Tales from today's commute....

[Beebo]

Had a nice chat with a guy on a Brompton. He cycles 40miles per day from Kent to paddington. That has to be one of the longest Brompton commutes.

 

[potsy]

Would have been better going by boat last night, roads were awful in places, at least it doesn't look like it's cold enough to freeze for the morning

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Would have been better going by boat last night, roads were awful in places, at least it doesn't look like it's cold enough to freeze for the morning

It is up here. Just got back and roads like ice...grit has been washed away...bits of flooded rds as well.

 

[fossyant]

Very wet, 2c so took the spike bike. No ice but plenty of mud and puddles. Undertook a cyclist this morning , he was avoiding a rather large puddle - I just ploughed through it (advantages of MTB's and waterproof overshoes). Hope I didn't splash him

 

[BrumJim]

Bad. Really, really, really bad.
Through the park - rain ontop of sheet ice, varying from slushy ice to unrideable stuff that you can hardly even walk on. I came off.
Then strong winds in my face. Then gusting winds from any direction it felt like.
I'd rather not do that again.

 

[BSRU]

Cold, wet, windy, dark and with a streaming nose from a head cold, it turned out to be a nice ride in due to less traffic than I would normally expect on a Friday. Cup of tea and a hot breakfast at work warmed me up.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Much preferred the dry 2°C commute this morning compared to the wet one home last night, but there were more icy patches and frozen puddles to negotiate today, including an icy rutted chicane section that was positively treacherous. Despite trying my best to pick the line I wanted to take to safely negotiate the hazard, the bike decided that it wanted to take several other routes, mostly at the same time.... needless to say I was extremely glad to have the Marathon Winters on as they kept me upright, but it was still a bit un-nerving to say the least

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

Bad. Really, really, really bad.
Through the park - rain ontop of sheet ice, varying from slushy ice to unrideable stuff that you can hardly even walk on. I came off.
Then strong winds in my face. Then gusting winds from any direction it felt like.
I'd rather not do that again.

Yeah there was quite a gale blowing this morning, but the temperature is increasing slightly now. And should be dry for the return journey.

 

[Harry_Palmer79]

Not too cold this morning oop north (in Glasgow anyway...)

One close pass just after I left my flat, then another two approaching a roundabout close to work (the second of the three being particularly stupid). He decided he didn't like me taking primary to avoid the possibility of a stupid overtake so he pulled out into the oncoming lane to pass me anyway (luckily there was nothing coming too quickly the other way) which probably saved the grand total of five seconds. Immediately after that a cyclist close passed me on the entry to the same roundabout. It wouldn't have got him anywhere as I was about to catch him at the next set of lights, but he RLJ'd at what is a pretty busy junction. On the way to that set of lights I had passed another cyclist who then proceded to RLJ as well - only for me to pass him again 100 yards later, pair of nobbers!

 

[J.Primus]

Was cold and wet this morning but wrapped and waterproofed up felt quite smug passing a line of shivering people at the bus stop as I was feeling dry and toasty. Also I passed a guy riding a bromton and wearing a full face motocross helmet. He didn't half look odd!!!

 

[GrasB]

Not exactly a commute but there I was at the traffic lights when a moron in a mini-cab starts mouthing off at me. I ignore him but couldn't help but laugh at his statement of "Look you just sitting there trying to be all cool & shoot with those poncy flashing lights. You cyclists are all the same, go all jump straight through traffic lights & don't have any lights!"...

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Only 6 miles home tonight, came out of work and thought front wheel was sticking and wobbling more than usual. Stop at first lights and quick inspection shows two spokes next to each other have snapped, so gingerly biked the direct route home. I had been riding all week with one broken spoke, obviously the massive mileage I have done this week has taken its toll!

 

[Twilkes]

If I had been using clipless pedals this week I would have been nursing a bruised hip and wrist, rather than loping along the ice like a landing swan, which I somehow managed to do.

I sometimes silently commentate my own actions to myself, just in case I ever needed to defend them in a court of law.

And this evening, the Glasgow Science Centre put on a special fireworks display for me while I was cycling next to the Expressway. Which was nice.

 

[Drago]

Back at it for the first time in 8 weeks yesterday and a pathetic 8 minutes off my best time. Grim determination with a dose of bloody mindedness saw me knock 5 minutes off today.

Easing in gently is for weaklings and the undemanding.

 

[Trail Child]

Tonite going to work, I finally got the winter bike to go on the big ring and was able to knock 2 minutes off the commute (post snow & ice). The road salt and cold are really starting to make gear shifts questionable. I was really starting to see the wisdom of someone in the bike lock-up bringing his/her Trek SS belt drive on their commute. I must remember to drop a note on his/her bike about it.