Tales from today's commute....

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

Simontm

Veteran
An eventful ride. Foggy and cold with visibility down to around 20/30 yards at some points but still drivers go at their regulation 40mph.
On Ken high st I had overtaken the RLJs and one caught up with me at a ped crossing. As he inched to go through, I growled 'it's a red light' and he stopped :laugh:
Also glad to see my brakes work as I entered Hyde park came face to face with two joggers. Cue apologies all round!
Numpty count: 2 first was an impatient man at the Chertsey Rd junction at Richmond who wanted to get round another cyclist by driving towards me :stop:
Second was a WVM. Edged into the cycle lane without seeing (or maybe caring) about me being in it. I banged on his side and then went past him. His passenger leaning out of the window so I told him what I thought of the driver :whistle: this prompted him to try and put his foot down after me... I weaved past the traffic and through the lights as they changed leaving him stuck there.
 

Twizit

CS8 lead out specialist
Location
Surrey
Didn't feel that cold this morning but exited Richmond Park with a new layer of frost covering my gloves and arms. Laughing with another cyclist at the next set of lights, and both figured it must be the excessive amount of moisture in the air. Worst fog of the year so far through the park today - thankfully missed the deer, but nearly took out a suicidal rabbit that decided to dart across the path in front of me - made a change to the usual squirrels attempting that move...
 
I have switched from my 2009 Trek 8500 with 26 wheels to my sons cheaper 2013 trek mountain bike equipped with 29's, I am not sure I like the big wheels.
I feels very sluggish when starting off but I am slightly faster get to work, it feels slow but goes fast. I will have to try the 27.5 wheels to see if they are a better balance.
 

Lonestar

Veteran
Only one just past Shadwell on the way to Limehouse....The CS 3 my favourite (not) Workmate decides to hang about to wait to cycle back with me.He's drafting another cyclist and im behind him.Leading cyclist doesn't see ped bang slap in cycle lane (and ped doesn't see cyclists) till she almost collides with ped in dark clothing in the darkness.She slams the brakes on to avoid hitting ped and my workmate almost hits her.Luckily I had caught a glimpse of the ped so I was aware and didn't almost run into the back of my workmate.Oh how I love the CS 3.Just about beats Aldgate to Limehouse on the A13 although I use the road in the opposite direction.
 
Last edited:

Supersuperleeds

Legendary Member
Location
Leicester
Just get into Watermead Park (which is unlit) tonight and I am plunged into darkness as my front light packed up. By sheer fluke I had a spare front light with me, unluckily it is a proper to be seen only light. Anyway eventually get home, I was quite surprised how much lighter the night is when you have a crap front light.

I was sure it was the light and not the battery pack, so plug the battery pack into another light and.....nothing. Look at the battery pack and give the top a couple more turns and voila light was working :banghead:

I think the springs in the pack must be a bit squeezed, luckily I've got some of those thin magnets that extend the length of the battery enough to keep the connection.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Very cold, very dark and drizzly ride home tonight. That annoying misty drizzle that mists up the cycling glasses so having to keep wiping them.

Numpty count 2
First one. I pulled up into an ASL at the white line. Lady cyclist came round and stopped right in front of me. WTF? I gave her the arm of indignation when I overtook and she mumbled some nonsense. Not cool lady. not cool.
Second one. Now i'm not really bothered by ninja cyclists but the one I saw tonight really took the biscuit. On a dark bit of very busy road because of a couple of failed street lamps. Even I had difficulty seeing him and told him so. Fair play, he did apologise and said both his lights had failed. Not that he had any (failed) lights on his bike anyway.

Bonus points on the commute for seeing @arallsopp whilst I was waiting at a junction. He must have been about a minute behind me. I was waiting at a junction going left, him straight on. I heard his gears before I saw him. Having ridden with him as much as I have. I instantly knew the sound.
 

Lonestar

Veteran
Thought I just suffered that no lights dressed in dark clothing ninja's brigade but the CS 3 has it at too close a quarters with peds and cyclists alike.

Also another thing is when they pull ahead and are as slow as feck.I had five do it to me at Mile End last week.

Not too bad between Tower Gateway and Southwark Bridge or Westminster.
 
Last edited:

DrLex

merely the moocher
Location
Zummerset
Lovely rural ten miles to work on icy roads.. Appreciating the new studded Schwalbe Winter tyres!

A thoughtful driver stopped to warn me of a particularly icy patch, which was very nice of her.

Reminds me of having a similar warning from a copper dealing with the driver of a van which was passenger-side down on the road and 90 degrees to it; lovely to reply "thanks, but I've got this" as the studs took me safely across the rink...
 

13 rider

Guru
Location
leicester
Different starting point today as due a car van bike shuffle so did a slightly hilly route past the work place of @Supersuperleeds bit early for him he'd be out riding somewhere about 30 miles away . The first downhill into to Thurcaston the cold literally took my breath away it was properly cold . Only half a commute today will complete it on Friday . Day off tomorrow as work van is serviced
 
What is WRONG with people today? (I mean Jan 25th 2107, not "this day and age")

I have no doubt pissed countless people off but after 3 close passes (we are talking 40mph+ at <6") I took the entire lane of a busy duel carriageway that is the subject of a local forum complaining of cyclists not using a "cycle path" that is of abysmal design, I just took the lane for the length of the road and a big eff-you to anyone behind because there was something in the air tonight and I wasn't putting myself at any further risk for the sake of saving someone 15 seconds to get to the red light.

I'd forgotten and let it go until later when I cross to a cycle path on a one way street across the path of someone turning out of Tesco the wrong way.

I think the zombie apocalypse might be upon us. As cyclists we are immune, the virus seems to infect car pollen filters
 
My Garmin Edge 520 was frozen this morning and would not start up. Once I got to work I tried to charge the battery, no luck it would not boot up or take a charge. After a quick google I learned that if you hold the power button down for 10 seconds it resets the unit without data loss. I had to reset it twice but it is working now..
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
My Garmin Edge 520 was frozen this morning and would not start up. Once I got to work I tried to charge the battery, no luck it would not boot up or take a charge. After a quick google I learned that if you hold the power button down for 10 seconds it resets the unit without data loss. I had to reset it twice but it is working now..


Whats the temps at the moment?
Was the machine frozen as would not work? or frozen due to the cold?
 
Top Bottom