tyre, there's still a bit of glass stuck in there. Removed and patched the inside of tyre with a Park Tools patch, inner tube in and co2'd up.
Looks like I'll be looking for a new tyre today.
All done and dusted.
Then.. a couple of stops down the line. A roadie got on. Strange. I very rarely see other cyclists on this train. Asked him where he was going so we can work the bikes to the stops. Later then me so swapped the bikes round. Started chatting as you do. Said he had a puncture. What are the chances of that? He said he was out on a ride and hit some glass. Couldn't get the tyre off.
I said I'll give it a go. Tried my trusty Park Tools tyre levers but no joy. Hutchinson tyres on Mavic rims. Absolutely no joy. Couldn't even get the tyre in the rim well to get a lever in. One for the bike shop.
Heading to the station, nearly there and heard the psst, psst, psst as the wheel turned. Buggerations and botherations. Oh well, I'll have 35 minutes on the train to replace the tube in relative comfort.
Checked the tyre on the platform and there's a cm gash with a bit of glass sticking out.
On train, wheel off, innertube out. Check tyre, there's still a bit of glass stuck in there. Removed and patched the inside of tyre with a Park Tools patch, inner tube in and co2'd up.
Looks like I'll be looking for a new tyre today.
All done and dusted.
Then.. a couple of stops down the line. A roadie got on. Strange. I very rarely see other cyclists on this train. Asked him where he was going so we can work the bikes to the stops. Later then me so swapped the bikes round. Started chatting as you do. Said he had a puncture. What are the chances of that? He said he was out on a ride and hit some glass. Couldn't get the tyre off.
I said I'll give it a go. Tried my trusty Park Tools tyre levers but no joy. Hutchinson tyres on Mavic rims. Absolutely no joy. Couldn't even get the tyre in the rim well to get a lever in. One for the bike shop.
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Is the co2 cannister only good for 1 tyre inflation? Can they be recharged?
