confusedcyclist
Veteran
Yes, often a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't. Intuition kicked in, no time to think!
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Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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Randombiker9
Senior Member
i was cycling out for fun and Similar thing happend to me. Luckily it was on a quiet road. There was a delivery driver van on one side and i deciced to take up the lane due to not getting hit by door zone but once i reached close to the door zone he was already out and didn't look as he was crossing to the other side even though i breaked in advance but i guess he realised his mistake as he apologized afterwads. I just replied it's fine (because we all make mistakes.)
Cycling back on commute on Saturday (cycle commute 47) just gone the chain had got dodgy jumping like it was going to come off,on the fixie....Couldn't apply much power on gradients and the Plaistow gradient was dodgy also so had to do it slow.Unfortunately I had a bus behind me so I wanted to tell the bus driver I wasn't taking the p155..
Fixed chain when I got home....Got to work fine on Commute 48 yesterday but on the return the bike did not seem right and the chain came off twice near Shadwell....which I thought was a bit strange.On further inspection I realised that the bottom bracket was buggered totally.(tied chain with cable ties) So I had to walk it back over six miles.Got back about 1730 last night and I'm up now for work,but the other fixie is sorted and ready for action.Haven't rode it for a while as I generally use the Audax if there is any problem or if I feel like it.Fixie 2 is out of action and fixie 1 has been called up for action.(Last used for commute 18 August 2017)
Not overly too bothered that I had to walk...It happens...rarely.Last time was from Westferry axle went in back wheel...That''ll learn me for taking the speed bumps without lifting myself.
The inquiry into what went wrong is going to be interesting but I can't remember when I fitted the bottom bracket.Will have to take note of the date in future.
I wish I had walked back in 1988 when the rear axle went at Tottenham as the bike got nicked (Sun Solo)n when I left it there.
Fixed chain when I got home....Got to work fine on Commute 48 yesterday but on the return the bike did not seem right and the chain came off twice near Shadwell....which I thought was a bit strange.On further inspection I realised that the bottom bracket was buggered totally.(tied chain with cable ties) So I had to walk it back over six miles.Got back about 1730 last night and I'm up now for work,but the other fixie is sorted and ready for action.Haven't rode it for a while as I generally use the Audax if there is any problem or if I feel like it.Fixie 2 is out of action and fixie 1 has been called up for action.(Last used for commute 18 August 2017)
Not overly too bothered that I had to walk...It happens...rarely.Last time was from Westferry axle went in back wheel...That''ll learn me for taking the speed bumps without lifting myself.
The inquiry into what went wrong is going to be interesting but I can't remember when I fitted the bottom bracket.Will have to take note of the date in future.
I wish I had walked back in 1988 when the rear axle went at Tottenham as the bike got nicked (Sun Solo)n when I left it there.
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Bazzer
Setting the controls for the heart of the sun.
- Location
- On the edge of reality
Cool morning and foggy. Fog was very dense at home and it surprised me by the dense patches persisting even into the suburban areas. But even where less dense, viz was at best 30m.
I can't help feeling so called driver aids, are making drivers less aware, rather than giving them the tools to concentrate more on the roads. Despite the fog lasting for me 12 miles, it was remarkable how few had their rear fog light on. Perhaps due to their lights being set to "Auto", which affects the side and head lights?
Very strange when I left the fog. No tapering off of poor viz. Simply a moisture wall near the top of a bridge. Bottom foggy, top bright and no sign of fog or even mist.
I can't help feeling so called driver aids, are making drivers less aware, rather than giving them the tools to concentrate more on the roads. Despite the fog lasting for me 12 miles, it was remarkable how few had their rear fog light on. Perhaps due to their lights being set to "Auto", which affects the side and head lights?
Very strange when I left the fog. No tapering off of poor viz. Simply a moisture wall near the top of a bridge. Bottom foggy, top bright and no sign of fog or even mist.
Hmm, so much for the light rain as forecast. A little more than mildly damp on arrival at work.
