Tales from today's commute....

[donnydave]

Been off from cycling regularly for nearly 4 months due to long complicated reasons but I'm now back to doing 1 or 2 days a week. I was worried that my fitness would have been shattered due to not regularly cycling. Decided to use Strava for the first time in 2 years and popped in about 5 new personal record segments and on the days that I do cycle I'm about 3 to 4 mins faster on a 40 minute commute than I used to be. My average speed used to be around 18mph and so far the last 10 rides with various weather conditions have nearly all been over 20mph average.

A friend who does personal training suggested that when I was cycling regularly I wasn't recovering properly so could never properly realise any gains in performance. I find it difficult to cycle slowly so back when I was cycling every day I would always be at maximum effort and I used to be very very tired by the end of the week. All very interesting.

 

[RoubaixCube]

Caught a bit of drizzle on the way in. Things are only going to get worse!

 

[Twizit]

Changed the chain on the bad weather single speed at the weekend. Thought I could get away with just that but the constant grinding on today's commute means a new freewheel and chainring are in order. In fairness I did last the last chain go on a bit too long and I've had many '000's of miles out of all bits.

My apologies for those that had to put up with the noise of me grinding along past them today

 

[RoubaixCube]

Seeing a lot of cyclists fly past in nothing but a rain jacket and shorts on. I wonder if they were 'caught out' by the rain

Myself. I have rain jacket, waterproof overtrousers, waterproof cap, waterproof gloves and my MT-71 shoes which should offer some level of water resistance.

Quite a deluge out there

 

[ianrauk]

Seeing a lot of cyclists fly past in nothing but a rain jacket and shorts on. I wonder if they were 'caught out' by the rain

Myself. I have rain jacket, waterproof overtrousers, waterproof cap, waterproof gloves and my MT-71 shoes which should offer some level of water resistance.

Quite a deluge out there

It's not cold rain this time of year. With all that gear you just boil anyway.
I look at the temperatures first then the precipitation afterwards
Certainly no need for waterproofs in the summer. Lycra dries out very quickly. No waterproofs for my daily commute.

 

[RoubaixCube]

It's not cold rain this time of year. With all that gear you just boil anyway.
I look at the temperatures first then the precipitation afterwards
Certainly no need for waterproofs in the summer. Lycra dries out very quickly. No waterproofs for my daily commute.

According to the bbc its 14'c out there, (not counting humidity) I'll just take it easy. My overtrousers have side vents so hopefully i wont boil too much

 

[rivers]

Seeing a lot of cyclists fly past in nothing but a rain jacket and shorts on. I wonder if they were 'caught out' by the rain

Myself. I have rain jacket, waterproof overtrousers, waterproof cap, waterproof gloves and my MT-71 shoes which should offer some level of water resistance.

Quite a deluge out there

I just have a rain jacket. And even in that, I soak through my shirt with sweat. I couldn't imagine wearing overtrousers

 

[RoubaixCube]

@ianrauk @rivers

I did what everyone else did and rode home without the overtrousers, the waterproof cap or gloves on.... It felt mighty refreshing riding in the rain but my brakes were absolutely useless. I use Kool Stop brake pads meant for dry weather cycling but i think i will switch them to the salmon variant for better braking in the wet. I had to keep looking ahead as my braking distance was at least 5-10m and even then it was rather dicey, brakes had no 'bite' at all so it was a case of rolling to an 'eventual' stop, which wasnt at all kool (kool stop... )

I had flashbacks when I had that accident earlier this year and i went into a side of a car at 22mph....these brake pads are absolutely junk in the wet.

 

[rivers]

@ianrauk @rivers

I did what everyone else did and rode home without the overtrousers, the waterproof cap or gloves on.... It felt mighty refreshing riding in the rain but my brakes were absolutely useless. I use Kool Stop brake pads meant for dry weather cycling but i think i will switch them to the salmon variant for better braking in the wet. I had to keep looking ahead as my braking distance was at least 5-10m and even then it was rather dicey, brakes had no 'bite' at all so it was a case of rolling to an 'eventual' stop, which wasnt at all kool (kool stop... )

I had flashbacks when I had that accident earlier this year and i went into a side of a car at 22mph....these brake pads are absolutely junk in the wet.

Good to know. I shall avoid kool stop brake pads.

 

[seraphina]

Lovely wet commute today - very quite, gotta love the school holidays.

Another one who didn't bother with waterproofs, just hang stuff out at work.

I really quite enjoy cycling in the rain when it's just warm drizzle.

 

[si_c]

Not too wet in this morning, just shorts and waterproof jacket and I was fine. The roads were quite greasy though, back end slipped out a few times going round corners, glad I gave myself extra time to get the ferry this morning, was quite a bit slower than usual.

 

[Killiekevin]

Commute was good this morning, not been on the bike too much as I have a new baby and this was my first day back after paternity leave so cycled the full way into work, Kilmarnock to Glasgow, 25 miles rather than getting the train part of the way. Was a bit foggy in places but enjoyed being back in the saddle properly.

 

[Andrew_P]

Got scalped twice today by the hill dodging @ianrauk this morning. Git never waved hello either KERCHING!

Take it he is on holiday because was heading in the wrong direction, didn't want to disturb him as he was a man on a mission. Couldn't be missed with the Tats and the Cyclechat Top!

 

[ianrauk]

Got scalped twice today by the hill dodging @ianrauk this morning. Git never waved hello either KERCHING!

Take it he is on holiday because was heading in the wrong direction, didn't want to disturb him as he was a man on a mission. Couldn't be missed with the Tats and the Cyclechat Top!

Hi Andrew, remind me where.. there were a lot of cyclists out today. Should have said Hi.
Yup on holiday this week so thought I'd chuck in a Surrey/Kent 100 mile loop. Oh my, there were plenty of hills in the second half I can tell you ;-) I Just got back.

 

[Andrew_P]

Hi Andrew, remind me where.. there were a lot of cyclists out today. Should have said Hi.
Yup on holiday this week so thought I'd chuck in a Surrey/Kent 100 mile loop. Oh my, there were plenty of hills in the second half I can tell you ;-) I Just got back.

Passed me before Coulsdon I went over the bypass and you emerged behind me again re-joining the A23 after Coulsdon to disappear off in to the distance