Tales from today's commute....

[Richard A Thackeray]

Wed 7th

Old railway embankment
Between ‘Stanley Ferry & NewLands Woods
(circa 16:20)

It's nicely dried out now, but wider?!
It looks like either a pick-up, or the local ‘Moto-Cross Mob’/‘Quad-Squad’ have been along it?

It was certainly a lot drier than one of my last rides along the same diversionary route home
(I also rode along here in mid-March, & failed a climb, due to wheelspin)

I'm approximately where the 'd' of 'Dismantled Railway' is on the OS map
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2451643


Edit @ 19:39
I rode that way, to look for this stone

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Thursday 8th

Old railway embankment
Between ‘Stanley Ferry & NewLands Woods
(circa 16:25)

Just a few hundred yards along from yesterdays picture, I tend to drop off the embankment here, & then turn left towards the (remaining ruinous) Stable Block of NewLands Hall
The River Calder can just be seen, to my right

 

[Lovacott]

No pictures today, but half the way in at 6.15am, I rounded a bend and came across a Roe Deer grazing on one of the banks. It stared at my lights and froze for a few seconds and then began a gentle trot ahead and I followed it for a 1/4 mile maintaining a distance of about 30 yards. It then popped though an open gate into a field and stopped to watch me pass.

A mile or so further on, I startled two Roe Deer in a field to my left and they bounded away like Springboks being chased by a lion.

I've seen more deer in the last few weeks on my bike than I have ever seen in my preceding 59 years put together (it helps that on an MTB, my head is above hedge height).

Turns out there's a bit more to cycle commuting than riding a bike to work.

 

[ianrauk]

Right weather Gods. What the hell is with the snow in SE Londonshire this morning? It's bloody April. I'm a commuting cyclist. I don't want to be battling a full blown arctic blizzard on the way to work OK.

This time last year under lockdown we were sunning ourselves in the garden supping on Pink Gin and Lemonade.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

On arrival to work today I was mostly frozen. The snow/freezing rain constantly grated my eyeballs and my legs took an hour to defrost.

 

[Arjimlad]

Bravo - we had none of that in the mild South West this morning !

 

[skudupnorth]

Back on the usual commute after a week off, NCN55 was noticeably quieter now everyone seems to be back to work but the roads !!!! Good grief, that’s where all the lockdown people are 😆 It was carnage and mega gridlock ! My commute was so much calmer

 

[palinurus]

Sunset 16:20 today!

Mudguard bolt fell out this morning, cabletied on for the way home.

Still cable tied. The brake bridge clip (plastic) gave way today so that has been replaced by a cable tie. There is also a cable tie attaching the bit between the chainstays*

One bolt left...

Now it's light in the evenings I might get around to looking in the bits box for a replacement.

*I generally always do that anyway- it's a good way to fix them down there.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

An ‘interesting’ commute to work this morning....


1. Passing Lee Brigg Chemist, there was a Ford Focus behind me, holding back
As usual, there were parked cars to my side, by George Street
Opposing traffic appeared, l’m holding a ‘primary’ position
The Focus driver decided to try to overtake, then move left into me
A thump on the car drew attention
The elderly male driver was apologetic in response to my polite question of “What was that manoeuvre?”
Apparently he didn’t see me... on a lime-green bike/lime-green jacket

2. By the bridge over the Aire & Calder Navigation Canal, a Renault coming the other way
The driver had a huge mobile phone stuck in the screen (about the size of a postcard)
I couldn’t see her face/shoulders!
Imagine a kiddie/OAP crossing the road, & her not seeing them
Needs charging with ‘Driving Under The Influence Of Stupidity’


3. This could have been nasty
Aberford Road, approaching the right turn, onto Stanley Hill
I had my arm out signalling a turn
The driver of a 8x4 tipper decided he was going to try & come round me, as l was moving over
(he was well back, when l looked over shoulder, before putting arm out)
Thankfully he decided to back off, & hang back
And for his disregard, l got 2-fingers out of his win

 

[Zanelad]

First commute by bike for over 15 months today. It felt great to be back on the bike. I stopped as the worst of winter 2019 kicked in. Having been furloughed for much of 2020 and the start of 2021, I'm hopefully getting back to normal. Bit nippy this morning but the ride home looks to be a little warmer.

 

[Andy in Germany]

On the way to work yesterday...

Then in the afternoon, trying out what will hopefully be the commute from the new job in a couple of months...

 

[skudupnorth]

Well the commute to Bolton was not a nice one with quite a few close passes and just basic halfwits being allowed out behind the wheel !
The return leg was much better with an extended ride down the Bridgewater Way back to Astley

 

[skudupnorth]

Driving standards are back in there usual gutter but riding past lines of trapped, gridlocked motorists makes up for it 😆
Did my usual extended route home down the Roe Green Loop line through Worsley woods and on to the Bridgewater canal in beautiful sunshine. The other plus point for the roads being busier is the off road routes are far quieter

 

[Zanelad]

A commute of two halves. I fell off in the office car park a couple of feet from where I dismount. The front wheel stopped dead in a rut in the gravel. I hate riding on gravel! Usually I unclip one side for such eventualities. Today I didn't. I had time to consider my foolishness as I toppled slowly to the floor. No harm done apart from my pride and a sore foot that took the brunt of the fall.

The ride home was the first of the year iin a short sleeved top.

 

[palinurus]

I go past this most days. This bicycle has been locked to this street sign for over a year. At Christmas it was decorated with tinsel, after that someone attached a big heart with 'NHS' written in it to the top tube, then it was decorated for red nose day. Now Easter.

View attachment 581234

Getting boring now, hope the council cut the lock and recycle it.