Tales from today's commute....

[ianrauk]

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.

 

[Mazz]

Removed and patched the inside of tyre with a Park Tools patch, inner tube in and co2'd up.

Is the co2 cannister only good for 1 tyre inflation? Can they be recharged?

 

[fossyant]

Is the co2 cannister only good for 1 tyre inflation? Can they be recharged?

One shot and in the bin. I carry two cannisters on the commute but I've never used them - I use the pump. Mainly carried if I am in a rush and get a flat - e.g. 8:30am meeting and I'm close on timing, which is rare.

 

[Dadam]

One shot and in the bin. I carry two cannisters on the commute but I've never used them - I use the pump. Mainly carried if I am in a rush and get a flat - e.g. 8:30am meeting and I'm close on timing, which is rare.

I have a CO2 inflator I've never used*, but it's got a valve which AFAIK can shut the gas off part way until the next time it's needed.

*Actually 2, I inherited another one with a used bike that came with a bag of accessories.

 

[Mazz]

One shot and in the bin. I carry two cannisters on the commute but I've never used them - I use the pump. Mainly carried if I am in a rush and get a flat - e.g. 8:30am meeting and I'm close on timing, which is rare.

Please tell me they're universal, not Presta /Schrader specific!

 

[HLaB]

I should have cycled the first bit of my commute as it was beautiful then and I think I would have made it 80 or 90 % there before it turned wet. And I would have missed the twerp who overtook me on a one way street to instantly slam on his brakes and turn wet. If there had been any sliding when I pulled the brakes I'd been in the back of them. Fortunately my stopping distance at that point only half drenched was only about 1/2 more than if it had been dry!

 

[ianrauk]

Is the co2 cannister only good for 1 tyre inflation? Can they be recharged?

One inflation of a road tyre. Up to about 100psi.

I bought this one about 15 years ago and it's still going strong. Compatable with both Presta and Schrader valves.
You can control the gas discharge so it you can inflate the tyre in stages.

 

[simongt]

Stunning sunrise too.

Cracking view & sunrise but not sure I'd be too keen on riding into it every day.
I was fortunate in that my daily work commute was west in the morning & east in the afternoon, so on the way in, the sun warmed my back - !

 

[ianrauk]

Cracking view & sunrise but not sure I'd be too keen on riding into it every day.
I was fortunate in that my daily work commute was west in the morning & east in the afternoon, so on the way in, the sun warmed my back - !

It's only for a short stretch to get to the train station at the bottom of the hill.

 

[ianrauk]

Morning folks.

Did the full commute home on Friday. A pleasant enough day for it. Rain threatened but didn't materialise. I was helped my a favourable tail wind which made the rolling up's and down's just that little bit easier
The first 5 miles to Plumstead are mainly dedicated bike lanes, not the best but do the job. The next 9 miles are mixing it with traffic all the way to Dartford/Bluewater. Then 11 miles of bike path along the A2 to the top of Rochester before a nice and final drop down into central Rochester.
It's not the best of rides to be honest but when conditions are favourable it's far better then faffing about with a train journey.

Today's commute.
It was noticeably brighter and sunnier this morning here in the Garden of Kentishire with the yellow ray's beaming down on Rochester Castle and Cathedral.

No rain is predicted for the whole of this working week which I think is a first for this year. Fabulous.

 

[biking_fox]

grey monday morning, little bit of a tailwind. 1/2 mile with some monster of a lorry rumbling behind me. Other than sounding intimidating, it was completely fine and stayed well back.

 

[wafter]

Everything's been pretty splendid so far. Awoke early but thankfully not too shafted after an early-ish night.

Plenty of time to wash my hair, make lunch and get everything together before emerging into the gloriously bright, mild morning.

A nice mosey into town with a good tailwind and generally no dickheads (caveat at end). Town seemed pretty quiet for some reason; not sure if it's because I was earlier or something else is afoot. Scored a couple of sausages as they weren't that well cooked before getting on the tow path; pushing the journey out a bit further since I had 10-15 minutes in hand, arriving just about on time.

It's just about warm enough to be sat here with the office door wide open, in stark contrast to a couple of weeks ago when I arrived to find the office bloody freezing and had to shut the place up all day just to try and get warm.

Of course it couldn't be 100% great, with today's "muppet of the morning" award going to a woman in a Tesla who close-passed me at speed (irritatingly and unnecessarly, if not dangerously close) because it was clearly of the utmost importance that the nose of her questionable choice of transport remained buried up the arse of the car in front at all times.

After our routes diverged I evidently passed her and later found her once more behind me trying to get past - hovering suspiciously closer than ideal as we approached a pinch-point-pedestrian island where the painted cycle path on the road disappears. I'd made sure to take the lane so she had no chance of squeezing through, something that was apparently lost on her as I heard her accelerate only to draw level, hit the brakes and pull back in behind me. She then overtook in the same inconsiderate and unnecessary manner as previously...

Finally as traffic accumulated I caught her and passed, taking the lane again whereup it seems she finally got the message and hung back. Thankfully by this time I was travelling faster than the rest of the traffic so left her behind as I passed everything down the outside.

Granted I've had far worse, but this was just another example of how p*ss-poor the standard of some people's driving is..

 

[fossyant]

I have a CO2 inflator I've never used*, but it's got a valve which AFAIK can shut the gas off part way until the next time it's needed.

*Actually 2, I inherited another one with a used bike that came with a bag of accessories.

Mine inflators have valves, but you get one tyre inflation per 16oz can, whether road bike or MTB. Valves just make it more controllable.

 

[spen666]

today was a commute with a musical theme - started off with Siouxsie & the Banshees version of Dear Prudence ( covered from the Beatles), especially the lines about the sun is out, the sky is blue, its beautiful.

however as the ride went on, I came to be wishing Alice Cooper was right with his lines about Schools out for ever as we are back to the school run traffic after half term. no parking restrictions, etc don't apply to those doing school run who park as close to school gates as they can to ensure the safety of their little darlings and care nothing about the danger and inconvenience they cause to other children and others in general

Perhaps instead of bombing those persons in Iran, Donald could get his boys to do a few tactical missile strikes on school run violators?

 

[ianrauk]

Donald could get his boys to do a few tactical missile strikes on school run violators

Now that would be jolly good.