Last day of panto before Christmas! I extended my commute 16 miles today because why not. A few numpties on the road, but nothing to write home about. Holy headwind though, I struggled to keep a decent pace on my return. Also, just a one, fresh tattoo+some lumpy bits of cycle path is painful.
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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Yup good one for me.Bit dodgy at 440am just past Thatched House with a car parked on the pedestrian crossing in the reverse direction and a lot of people milling about...Glad to get past that bit but no trouble.In via Mile End and the now re-opened Tower Bridge...Back via Limehouse and Canning Town.Balaam Street and Stopford road involved sprints to stop imbecile motorists (MGIF) trying to get in front before the lights/end of road with cars ahead and Canning Town High Street because I felt like it.
Hated commute 176 as it was cold so that's why I extended it again...
Nearly fell off (in surprise) at Tower gateway as the cycle lights that do usually do f-all in the early morning did actually change to green.I know I witnessed it.What's the bets it happens tomorrow? 1000/1? Raced up to Big Ben for the 7 'o'clock chimes.Ride back was nice.Though the cyclist at the lights blocking the lane for the fire engine to come through (near the Canning Town flyover) with it's two's and blues made me think there was lack of common sense there.I had already got out of the way.Back brake had been overhauled and worked quite well.Will probably change it for a Shimano 105 I have in my spares.
Commute 177 will be the same time on as commute 176 which isn't always the case.
Nearly fell off (in surprise) at Tower gateway as the cycle lights that do usually do f-all in the early morning did actually change to green.I know I witnessed it.What's the bets it happens tomorrow? 1000/1? Raced up to Big Ben for the 7 'o'clock chimes.Ride back was nice.Though the cyclist at the lights blocking the lane for the fire engine to come through (near the Canning Town flyover) with it's two's and blues made me think there was lack of common sense there.I had already got out of the way.Back brake had been overhauled and worked quite well.Will probably change it for a Shimano 105 I have in my spares.
Commute 177 will be the same time on as commute 176 which isn't always the case.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Really quiet out on the roads this morning, hardly any traffic, and rode all the way to the station without having to stop at any junction or for any lights - that's a first. Also overtook another cyclist for the first time ever - just a bloke bimbling on a town bike, but hey! Saw lots of people of all ages out on new bikes this morning too. The bike racks at Ely station were rather underpopulated, but the train down to Cambridge was packed out. Onward journey from there though, train was nearly empty. As it was for the return journey.
This evening's commute was cold. Really cold. And foggy in places. Saddle was actually frozen when I retrieved my bike from the racks. And thank goodness for the fleecy unpadded cycling tights I was wearing under my jeans - I really needed those. And the warm gloves. Once out of town and into the fens, the roads were pretty icy. Managed to get 3/4 way up my bogey hill in town (Fore Hill for those of you out in this neck of the woods). I would have got to the top tonight if a stationary car I had moved out to go around hadn't decided to pull away just at that moment and totally killed whatever momentum I had. Whatever happened to mirror-signal-manoeuvre? *sigh*
This evening's commute was cold. Really cold. And foggy in places. Saddle was actually frozen when I retrieved my bike from the racks. And thank goodness for the fleecy unpadded cycling tights I was wearing under my jeans - I really needed those. And the warm gloves. Once out of town and into the fens, the roads were pretty icy. Managed to get 3/4 way up my bogey hill in town (Fore Hill for those of you out in this neck of the woods). I would have got to the top tonight if a stationary car I had moved out to go around hadn't decided to pull away just at that moment and totally killed whatever momentum I had. Whatever happened to mirror-signal-manoeuvre? *sigh*
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
It is bloomin cold out there, -2 according to the BBC weather site. Just nipped out to the bike shed to swap some light batteries ready for the trip home and there is ice on the ground where water was standing and a heavy frost on cars and grass. Ride home in a couple of hours will be a fresh one 
Quiet on the roads this morning but foggy and blooming cold! It looked pretty though with everything covered in frost and I just took it steady taking in the scenery.
All of my clothing worked well apart from my gloves which are fine down to zero but the Garmin said -4 today and my fingers were tingling with the cold. It might be time to scour the internet sales for some thicker gloves I think.
All of my clothing worked well apart from my gloves which are fine down to zero but the Garmin said -4 today and my fingers were tingling with the cold. It might be time to scour the internet sales for some thicker gloves I think.
A lonely London commute this morning. Not many people on the move today. It was a chilly zero degrees when I left this morning with a heavy frost on the ground. I haven't been on a bike since last Thursday so was very nice to get the legs turning again.
Salty seadog
Space Cadet...(3rd Class...)
I suffer with cold hands and feet and will use these in my shoes and gloves when needed....
can't say.I'm too tired.Woke up early and left for work early.Got to Big Ben at 0645.
