Tales from today's commute....

[Simontm]

Chilly morning interrupted by a locking back brake. Going down into Richmond, I dabbed the back brake to shave some speed only to find it locking up. Pulled over to the other side of the road (seriously couldn't risk turning across the car behind). Wheel completely locked so loosened the cable which released the HyRd and continued to work on front brake alone.
Gonna see if I can fix it this lunchtime otherwise off to Cycle Surgery this evening - not happy
Numpty count: 0

 

[Sixmile]

Seen a van this morning with 'Give Blood, Saves Lives' plastered up the side and the driver on the phone.

 

[Arjimlad]

After being struck down by a nasty winter sickness bug last week I was well enough to get back on the bike this morning. The weather was pretty cold & crisp but it was really clear which meant that in between gaps in the trees I kept getting hit by the suns rays which felt like having an electric bar heater focused on me which was nice when I was in the sun.

I was not so chuffed on my ride to work when I reached a single file bridge whereby the right of way was mine and having arrived at the bridge at the same time as a car coming from the opposite way it decided to carry on instead of abide by the correct right of way. However what then really annoyed me was another two cars followed the first one.

The ride home tonight was I think the coldest commute so far this year and I think that it's going to be colder in the morning. I've already put the gloves on the radiator for the morning.

I get this a lot on a narrow-ish road, oncoming drivers pull out around parked cars forcing me to stop. It's very predictable, though. Love the chilly clear sunny mornings, though.

 

[Twizit]

Chilly morning interrupted by a locking back brake. Going down into Richmond, I dabbed the back brake to shave some speed only to find it locking up. Pulled over to the other side of the road (seriously couldn't risk turning across the car behind). Wheel completely locked so loosened the cable which released the HyRd and continued to work on front brake alone.
Gonna see if I can fix it this lunchtime otherwise off to Cycle Surgery this evening - not happy
Numpty count: 0

I had that with Avid BB7 discs last year - whenever it was getting down to freezing, the cables would lock up and leave me with no brakes - only ever happened as I went through Richmond Park (usually a good 5 degrees colder than the surrounding roads) and I usually managed to free it up fully by the time I hit the upper Richmond Road.

 

[ianrauk]

I had that with Avid BB7 discs last year - whenever it was getting down to freezing, the cables would lock up and leave me with no brakes - only ever happened as I went through Richmond Park (usually a good 5 degrees colder than the surrounding roads) and I usually managed to free it up fully by the time I hit the upper Richmond Road.

I had the same on the rear brake. I guessed it was where water had got in the (outer) cable and settled where it ran under the frame. So changed cables and no problems now.

 

[Simontm]

Well a bit of tinkering and I've got a back brake again but loads of travel on the brifter - which I'll try and sort out at home. Since the bike was fine yesterday and it's been dry, I have no idea what caused it.

 

[Twizit]

I had the same on the rear brake. I guessed it was where water had got in the (outer) cable and settled where it ran under the frame. So changed cables and no problems now.

I sold the bike instead

.... actually nothing to do with the brakes, or at least not directly. I didn't get on with the bike overall (Norco Threshold - we use Evans for our Cycle to Work...) so swapped it out for a very good deal on a 1x11 set up On One Ti Pickenflick - which just happens to have hydraulics rather than cables

 

[Simontm]

Cold ride home but since I've dropped soooo much speed thought I'd take it easy.
Numpty count:0

 

[markharry66]

Have started new job so new route.
I live in mottingham and work in shortlands. Cant stand hill from bromley to shortlands so many blind corners.
Traffic gets backed up e erynight near Grove park. Numpty count this morning two close overtakes on blindspot corners.

 

[Simontm]

So slow at the moment. Reckon the illness has shaved a few mph off my average.
Quite quiet on the roads apart from huge traffic jam at Hammersmith.
Numpty count: 3 bus turned into me for no apparent reason (no bus stop or turning or obstruction on his right) causing me to stop suddenly which was a bit hair-raising. The other 2 were cyclists. One tried to find an inside overtake that wasn't there nudging me towards the middle of road while the other wheel-sucked me for about 1/4 of a mile which would have seen him ram into me if I had to brake suddenly

 

[ianrauk]

Cant stand hill from bromley to shortlands

Which hill is this Mark?

 

[Arjimlad]

Did a shorter route today on treated roads, yet I felt very sick as I approached work. Got in the shower & felt much worse, waves of nausea without being sick and I ended up lying down with my feet in the shower & my head by the door passed out. When I came round which must have been after a good five minutes, I had bashed my elbow & there was blood everywhere. I managed to get myself dressed & got some help.

Everyone assumed I had fallen off my bike as the small cut was dressed by a colleague !

Thankfully I am feeling much better after a rest and there are doughnuts in the office today as well. I have no idea what caused the nausea.

 

[Leaway2]

Did a shorter route today on treated roads, yet I felt very sick as I approached work. Got in the shower & felt much worse, waves of nausea without being sick and I ended up lying down with my feet in the shower & my head by the door passed out. When I came round which must have been after a good five minutes, I had bashed my elbow & there was blood everywhere. I managed to get myself dressed & got some help.

Everyone assumed I had fallen off my bike as the small cut was dressed by a colleague !

Thankfully I am feeling much better after a rest and there are doughnuts in the office today as well. I have no idea what caused the nausea.

GWS matey. That'll teach you, doing a shorter route!

 

[Arjimlad]

GWS matey. That'll teach you, doing a shorter route!

Thanks !

I wasn't helped by using the wrong gloves- Aldi winter cycling gloves with liners rather than the ski gloves. Stupid boy.

 

[RoubaixCube]

Bloody cold. Garmin was telling me it was close to 3'c. Felt rather refreshing with the cool air rushing over my face. A few nice drivers gave way to me and saved me from getting in a bit of a pickle when got stuck in the middle of filtering when traffic started to move.

Love to be cycling in the minus. Gotten -2'c onmy commutes home recently