Tales from today's commute....

[HLaB]

Timed that well tonight. When I came out of the changing room it was torrential but I got held up leaving by a chatty colleague and by the time I got my bike out of the bike cage it was stopped and whilst things were quite flooded, I got treated to a very bright rainbow. The Camera doesnt do it justice.

On the train I managed to grab two of the three seats in front of the bike straps and the skies brightened up more and by the time I got off I was treated again (to a quite nice sunset).

 

[Poacher]

Timed that well tonight. When I came out of the changing room it was torrential but I got held up leaving by a chatty colleague and by the time I got my bike out of the bike cage it was stopped and whilst things were quite flooded, I got treated to a very bright rainbow. The Camera doesnt do it justice.
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On the train I managed to grab two of the three seats in front of the bike straps and the skies brightened up more and by the time I got off I was treated again (to a quite nice sunset).
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Even a faint double bow!

 

[Pgd]

An eventful week for me. I have an ageing Boardman gravel bike which is my do-it-all bike, including commuting twice a week from zone 6 into central London. The drivetrain had felt a little off for a while, so on a whim I decided to install replacement jockey wheels to see if anything improved. That was last Thursday. The next day, about a mile into my commute the derailleur hanger failed catastrophically, mangling the parallelogram and damaging the large chainring. Luckily (a) this was at low speed and with no other consequences, and (b) as i was parked a mile away in the London suburbs, I could simply walk my mangled bike back to the car and catch the train.

I think the hanger was already weak from previous incidents and corrective bendings. But I also suspect I'd over-tightened the new pulleys -- I'd read they should be tightened until resistance felt, but in hindsight should've just used a torque wrench...

Anyway, it's now back from LBS with a new chainset and rear derailleur, and a new BB for good measure, setting me back a fair bit of cash . But on the plus side, it's all nicely tuned up, so I'm clinging to the mantra that it's like a new bike but considerably cheaper. Just need to look after it better...

Finally: this week, while my usual bike was at the LBS, I borrowed my son's road-centric hybrid. Although the frame is too small for me, it's very light and nippy and rather good fun. Might borrow it again occasionally when it's nice weather. I've never owned a lightweight road bike but I can see why people do!

 

[wafter]

Awake early as usual but too late to attempt getting back to sleep so I at least had a little time in hand.

Out on time into the gloom; thankfully no rain despite the forecast and evident threat lingering above.

Fresh but thankfully mild it felt good to be in the saddle as soon as I was out of the drive.

Very little to report; traffic moderate and largely sensible; no dickheads other than some partial yellow-box-bothering muppets and some twat contractor parked on the high street obstructing the buses.

Butchers was busy today with some Polish bloke buying all of the meat and another guy who’d also dared to sneak his bike into the market.

Decent ride back out along the tow path; still basking in the novelty of the stretch that’s been re-opened after some work to the bank – removing the diversion through the bumpy / latterly slushy impromptu mandatory gravel stage in the adjacent field. Stopped to trim a few errant brambles; their encroachment thankfully slowing as temperatures fall.

At work on time, not looking forward to the day but at least I’ve been fortified by some quality sausages today (8.5/10; well-browned with a tangible crunch).

Life is pretty horrible at the moment but it would definitely be more-so if I wasn’t able to commute on the bike.

 

[biking_fox]

Milder than expected and still dry so fine riding. Even a hint of a tailwind.

One exceptionally impatient driver took off from beside me, the moment the light changed off red, round the outside of the line of stopped cars using the oncoming lane to do so, and then attempted to cut in at the zebra crossing where the hordes of school kids were, to an outrage of horns. It's quite shocking how dangerous some drivers can be.

 

[fossyant]

Milder than expected and still dry so fine riding. Even a hint of a tailwind.

Back on the commute tomorrow and just reviewed the 'wardrobe', then checked the forecast - I' better put that softshell jersey away, still pretty warm, mid teens for the rest of the week.

 

[katiewlx]

first ride after a couple of weeks off the bike, and sheesh I felt that didnt help I was a bit behind, usual kit piece chasing shenanigans as I mistakenly thought based on the temp in my house it would be cold outside, and it was not, so I cooked abit too, with a tasty headwind to contend with as well, and Im sure one of my brakes is binding abit.

at least the roads were quiet for a change.

weather turned crazily for the return though, as it rained a fair bit in the afternoon, and whilst it has stopped it still felt very damp, very gloomy and very dark, was surprised how many other cyclists seemed caught out by not having lights. at least Id sorted that part of tech in advance, just had forgotten how useless sunglasses are when it gets dark.

 

[HLaB]

Nothing much to speak off except there was an unfolded electric fold up bike taking up the whole of the first carriage bike space. Since it was such a lovely morning though I ran down to the other end of the train and its bike carriage as I knew I'd get a better picture of the Cathedral anyway.

The joys of train travel is the bloke behind me is choked with the cold 😕

 

[fossyant]

Soaked. Got bike out, started raining so overshoes and jacket on. Heavy rain to start, eased off. Just thinking of removing jacket but could see some very dark clouds. Next second, a monsoon. Three cyclists sheltering under a shop front at the traffic lights at Fallowfield. Shoes started to wet through from my MTB trousers. Everything now in the drying cabinet with a sticker on the plug asking for the unit to be left on (someone usually turns it off mid morning).

I have a slight issue with my old style headset. Greased it last night but the top locking nut has been iffy for a while. Wouldn't tighten so did it up as tight as I dared and dropped some super glue on the threads. It's held. Replacement arrives today.

 

[biking_fox]

Just missed the deluge above. Was in the kitchen as it blattered down and I contemplated my travel options. 5 mins later it's dry and brightening, for a fine ride in. Very wet roads, but even the puddles were draining quickly.

 

[Mazz]

Does anyone else ride over the middle of the letter "S" in the word "S L O W" painted on the roads, and imagines it turning into a "$" sign?
No? Oh, just me then...

 

[Arjimlad]

Overshoes worked well for the first two miles then the rain got in. Altura waterproof jacket was good, though. Very heavy rain for a third of the 6-mile commute. With air-con and not radiators, getting stuff dry during the day is less easy.

Thankfully the sun shines in through the office window in the afternoon so that will help, as of course, an hour after getting to work, it's now beautifully sunny and due to remain so until next week sometime.

 

[wafter]

Sounds like I got away lightly!

Out late into warm air and light, refreshing drizzle. Despite the ominous body of rain drifting in from the south west on the radar I elected to push into town for breakfast in the hope that I'd miss the worst of it.

By the outskirts of the city the rain had gotten sufficiently heavy to force a stop to don “waterproof” overtrousers and jacket; which was executed with smug efficiency.

By the time I’d reached town and scored sausages the rain had stopped and I was boiling in the bag so off it all came again, to be stuffed in the pannier as I couldn’t be arsed to package it up sufficiently to go back in the rucksack being already a little late.

Onward via the slightly shorter route to work; happy that my uncharacteristic election to throw caution to the wind had apparently rewarded me - before the rain inevitably started again but I made the call to soldier on as I was so close.

Made it in on time and a little damp; thankfully it’s warm inside the office so I and my waterproofs have thankfully dried off well.

Looking fine for the journey home; not that I’ll be riding very far as I remain absolutely exhausted.

 

[fossyant]

Just missed the deluge above. Was in the kitchen as it blattered down and I contemplated my travel options. 5 mins later it's dry and brightening, for a fine ride in. Very wet roads, but even the puddles were draining quickly.

You keep missing this bad stuff. You need to leave early to sample this delightful weather.