Tales from today's commute....

[the_craig]

All you lucky pups with your sun and short sleeves. I had horrible smirr on the road down to work this morning which soaked me to the bone and then a light shower coming home.

But moaning aside, it was just nice getting back on the bike after two weeks of nightshift (and a couple sick days too ).

So this morning, I tried for the quiet back roads rather than the main A road and didn't have a car behind me until I hit town. The roads seemed less hectic too - probably due to the weans finishing school.

https://www.strava.com/activities/335238466

Going home, I added a couple extra miles and was just getting into my stride as I got home. I would've stayed out but I seem to have passed my lurgy to the_craig ladies (30 and 2) so I had to do a Calpol and ice cream run.

https://www.strava.com/activities/335689027

30km done with a nice 12 hour shift in the middle and I'm feeling good.

 

[Jenkins]

Proper warm sunshine at last with the temperature kept comfortable by a light sea breeze. Don't think I've ever seen so many cyclists out and about while I was on the return commute and a complete mix of every type of bike and rider all seemingly out enjoying the late afternoon/early evening warmth. Long may it last.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Played a little game with myself this morning to ensure I save myself for a hot ride home. Ride in a manner so you don’t sweat, as soon as I felt a sweat coming on I slowed down. Worked as well, all the way to Canning Town, after that I had to play in traffic so had no option but to start perspiring.

 

[Simontm]

Nice ride in - though where on earth is the traffic? Not complaining mind.
No bizarre people in soft shells this morning so perhaps they've finally realised what the temperature's like.
Caught a lucky break coming out onto the A232 at Carshalton ponds when I slipped in between a bus and a Halfords HGV. Bus pulled over and had a relatively traffic free cycle for the next 5 minutes as the inevitable traffic jam occurred behind me with those two lumps of vehicle in that narrow stretch of road - which is always nice to have.
Traffic was very well behaved this morning but alas, numpty count: 1 - I was halfway up what was essentially a single lane thanks to the parked cars when this van came hurtling down towards me when it had a pullover gap just ahead of itself. I had nowhere to go so breathed in and we scrapped past each other but a cm either way? Just completely unnecessary to save the driver, what, 5 seconds?
No suicidal squirrels though!

 

[summerdays]

Well I wore birkenstocks, shorts and a strappy top and it was still hot and sticky ... it's going to be bad later on!!!

 

[DWiggy]

Ride home last night was eventful, powering up a short hill when my non drive side crank came off obviously didn't re-fit it correctly after Sundays clean, still after getting it back on I took a slightly extended ride home as it was just glorious. Ride in this morning was just lovely, no wind nice,bright and warm what more could you ask for? Although I do get a good view towards the city of London and the wall of smog looked awful today good luck to you city dwellers!
Ride homes could be a bit warm.

 

[ianrauk]

What's worse then a cycling RLJ'r?
A headcam wearing cycling RLJ.

Wow, it is very warm out there, very little breeze too. I thought I had better take it easy and drank a whole 500ml bottle of water to try keep the body temperature down, Usually I don't drink anything for the whole ride. It's gonna be a scorcher later.

 

[JMT]

Lovely ride in this morning 22 degrees very light tail breeze. No serious incidents although a couple of people turning right across stopped 3 feet over the junction line causing me to move out to the middle of the road and a silly overtake by a car coming towards me meaning he was doing 60+ mph on my side of the road trying to force a space to pull in to before he reached me. Still out weighted by lots of patient drivers waiting for the appropriate space before overtaking me.

Planning on treating myself to an extended ride up the Purbecks over the Lulworth ranges tonight, a couple of tasty short 20% climbs.

 

[martint235]

South Circular completely grid locked from Eltham to where I turned off it. Absolutely no idea why, the road climbing to the top of Catford looked to be clear as I turned left but up until then it had been stoopid!!

Actually fitted a second bottle cage to the commuter yesterday in expectation of today and boy did I need it. I'm not a massive water drinker on the bike but got through 750ml this morning.

 

[Origamist]

Was 18.5C when I headed off this morning - that's by far the warmest its been at 7.30.

I had a much needed haircut last night, but I was still sweating buckets when I arrived at the office!

Roads were relatively quiet, but did see a very quick chap whizz past a junction near Tatton and I half-heartedly tried to pace myself up to him, but no chance...

The best bike performed admirably (although the BB might be past it's best) but its rider less so. Still managed one of my quickest outward legs of the year, but will take it easier on the way home if the temps in the are in the high 20s as forecast.

 

[Karlt]

Ave speed nearer 18 than 17mph makes me happy. Bloody cars getting in the way and slowing me down don't. Why are they allowed to use the roads, getting stuck behind each other and slowing the traffic down, eh

 

[L Q]

Ride home last night was lovely, best ride home I have had for a long time, cant believe how many cyclists were out.

This morning felt tired and plugged away, still got to work in time though. Passed a lot of people cycling back into Lincoln this morning as well so nice to see a few more people making use of the decent weather.

 

[LoftusRoadie]

Maybe this has been discussed before but Friday evenings are the worst commutes home (or at least for the 20 mins I cycle on London roads). There seem to be more potential accidents on a Friday evening than the rest of the week put together.
Loving the sunshine and the towpath along the River Lea doesn't seem to be much busier than usual.

 

[ianrauk]

Maybe this has been discussed before but Friday evenings are the worst commutes home (or at least for the 20 mins I cycle on London roads). There seem to be more potential accidents on a Friday evening than the rest of the week put together.
Loving the sunshine and the towpath along the River Lea doesn't seem to be much busier than usual.

Haven't noticed any difference really over the 10 years of doing my current commute in SE London. No day is better or worse.

 

[MisterStan]

No day is better or worse.

Except Mondays. Nobody likes Mondays.