Tales from today's commute....

[ianrauk]

It was carnage out there this morning. Grimly grey, raining, the sheer amount of traffic, crappy school run mums in 4x4's, other cyclists who go to over take you yet can't make it stick so sit there halfwheeling, builders traffic blocking roads, and to top it all, an accident of some sort in Lewisham.

Not the most enjoyable of commutes this morning I have to admit.

 

[clippetydoodah]

Brilliant ride in this morning. The sky was amazing over the Fylde coast, with no wind too!!
I have been trying to get in to work in under an hour, for just over 15 miles. I managed just
seconds over today, but this was likely due to having to wait to cross the last road into work.
One day I will nail it!!

Kit wise, I had some new continental tyres on and they are ace. Much better grip, and less
dicey. I am sure they made it quicker. I had my base layer on under my cycling jersey and this
seemed to be a perfect combo.

Looking forward to the ride home.

Numpty count = 0

 

[13 rider]

After my last commute I put the bike away and discovered the front disc was rubbing badly so bike was fettled and now the wheel spins free . Today's ride in and out were 2mph faster than the last few commutes and I thought I was losing my fittness no wonder it was hard work . Nice and mild this morning had to stop after a mile to take my gillet off and managed to dodge the showers both ways

 

[fossyant]

Nearly hit 3 cars tonight, in my car. Idiots thinking they can swap lanes just in front of you - god help us cycling. They got a blast of by horn (mine is quite loud), but they still went for it ! Folk do it to other vehicles, never mind cyclists and peds.

Some of the driving in Manchester City Centre is down right dangerous. They really don't care about the many pedestrians. I pick my missus up now from the centre, and it's eyes in the back and side of your head.

Was easier by bike !!

 

[tallliman]

@13 rider, both of those bridges you mentioned the other day are still passable on a bike. Only shut to cars but there's a lot of crud on the roads there now due to the work.

Nice split commute over the last couple of days but can't wait until the wind changes direction, fed up with a headwind going home!

 

[martint235]

Chilly but thankfully the rain stopped and stayed stopped. Overshoes and Nightvision Pro jacket got the first outing of the season.

I found a way around my dodgy junction. It was obvious really. Dodgy junction joining a main road: why am I leaving the main road network?? So left out of Whitefoot Lane on to the A21, straight across the carriageway to take up position on the far right side and filter down to the right turn onto Beckenham Hill. No one seemed to mind me, a van overtook me a bit pointlessly to get to the back of the right turning queue but he gave absolutely loads of room so no harm no foul.

Beckenham Junction is a mess with temporary lights at the junction so may go back to my old route tomorrow.

And for someone who has done LEL and countless FNRttC, I can categorically say I still don't like riding in the dark so it was a much slower ride than usual. Quite relaxing though which given the events of last weekend was very welcome.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Full rain gear this morning, bumped into a "Strava buddy" and we pootled in together for the last 8 miles talking cycling stuff. Got to work, my garmin 1000 which has just been repaired then started throwing a fit, continually turning itself back on, wouldn't connect to a computer then started making nasty noises when on charge. Just emailed the repairers questioning their repair warranty. Looks like the seal probably not very water tight anymore.

 

[Arjimlad]

Beautiful day for a ride to work but a number of cockwombles try to spoil it..

Audi driver reversing out of his drive blind due to uncleared windows nearly clips a schoolboy on the pavement, and then gives me the finger after I wait for him to complete his manoeuvre !

All on video...which is rather funny..

And then BMW X5 forces his way through past parked cars on Shellard's Lane.

 

[Starchivore]

I spotted someone this morning driving with the left wing mirror still folder in. Not a huge deal, I drew up alongside at the lights and let the driver know and pulled it out for them. A good deed for the day.

But, the thing that worries me is that I’m sure I’ve seen a car looking like that one twice in the last week or so passing me with that mirror folded in.

I don’t drive but surely you’d realise very very soon after setting off that a mirror was still in? Because you should be checking them? Right?

 

[RoubaixCube]

Wet wet wet! Was hoping the rain would of stopped at 8am but its now 10am and still coming down. Not as heavy as previous weeks but still quite a downpour. Hopefully it wont last very long. Overshoes, rain-legs and endura softshell today. Should keep me snug as a bug on the ride home which hopefully wont be raining

 

[Arjimlad]

I spotted someone this morning driving with the left wing mirror still folder in. Not a huge deal, I drew up alongside at the lights and let the driver know and pulled it out for them. A good deed for the day.

But, the thing that worries me is that I’m sure I’ve seen a car looking like that one twice in the last week or so passing me with that mirror folded in.

I don’t drive but surely you’d realise very very soon after setting off that a mirror was still in? Because you should be checking them? Right?

Ho ho... the Merc estate driver this morning who passed me had made no effort to clear side or rear windows whatsoever, so all rear mirrors almost useless. The reason why I make sure I'm running a light on mornings like these.

 

[clippetydoodah]

Another nice commute this morning, despite feeling tired after yesterday. The wind was back a bit, but not
that bad. I smashed my hour commute challenge with 53:65 and average 17.5 mph on the way home yesterday.
Smashed the hell out of my PR's. Turns out I only missed it by 6 secs on the way in. Felling chuffed.
Tried out my new arm warmers, and I really like them.

Numpty / idiot count = 0

 

[Ciar]

Bit wet boil in the bag required, did a great job and i didn't boil which is a plus, oh and windy can't forget the wind

all in all Autumn defo feels like it's here!

 

[summerdays]

Today I locked up my bike, secure in the knowledge it was likely to still be there when I got back.... (this was the other bike on the stand!)

I also managed to find an alternative route bypassing where they were digging up the back of the station and everyone crammed into a narrow space.

Weird bit of the day was seeing a high speed black BMW on a narrow parked up road, and within 30 secs a police car that seemed to be searching. It took me back quite a few years when a similar car hit me slightly when trying to avoid the police (and within a few roads of the location of the original event).

 

[lutonloony]

I spotted someone this morning driving with the left wing mirror still folder in. Not a huge deal, I drew up alongside at the lights and let the driver know and pulled it out for them. A good deed for the day.

But, the thing that worries me is that I’m sure I’ve seen a car looking like that one twice in the last week or so passing me with that mirror folded in.

I don’t drive but surely you’d realise very very soon after setting off that a mirror was still in? Because you should be checking them? Right?