Tales from today's commute....

[DCBassman]

Nearly wiped out at a roundabout this morning . Hardly a soul on the road and I thought the driver had saw me with the lights on as well ! Nope came out at me from the side. Anyway after much verbal and hand signals from me driver did pullover further up the road and was very apologetic. Which is just as well as I know where he stays and know his parents ! Anyway explained the dangers of this particular roundabout and quiet roads doesn`t mean you can drop your guard ! We left as pals

Yup, what happened to me a couple of weeks ago.
Guy just assumed there was only him on the road, and just slowly tried to flatten me...

 

[skudupnorth]

Well after this mornings hiccup with the “ P” fairy, this afternoons ride home was looking a tad damp but I was determined to clear the 1800 mile mark so I rode the extra miles along the NCN55 to link up with the Bridgewater Way back to Astley. It absolutely bounced down until I got to Worsley where it suddenly stopped and became very pleasant.
All routes are nice and clear now the weather has stopped the Lockdown groups coming out 😆😆

 

[Jenkins]

I can't remember the last wet commute before today's homeward leg!

 

[Jenkins]

Wet commutes are like buses - you wait ages for one and then two come along together. This time with added hail

 

[ianrauk]

Had to got to work today to sort some stuff out so it the door at 6am to very deserted roads. About five minutes into the ride a short, sharp cloudburst hit. Buggerations, I had only cleaned the bike yesterday. Oh well.
The traffic was very light for most of my route which in parts can be insufferable due to 4x4 school drop mums causing havoc. By the time I got Deptford, where I cross the east to west A20, it was at a standstill? A traffic jam heading into Central London at 6.45am. WTAF?
Homewards, at about 3 miles from home, another cloudburst, much heavier than this morning's and also including some stinging hail. Ting, ting, ting on my Ti frame.
No other commuting cyclists seen this morning. A couple this afternoon.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I took an alternative route to work yesterday dinner-time
Well, it's one I used to ride occasionally (& ran a lot)

Through NewLands Woods (past the stable-block, of the old Hall), & out onto the river (Calder) bank (1)

First was NewLands Lane, past the 'Pylon Pond'

After the single-track in the woods, was the site of Stanley Lodge, where there's the climb to the 'Summer-House' in NewLand Park Woods (2)

The climb is just to the left of the gate

And directly behind me, is the track to the river embankment, where the colliery line ran (3)

Then onto the embankment, which winds between trees, a lot of Silver Birch & young Oaks

I decided to take an early finish, so rode back the same way, in the evening, passing to the other side of the Canal over the relatively new Ramsden Bridge (4)
Then behind Calder Row (a short terraced housing row, built for Canal company employees) & over the Trash Screen Bridge
It's been cleared out, as there was the suspicion that a missing person may have ended up in the river, & caught up in the debris held there (5)

Now all the wood/plastics/oil-drums (6) has been cleared away, that was removed during the search, it looks far better

At the other side of the bridge, I went right to retrace dinnertimes wheel-tracks


1. The Hall is gone, no traces, but the stable-block is largely intact
Seen to the right, in the very first picture; https://www.stanleyhistoryonline.com/Newland-Estate.html

2. https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/change-of-tyres-poll.259999/post-5975025
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4157678

3. If you scroll down this link, to the photograph of a saddle-tank, posed before reversing a 'Tom Pudding' into the Canal, that's what ran along the embankment; https://www.stanleyhistoryonline.com/Ferry-Lane-Photos.html

4. This is a pedestrian/cyclist/equestrian bridge only, its predecessor was vehicular, but showing definite signs of age
Plus it was cheaper to replace with a lower capacity bridge...….
Seen here, from the adjacent (now gated off) footbridge, during construction; https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5701925

5. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co...n-launched-after-body-found-wakefield-2525564

6. https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-bike-on-a-bridge-pics.235087/page-15#post-5892114

 

[skudupnorth]

Another good run into work today, NCN55 is perfect in the morning with only a few other bods about

 

[I like Skol]

Catching up on two days of commutes.
Yesterday morning I went off-road and caught the mist off the river Tame at Reddish Vale, seen here looking west towards the M60 bridge between Denton and Bredbury. Picture taken at 5.40am

Tonight's ride home at 7pm was notable for the massive amount of kids out riding with one or both parents. It really lifts my spirits to see these children getting out on the roads and pavements while traffic levels are so low. Fingers crossed this teaches them a habit for life.....

