Tales from today's commute....

[Arjimlad]

At those temperatures I don't think mine would be chilly, it would have in all likelihood snapped off.

Or retreated inwards !

 

[Karlt]

Today is bike and train because forecast wind and I've had enough wind lately. Yesterday had a high nobber count.

1. & 2. Van pulled out of me on miniroundabout and car to its left pulled out at same time even though he couldn't see because of the van - I was told this was called shielding when I was learning to drive and that it was a Bad Thing, but he did it anyway. Fortunately spidysense was on form and I was able to slip between them and no collision ensued.

3. Half a mile later, van pushed past without noticeably deviating from his line, despite my strong secondary. Had to check I hadn't lost any bar tape onto his wing...

4. There's this road just before home with lots of patches of cars parked on the homeward bound side of the road. There's room for me to get past even if there's oncoming traffic, but not for cars to do the same thing. What invariably happens is I have a nice clear road, then someone overtakes me, stops thirty yards further up the road to let oncoming traffic past and traps me behind him all the way. What was really annoying today was that it was a copper who did this. Not dangerous, but thoughtless and inconsiderate.

 

[hennbell]

At those temperatures I don't think mine would be chilly, it would have in all likelihood snapped off.

I once made the foolish mistake of cycling in -15oC wearing sweatpants and long underwear that did not block the wind. When things freeze you lose the feeling when they then thaw that is when you feel the pain. That pain I shall not soon forget. Chilly willy to burning willy about 5 minutes after you get off the bike.

 

[hennbell]

Not wishing to be a pedant, but if it's -7°, the wind can't make it colder. Wind chill makes the temperature appear colder if you are warm-blooded, as the wind increases the rate of heat loss and we experience that as an apparently colder temperature. But to an inanimate object like a bike, the temperature is what it is.

You could have a temperature of +5° and a wind chill of -15°, for example. A person would experience that as an apparent temperature of -10°, but the water in your pond wouldn't freeze.

Get the calculator out, this one is about to go all thermodynamics

 

[Drago]

A lovely ride going in. Cool, not too breezy, the roads empty.

Horrible coming home. Nasty cross wind and blustery. The final incline beforehand I got off and walked, genuinely worried a gust would have me under the wheels of a car. To be fair though all today's car drivers have been patient and courteous and rewarded with a cheery wave.

Spotted 6 cyclists riding home. 3 had excellent lights, 3 had no lights whatsoever. No wonder some cagers hate us.

 

[cyberknight]

There's only one way to deal with wheel suckers CK...smoke 'em!


Had a shortened trip this morning, had to drop my wife's car key off at a mates garage so did one of my old routes. It was nice to see the stretches I used to ride when I started on the road which had me puffing a bit/a lot were now done with incredible ease.
Really mild out, just a couple of thin layers were enough. It's lookin like the wet stuff will be deployed to position just in time for the homeward leg.

On the MTB today, commuters wheels making noises so im guessing the bearings need greasing .Got drenched on the return trip .

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Now I love the commute...love it... but... going through the process of drying all my kit twice a day is beginning to grate a little.
I'm also switching back to the idea of a steed with discs. I was set on buying a new Di2 beast for the nice days and just upgrading the groupset on the Raleigh but now I'm not so sure. In an ideal world i'd buy my Planet X when it's released and a disc, but, that's a lot of pennies... Gah... decisions decisions...

 

[martint235]

Nothing to report traffic wise. An uneventful ride in. However, and it may be my imagination, but my heart and breathing seemed more laboured today. It could be my imagination (hope so) or it could be the stresses of this week (one of which is ironically a visit to the cardiologist on Weds). Will be taking it easy on the way home.

 

[subaqua]

another ride along the road of doom. AKA CS2 . all that money spent and such a crap design .

seems I am not the only one to get hooked on it either

http://road.cc/content/news/172152-video-driver-left-hooks-cyclist-upgraded-cycle-superhighway


I do like martin Porters comment ! "the rider who was filming left the lane to take a primary position." sort of defeats the object of it being a "safe " place to ride.

 

[glenn forger]

Not defending the driving, which was terrible, but that's a very odd road layout. The segregation ends just when you need protection. Imagine showing that to a Dutch person, it's embarrassing.

 

[donnydave]

First commute back on the bike after my embarrassing little off last week. Nice shiny new coat, new tights, new overshoes, laughed in the face of the cold wind and rain this morning. I'm not saying it was particularly enjoyable what with the crap weather, but it did feel good to be once more independent of motorised transport. My few days off happened to coincide with my car being a little bit broken, and having to get lifts off other people etc. Rubbish!

 

[subaqua]

Not defending the driving, which was terrible, but that's a very odd road layout. The segregation ends just when you need protection. Imagine showing that to a Dutch person, it's embarrassing.

blame TfL, LCC, and any other nobbers that think segregation is the way forward, without following up on the designs submitted.

I watched the video several times and it is exactly same place I got hooked a few weeks ago. To come out of the lane into Primary is just too nuts a move for me.
depends whereabouts in Holland as there is not a lot of segregation as a total overall apparently.

 

[Ciar]

blame TfL, LCC, and any other nobbers that think segregation is the way forward, without following up on the designs submitted.

I watched the video several times and it is exactly same place I got hooked a few weeks ago. To come out of the lane into Primary is just too nuts a move for me.
depends whereabouts in Holland as there is not a lot of segregation as a total overall apparently.

ahh my daily commute, gotta love those side turnings each time i get close to one i just shoulder check and slow down, way too many people not bothering to look.

they have even made it no right turn from burdett into mile end road now, so i have to cross filter back into the traffic which is lovely and safe! oh and they had to relay the cycle lane as it was so badly done first time round.

 

[glenn forger]

I'm on a fast uphill coming up to a junction, a massive 4x4 turns into the junction and because there's a skip ahead of him he sings over to the wrong side of the road. I jam the brakes on and we pass, I yell "You stupid farking dickhead" and then wait at the junction and I can hear him yelling "You had loads of room, what are you on about?" He was still yelling as I turned the corner.

 

[summerdays]

Well apart from the wind fairly normal except I was trying to cross a main road and failing - so after waiting a minute or two with no gaps I decided to use the zebra crossing near the junction. Got off, walked onto the crossing as one car went... Ok I'll let that one pass, then I was a full bike length on as the 4x4 suddenly realised I was in her way. Given I was wearing reflective a, hi-vis and had bike lights on I should have been easier than the average pedestrian who was in the road. She seemed to be shouting something at me as if I shouldn't have been there!

Later I spotted a child cycling on their own, either year 6 or year 7 I would guess, on the A38 and doing reasonably well given the weather conditions. They stopped at the traffic lights unlike the adult that went to the left of them!