Tales from today's commute....

[martint235]

Damp and a bit chilly. One of those mornings where I couldn't decide whether or not to stop and put my waterproof on. I didn't in the end, couldn't be a***d. First ride on the new brake pads and they work well. Much more feel from them than I was getting from the ones that came with the bike. Also no horrible, horrible noises, even in the wet they were almost silent.

 

[Bazzer]

Soaked.
Took the mudguards off my road bike a couple of weeks ago. This morning I could have picked the hybrid with mudguards. Fail!
Didn't put my rainjacket or overshoes out last night. I chose not to wake up SWMBO at 5.30, by rooting about in the wardrobe for them. Fail!

Warm morning, a beautiful double rainbow about three miles into the journey and broken blue sky seemed to confirm my choices were right. Three miles later a shower corrected my views.
A while later I rode into the remains of a heavy shower. My wheels ensured that whatever water didn't hit me from above was going to hit almost everwhere else.
The drying room at work has recently been closed and with the radiators off for summer, it's looking like a damp start to the homeward journey.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Set off with a fairly cloudy sky and also a rainbow, so was expecting to get wet, as it turned out it spat for a couple of minutes and I only noticed it because I wear specs.

Over the last couple of weeks I've seen the same fella in a couple of different places on my route, so I surmised he is part of the Extended Commuter Club. Today saw him three times, the third we were both going in the same direction.

Had a chat with him and he was doing 36 miles instead of the straight to work 6 miles as he training for a tour to Spain

Anyway after a couple of minutes chat he says he needs to push on or he will be late for work and off he goes leaving me as if I wasn't moving, cheeky bugger

 

[Origamist]

A couple of sharp showers, a cool northerly breeze and wet roads made for a damp and chilly commute.

Looks like things will improve this afternoon though...

 

[KneesUp]

Miss Up is on a school trip today, and Mrs Up is helping out. This meant a nice leisurely morning (I start work at 10 and have a short commute) of pottering about. As it was raining I got some cycling clothing on (commute is so short that on most days I just pootle in in work clothes) and packed the spare pannier with work clothes.

I dad a bit of a root around for DDs front light because mine is broken and it was a bit grey (and the nights are drawing in, after all) and went out to the bike shed in no hurry at all. In fact I topped the bird feeders up too. In the shed there is(from back to front) my road 'bike' - with no brake cables, cranks or chain, Mrs Ups MTB, Miss Ups bike, and my main bike. Part of the security is that they are all chained together. Normally that means the first three are chained together with two chains, and mine, being the only one that is used most days, is attached to Miss Ups bike with my U lock. However, Miss Up has a new bike now (which is in the car currently) so I rearranged a little on Saturday, and it would seem my bike is attached to the others via the U lock and one of the chains now. The lock which now only has one key because one of them went down the grid when Mrs Up got out of the car with a bunch of keys on her lap. The one remaining key that is on the "big keys" that Mrs Up has with her, on a school trip, miles away.

Obviously, faced with a thick motorbike chain to which I have no key, I tried all the other keys anyway, and then looked in the 'spare keys' pot even though I know there isn't one in there either. And then I quickly unpacked the spare pannier, got changed out of cycling stuff and ran to the bus stop to arrive at work 5 minutes late and grumpy. I hate the bus!

 

[fossyant]

Rain, sun repeat. Binned the waterproof after 5 miles.

 

[Mo1959]

Anyway after a couple of minutes chat he says he needs to push on or he will be late for work and off he goes leaving me as if I wasn't moving, cheeky bugger

I did that to someone this morning, but he looked about 80

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Holey smoke that was hard work this morning. Reverted to the guarded hack as it was starting to persist down when I got up. Filled the rucksack to the brim of goodies given the opportunity for another food run, and boy was it heavy! Got about 10 miles in and the sun decided to come out just as I turned into the fresh north westerly. Struggled to get into any sort of rhythm so just plodded into work.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Holey smoke that was hard work this morning. Reverted to the guarded hack as it was starting to persist down when I got up. Filled the rucksack to the brim of goodies given the opportunity for another food run, and boy was it heavy! Got about 10 miles in and the sun decided to come out just as I turned into the fresh north westerly. Struggled to get into any sort of rhythm so just plodded into work.

I'd love to be able to plod at your speeds

 

[subaqua]

Used the mile end road today. went in later after the visit to the dentist and , it was utterly awful . clogged from halfway between bow and mile end all the way to Aldgate.

missed the heavy showers by minutes tho so result.

 

[ianrauk]

Traffic in Catford and Lewisham was horrendous this morning. Blocked in all directions. Not helped by Police cars, Ambulances and Fire Engines all ablaze with lights and sirens trying to get through. Mad for some very mad filtering which I wouldn't normally do.

Weather was a bit odd too. Not heavy rain, more of a light drizzle. Not cold but when cycling downhill at speed it felt a tad chilly. So had to put on the Montane. That soon came off after the climbs and when on the flat as soon warmed up again.

 

[13 rider]

Had planned to ride in this morning but bail out if was raining .Got up early bike ready rucksack packed walked out the door and its spitting with rain . I thought what the heck I am ready to go , take a chance . Dressed in long bottoms and long sleeved top (its still cold in the morning) after a mile the rain stopped.started again 1 mile from work made without getting to wet . really glad I rode in 6.8 miles no extending for me yet. Ride back was lovely 9.8 miles in broken sunshine took a route through Bradgate park a lovely deer park with a road through it and no cars that's always busy at weekends with pedestrians so you never get to enjoy ride but early Monday afternoon it was quiet nice slow ride admiring the views. Stopped at Leicester university's dig to have a nose I think their looking for another king . Got home 10 minutes later it chucked it down good timing might try for two days this week

 

[summerdays]

I did the bus and bike commute today (as Mr Summerday had an appointment), watched several cyclists passing the bus stop whilst I was waiting thinking why wasn't I doing the whole lot (I'm lazy). Then passed some on the steep hill (careful bus driver I have to say, waiting patiently till it was safe to pass), and then they kept leap frogging the bus. Still it was quite wet by the end so not so bad by bus. Then picked up the bike for the last few miles and braved the damp. Afternoon commute was far nicer ... though breezy.

 

[Arjimlad]

A refreshingly wet commute to work on a shorter route than normal to stop at Aldi for some cakes for the office. This also meant carrying a nearly empty rucksack and a d-lock, and wearing my waterproof jacket.

I took the Revolt with its mudguards and arrived in reasonably dry condition. The jacket & d-lock are going in the rucksack for the way home.

 

[Simontm]

In Brussels over night and not cycling in for the rest of the week for various reasons - including training rides - but thought those who have never seen them would like to see a pic of a Brussels cycle lane, y'know, for the hell of it