Tales from today's commute....

[T4tomo]

Well that (Friday PM) will be my last commute, or any bike ride for a few weeks or months.

Half a mile from home, at the bottom of a steep hill, coming round a bend, met a car coming the other way. She stopped, I made the mistake of braking, much too hard, looked up the back wheel, and skidded across the road, hitting the car towards the nearside front bumper. Sailed over the corner of the car and hit the ground rather hard.

Spent the next few hours in A&E. Two dislocated fingers on left hand, but badly smashed up right wrist. In a cast at the moment, but likely to need surgery and metalwork. Fracture clinic on Wednesday when I think they will decide.

All my own fault, and TBH I'm lucky it wasn't even worse. But if I hadn't braked, I'd probably have got past.

ouch nightmare, hope you heal soon and the bike is OK

 

[DCBassman]

Well that (Friday PM) will be my last commute, or any bike ride for a few weeks or months.

Half a mile from home, at the bottom of a steep hill, coming round a bend, met a car coming the other way. She stopped, I made the mistake of braking, much too hard, looked up the back wheel, and skidded across the road, hitting the car towards the nearside front bumper. Sailed over the corner of the car and hit the ground rather hard.

Spent the next few hours in A&E. Two dislocated fingers on left hand, but badly smashed up right wrist. In a cast at the moment, but likely to need surgery and metalwork. Fracture clinic on Wednesday when I think they will decide.

All my own fault, and TBH I'm lucky it wasn't even worse. But if I hadn't braked, I'd probably have got past.

Ow, GWS!

 

[GeekDadZoid]

Fab commute in today, my mate was with me on his electric brompton and we managed so quite long runs with all green lights, really makes a difference.

Even managed to stop for a coffee at my favourite coffee shop on the way in.

 

[Andy in Germany]

A colleague who lives in the same village as me didn't believe that I could get the 10k (6 miles) back from work in half an hour, so when she drove off she said she'd wait at the edge of the village.

Apparently I made it in 25 minutes...

 

[fossyant]

A colleague who lives in the same village as me didn't believe that I could get the 10k (6 miles) back from work in half an hour, so when she drove off she said she'd wait at the edge of the village.

Apparently I made it in 25 minutes...

As long as that

 

[Andy in Germany]

As long as that

Well, I didn't want to rush...

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

Today was a decidedly grey day, so no pretty pictures of distant mountains et c. On the other hand it was thankfully dry, the gravel paths had drained the water away, and there was no headwind, so basically a 0-0 win...

Yes 100% agree I'd take grey/dull/miserable and overcast over a headwind any day!

 

[HLaB]

Today's commute was a bliss and that was maybe due to the fairweather commuters (thanks folk) with them out of their cars there was more gaps in the traffic and my commute which is circa 45mins + was circa 40 mins (42mins AM and 39mins PM). I am doing it on my heavy Triban but I bought for locking up outside at my old work, my new work has a nice secure bike shed so I might reclaiming my aluminium Kinesis which is in a mates garage or even rebuilding the Ti Kinesis. It would be a shame to lose the Triban though apart from a broken spoke and the usual wear and tear it has not let me down in 6000+ miles despite me not being to precious of it.

 

[ianrauk]

So is the Sahara desert still there? Just asking as I think most of it was deposited on SE London. Everywhere is covered in fine red sandy dust. After yesterday evenings commute, the peak of my cycling cap had a red line of sand. Didn't help my throat much either. Made for a bit coughy. It rained all day yesterday too. Not heavy rain, but rain never the less. In complete contrast today which is a beautiful blue sky, sunny day.

So rainy commute #10 for the year
Last year compared. 5 rainy commutes.

 

[fossyant]

Fine morning today - bit frosty so took the cobbled locks on the canal with care - only one was a bit dicey. Our cycle shelter has a broken mag lock again - it has two entrances but the one to the street is open. I've thrown the manual 'lock' on it and put a poster on the door telling others not to use it as it will not lock behind them. I've alerted Estates, but the job is going to take a while to fix.

 

[Jenkins]

So is the Sahara desert still there? Just asking as I think most of it was deposited on SE London. Everywhere is covered in fine red sandy dust. After yesterday evenings commute, the peak of my cycling cap had a red line of sand. Didn't help my throat much either. Made for a bit coughy. It rained all day yesterday too. Not heavy rain, but rain never the less. In complete contrast today which is a beautiful blue sky, sunny day.

So rainy commute #10 for the year
Last year compared. 5 rainy commutes.

Just light drizze yesterday afternoon on my way home - I didn't notice the effect of the sand until I picked up my glasses this afternoon and it turns out the bike could also do with a wipe down

 

[GeekDadZoid]

Wouldn't normally test a major change on a commute, but been busy and only finished the brakes at about 10pm last night.

Slight rear wheel issue due to its poor rim condition, but I have a new set incoming. Brakes seemed nice and sharp even with the nasty included pads.

I could really feel the difference in rolling resistance over the chunky 26 inch tyres I've been using over the winter. Think my mate sat on my back wheel noticed it on the fast straights too.

Was a lovely day to ride in today.

 

[rivers]

I have to work today, which sucks. But I did take advantage of the weather and ride the 21 miles into work on this lovely day. I took the TT bike in seeing as I have a race next week and I haven't ridden my TT bike outside in nearly 6 months. Pity there was a headwind the entire way in, or else it would have been pretty speedy.

 

[skudupnorth]

Fridays commute was bliss with the fantastic weather and lack of wind.
Outward journey became interesting when a lady pulled out and I just managed to skid to a halt before I made a nice mark on her bumper. I guess bright LED’s are not bright enough but at least she might pay more attention in future.
The return trip be was trouble free and it would be rude not to extend it from Bolton and along the Bridgewater canal home. With all the stops to enjoy the ride and scenery, I got “ The where are you” call from my good lady…. I was only an hour overdue 😆

 

[Tom B]

Starting to feel like the corner has been turned weather wise.

On my new commute now, turns out a route I thought was a no no is actually quite quick.

Puncture on Friday when I was looking forward to an hour of me time before nursery collection.

Then on Saturday went down a path I've used hundreds of times on bikes that are far wider. Managed to clip a boulder and end up face first in a chain link fence. Oh um.