The "secret" to a great commute

[u9ge]

I was thinking about this on the commute last night, stop and start, else you'll never build up any decent strength to really thrash out a good speed.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Lucky I dont have traffic lights or cars to contend with . Sheep can be a bit of prob. though

I'm pretty sure that sheep-jumping is also illegal.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

It's not the same, though, and I say that as someone who's moderately good on the hills. With a hill you can see where the top is; with a headwind you can only wait until it goes away.

Agreed, as someone who's NOT good on hills. It's when it's gusting that I especially hate it: wind drops, you pick up a bit of speed, up a cog or two, then a big ole gust comes along and crashes you back down again.

 

[jimboalee]

The 'secret' to a great commute is a good night's sleep, and allowing yourself extra time in case every red light is against you.

There are three traffic signals on my morning ride, and I jump every one - simply because there's sod all other vehicles on the road at that time in the morning.

The 'secret' of a great commute home is standing in the shower after its finished. Much better than lying on a hospital trolley.

 

[Origamist]

I totally agree about this whole momentum thing - I often ride on the road, even when there is a cycle track nearby, just to maintain the precious M word (and the road has just been re-surfaced, it feels like a velodrome now!!) Having said that, I don't EVER run red lights, and I think I earn a tiny modicum of respect from car drivers for not doing so...

Why Cyclists won't Stop:

http://www.wolvesonwheels.co.uk/docs/why cyclists won't stop.pdf

 

[blxm]

For me, a "great" commute is one where the pretty girls in cars smile back.

 

[HJ]

For me, a "great" commute is one where the pretty girls on bikes smile back...

But then you don't get many of those in Aberdeen, sadly, just one of the reasons I didn't enjoy living in Aberdeen...

 

[jonny jeez]

"Hope I dont use it as an excuse to RLJ"


Ah, well, now, er...confession time I think.

I have to fess up and admit that on Monday I did, indeed jump my first (and last )red light. I was cutting a frantically good time and got totally carried away with myself for a moment and thought "s0d it" I'll give it a go.

It gained me absolutley no advantage as i had to stop 20 seconds later for the next lights, so...lesson learnt..but like they say, you gotta try everything once otherwise you cant gain an opinion.

By way of an excuse, I had a crap ride home Friday night with relentless 20mph headwinds for what felt like the entire 20 miles!!! I was exhausted as I kept trying to maintain my usual speed....like a muppet...and was just wishing that Monday would be better

so, if you were on the earls court road on Monday when a tall bloke on a creaking hybrid wandered across a red light..I apologise.....it was me....
I am a complete spanner! (takes a bow of shame)


I could actually hear two cyclists talking about me at the next lights (when they had, inevitably, caught me up)

Now, do I cycle home in predicted 20mph winds ..or take the office motor bike?

Hmmmmmmmmmm...............

 

[HJ]

Cycle, it is good for your soul....

 

[ed_o_brain]

The 'secret' to a great commute is a good night's sleep, and allowing yourself extra time in case every red light is against you.

There are three traffic signals on my morning ride, and I jump every one - simply because there's sod all other vehicles on the road at that time in the morning.

The 'secret' of a great commute home is standing in the shower after its finished. Much better than lying on a hospital trolley.

Well that's you dropped down in my estimation.

 

[trsleigh]

There are three traffic signals on my morning ride, and I jump every one - simply because there's sod all other vehicles on the road at that time in the morning.

THREE!!! Gordon Bennett and you still RLJ. I once counted the number of sets on my route from Ealing to Whitehall, if I remember correctly it was approx 70+. Might be more now, I'll check again soon.

I do agree that maintaining a steady momentum helps immensely, but what is it with intermittent pedallers?
Sometimes when I'm comfortably cruising along I'll be overtaken by someone pedalling like mad, then they freewheel for a while, by which time I've caught up and positioning to overtake, when they suddenly start pedalling furiously again. This irritating stop go cycle will continue until one or the other turns off. N.B. Roadies & serious cyclists do not appear to do this.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I do agree that maintaining a steady momentum helps immensely, but what is it with intermittent pedallers?

There are places where I know the traffic light timings quite well, so if I estimate that accelerating will get me through before they change, I'll do that. Conversely, if I reckon they'll be red by the time I get there, I'll stop pedalling and coast up to them.

Maybe that's the sort of behaviour you're seeing?

 

[trsleigh]

There are places where I know the traffic light timings quite well, so if I estimate that accelerating will get me through before they change, I'll do that. Conversely, if I reckon they'll be red by the time I get there, I'll stop pedalling and coast up to them.

Maybe that's the sort of behaviour you're seeing?

No, not at all. That is all perfectly sensible. This is short bursts of about 30 metres pedalling then 30 metres freewheeling along clear roads. Well as clear as you ever get in London.

 

[neslon]

I now find that my morning route (which has extended to just over 19 miles to avoid nasty hills)

Is there a hill in Kent? Even a nice one?

 

[jimboalee]

Well that's you dropped down in my estimation.

Only a complete dunce would stop and wait at a red light when there is not a sniff of another roaduser.

Who is there to see me RLJ? The cat on the fence? Surely she's not going to run to the local plod and meow "Cyclist went over a red light at Warwick Road"....

I make a mistake, there are FOUR sets on my 23 mile trip. I don't count the second set because there is a cycle path that by-passes them so if they are on red, I take to the bike lane.