Tales from today's commute....

[RoubaixCube]

saw a Pontiac Firebird in red with two black stripes. Jim Rockford's motor.

Thats my dream car

 

[Leaway2]

Rode in without a coat today. 1st time this year. Lets hope it stays fine for the return journey (I do pack a soft shell jacket in my back pocket)

 

[John_S]

It was chucking it down for the entire ride today. Just one of those things but I was a bit grumpy because having looked at the forecast I thought I had chance of getting away with a dry ride. One forecast had said rain from 8 and the other rain from 9 but the second that I set foot outside just before 7 it started to pour down.

I'm not looking forward to pulling on damp clothes later on for the ride home.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Had to stop and take a layer off this morning. Was expecting a downpour for the ride home, but it just drizzled for 30 minutes or so before it stopped and was a cracking evenings ride home.

Nearly rode into a couple of lambs that had escaped from their field, farmers wife didn't seemed that bothered when I went and knocked on her door and told her they were loose, next time I probably won't bother.

 

[claudbutler]

Shorts on today[nice baggy mtb ones] extended my commute home by 10 miles weather was dry and bright.

 

[Sixmile]

A pleasant ride in this morning, although the traffic was very heavy. Cruising past it in the bus lane for the last 3 or 4 miles was fantastic though.

First ride with my new adidas training pants (with zips, yeh!) instead of my wifes 'unisex' running tights. Knees a little cold on the first few miles but I would deem them a success.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Most definitely at that time of year were I need different clothing in the morning and evening commutes. Plenty of leisure riders out tonight

 

[tallliman]

Far too warm today especially coming home but don't feel ready for shorts yet (old knee issues mean I'd rather they were hot!).

Decided to add 15 miles to the ride home. Lovely tailwind for the first 10 miles, managed a flat mile at 27mph. Flabbergasted by that!

Only issue was whilst descending at 22mph or so through single car width speed bumps when an old chap decides he can squeeze past before the cyclist meets him. Glad my brakes work!

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Beautiful evening ride home today! Did a bit of an extend to around 60 something miles for the day and threw in a 20 minute burst of effort. Kind of a little stupid, I finished it and was still 25 miles from home with no energy replenishing supplies. Had to take it extra steady toward the end of the journey. As soon as I got in I devoured a 500g tub of yoghurt with added milkshake powder!

 

[HarryTheDog]

This morning spotted a winking tail light 400yds into the commute he was rapid and I couldn't close on him. He then got held up by cars and I accidently overtook him ( I didn't want to) he then ended up drafting me for a mile then I turned off. He tracked me down via strava fly-by and explained he had been unsure of the route and wouldn't normally draft. So Strava can be a power for good relations.
On the commute home I was kept honest for 6 miles by a guy my age in all the kit but on what looked like a bits and pieces bike, plain chineese carbon road bike frame but a set of chromed flat bars which looked like they came off a tesco's 99 quid bike. He annoyed and impressed me at the same time by catching me up at multiple lights with the demenour of a bloke who had just been for a 5 minute stroll, no sweat,panting or any sign of physical effort.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Came across a truly impressive guy this morning, towards the end of my ride a little guy ( my height) but skinnier and probably a few years older around 60 came straight past me. I had been pootling a with heart rate 120-130 odd and I tried to stay with him and had to draft him a fair bit to stay in contact, heart rate was at 150-170 for the next 4 miles. I only got past him on the more technical bits but he would refuse to draft me and jump straight back on the front. The guy was averaging over 21mph according to Strava for 4 miles and one section 23.5 mph into a nasty 15mph headwind with the cadence of a 20yr old.. We ended up going up Canning Town flyover side by side and I first warned him his rear QR lever was half open and then complimented him on his speed which I think made his day.

 

[Ciar]

Headwind sore legs and then rain, don't think you could get a better commute!

 

[Arjimlad]

It's interesting running a camera on the bike. Reviewing the footage later helps me to see what I could do better by way of road positioning, and to confirm whether passes which felt close at the time were genuinely close.

 

[Origamist]

Mild but with a chilly Easterly wind. Nothing of interest to report.

 

[EthelF]

Still not feeling 100% after a couple of days off sick, so I decided to take the Brompton for a change, to remind me to take it easy*. It was its first outing since a recent visit to the LBS to fix a broken rear spoke. I was delighted to discover the mechanic had given the bike a bit of a once over, tightening up the brakes, and somehow getting rid of the really annoying squeak from the rear hinge that no amount of lube was able to shift. Pity he forgot to adjust the hub gears when he put the wheel back though. Still, nothing that a couple of minutes flat on my back in the park while being barked at by a passing golden retriever couldn't fix...

* Yes I know, Bromptons can be ridden swiftly, I just find that when riding mine I tend to take things easier than when on my road bike.