Tales from today's commute....

[Lonestar]

In by normal defensive route and back via CS 3 and Canning Town...Ok till Forest Gate where the traffic got a bit more unpredictable and where indicators are regarded as an expensive add on.For decoration only.To tell the driver they have switched the alarm on only.

It's apparently a great night for riding about with no lights. In the pitch black, in the pouring rain. Not ONE cyclist of the ones I saw had lights on. One was hurtling wrong way down a one way street towards a junction that has seen a few serious collisions involving cyclists in the past 2 years.

But the drivers on the footpaths and cycle paths also deserve a mention

Yes I noticed this as well.No rain but plenty of no lights and RLJers.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Balls. Quick trip to the shops last night an a pinch flat on my rear. Changed the inner tube there and then (in a very dodgy part of south Manchester, at about 10pm, for added drama) and immidiately noticed a bulge in the tyre. Felt like I was riding a square wheel! Gingerly got home, and I can't for the life of me work out what's wrong. Different tube, same problem.

Had to commute on my "weekend" bike this morning, which was actually great fun! But I've been out to check that she's still there 3 times today already, Can't wait to get home and lock her back away! Didn't half feel like a pillock commuting on a full SRAM RED Trek this am - backpack and all. I wanted to stop and tell everyone I normally commute on steel with panniers and I'm really not that much of a wannabe!

Home tonight for a full diagnosis of the Genesis...

Sounds like the internal structure of the tyre is damaged, You might find that the only way to deal with it is to replace the tyre.

 

[RoubaixCube]

nice, not too too chilly ride home. Flew past a guy who was on an old retro bianchi -- We were together for at least half my journey. we both got put into a dangerous position by a Addison lee driver who pulled into the bus lane out from no where. I was on the inside, Bianchi was on the right. He saw the driver pulling left he drifted over to the right to go around him, I applied my brakes and was going to pull out to the right with the Bianchi and go around but the driver probably saw me in his mirror so emergency stopped. leaving me a gap to sail through but at the same time Bianchi was close enough to him on the right that he almost went into the back of him.

so many RLJ'ers to night. I counted at least 3 of them. 1 cyclist on a hybrid or MTB was zig zagging wildly across 3 lanes (bus lane included) before he took a left without indicating.

Some times I honestly think that every cyclist should be made to take a course in road etiquette and learn not to ride like a pillock before being allowed on the open road with the rest of the traffic. Because quite a lot of the time is yobs like these give more well behaved and respectful cyclists a bad name.

 

[martint235]

Good ride in this morning. Felt very strong for some reason so flew along for most of it. Passed 3 other cyclists which I think is a record (to actually see 3 other cyclists, not just pass them).

Having not done a century this month due to my back and a fair bit of working from home/supplier visits I'm going to miss my 400 mile monthly target by some way though

 

[Simontm]

I became one of them...totally misjudged timings and went through a just changed red, hand out in apologies, head down in shame
Not eating porridge again, far too fast a ride in, under 55mins.
Numpty count: 1 that'll be me then for the RLJ

 

[Leaway2]

Extended the half-pint's school run commute this morning so he did 5 miles instead of the normal 2.5. We set off early to do a flying visit to Screwfix before school.
Was passed by a Team Sky car with full logo's and bike racks which wouldn't have been worth noting as the British Cycling HQ is only 4-5 miles up the road, except this one had foreign plates on (Didn't get chance to see which nationality). I wonder what they were doing heading in from Mossley towards Manchester HQ?

Scouting you Skolly?

Ride home last night via Ma' house for tea. Puncture in Trafford park. Then farther on on a few very considerate motorists pointing out that there is a shared cycle path that was available for my use. I passed them all at the next 1 mile traffic jam.

 

[Simontm]

Quickish ride home tho without the porridge the legs felt it a bit.
numpty count: 1 a mini van driver almost knocked me onto the pavement on a bend and was laughing as I got past him

 

[tallliman]

Felt crap going in and heading home. The mythical tailwind eluded me but headwind was everywhere. Still managed a couple of decent segment times.

Annoyingly though, I lost my rear light. New one ordered but quite frustrating to lose it! Still, need a couple of extra lights for me to start commuting in darker weathers. Probably not ice though.

 

[Simontm]

Another quick ride in and not that many cyclists today - tomorrow's meant to be the wet ride in.
A learner moped rider initially decided to filter through on Kew Bridge getting stuck and leaving me with no where to go but sit and wait which was annoying.
Numpty count:0

 

[clippetydoodah]

Nice ride in this morning as the wind was virtually non-existent, a very rare occurrence.
Had a hare and tortoise session with another commuter. I won because he stopped to stretch
his achilles tendon at the top of the hill. Hope he is ok. Started off with the flashy light on just
to be nice and safe. Managed 15 miles in 1hr 2 min, but forgot to stop my Garmin when I went
into the bike shed. Numpty.

 

[Simontm]

Went a bit zigzag through Notting Hill but a fairly quick ride home. Traffic was bad tho and saw three cyclists nearly come a cropper trying to weave through traffic, red lights and crossings.
Got home to find my new tyres are here
Numpty count:0

 

[Supersuperleeds]

A bit blowy tonight, so I cheated and did a flat 22 miles around the parks and cycle paths rather than go out in the sticks and do the mole hills.

 

[13 rider]

A bit blowy tonight, so I cheated and did a flat 22 miles around the parks and cycle paths rather than go out in the sticks and do the mole hills.

A bit blowy !! Headwind all the way home seemingly ..just 10 miles for me . It's not like you to avoid any hills

 

[Supersuperleeds]

A bit blowy !! Headwind all the way home seemingly ..just 10 miles for me . It's not like you to avoid any hills

I've finished the Strava climbing challenge, I can avoid the hills for a couple of days

 

[ianrauk]

Yeah, who turned the wind machine on.. barstewards. Made for a tough old ride home tonight.