Tales from today's commute....

[L Q]

1st day back after a week off and I took the wrong gloves with me, fingers felt numb for the 1st 10 miles. Even after a week off the bike its such a change as it was dark when I set off this morning at 7.10.

Had a van pull straight out in front of me so had to lock up to avoid, he did say sorry however so I just got on with it and went round him.

 

[Origamist]

You are going to be walking like John Wayne at the end of the week till they get used to it again.

I'm off to Crewe again on Weds, so look out for Mr Red - red bike, red panniers, red top, red and black lid. What bike you on ?

The undercarriage is already a bit sore...

Wednesday is "rest day" - but I'll think of you when I'm on the Pendelino slurping a latte...

Cool at around 1-2C but no mist this morning. Toe covers and bib longs brought into service. Will pack away the summer kit at the weekend...

 

[Hacienda71]

Sorted out a creak that as been driving me nuts for the last ten days. Everything has rebuilt regreased and where necessary replaced. Found out that it was the wheels but was the third set I tried before it became apparent that that is where the issue lay. As a result a superfast commute this morning nearly 21mph on the uphill way in and a massive grin on my face.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Another cold morning at 0 deg C but got the layers absolutely spot on, ss base with arm warmers and a long sleeve jersey (ditch the arm warmers for the return leg later)
Pretty uneventful ride, quite enjoyed the lanes that were dark, very dark until I was blasting through them lights ablaze

 

[Karlt]

Took in a hill I don't have to do as the valley was a wind tunnel in my face and it was therefore a good a day as any. Something's happened to the limit screw on the RD though so the lowest gear results in spokes clanging on the cage, so I only had a low of 40x26, which isn't so great as the gradient approaches 20%. Ah well, it's good muscle strengthening exercise. Will twiddle the limit screw later. Thought's just crossed my mind - I wonder if one of the ferrules isn't properly seated? That'd pull everything towards the spokes and explain the adjusting I've had to do at the cable stops lately...

 

[Slioch]

After 8 years of commuting by car (75 mile round trip) I've got a new job and I'm finally back on the bike - joyjoyjoyjoyjoyjoyjoy. I am one happy bunny today.

16 mile round trip, undercover cycle parking and showers at work.

Numpty count = 0

 

[ianrauk]

'twas a nice (all in dark clothing, non hi-viz, non-helmet, no daylight running lights) commute this evening. A thoroughly nice tailwind push me a fair way home. It's a bit chilly out there though. The cyclist that are left cycling this time of year have some legs. So a little bit of SCR fun to boot.

 

[martint235]

My legs were dead this evening, headwind all the way home. Struggled to maintain 15mph average

 

[ianrauk]

Oh come on you know you want to

No mate... I really can't.

 

[Spinney]

Mod note: some posts have been moved to a new thread in Advocacy and Cycling Safety

 

[Simontm]

So a lurking lurgy come to the forefront during the day and the north wind wasn't too bad tho the combo of both meant no pbs for me
Numpty count: 1 a Range Rover passed me with sod all room nearly shoving me into the back of a parked car. Unfortunately the twats headed in exactly the same direction and when he saw me behind him, he came to a dead halt for no reason before heading off again

 

[Clanghead]

Pootling along to work through a housing estate this morning, I noticed a silver VW Golf about to reverse out of a driveway with all its windows misted up. The driver seemed to spot me at the last second and braked - given our very low respective speeds, I didn't feel under any particular danger - that all changed 30 seconds later as he/she close passed me down the following hill at about 50mph (in a 30mph zone), despite there being plenty of room on other side of the road and no oncoming traffic.

I'm fairly sure it was also a silver VW Golf that almost took me out last night, while I was cycling over a toucan crossing about a mile away from this morning's incident. The lights for traffic were still red as I approached, and the beeps were still going off as I started crossing, so I *assume* the lights for traffic were still red or maybe flashing amber when I was halfway across and this car came hurtling round a corner and straight through the crossing about 5 feet in front of me - again doing what seemed like 50mph in a 30mph or 40mph zone. I was too stunned to catch the number plate.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Flippin cold for the first 5 miles, wished I had a neck scarf on, soon warmed up after that.
Through Barking a guy on a white De-Rosa road bike pulled out in front of me suddenly from a side road spinning like he was being chased by an angry mob. I figured his high cadence could not be sustained, waited for half a mile and we took different lines through a junction ( I went on the road he stayed on the cycleway) and I was past, I fully expected him to be on my tail but he then seemed to give up and I never saw him again.
Yesterday I had gone for a saddle fitting at Cadence Cycles in Crystal Palace as my old saddle was chaffing,I must have tried nearly every saddle in the shop. I ended up with a Prologo Nago Tri 40 with a slight nose down position (supposed to work for triathletes and iron man people) the new saddle seems to be working a treat, no sore backside.

 

[martint235]

I'm on call for work this week which is usually ok but this morning as I got on to the South Circular there's a guy in front on full carbon, leg warmers, little plastic hat going for it like he's something special. I pulled in behind him at some lights then just sped past him. He caught up at the next lights, I sped off again (I'm sure it's the Carradice that gives them the idea I'm slow). About to do the same at the next lights when the flipping duty manager phone rang. As I pulled off the road to answer it, the guy had the cheek to ask if I was ok!!!!

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Special moment this morning as I turned 2015 into my biggest year for distance and speed. My previous record was last year at 11'258 miles. 3 miles in this morning and I said goodbye to that record and hello to a new one