HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
A chilled out commute from me in barmy temperatures for this time of year. 21deg down to 17deg.
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Slightly nippy this morning - fingers were a little cold in mits. Pleasant morning, no school idiots. Quick ride in, would have been a bit quicker if I hadn't waited behind another cyclist on the bridleway near home, held me up a bit - he was on a thin tyred singlespeed, me a MTB with mixed terrain tyres.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Not me! I'm sticking to the roads, not even using the Loop. I do like the SS it's fun, but I'm ready for my new gravel bike now... at the end of the month.
Not as cold as expected, but full thin gloves seemed sensible.
Pretty much to total opposite to yesterday.
Out on time; the skies clear and bright while the temperatures was significantly lower - yesterday's forecast suggesting 7 degrees meaning I was pretty chilly in the mid-weight trousers and LS base layer. Would certainly have welcomed some lightweight gloves to have kept the chill off the hands.
Had one sketchy moment having to negotiate my way around (behind) a surprise old woman attempting to cross the road on St. Aldates; retrospectively feel bad now for not stopping to help her across as it can be a swine of a road.
Stopped for a little trimming on the tow path in the somewhat ethereal light provided by the low sun reflecting off the water through the last vestiges of the morning's mist.
While conditions remain pleasantly manageable the trend is all to apparent and I'm not looking forward to the clocks changing
Out on time; the skies clear and bright while the temperatures was significantly lower - yesterday's forecast suggesting 7 degrees meaning I was pretty chilly in the mid-weight trousers and LS base layer. Would certainly have welcomed some lightweight gloves to have kept the chill off the hands.
Had one sketchy moment having to negotiate my way around (behind) a surprise old woman attempting to cross the road on St. Aldates; retrospectively feel bad now for not stopping to help her across as it can be a swine of a road.
Stopped for a little trimming on the tow path in the somewhat ethereal light provided by the low sun reflecting off the water through the last vestiges of the morning's mist.
While conditions remain pleasantly manageable the trend is all to apparent and I'm not looking forward to the clocks changing
Bit chilly but manageable this morning - wore a skull cap under the helmet, it covers my ears and kept the chill off, glad I did.
Reported a dead badger to the council when I got to work.
Wouldn't have bothered if it were by the side of the road out in the sticks, but this was in the middle of a busy road outside a school with its guts hanging out. Hopefully it's gone by the time I ride home.
Reported a dead badger to the council when I got to work.
Wouldn't have bothered if it were by the side of the road out in the sticks, but this was in the middle of a busy road outside a school with its guts hanging out. Hopefully it's gone by the time I ride home.
You were cutting back the hedges next to the canal? Very public-spirited, if you were.
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Thanks and yes; after I had a hole torn in a nice base layer some years ago I've been waging a low-key war of attrition on the brambles.
"Cutting back the hedges" would probably be a bit of an overstatement; really I just trim anything that's pointy and encroaching obviously into the path.
This is mostly just the odd cane or ten poking in from the hedge or hanging down from above; the sort of stuff you might not clock until it’s too late and you’ve copped it to the face.
Occasionally I might go a bit harder if there are bits of more dense, hard, dead overgrowth that might be hampering passage as this can slowly descend over time and restrict headroom; again not something you want to be colliding with in the dark.
Whilst originally motivated by sweet, righteous retribution and preservation of future clothing / face skin, it feels good to be contributing to the greater good in some small way while it provides a nice escape / an opportunity for a spot of mindfulness and detachment.
I remember this was particularly welcome on long summer nights when I was still living at home / commuting on the Brompton and would welcome any opportunity to prolong my escape.
I don’t think I’m the only one who casually does this off their own bat and it’s nice to give the finger to the prevailing attitude of selfishness and individualism that seems to be eating society currently. Plus, I’ve generally had really positive experiences with those who use / live on the waterways and these routes are such a welcome antidote to cycling in rush hour traffic so it’s nice to do a little to maintain that environment
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On the ride home, the badger was gone! Council acted quickly on that one.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Decent ride home. Little bit of SCR (silly commuter racing). Pulled up at lights and a young lad went in front of me on a 80's road bike (young = Uni student). Pulled away, so powered off, and he sat on my wheel (I'm on a MTB with panniers and more than twice his age). As we approach some lights he attacks and shoots off about 200 yards but lights go to red. He stops. He waits, but when ped crossing lights bleep, he's off (seems to be a thing these days with many riders). I waited. Off I set and I soon reeled him in, went passed and never saw him again. These youngsters are quick, but us oldies have the endurance.
Only other issue was some crazy red light jumping drivers. First one was bad, but the driver following behind was 5 seconds after the red and I was crossing the junction. Female, absolutely no clue despite me shouting 'traffic lights'. There were serious horns going from the car's behind me at the driver. She wasn't for stopping though ! Much of the silly driving caused by heavy traffic.
Only other issue was some crazy red light jumping drivers. First one was bad, but the driver following behind was 5 seconds after the red and I was crossing the junction. Female, absolutely no clue despite me shouting 'traffic lights'. There were serious horns going from the car's behind me at the driver. She wasn't for stopping though ! Much of the silly driving caused by heavy traffic.
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