Still, glad I made it in one piece, despite being nearly taken out by a lorry trying to turn right in front of me on the embankment, North end of Chelsea bridge. Totally clear road, I'm well lit, and he started to turn across in front of me just as I was crossing the junction on a green light (he was coming towards me from the opposite direction). Slide to a halt inches in front of him in a blur of expletives, and look up into his cab to be greeted by him waving for me to get out of his way.... whilst holding his mobile to his ear.
Lots of head shaking and I might have questioned his parentage. Carried on my way and just about got the adrenaline levels back down after a few more miles. Here's hoping the journey home is a little less eventful.
Still, glad I made it in one piece, despite being nearly taken out by a lorry trying to turn right in front of me on the embankment, North end of Chelsea bridge. Totally clear road, I'm well lit, and he started to turn across in front of me just as I was crossing the junction on a green light (he was coming towards me from the opposite direction). Slide to a halt inches in front of him in a blur of expletives, and look up into his cab to be greeted by him waving for me to get out of his way.... whilst holding his mobile to his ear.
Lots of head shaking and I might have questioned his parentage. Carried on my way and just about got the adrenaline levels back down after a few more miles. Here's hoping the journey home is a little less eventful.
It was my second commute with panniers today, and first commute back at work after my holiday. I'm still trying to get used to the weight on the back of my bike as opposed to my back. It's strange... But a fairly dry commute, just a light drizzle for a bit. It looks like it's going to chuck it down on the way home. I hope my panniers are actually waterproof...
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
I've had this discussion with a friend who owns several vintage vehicles. Ride shotgun with anyone driving something 60 or 70 years old with no power assisted anything and no synchromesh on the gearbox, and you'll soon notice how alert and observant they are when positioning their vehicle and approaching junctions compared to most drivers of modern vehicles. It's a completely different game from some muppet driving a modern auto car with fingertip-light controls, fiddling with their phone and reclining in the driver's seat like they were at home in an armchair. Modern cars are too easy to drive really fast with no skill, which is fine in a straight line with no other road users to worry about, but not so good when something unexpected happens and the muppet isn't paying attention.
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After checking the forecast I decided to drop the overshoes for the first time this year on the am commute. I didn't bring a jacket but just threw on a gilet to take the chill off the first few miles. In the end, it was the only thing stopping me from being totally saturated. A totally unexpected soaking but it wasn't cold thankfully.
straas
Matt
- Location
- Manchester
I think a vehicle massively influences your driving. Going from a 2017 nissan x trail to a 1998 vw transporter is an eye opener!
- Location
- Egham
Another wet commute this morning, made even less fun after about 1/2 mile when the front mech cable (presumably) snapped, leaving me on the big ring into a headwind. Had to stop and manually change, which meant a spin in to work.
HarryTheDog
Guru
- Location
- Basildon Essex
I recently bought a Rixen Kaul contour seatpost bag and today as it was wet I pulled the raincover out and put it on for the first time. I think the designers had never actually tried it out in the wet, first off it only covered half the bag so 50% useless also no hole to pop the rear light through so it covered the rear light so rendered it a safety hazard as far as I was concerned so left it off. Apart from that a no numpties commute so ok.
edit, I may have been putting it on wrong, I will have another attempt this evening.
edit, I may have been putting it on wrong, I will have another attempt this evening.
clippetydoodah
Active Member
Set off in the fog this morning. Added an extra front light to the bike, just to be sure.
Was pretty cold first thing, but no issues on the road. Sunny out so may ditch the cold weather kit on the way home.
Was pretty cold first thing, but no issues on the road. Sunny out so may ditch the cold weather kit on the way home.
At some point last week I'm sure that I saw a weather forecast which predicted a fairly nice week of weather this week.
However clearly that forecast was either complete rubbish or I'm remembering seeing what I wanted to see like some sort of rubbish because it was wet, grey and miserable again today.
I think that eventually when a nice warm sunny day does come it's going to feel mighty good!
However clearly that forecast was either complete rubbish or I'm remembering seeing what I wanted to see like some sort of rubbish because it was wet, grey and miserable again today.
I think that eventually when a nice warm sunny day does come it's going to feel mighty good!
