Tales from today's commute....

[biking_fox]

Still morning, and low traffic for a school day. Easy ride makes me think it might be possible to do a 'no-touching' ride even on the SS - it's less suited to the off-road section I usually ride, so I take my road loop, with an extra half-dozen lights, but I can track stand it a bit.

 

[fossyant]

I hear you about the low sun. A few years ago, I came across two cyclists, on different days, knocked off at the same point by cars pulling out of side roads. The sun, in both cases, was low and behind the cyclists, and the drivers just didn't look properly. This is the time where lights can help a bit (unless the driver doesn't look).

 

[Arjimlad]

Dug out the arm-warmers this morning, and a lightweight gilet as it was around 10 degrees, and will be 20 or so on the way home. Lovely ride, I avoided the busy, narrow-laned A38 and rode an extra mile or two along quiet-ish country lanes instead. Changing the route did build in a stiff climb near the end of the ride but that was fine. I can't recall any chumps to report which was nice, too.

Status Quo's Blue for You deluxe edition on the tunes was great.

 

[Mazz]

Dug out the arm-warmers this morning,

Which ones have you got mate? I was thinking to get some.

Slightly nippy in the morning, but will be comfortable temp on the way back. Arm-warmer weather.

 

[Arjimlad]

Which ones have you got mate? I was thinking to get some.

Slightly nippy in the morning, but will be comfortable temp on the way back. Arm-warmer weather.

I got some from Decathlon years ago. They don't stay up terribly well but they do the job for me. Very useful items at this time of year.

 

[Mazz]

I got some from Decathlon years ago. They don't stay up terribly well but they do the job for me. Very useful items at this time of year.

Thanks. My arms are quite skinny around the biceps, so I need to choose carefully I think.

 

[fossyant]

I'm unfortunately driving two days this week and one next week. Dad duties tomorrow and helping take daughter's artwork into Uni so she can set up her post graduate degree work for a month long show. I may also be needed to put paintings up. Then need to be home sharpish on Thursday to load the van for camping. Next Tuesday is the launch of the degree show so I need to be able to take MrsF and daughter home in the late evening. Oh well.

 

[HLaB]

Quiet ride in this morning. It was a really nice morning 🌄 and no wind is about the only thing of note and its slightly different rolling stock so the bike spaces are in the last carriageway which sits behind the bridge. So I took a couple of pics on the moving train to show how lovely it is.

 

[biking_fox]

Apparently "World Car Free Day" today. Ironically traffic was loads worse than yesterday, no particular reason that I could see. Only 1 annoyingly close pass, nothing serious.
Still fine riding weather, pleasant temps and no wind, no rain.

 

[Arjimlad]

Apparently "World Car Free Day" today. Ironically traffic was loads worse than yesterday, no particular reason that I could see. Only 1 annoyingly close pass, nothing serious.
Still fine riding weather, pleasant temps and no wind, no rain.

Yes, Tuesdays are always busy round here. Rather dull & misty on the way in today. Limited dullardry from the drivers.

 

[ianrauk]

Agree with Mr Biking Fox. Seem to be a fair amount of road traffic about, blocking up everywhere. Made for frustrating progress. Lot's of other commuting cyclists about though.
The temperatures have dropped now. On the cusp of having to decide to wear longs sleeves or not.

 

[cyberknight]

Long shift last night so i didnt set off till round 12.45 am and thankfully the planned roadworks on the a38 had not shut the cyclepath so my route was clear but as i got close to home i was approaching a poor lit mini rounabout when i ran over something that nearly caused an off but i managed to keep it going and looking back i saw it was a plastic barrier from roadworks that had fell across the road.
The last downhill section before my house i braked for the turn and kept going with no power on the front brake at all so i guessed the near off had knocked something out of whack but when i checked today one of the brake pads had been ripped off the backing so i had to replace it and the spring clip was bent out of shape too which i tried to fix but it was to weak to mend as it broke .
lets hope tonight it better !

 

[Arjimlad]

Long shift last night so i didnt set off till round 12.45 am and thankfully the planned roadworks on the a38 had not shut the cyclepath so my route was clear but as i got close to home i was approaching a poor lit mini rounabout when i ran over something that nearly caused an off but i managed to keep it going and looking back i saw it was a plastic barrier from roadworks that had fell across the road.
The last downhill section before my house i braked for the turn and kept going with no power on the front brake at all so i guessed the near off had knocked something out of whack but when i checked today one of the brake pads had been ripped off the backing so i had to replace it and the spring clip was bent out of shape too which i tried to fix but it was to weak to mend as it broke .
lets hope tonight it better !

Yow, good job you checked. Reminds me I must order some spare pads.

 

[wafter]

The ride started out OK; more comfortable in the morning chill having donned my new bargainish Mountain Warehouse zip-off trousers.. These proved perhaps a bit skinny of leg but the up-side is that they don't flap about too much and stay put when tucked into socks. Time will tell how they fare; the stitching fell apart on the last ones and there appear to be a few stress-concentrations on these but they do have a 2yr guarantee..

Things started to go downhill when attempting to pull away from a pedestrian crossing (which irritatingly was only red because a lazy, treacherous cyclist had pressed the button as a means of getting onto the road) when the chain skipped off the chainring causing the pedal to smack my calf... probably the result of to the friction shifter being not holding now the temperatures have started to drop, or just getting knocked / being poorly indexed when I last used it. At least it bolsters my resolve to get on with the Fuji's more city-friendly replacement..

Traffic wasn't great but for the most part I just sailed down the outside, until some cretin in a bus decided to pull into a junction despite people being on the crossing in its mouth - leaving the bus completely blocking my side of the road. I went to pass in front so that I could indicate my displeasure but thought better of it as the crossing seemed to be clearing; however this proved not to be the case so ended up having to wait for the vacuous, short-sighted twat to get out of the way.

Finally I stopped for some trimming on the tow path; managing to slice the end of my finger on the blade of the secateurs as I reached for them from my bag - their edge exposed as the locking mechanism is dodgy no doubt because they're another piece of cheap Chinese crap unquestioningly purchased by my mother from some dodgy mail order catalogue. Another kick in the arse to get some decent ones bought, although capacity for thought and commitment remain as lacking as ever..