Tales from today's commute....

[400bhp]

White chuffin' van man.

Just by work there's a funny traffic free cycle path about 50m long just here linking Isaacs Lane with Chownes Mead Lane. I get to the end of the lane and there is a lwb transit sat facing me lights on engine running backed into the cycle path between the two bollards.

Me: Excuse me but you're blocking the cycle path
Him: That's your effing problem mate

Charming. Either side of the path they've been laying new mains and drainage so the ground is chewed up and saturated. Can't ride over it, have to get off and pick my way through the mud.

The cycle path narrows as it reaches the A273 and as I climb back on the bike my light pick out another white van. another lwb transit. the stupid twunt driving it has driven the whole length of the cycle path as it has got narrower and narrower and his nearside wheels have gone off the path and he has got himself completely bogged down in the mud and is going nowhere. A brief chat reveal chummy was supposed to pull him out but won't reverse down the path, and a sat nav is to blame.

my how we larfed.

Jees-why do people have to be so obtuse.

 

[PoliceMadAd]

Had to cycle through a 70 metre long, 4ft+ deep flood today on my way to work, whilst watching cars being towed out :P. First time i've ever ridden through a flood (exc last night when i gave up after 3 metres cos i could easily take a different route, even though i may as well have carried on as my feet were soaked by the time i gave up.) Anyway today i had 2 choices. Take a 7 mile detour round, back the way i'd come, and be late for work, or go through, get soaked and grt to work about on time. I opted to cycle through. Very good fun, and very wet feet for my shift, even after my attempts to dry my socks and boots out. Didn't quite work (flood was outside Sawley Marina if anyone knows it.)

 

[martint235]

Wet again. I have to say I'm quite enjoying commuting at the moment though. Operation Kalm seems to be paying off although it's coincided with a noticeable gain in weight.

Also I was behind a cyclist today who had flashing blue and red lights on the back. I thought this was illegal. I have to admit that I thought he was a police motorbike at first from a distance.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Yesterday's commute wasn't about bus drivers on the way in but close passing cab drivers,including a cab driver who passed me three times (closely) only for me to catch him up again (three times).Also another cabbie squeezing past a female cyclist with about an inch to spare.The sarf London section of the commute was better than the East London section.Quite concerned how im so out of breath climbing small hills,I can hardly breath.I think there is a problem which hopefully a hospital appointment next month can sort out.

(Edited for bits missed out regarding dodgy cab drivers)

 

[400bhp]

Windy on the way in. Blowing from the north.

I was wondering what the proportion of northerly winds we receive in the UK, as certainly since the summer I can count on one hand the number of northerly winds I've had on the commute - STRAVA focuses the mind somewhat on wind direction.

 

[ianrauk]

Dark, cold, very wet, windy, mucky roads, too much traffic.
You gotta love cycle commuting haven't you

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Last night's lwb transit? It is still stuck there!

Nice ride in. I opted to pull over twice as I was being followed by a Pickford's lorry and a dumper truck who had cars backing up behind them and pulling silly overtakes. Thumbs up and friendly toots from both drivers.

Horns sounded angrily at me = nil
Horns sounded by oncoming cars at folk overtaking me = 3
Flashed headlights (the angry kind) from oncoming cars at folk overtaking me = 2 (excluding the horny ones)

Yesterday's courtesy got blown away on the wind I guess.

 

[Andrew_P]

Dark, cold, very wet, windy, mucky roads, too much traffic.
You gotta love cycle commuting haven't you

I moan a lot but the reality is I love it, even the crap days are better than a good day driving.

 

[Beebo]

I moan a lot but the reality is I love it, even the crap days are better than a good day driving.

That's my take on it too. Today tested the resolve but I know I would dislike sitting on the train even more.

 

[Matt1705]

Started a new job yesterday, 15 miles each way so double the distance of the last job. Wife thinks I'm crazy for wanting to cycle lol.

Was motivated this morning despite the rain, had my waterproofs on, helmet on, lights on, panniers packed, bike out the shed. Got on my bike, clipped 1 foot in and thought this feels odd as I rode off.
. The p******e fairy had visited during the night

 

[Andrew_P]

Started a new job yesterday, 15 miles each way so double the distance of the last job. Wife thinks I'm crazy for wanting to cycle lol.

Was motivated this morning despite the rain, had my waterproofs on, helmet on, lights on, panniers packed, bike out the shed. Got on my bike, clipped 1 foot in and thought this feels odd as I rode off.
. The p******e fairy had visited during the night

I hate that, first time was the last time I am now a compulsive tyre presser, although my bike resides in the dining room weeknights so I get to do almost every time I pass it!

 

[benb]

White chuffin' van man.

Just by work there's a funny traffic free cycle path about 50m long just here linking Isaacs Lane with Chownes Mead Lane. I get to the end of the lane and there is a lwb transit sat facing me lights on engine running backed into the cycle path between the two bollards.

Me: Excuse me but you're blocking the cycle path
Him: That's your effing problem mate

Charming. Either side of the path they've been laying new mains and drainage so the ground is chewed up and saturated. Can't ride over it, have to get off and pick my way through the mud.

Well it would have been a real shame if you had accidentally scraped your pedal along his van whilst trying to squeeze past.

 

[ianrauk]

I hate that, first time was the last time I am now a compulsive tyre presser, although my bike resides in the dining room weeknights so I get to do almost every time I pass it!

Same here.
One of the first things I do in a morning is check the tyres.

 

[martint235]

Same here.
One of the first things I do in a morning is check the tyres.

Marathons on the commuter. I just pump them up every three weeks or so. No need to check in between.

 

[Andrew_P]

Funny you should say that switched from GP4000s as they were getting cut up, so as it was getting cold gave some GP 4 Season ago, I was amazed how long they were "feeling rock hard" when I pressed them curiosty got the better of me yesterday and the were down to 80psi. The GP4000's would have felt soft long before, so lesson learnt tyre pressing is just checking for punctures now must have a much harder case