Tales from today's commute....

[fossyant]

WFH today, so did 40 minutes or so in the garage on Zwift. Back in the office tomorrow. Missed the rain on Monday, and debris wasn't too bad on the canal - lots of small branches, but not an issue for a MTB.

It's getting lighter - seem to notice it more being in the office on a tuesday and Thursday, that 4 day gap over the weekend is quite noticeable how much lighter it is. Reminds me, better pop one of the lights on charge for tomorrow

 

[palinurus]

Better make the most of the nice weather as it looks like rain for tomorrows commute.

Going by the puddles it had been raining heavily at some point, but rain was pretty light when I left and it was a nice ride in.

 

[ianrauk]

Going by the puddles it had been raining heavily at some point, but rain was pretty light when I left and it was a nice ride in.

The rain started here at about 5am and was quite heavy until 7.30am. There was a dry window so I left about then to very wet roads. It was only when I got near to work about 50 minutes later did it start to rain heavy again. Not nice conditions out there this morning. Because of the rain, the traffic was absolutely metal.
the rain looks like it's here all day unfortunately, so looking forward to a wet ride home.

So.
Rainy commute # 5 for the year
For the same period last year, 5

 

[Alex321]

The rain started here at about 5am and was quite heavy until 7.30am. There was a dry window so I left about then to very wet roads. It was only when I got near to work about 50 minutes later did it start to rain heavy again. Not nice conditions out there this morning. Because of the rain, the traffic was absolutely metal.
the rain looks like it's here all day unfortunately, so looking forward to a wet ride home.

So.
Rainy commute # 5 for the year
For the same period last year, 5

I must admit, rain really doesn't bother me too much. Certainly not enough to bother counting how many rainy commutes I have.

I am lucky in that not only do we have a shower in work, but we also have a tumble drier available, so if I get wet, my kit goes in ath and I at least start out dry on the way home.

There is one downhill on the way into work where I normally get up enough speed that rain will sting my face quite a bit, that hill was qiute uncomfortable yesterday.

Not in the office today, but going in again tomorrow.

 

[Andy in Germany]

The rain started here at about 5am and was quite heavy until 7.30am. There was a dry window so I left about then to very wet roads. It was only when I got near to work about 50 minutes later did it start to rain heavy again. Not nice conditions out there this morning. Because of the rain, the traffic was absolutely metal.
the rain looks like it's here all day unfortunately, so looking forward to a wet ride home.

So.
Rainy commute # 5 for the year
For the same period last year, 5

Ugh. I had about three weeks solid rain and/or wind and general dampness.

I've now had two days of dry sunshine but I'm too scared to wash the bike.

 

[ianrauk]

Ugh. I had about three weeks solid rain and/or wind and general dampness.

I've now had two days of dry sunshine but I'm too scared to wash the bike.

Typical.. I cleaned my bike yesterday

 

[ianrauk]

I must admit, rain really doesn't bother me too much. Certainly not enough to bother counting how many rainy commutes I have.

I am lucky in that not only do we have a shower in work, but we also have a tumble drier available, so if I get wet, my kit goes in ath and I at least start out dry on the way home.

There is one downhill on the way into work where I normally get up enough speed that rain will sting my face quite a bit, that hill was qiute uncomfortable yesterday.

Not in the office today, but going in again tomorrow.

It doesn't bother me either. Far to many years of cycle commuting to let it bother me.
I started posting these stats on the forum years ago and some people find it interesting to see that in a years cycle commute, and in the scheme of things, there's really not that many wet rides in a year.

