Tales from today's commute....

[Nocode]

Double puncture. Punctured at the bottom of Farnborough Hill, felt a thud and then instant deflate. Quick check of tyre and rim, replaced tube. Another puncture at Masons Hill in Bromley. Checked tube more closely, found the hole then checked the location on the tyre. A very small but sharp piece of glass was wedged inside the rubber - couldn't see from the outside and could only see from the inside when tyre fully inside out and pressure applied - went straight through the puncture resistant layer on my Conti 4 Seasons. Had used both my spare tubes and instead of risk another 10 miles with none I decided to head back and work from home. That's 3 punctures in 2 rides, I've just doubled my total puncture count in thousands of miles, doh!

Positive notes, was a lovely morning - cold but fresh and dry. Tried out my winter boots for the first time and they were snuggly warm. So I ended-up with cold hands but warm feet. Now back home, cup of tea in hand ready for a day of work.

 

[MisterStan]

I don't know what was going on last night, but it genuinely felt as though every motorist was out to get me. I was glad to make it home alive and have a cup of tea.

This morning the roads were dry and traffic well behaved, but much colder - layered up well so not a problem. Lots of cyclists out still which is nice to see, considering the temperature.

 

[clf]

Pleasant enough this morning, some tit nearly took me out on a roundabout, looked me in the eye but just carried on, I've come to expect it there though so little chance of a bump. There's another roundabout just before this one where this happens regularly too, I can forgive them there because this time of year you can't see a thing because of the angle of the sun.

 

[fossyant]

Snow dusting locally but gone within a mile. Took the ice bike as there was a heavy frost in places.

 

[Dmcd33]

I agree with MisterStan. Some impatient and dangerous driving over the past couple of days. I was just saying last week how it's been quite pleasant cycling to work over the christmas period (should have kept my mouth shut!)

Might give it a miss tomorrow though. Winds are the only thing that gets me off my bike and they are predicted in a big way for the morning.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Definitely needed the ice bike today, Leicester was okay, but out in the sticks it was very icy in places

 

[ianrauk]

Nice and sunny blue skies this morning. Little cold though and a little windy.

 

[Arjimlad]

Yuk. Had a heavy nosebleed on the way home. Staunched the blood with a pair of boxer shorts! Luckily, a very nice woman pulled in and gave me some tissues. I then carried on for the next 18 miles with tissues hanging out of my nostrils and a metallic taste in my mouth. When I got home, my partner thought I had been knocked off due to the blood splats on my clothes and face!

Oh, and an unrelenting and cold headwind. Was dreaming of balmy summer commutes to keep me going...

Nasty - the cold weather might have helped slow the blood down though ! 18 miles like that, eh ? - respect !

 

[400bhp]

I blew up on the way home tonight. About 26 miles in at a fairly brisk pace I seemed to lose all my energy and spent the rest of the ride on auto pilot. Didn't feel good at all. Not sure why it isn't a long distance for me just one of those things. Gonna have a big dinner and a chill.

I think it's just the time of year.

Thing is we have absolutely no structure for "training" so it's impossible to know why we feel good/bad sometimes.

 

[BigAl68]

Yesterdays commute home was foul. I left work and hour early to try and avoid the rain/snow/sleet that was forecast. The first 5 miles were cold and windy and went down hill from there. It started with hail for 10 minutes that then turned into sleet and snow which then turned into torrential rain all whilst blowing a gale and the temperature just above zero. I think I have just got over it. It was one of the worst journeys home in four years.

 

[Exile]

Set off a little late this morning, got just over half a mile in to my 6 mile commute and had the bike slide out from under me going round a corner. Most likely too much speed for the conditions, but I seem to have got off lightly. Abrasions and bruising, new helmet and bar tape needed. At least I landed on the opposite side to last year...

 

[MichaelO]

Looks like the weather might be a little unpleasant on the way back of London this evening

 

[2wheelsgeth]

Had a bizarre but lovely thing happen on the way in this morning. On the cyclepath between City Road Goswell Road there was a bloke in a black morph suit who was running alongside cyclists shouting encouragement. Then, after crossing Goswell Road, on the cut-through to St John St, there was a crowd of about 20 people behind a big banner emblazoned with 'Allez, Allez', shouting and cheering as commuters cycled past. I have no idea why, but I hope they're there tomorrow as well - I'll try to muster a sprint for them!

 

[Ciar]

cold and wind, tonight cold and wind in reverse i hope

 

[mythste]

Had a bizarre but lovely thing happen on the way in this morning. On the cyclepath between City Road Goswell Road there was a bloke in a black morph suit who was running alongside cyclists shouting encouragement. Then, after crossing Goswell Road, on the cut-through to St John St, there was a crowd of about 20 people behind a big banner emblazoned with 'Allez, Allez', shouting and cheering as commuters cycled past. I have no idea why, but I hope they're there tomorrow as well - I'll try to muster a sprint for them!

I don't mean to worry you, but, can anyone verify this? Any bangs to the head recently?