Tales from today's commute....

[glenn forger]

Up at half seven, rain was drumming on the kitchen roof.

"I'll just wait for this to pass" I said to myself. Checked Accuweather:

"Heavy rain for the next 120 minutes"

Doh!

Got damp, just my knees and chest, and two drivers let me out cos they felt sorry for me or were just nice people.

 

[glenn forger]

View: https://www.facebook.com/streetfx/videos/10156295087340112/

 

[Tin Pot]

No death threats, flats, failing tyres, potholes, road closures or torrential rain rain today.

Got up, walked downstairs, put on the kettle and pulled out a laptop.

<bliss>

Back on it 05:30 tomorrow

 

[Slioch]

I've been back commuting on the bike for 3 months now after 9 years doing a 75 mile round trip in the car, and today was probably the first time it didn't put a big cheesy grin on my face.
Cold, wet, head wind, dark, horrible.

Grumpy, grumpy, grumpy.

Roll on spring.

 

[Maverick Goose]

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a numpty to squeeze through the tiniest of tiny gaps in oncoming traffic.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Distinctly chilly this morning and the first 5 miles I found the cold creeping through my gloves.
I forgot about the cold as when I was free wheeling down Harold hill at around 25mph the whole bike started to vibrate badly as if it had hit a resonant frequency. ( started to make my feet tingle it was so bad) Gave me quite a fright, pedalled and it went away. Happened twice more free wheeling at over 20mph downhill. I figure it’s the freehub internal pawls on the rear wheel are catching which is quite dangerous as it may sieze and turn it into a fixie which could throw the chain off and stop the wheel etc so going to have ensure I pedal all the way home. Probably waste of time taking it to Evans just down the road as it only shows up sometimes at over 20 mph and not when I just pick the bike up and spin it . Probably a case of new freehub around 30 quid ( Mavic Kysrium S wheel) as lots of miles on it so maybe a waste of time attempting to take it apart .

 

[Andrew_P]

Well the weather respite at the beginning of the week lasted all of 48 hours! Back to the wet and windy but now with a dash of cold..

On the waterproofing front did anyone else watch Dragons Den last epsode and see this? http://liquiproof.co.uk/pages/clothing-accessories-protection I though it looked cracking stuff. Might try some out.

 

[Tin Pot]

Bit of rear wheel trouble but otherwise ok today.

Finally felt like I could stop and take a pic - I believe this is Cobham.

Eat that railway companies/M25 traffic!

 

[fimm]

Well, it was "Be nice to fimm" day today . I've taken to using a cycle path for the first part of my ride from the station to the office, even though my bike is getting covered in leaf jam, because it takes me away from my favourite 40 mph road with pinch points. However it was frosty this morning and I assume the path won't be gritted, so back to the road I went. I had 3 or 4 drivers all sit well back from me and then pass wide at an appropriate speed! And all the following drivers passed well too!! I think I had one slightly dubious overtake on the whole trip.

 

[summerdays]

A cold morning and I got the layers about right, I had to stop to remove 2 for the last couple of miles after a hill

 

[Tin Pot]

A cold morning and I got the layers about right, I had to stop to remove 2 for the last couple of miles after a hill

Same here - added a wiggle t as a base and the waterproof jacket (open) and a ghey buff.

Took off the jacket with fifteen minutes to go to "dry out"

 

[Slioch]

Distinctly chilly this morning and the first 5 miles I found the cold creeping through my gloves.
I forgot about the cold as when I was free wheeling down Harold hill at around 25mph the whole bike started to vibrate badly as if it had hit a resonant frequency. ( started to make my feet tingle it was so bad) Gave me quite a fright, pedalled and it went away. Happened twice more free wheeling at over 20mph downhill. I figure it’s the freehub internal pawls on the rear wheel are catching which is quite dangerous as it may sieze and turn it into a fixie which could throw the chain off and stop the wheel etc so going to have ensure I pedal all the way home. Probably waste of time taking it to Evans just down the road as it only shows up sometimes at over 20 mph and not when I just pick the bike up and spin it . Probably a case of new freehub around 30 quid ( Mavic Kysrium S wheel) as lots of miles on it so maybe a waste of time attempting to take it apart .

Pedalling works to stop a wobble, but you could also try squeezing the top tube between your knees as an alternative.

 

[HarryTheDog]

@Slioch are you suggesting this is a speed wobble ? I dont think its a speed wobble, It vibrates not wobbles. I have had the bike for 7 years and done many thousands of miles on it and it has never done this before with many different wheels on it at much higher speeds. It did it again twice on the way home at just over 25 mph when I forgot to pedal . I am now thinking if it isnt the rear hub then maybe I have a crack in the frame as its a old carbon frame and I have beaten the hell out of it over the years. First thing I will do is clean and inspect then try one of my other wheels on it. Also I changed the headset bearings a month ago so maybe that needs checking as well. Seems wierd that the pedalling instantly stops it completely and only over 20mph.
Bit of a mystery at the moment but thanks for the squeezing top tube suggestion.

 

[Slioch]

I used to get wobbles on my touring bike when it was fully laden with panniers etc and going fast downhill. Squeezing the top tube between the knees worked to calm it down ok, but could never replicate the wobble when it wasn't laden. Maybe trying a change of wheels will at least eliminate some of the potential causes of your wobble?

 

[The Rover]

I didn't go back to work until thurs so yesterday was my first commute of 2016.
The ride in was great, dry, cold, with a bit of sun as well. I used my new bike and some new kit and both were spot on.
The return leg at just before mid night was grim!
Heavy, heavy and heavy rain with wind and low temps meant I was soaking when I got in. I was quietly squelching round the house at 1am trying not to disturb everyone.