Tales from today's commute....

[Andy in Germany]

A very fast commute today with a strong tailwind, bright sun and dry roads.

I'm looking on this as a apology from the universe for yesterdays rain.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Well Yesterday was a momentous commute for me, end of an era. been commuting into london by bike for over 16 years. My last commute into London certainly, maybe my last forever. My company has closed the building near Tower Bridge and once they have finished the new office I will be in a proper rubbish location in a industrial estate in Hoddesdon N of London and the M25, very difficult for a bike commute from Basildon, even a half drive/cycle, no showers etc.
Anyway the commute in was I think a great example of how good a commute can be, sunshine and a tailwind and seeing off a young wannabee on his singlespeed. No hassle from anyone, perfect!
Cycle home was a headwind and a reminder I am getting older and nearly 60 now. Going down southark high street at what I thought a good pace was overtaken by another Lycra clad Mamil at a vast rate of knots making me look like I was pootling but he was being hard pressed by a guy in jeans on a hybrid!. Then later in the commute yet another guy in jeans and on a hybrid also decided he was going to "race" the old lycra clad fool.
I caught him up at some lights and he then upped his previously plodding pace to a good 19-20 mpg into a headwind. I let him tow me for 3/4 of a mile then thought I should take to the front and give him a rest. But no he wasnt having this old geezer overtake and he put a surge on, I coud tell he wasnt going to last but he was making me puff. I then waited for a hill and lit the afterburners, instead of chasing he gave up, I looked back a short while later and he had gone back to pootling.
I was pleased my last commute was pleasant and in the sunshine.

 

[ianrauk]

Sorry to hear you're done with the commute @HarryTheDog
16 years is great going. i'm currently on my 15th year of commuting into the current office and I have to say it scares me to death if I am not able to cycle commute any more. In all the years, the great times outweigh the bad times a hundred more fold.

Shame you can't drive/cycle. How come it's not an option?

On last nights commute i was also put in my place by a young lycra clad roadie lad. He pushed up to 25mph+ for a fair old distance and I was trying to keep my lungs in my body just following, I blew up first. He put me in my place right there and then

 

[HarryTheDog]

Hi @ianrauk , I do a drive/cycle at the moment, it takes me 20 minutes to get to my parking spot and around 1hr to cycle the last 18 which is the same as me walking to the station and catching a train or driving all the way. The country lane from Basildon to N Ockendon is nearly always very light traffic.
With going to Hoddesdon the car route is A127/M25/A10 , I have driven it at rush hour and it can range from 50 minutes to 1.5 hrs.( or if a bad smash 4 hrs LOL)
If I was to park at say Epping it would take me just as long to come off the motorway and go to a decent parking spot. I have tried it. I tried cycling around the lanes Epping to Hoddesdon and the drivers there are mental, I had more close passes in one day than I do in a year of my normal commute.( my missus was with me when I tried it and she was not happy)
My favourite thing would be to Park at Lea Valley or further down near Stratford and cycle the canal path , I want around a hours cycle commute, it would be a very picturesque commute but in the time it would take me to get to Lea Valley or Stratford area I could have arrived at Hoddesdon.
Plus no showers at work and I always push it to sweating even in the winter.
However I am going to do some more homework and try to find a drive route that goes country lanes from Basildon to Epping missing out the slow pinch points of Brentwood or Chipping ongar etc. Or train to Stratford with bike but they can get a bit snotty about full sized bikes or work are flexible and I could miss rush hour maybe.
The last obstacle is my missus, she thinks its high time I gave it up, in 16 years I have been attacked, broken hand, broken wrist, hit in a hit and run (displaced collar bone) and she reckons I am pushing my luck, she would be happier with a canal path commute though she tried it with me and thought it beautiful.
Either that or I find another way to burn 1,000+ calories in a working day.

 

[ianrauk]

@HarryTheDog
Epping and environs has always been bad for idiot motons. It seem to be full of them week day, weekend, morning, noon and night. Don't know why that it, it's just the way it is.

How about driving to somewhere like Toot Hill or Tylers Green and cycle commute from there?

 

[MrGrumpy]

Off the bike for now. Osteoarthritis in the right knee is giving me serious pain the now . It’s does eventually pass .

 

[Andy in Germany]

Off the bike for now. Osteoarthritis in the right knee is giving me serious pain the now . It’s does eventually pass .

Ouch, that sounds nasty. I hope "eventually" comes soon.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Got honked at this morning which happens about twice a year. It was probably my fault: I should remember that although I'm confident in a situation and generally can plan where I'm going so I'm well out of the way of other vehicles by the time they've finished negotiating traffic islands/partked cars et c, other drivers don't know that.

Still, honking his horn about three seconds after he'd passed me was a bit pointless...

 

[Jenkins]

Pinch flat caused by misjudging the edge of the speed ramp in works car park. I've been sat with the wheel & a spare tube by my desk for a while and, as it's half time, I've got 10 minutes to swap over the tube or see if the holes can be patched.

 

[palinurus]

Your van's on fire.

I said your van's on fire.

 

[palinurus]

Keeping them brakes warmed up in case they're needed in a hurry.

 

[ianrauk]

Rainy commute #22 for the year this morning. Not heavy, more drizzle. Wet never the less. Cooler temps too. Strange old weather this year

Yesterday afternoon I left early to get home for the footy. Thing is, so did everyone else by the looks of things. Don't think I've ever seen such busy roads at half 3 in the afternoon.
Yet when my partner drove home from her work place during match time. She sailed home.

 

[palinurus]

Left at lunchtime yesterday, worked from home a bit, then had a physiotherapy appointment. It was raining a bit so I stuck on a light jacket and went out on the Elephant Bike. Before I'd gone 300 metres it started really pissing down.

Was dripping throughout the appointment. Should there be a next time I'll have my cape ready.

 

[rivers]

I tested my bikepacking set-up on my commute today (with road wheels instead of my gravel wheelset). It was a lovely morning for it, so I took the long way around into work. I really need to sort out getting my hydration bladder into my frame pack, as I don't think I want to really spend 5 days with the backpack on. Not too heavy at 15kgs, but I''m sure I can get that down a kilo or so.

 

[hennbell]

So hot out this week 33C yesterday, 35 today, and it's going to stay that way for a week.
Going to have to change my profile pic.