Tales from today's commute....

[Origamist]

The wind was from a more westerly direction this morning, meaning I didn't get the push to work that I hoped for. That said, it wasn't as gusty as yesterday and made decent progress. A bit nippier too, at 3C.

Brake pads wearing out at an alarming rate with all this rain and grime on the roads...(should probably check rim wear too!).

 

[apb]

strong headwind this morning, looking forward to the journey home. WEEEEEE!

 

[Andrew_P]

oh my I long for zero temp but low wind conditions that is my long distant memory of "winter"

Disc brakes - 1500 miles no servicing, no adjusting, no rim wear - add mudguards not washed the bike in two weeks! When I do give it a wash the rims look brand new now there is a novelty. 30mm slight knobble Schwalbe S-One Pro tubeless at 60psi super grippy and lovely ride 8.75kg bike weight. I think I have eventually got the perfect winter commuter bike.

 

[martinclive]

I had a close shave comedy clipless moment, I normally unclip my right foot and put it down when stopping. Queue strong gust and desperate unclipping of left leg just in time to get it down on the ground and avoid embarrassment. Blended the frantic movement into pretending to stretch so it looked like I did it on purpose. I think I got away with it.

Got blocked off by a white van by the kerb yesterday and did not get my foot out in time to avoid falling onto the pavement - I did not think fast enough to blame the wind - that must have been it!

 

[HarryTheDog]

Hit a pothole 3 miles from home out in the countryside , punctured rear. I was freezing by the time I had fixed it. Couldnt get the cold out of my hands the rest of the way home.

 

[Tenacious Sloth]

Hit a pothole 3 miles from home out in the countryside , punctured rear. I was freezing by the time I had fixed it. Couldnt get the cold out of my hands the rest of the way home.

It's a real bummer getting a puncture on a commute, particularly when it's dark and cold. I'm also more inclined to make a bad job of fixing it in these conditions.

I now accept the performance penalty of running 35C Marathon Plus tyres on my commute bike to help avoid it. Haven't punctured yet in 3500 miles (this will be the kiss of death).

Hope you remembered to 'look pro' with correct alignment of valve and tyre logo?

Graham

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Sometimes, seriously, the stupid things people say astound me. Now I'm known to enjoy a bit of SCR, especially when I know the person in front checks me and accelerates, and especially especially when it is a 4.5 mile long TT stretch. The guy tonight, you cannot use the excuse "you had a tailwind" as the reason I smoked you...

 

[Origamist]

Temp dropped on the way home and was around 0C when I got back. Wind had eased a little, but was still a cross headwind. Guy in a van pulled along side and asked me about my rear light, said he wanted one too.

Looking forward to a rest day tmrw.

 

[summerdays]

Talking of rear lights, I saw a new one this morning, sort of looked like a large 0 but on its side, at a guess 4 inches by 2? It seemed to be reasonably noticeable without being in anyway glaring.

 

[Maverick Goose]

WINDY!!! 17-18mph gusts. I honestly want to cycle but i dont fancy being blown into the wheels of oncoming cars by cross winds. Looks like public transport for me today

I've narrowly escaped that a couple of times...wise move!

 

[Glow worm]

Brutal headwind going in as usual since about August. Then a van driver deliberately drove at me. Several crazy close passes by motons. Then a dog walker tried to off me by stringing his 20 ft lead across my path. I really love this farking country.
A day of misery of Crankarmian proportions!

 

[cyberknight]

Sleeting a bit this morning and the windchill was fun, i had to stop halfway home , take my shoe off and adjust my sock as the seam was digging into my toes .Not the most enjoyable thing to do on a dark country lanes by cree light .

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Another puncture, two in a week now. Bloody loads of glass on the cycle paths at the moment, ordered some new tyres as the front one has some nasty cuts in it. Luckily Wiggle have them at £23 a pop at the minute so bought two for the road bike as well

 

[13 rider]

Perfect timing this morning got to paper shop 200 yds from work and it was spitting with rain .Bought paper came out shop and its raining properly quick scoot to work and made it without getting too wet .13.1 miles in Lights failed on the way home presumed the battery was flat so got cheapo halfords specials out of pannier . how did I use to ride with them their rubbish , good job I now the roads and where the potholes are .. Got home and found got battery pack had just become unplugged !! 8.1 miles home and somehow I had a headwind both ways !!!

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Perfect timing this morning got to paper shop 200 yds from work and it was spitting with rain .Bought paper came out shop and its raining properly quick scoot to work and made it without getting too wet .13.1 miles in Lights failed on the way home presumed the battery was flat so got cheapo halfords specials out of pannier . how did I use to ride with them their rubbish , good job I now the roads and where the potholes are .. Got home and found got battery pack had just become unplugged !! 8.1 miles home and somehow I had a headwind both ways !!!

Just looked at your Strava ride, you set off around the same time as me this morning, I had no rain, in fact it was a lovely ride in.