 

[Maverick Goose]

Yes, I can forgive them for being a bit wobbly!

 

[hennbell]

3 weeks ago I was complaining about -16C morning commutes. 3 weeks and a 36 degree temperature change, today the high is expected to be 20C.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Possibly the best ride to work so far this year.
Went the long way ,extra 2 miles which takes in Ferry Meadows "local to north cambs will know it"
Absolutely glorious, mill pond lakes and hardly a soul, with brilliant sunshine..

Such a shame I'm now at work, wish my commute was 50 miles and not 9

 

[hennbell]

I took an alternative route to work yesterday dinner-time
Well, it's one I used to ride occasionally (& ran a lot)

Through NewLands Woods (past the stable-block, of the old Hall), & out onto the river (Calder) bank (1)

First was NewLands Lane, past the 'Pylon Pond'

After the single-track in the woods, was the site of Stanley Lodge, where there's the climb to the 'Summer-House' in NewLand Park Woods (2)

The climb is just to the left of the gate
View attachment 519297

And directly behind me, is the track to the river embankment, where the colliery line ran (3)
View attachment 519298



Then onto the embankment, which winds between trees, a lot of Silver Birch & young Oaks

View attachment 519296


I decided to take an early finish, so rode back the same way, in the evening, passing to the other side of the Canal over the relatively new Ramsden Bridge (4)
Then behind Calder Row (a short terraced housing row, built for Canal company employees) & over the Trash Screen Bridge
It's been cleared out, as there was the suspicion that a missing person may have ended up in the river, & caught up in the debris held there (5)

Now all the wood/plastics/oil-drums (6) has been cleared away, that was removed during the search, it looks far better


View attachment 519299





At the other side of the bridge, I went right to retrace dinnertimes wheel-tracks


1. The Hall is gone, no traces, but the stable-block is largely intact
Seen to the right, in the very first picture; https://www.stanleyhistoryonline.com/Newland-Estate.html

2. https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/change-of-tyres-poll.259999/post-5975025
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4157678

3. If you scroll down this link, to the photograph of a saddle-tank, posed before reversing a 'Tom Pudding' into the Canal, that's what ran along the embankment; https://www.stanleyhistoryonline.com/Ferry-Lane-Photos.html

4. This is a pedestrian/cyclist/equestrian bridge only, its predecessor was vehicular, but showing definite signs of age
Plus it was cheaper to replace with a lower capacity bridge...….
Seen here, from the adjacent (now gated off) footbridge, during construction; https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5701925

5. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co...n-launched-after-body-found-wakefield-2525564

6. https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-bike-on-a-bridge-pics.235087/page-15#post-5892114
[/QUOTE

I just want a clear picture of the yellow bicycles top tube, what is painted on there?
I cant quiet make it out on the last picture.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I just want a clear picture of the yellow bicycles top tube, what is painted on there?
I cant quiet make it out on the last picture.

Sure!
It's a decal/transfer/sticker - whatever phrase is used over there

I have no idea if the UK magazine Mountain Biking UK' ever made it over there?
The decal is based on a cartoon strip in the magazine, called 'Mint Sauce'
Rather curiously this is a bike-riding Ovine (Sheep)

More information/history/psyche/strips here; https://www.thisiswhy.co.uk/blank-mpvle

This is the supplying store
Some interesting designs (head-tube too!!)
https://www.indibike.co.uk/top-tube-graphics-41-c.asps

 

[skudupnorth]

And as if by magic, the idiots are back on the roads ☹️ Bollards at a pinch point I go through are now destroyed, two pull outs without looking, one idiot in a Micra Cabriolet overtook me as I was positioned to turn right at some traffic lights and one red light jumper on the guided busway crossing ( gutted a bus did not hit him) Stay safe everyone, the lockdown respite is over 😩😩😩😩

 

[ruffers]

And as if by magic, the idiots are back on the roads ☹ Bollards at a pinch point I go through are now destroyed, two pull outs without looking, one idiot in a Micra Cabriolet overtook me as I was positioned to turn right at some traffic lights and one red light jumper on the guided busway crossing ( gutted a bus did not hit him) Stay safe everyone, the lockdown respite is over 😩😩😩😩

suppose the peace and quiet was good whilst it lasted 🤔