You shall not PASS!!!

[Mugshot]

My usual commute home is just under 5 miles, now the week before last, there was a sign up on the final stretch (about a mile) saying that the road would be closed from the 16/1/12, didn't say how long for. I thought I'd take a gamble on Monday and have a peep to see if it was reopened, it wasn't officially, but there were cars going through, so, no problem, couple of ramps to negotiate, but otherwise fine.
Now tonight, blowing a gale, belting down with rain and as I'm sure you've guessed by now it was shut, totally, barrier across and a works van with lights flashing and workmen working (seriously). So on the worst day for weeks I had a choice of the 8 mile route home or the 10 mile route home, being a real man I obviously chose the 10 mile route and battled valiantly through the elements. Arriving home absolutely soaked but disturbingly pleased with my unplanned efforts.
I would however like to thank my wife for not reminding me to take my overshoes this morning, it certainly couldn't be my fault!

 

[Glow worm]

That's bad luck MS, especially in the rain. I often experience similar over here in E. Anglia with rural lanes closed for works. Diversions by bike can be a real long-winded pain, but tbh in my experience the fellas will normally let a bike through if you're prepared to chance it.

 

[Matthew_T]

I hate cycling in the rain. The wind I can put up with as I can plan my route around it (have a headwind one way, tailwind other). But I cannot stand getting wet (especially in the cold), because I feel like I cannot put as much effort in.

Fortunately, ne matter how strong the wind is, it is always going East, so I can plan my route around that. I don't know if you had a headwind all the way, or a side wind in parts, but as long as you hunker down over the bars it wil be fine.

 

[fossyant]

Wind rain, dress appropriately.

You can 'normally' get round road works - just resume pedestrian with a bike mode

We've done it many times on club runs - road totally blocked, picture a load of blokes slip sliding around on a muddy grass verge with bikes on their shoulders - aka cross style (although we had road shoes)

 

[CopperCyclist]

I've only once so far met roadworks I couldn't get past. They'd taken out a bridge!!

 

[subaqua]

been there done that got the tshirt. i feel for you

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I saw this thread and thought the revolution had started.

No Pasaran!

A las Barricadas!

 

[johnr]

I saw this thread and thought the revolution had started.

No Pasaran!

A las Barricadas!

GO TIGER!

 

[Mugshot]

You can 'normally' get round road works - just resume pedestrian with a bike mode

They may have done, but this is a single track road, with high banks either side and they were resurfacing it, so it would have been doubtful . When I'd gone through the previous night the bit they had laid was still warm, my tyres were gleaming by the time I reached the other end of it!
I didn't really mind the additional mileage, I intended doing 15 - 20 miles commute when the weather improved a bit, certainly wouldn't have chosen that particular night though
On a plus note it was open again tonight and has all now been resurfaced, brand new roads are the BEST, kept a nice 20 -22 mph average over the last 1.5 miles, so it was definitely worth the soaking from the other night.

 

[Mugshot]

I saw this thread and thought the revolution had started.

No Pasaran!

A las Barricadas!

Lol, it wasn't quite what I had intended, I was thinking more I was the Balrog and the workmen were Gandalf and I was trying to get across the Bridge of Khazad-Dum

 

[HLaB]

LOL the OP reminds me of the time I was meeting a mate in central Edinburgh and on the outskirts I saw the signs for road closure; its a road that has been closed before but cyclist's have always been able to get through. How wrong was I the rail bridge was getting lifted (a once in 20 year event), I ended up having to backtrack to Kirkliston and enter Edinburgh by the busy A8 dual carriageway, with trying again to make a short cut I think I ended up doing an extra 7.5 miles or so.