 

[HarryTheDog]

I have not been doing this cycle route for long, ( started after new year I think) and today was a morning of firsts.
First morning no lights needed at all ( 06:30 start on the commute)
First time I have meant plonker cyclist cycling on wrong side of the cycle path ( first 2 cyclists I met)
First time anyone has said hello or head nod, 2 hellos and 1 head nod. The 2 hellos very unexpected, the first a Rastafarion on a hybrid and the 2nd a middle aged lady on a Brompton.
First time a complete tailwind instead of crosswind, recorded fastest commute in . ( sounds slow 14.5 mph but in my defense 20 miles on rough canal path on 40mm gravel tyres, at least a stone overweight )
First time I got a bit shouty at another cyclist for having a dying sun strapped to his handlebars, quite a light morning but still got my eyeballs burnt out by his stupidly bright light.

 

[avecReynolds531]

A recent commute saw the wind direction change 180 degrees - while working- which meant a headwind there & a headwind return home.
It doesn't happen too often, and I don't recall ever having a tailwind-assisted commute for both journeys. All good though, extra cardio workout!

 

[HarryTheDog]

Just some pics of mr bright light, I saw him coming half a mile away. you can see his light just below the bridge ahead.

my camera could not deal with his light

 

[Alex321]

Just some pics of mr bright light, I saw him coming half a mile away. you can see his light just below the bridge ahead.


my camera could not deal with his light

Amateur level cameras IME aren't much use for that. They can't cope with any moderately bright light, so you really can't judge from the photos how bad it was.

 

[GeekDadZoid]

Back on the Gazelle today after its three weeks or so off the road after getting a blow out. I had in the interim fitted some Marathon Plus, new tubes, swapped the 18t to a 20t, fitted a new chain and also a nice new shifter. I had also done a little service on the brakes.

I had kinda forgotten how heavy it is, but got back into the swing of things quickly. Commute itself was fairly plain as I am still heading to the local office so it's only a 10 min ride, but the cargo box was welcome.

 

[ianrauk]

After yesterday's glorious sunny blue sky commute, the predicted forecast of rain wasn't wrong. Even though it wasn't heavy, more drizzle then anything, It still made for a wet commute.

As touch on in another thread elsewhere where someone asked if the traffic was getting worse post pandemic. Today's back up traffic was horrendous. No doubt the roan not helping and a set of roadworks. Lewisham was at a standstill in all directions it seemed. It can't remember when I have ever seen it so snarled up.

So, rainy commute # 6 for the year out of 66 commutes
Same period last year, 5 rainy commutes.

 

[HLaB]

The last week of the Gas works which has seen me having to divert my new commute. The first time the route I took via a little was flooded and 2nd time I decided the alternative route also via a little lane was a little too storm damaged. So I thought Id take a road that appeared on the default level of google (without zooming in) in a line as thick as what is decent width road and it was also sign posted. You guessed it, it was also a little lane. The lanes will probably be ideal in the summer but with traffic 'rat running' to avoid the gas works they were quite busy and I'm spending too much time looking forward or glancing over my shoulder and not looking directly down at my front wheel. So I ended up with a p'ture. Sod's law I read a post on here about p'tures last night and it was bound to happen. There if you have read this you are cursed now, hopefully not using the full 'p' word negates the curse

 

[HarryTheDog]

A drizzly commute that got off to a bad start, C2c smartcard did not work on the train had to argue with the gate guy and ticket office lady to get let through at Basildon, same excercise at West Ham though no ticket office lady as no ticket office open, got it to look forward to on the way home as well.
When I got on the the West Ham Greenway which is pretty dam wide a prat on a escooter decided instead of overtaking on the right properly where there was acres of space, no he was going to "buzz" me by overtaking in the foot gap on my left. Gave me a bit of a startle, lucky for him I did not shove him into the verge. He made his escape at nearly 30mph.
Then I came across my friendly Rastafarion in full foul weather gear complete with a blue plastic bag over his head.
A the ten mile point, oh dam soft rear tyre. I run tubeless could find no hissing or evidence of a object. Blew it back up. 2 miles later soft again. Again no evidence of a puncture. Blew it back up and it lasted the last 8 miles. Pleased that I had 2 offers of help from other cyclists though. Hopefully it was just sealant doing its job. Will fully inspect at dinner time.