Tales from today's commute....

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Left the house in a smug & happy mood this morning. Got some more new wheels last night which had me beaming, then the forecast for rain between 10:00 & 15:00 meaning a dry commute both ways. A nice first 10 mile but then the hail shower that hit me 15 miles away from work stung the hell out of my face, I was out on an exposed stretch too so nowhere to hide. The strong SWesterly battering the hell out of me, first from the side then almost head on as I made the turn. Further on and I came up to what looked a nasty 3 car smash up, debris everywhere. It was pitch black apart from my front Ay-up beaming away and I couldn't see anyone around so my first thought was 'oh sh*t, this has just happened and they're all still in their vehicles'. Just about to get my phone out when a couple of Police officers turn up and I see a guy step out of the shadows, no idea if he was ok but I'm guessing he was the one who made the 999 call. Police Lady waves me through and gestures for me to keep going. About 6 mile to go and I could see clear sky so head down and cracked on, even did an extra 3 miles in the end. Here's hoping that everyone involved this morning comes out ok. My smug and happy mood sincerely wiped from my face.

 

[Simontm]

Back on the bike after work commitments - don't know what the fuss is about
Had a brief headwind but mainly quiet ride in although the legs were a bit rubbish after three days off, the biggest problem being that my back brake failed again - second time in as many months (Spyres sigh). Emailed Specialized at Kingston and last time they sorted it out quickly so will pop in tonight.
Numpty count: One SoB in a white van that nearly caused me to jump up onto the pavement. Usual stupidity as a few yards down he joined the queue. I gave him the international symbol as I passed him.

 

[fossyant]

Decent run in. Dry but windy. Found out two more bikes went from the bike shelter yesterday. One had a D lock cut

 

[Origamist]

Hovering around 0C this morning with a good tailwind. Packed a merino beanie in case of hail later! Nose is still a bit sore (bloody bogeys!) but no more torrents of blood, thankfully....

 

[Exile]

Having lost more than a few commutes last year to the excuse "I fell off yesterday, better not chance it today", I decided this morning to just get back on the bike and ride.

Oddly enough, after struggling a little more than usual to mount the bike, all the aches and pains vanished when I started pedalling. Well worth the initial discomfort to avoid using the bus.

Also saw an amusing sight whilst waiting at lights on Whitworth Street. A pedestrian, headphones on, air drumming away. With actual drumsticks. Have to give them credit for going whole hog on that effort .

 

[clf]

Stuck behing a skip lorry for half a mile which seemed to contain half a ton of rotten decomposing fish

 

[Simontm]

Had to go to Kingston so had the pleasure of the Kingston Road It's the Merton side I hate.
Anyway one great big numpty of an article - TRN lorry out of Heathrow - passed me so close that I think I was meant to be part of the Asian for advertised Seriously just about a couple of inches away. Bloody scary.

If there were any other numpties, they got away with it due to comparative behaviour

 

[BigAl68]

Lovely ride in even if I had to weave around plenty of fallen branches and sticks from the trees. Got to see a second badger this week, different one I think as at least a few miles distance from Mondays one. Left work with blue sky but a bit blustery. Dry twice in a day, that was a first for the week.

 

[clf]

Got home with the help of the montage music from the Rocky films going through my head

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Cracking weather this morning, temperature was up and the wind was down. Tonight the complete reverse, very gusty

 

[Origamist]

Was doing 14mph downhill at one stage this evening into the headwind. Very gusty.

Pasta, followed by Marco Polo on Netflix, a bath, then bed!

 

[dr snuggles]

Disgraceful weather tonight. Worst one ever for me.

 

[ianrauk]

Oi Wind....!! What did I say to you yesterday.. just ferk off.. just do it.. we are all bored of you. You are making the commute home a bloody chore. So begone with you, leave us cycling commuters be. Please, for the love of God.

 

[I like Skol]

I called out the Puncture Fairy today before cycling home! As I got to the bike shed a colleague was crouched by his front wheel and appeared to be doing a bit of tyre squeezing. As it happened he didn't have a flat but In the conversation that followed I pointed out that I hadn't had a single commute puncture in the whole of last year and in actual fact I don't get many punctures these days.
There, I said it. I'm a risk taker and I ain't scared

Anyway, it was a fast dry ride home, one of the quickest in a while thanks, in part, to the generous tailwind.

 

[summerdays]

Two not brilliant commutes....

This morning approached a roundabout and was overtaken by a quicker cyclist. I slowed as I wasn't going to go for an ok but smallish gap, and watched them going for a perfectly acceptable gap given their higher speed and ahead of me. Except the driver accelerated towards them with the horn full on on purpose. The fact that the driver was a driving instructor made it worse. I'm pretty certain I didn't see the car as I made my decision not to go, I was waiting for a van, and the cyclist was passing the exit, not just joining the roundabout. Given all he needed to do was drive less manically and a professional driver to boot.

I also had a saddle that suddenly decided to point at the moon (uncomfortable And no I can't ever adjust my saddle myself, it's one of those bolts I can't tighten enough to stop all movement).

And on the way home the brake seemed to be having problems.