Tales from today's commute....

[roubaixtuesday]

Lovely today, neither freezing nor soaking either way for the first time in weeks. Beautiful moon on the way home too.

Back to normal tomorrow...

 

[Andy in Germany]

It's gerpishening it down as forecast. Not much wind though.

 

[skudupnorth]

Tough ride on the fixie today, got stopped by the police on the loop line near Little Hulton who told the route was closed and wasn’t due to a tree down 😳
Ride home was hard and with the added cockwomble in his genital extending BMW blowing his little horn as I swerved in a gust of wind 😡 I caught a glimpse of him on his friggin phone, prick

 

[fossyant]

What a difference a few days makes. Positively balmy and about 10 minutes quicker with a slight tail wind, much warmer conditions, slick tyres and no ice. Weather forecast was spot on with rain predicted between 7 and 8am, but it wasn't heavy and I didn't stop for waterproofs.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Perfect timing, just starting to spit when I arrived, absolutely throwing it down after I'd showered.

 

[biking_fox]

Damp enough to have rainlegs and the short ride in. Very dark, but not totally grim, which is starting soon. I'll stay hiding in my office until it clears this afternoon.

 

[palinurus]

Today is my winter solstice- sunset after 16:30 (16:31).

Gah! didn't get to enjoy it. Front tyre was flat!* got the tube out and couldn't find anything. Stuffed it back in the tyre and put a bit of air in it - must get a better minipump, hard work with the fatter tyres I use now. Probably put less than 30 pounds in it.

It was still a little light when I left 20 minutes later.

Got home no problem, tyre went down overnight. Fixed it in the kitchen this morning- tiny little hole.

*The last commuting puncture I had was in March 2019! This winter I'm using the Maxxis tyres that came with my Genesis Flyer, will replace before next winter.

 

[ianrauk]

Got to work just as the next belt of rain came in. Hopefully it will clear off by the time I bugger of home later today.

 

[palinurus]

Got to work just as the next belt of rain came in. Hopefully it will clear off by the time I bugger of home later today.

Looks like you're in with a good chance

 

[wafter]

Left at a more appropriate time this morning, dressed for the forecast rain in base layer, jacket, cycling cap and over-trousers.

Traffic was better than yesterday (which was a bit manky even well away from the city ), with a light and tolerable smattering of dickheads.

Once parked I was pleased to get out in the relative warmth and only light drizzly rain. Enthused by the less-than-biblical precipitation and a rare decent night's sleep, a pleasant ride was had along the tow path into town. Stopped for sausages and all was right with the world, until the front end started to feel decidedly squishy coming up the high street..

I stopped to find the front tyre almost totally flat; somewhat unsurprisingly as the post-previous-puncture slow leak had been getting gradually worse. I stuffed some more air into it, but it was flat again within a few hundred yards.

Walked the bike to the Magdalen bridge and got a pretty efficient little operation going; front wheel off and forks rested on the pavement, on top of the sock my new Morph pump lives in within the bag.. all bits laid out on top of my spares bag to minimise the chance of losing anything. Tyre and tube off, new tube in, tyre and tube back on, all inflated to six bar in maybe 80-100 manageable strokes of the pump which now got it's turn on the long-suffering sock to protect it from damage. All fixings back on, rest chucked in the bag and I was off after only about 10 minutes.

Late for work again; however somewhat buoyed by the better-than-expected performance of the pump and quick, efficient manner in which the repair went down... even if it was ultimately the result of my own oversight and slackness.

Back at the office the holed tube was inspected; and what I expected to be the result of a poorly-patched previous repair actually turned out to be a little nibble an inch or so away - I think probably caused by the fat piece of flint that caused the last puncture as the tyre walked its way around the rim as the bike was pushed.

I was going to write that tube off but it's just had another patch - bringing the total to eight

 

[fossyant]

Damp enough to have rainlegs and the short ride in. Very dark, but not totally grim, which is starting soon. I'll stay hiding in my office until it clears this afternoon.

You'll be there till after 7pm according to my phone, then it get's windy.

 

[fossyant]

I was going to write that tube off but it's just had another patch - bringing the total to eight

Eight patches ! Blimey, how old is the tube ?

 

[wafter]

Eight patches ! Blimey, how old is the tube ?

About ten minutes

I think they're due to about five separate incidents - some on either side of the tube thanks to a thorn going all the way through; some overlapping due to the puncture tracking along the tube as the wheel's been rolled..

Have changed my route now to avoid where I think most were occurring; although council tubeless is still a very appealing idea!

 

[fossyant]

Rain radar telling me there is a gap in the rain, then it will get windy. Off I go...

 

[biking_fox]

About ten minutes

I think they're due to about five separate incidents - some on either side of the tube thanks to a thorn going all the way through; some overlapping due to the puncture tracking along the tube as the wheel's been rolled..

Have changed my route now to avoid where I think most were occurring; although council tubeless is still a very appealing idea!

Marathon Plus is the way to go. Heavy! but fine one you're going, they do eventually wear out, but good for most riding.