177 commutes 176 completed.Commute 172 part done due to accident with me and tarmac interface due to pedal detaching from crank interface.
1 p*nct*re (commute 1 return)
2 spills.Commute 4 when foot slipped on pavement at traffic light between Bow and Stratford @ 0 mph..(Return)
Commute 172 @15mph when pedal broke off crank.(Inwards commute.)
Also discovered another route home after taking a wrong turn (Commute 3 return)
Commute 90 near head on collision when car came out of turning without stopping or looking.(outwards)
Commute 137 near pedestrian collision when ped stepped into CS 3 at last second.Just about avoided.(Return commute.)
Commute 166 ped steps out from traffic while staring at phone as i'm filtering up the middle up Poplar High Street...I see him very late (it's dark and he's dressed in black while not looking) and manage to scrub speed.Not going fast.If I had been I reckon his phone would have flown up in the air..Hit him at low speed with my shoulder and stopped upright (both)..Ped and me unhurt.(Return)
Chain broke on return of one of the later commutes (160+). Managed to get home on it.
Seemed to be more about on this commute than yesterday's commute.
Used cheap £1 poundland socks again (over my cycle mittens) to stop my hands freezing up on the early part of the commute in.I do hate it when they thaw out.Ouch.
177 commutes 176 completed.Commute 172 part done due to accident with me and tarmac interface due to pedal detaching from crank interface.
1 p*nct*re (commute 1 return)
2 spills.Commute 4 when foot slipped on pavement at traffic light between Bow and Stratford @ 0 mph..(Return)
Commute 172 @15mph when pedal broke off crank.(Inwards commute.)
Also discovered another route home after taking a wrong turn (Commute 3 return)
Commute 90 near head on collision when car came out of turning without stopping or looking.(outwards)
Commute 137 near pedestrian collision when ped stepped into CS 3 at last second.Just about avoided.(Return commute.)
Commute 166 ped steps out from traffic while staring at phone as i'm filtering up the middle up Poplar High Street...I see him very late (it's dark and he's dressed in black while not looking) and manage to scrub speed.Not going fast.If I had been I reckon his phone would have flown up in the air..Hit him at low speed with my shoulder and stopped upright (both)..Ped and me unhurt.(Return)
Chain broke on return of one of the later commutes (160+). Managed to get home on it.
Seemed to be more about on this commute than yesterday's commute.
Used cheap £1 poundland socks again (over my cycle mittens) to stop my hands freezing up on the early part of the commute in.I do hate it when they thaw out.Ouch.
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RoubaixCube
~Tribanese~
- Location
- London, UK
Fookin cold! grass in the park is still frosted over and there's a nice hazy bit of sunshine which makes it look all so scenic like a winter wonderland.
prawny
Active Member
- Location
- Cannock Chase
I put too much faith in the beeb sometimes, on the strength of a 0deg minimum temp I grabbed my favourite defeet dura gloves on the way out this morning, flippin heck it was a painful start, bottomed out at -6.
Still after 20 mins or so they were ok and then fine the rest of the way. Might get some thinner liner gloves and sack the winter gloves off unless its cold and wet when the neoprene ones come out.
Shout out to the Asian guy in brum wearing shorts(!) as usual, it was -4 by that point, you're either rock hard or stupid
Still after 20 mins or so they were ok and then fine the rest of the way. Might get some thinner liner gloves and sack the winter gloves off unless its cold and wet when the neoprene ones come out.
Shout out to the Asian guy in brum wearing shorts(!) as usual, it was -4 by that point, you're either rock hard or stupid
HarryTheDog
Guru
- Location
- Basildon Essex
Well I am forced back to commuting due to lack of funds, ( car park +fuel+ train = over 500 quid per month). Found the road bike with 25m tyres was maybe a bad idea, stayed upright, just!. Saw nobody else going my way, just a couple coming the other way. Tomorrow I may use the 29er with over 2 inches wide of rubber on the road, however with off road 1 x 11 gearing I could be spinning like a loon downhill.
Toshiba Boy
N+1er
- Location
- By the beach, West Zummerzet
Cold, damp and foggy,......loved it. Got to work "glowing". 
HarryTheDog
Guru
- Location
- Basildon Essex
Got the 29er ready for commute duties last night but this morning no frost, so transferred the lights back to the road bike, leapt on it, flat front tyre, ran back into the shed and put a spare wheel on. The commute was fine apart from the fog and when going down a fast hill, a cat wandered out then did the shall I run across, shall I run back routine which had me skidding the rear wheel down the road for 30 feet. ( it ran back by the way). Quietish roads, no other cyclists going my way, no numpties, so all is well with the world.
