Tales from today's commute....

[Alex321]

Dry above, but still quite wet below, and a fair bit chillier than I expected - the forecast had been for 5-6C, while it was actually 1-2C.

But quite a pleasant commute in for the winter, traffic was still light as the schools aren't back yet.

 

[ianrauk]

Last night was horrendous. I don't think in all my years I have cycled home in such heavy, persistent rain. Non stop for the whole hour's ride home. It was also so dark, mixed in with flooded roads and the usual shitty drivers, it made for quite a stressful ride. Having to concentrate so much harder the usual.
Akin to Drowned rat when I got home.

Rainy commute #2 for the year

This mornings ride in was much better. It was dry but the roads were still very wet. Long term weather forecast is for at least 10 dry days, but a little colder.

 

[wafter]

For clarity not cheap aluminium bikes with disk brakes, rather second hand aluminium bike with disk brakes that are selling cheap. Funnily one I have my eye on I Googled the model to find a thread on here with myself wishing a forum user was closer as they where selling one, this was almost a year ago after a similar ride i think.

That's fair - I can understand your motives; however am no fan of ally bikes and IMO (maybe wet-braking notwithstanding) you already have the perfect tool for the job..

 

[GeekDadZoid]

That's fair - I can understand your motives; however am no fun of ally bikes and IMO (maybe wet-braking notwithstanding) you already have the perfect tool for the job..

To be fair I don't like them either. I think it was just the horrible weather than made me feel uncomfortable. If I think of the places I have taken my Galaxy then a bit of water is probably not the most challenging braking situation.

 

[cyberknight]

im glad of discs in some situations, like when its raining heavily and i have to stop at the bottom of this hill in the dark

 

[simongt]

On the way into the city this morning, twat pedestrian with his focus entirely on his cellphone walked out in front of me too late for me to take any evasive action. Down I went like a sack of tatties.
Fortunately, no injury to me or my bike that I'm presently aware of. Whacked my head on the road, but the bash hat took the impact. Mirror knocked off, but was able to refit.
Said pedestrian was so apologetic, it was almost embarrassing - ! Gave me his name and contact details with a promise to pay for any subsequent damage that might reveal itself.
Carried on into the city, coffee first then tasks next; job done - !

 

[wafter]

On the way into the city this morning, twat pedestrian with his focus entirely on his cellphone walked out in front of me too late for me to take any evasive action. Down I went like a sack of tatties.
Fortunately, no injury to me or my bike that I'm presently aware of. Whacked my head on the road, but the bash hat took the impact. Mirror knocked off, but was able to refit.
Said pedestrian was so apologetic, it was almost embarrassing - ! Gave me his name and contact details with a promise to pay for any subsequent damage that might reveal itself.
Carried on into the city, coffee first then tasks next; job done - !

Sounds like a crap situation; although hopefully if there's anything to be gained said muppet will pay more attention in future. Never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who just drift with total detachment across / along roads; with zero awareness of what's around them...

 

[Andy in Germany]

Sounds like a crap situation; although hopefully if there's anything to be gained said muppet will pay more attention in future. Never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who just drift with total detachment across / along roads; with zero awareness of what's around them...

We see this on the "Cycle streets": people wander across them without looking, usually absorbed in their phone. I guess they assume they can't hear a car so it's safe.

 

[wafter]

We see this on the "Cycle streets": people wander across them without looking, usually absorbed in their phone. I guess they assume they can't hear a car so it's safe.

Yes, I get this a lot in the city centre too - again probably for the reason you suggest... it's always the bloody phone!

 

[simongt]

Sounds like a crap situation;

On reflection of the 'what if'; fortunately it was a one way street with motor traffic going t'other way and I was in a contraflow cycle lane. Had a car been directly behind me, hmm.
It also occurred to me that as cars are now so quiet, had it been a two way traffic street, he would have definitely come off worse.
Oh, and on the bright side, today no signs of aches or pains as a result. Not bad for a 70 year old duffer eh - !

 

[Andy in Germany]

I was in a contraflow cycle lane.

That could have been part of the problem. I've often seen pedestrians in these situations look for a car coming the opposite direction, see no vehicles, and assume they are therefore safe, not realising, or forgetting, that bikes can approach from left and right. Had there been a car behind you, I can well imagine the pedestrian would have been more aware and would have waited.

 

[GeekDadZoid]

That's fair - I can understand your motives; however am no fun of ally bikes and IMO (maybe wet-braking notwithstanding) you already have the perfect tool for the job..

I might have found a very reasonably priced Aluminium CX bike with disc brakes that for the price seems like it could be an ideal commuter. Inspection and logistics pending.

 

[steveindenmark]

I got up at 4am. The temparature outside was reading -5 degrees. There was a very starry sky, but it was dry on the ground. I got all my gear on and made a flask of hot coffee, just in case the P Fairy paid me a visit. As I walked down to the workshop where my bike is stored all the surfaces were white and twinkling in the beam of my head torch.. I put all my gear on the bike and start up the Wahoo bolt. Check all the lights and pull the bike out onto the gravel. All set to go. Wahoo started and gloves on.

2 pedal strokes and something is not right. Check front tyre and it is flat.

I drove to work this morning in cycling gear. One day I will learn.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Today was loud: the farmers are striking which means they're driving great convoys of tractors around, very slowly. Imagine Critical mass but with tractors, all blowing their horns.

Ironically it meant that I could cross the main road faster...

 

[GeekDadZoid]

It was a lovely ride in today weather-wise, cold but well within the bounds of my outfit choice. The drivers however were back on form with a few dodgy interactions but fortunately, all I could spot well in advance and avoid.
Quite a few unlit cyclists this morning, particularly surprising was one person who looked like an experienced commuter with no lights whatsoever, this was just after 7 so fully dark.
I have been playing with a couple of cheap sensors from Aliexpress, Heart Rate, Cadence and Speed paired to my Garmin and it's quite interesting.