Tales from today's commute....

[HLaB]

A bit of a sluggish commute this morning but dry and bright. Found out why when I uploaded to Strava

That blew in some torrential storms during the day, a lot worse/darker than the light sun showers forecasted. A lot of my colleagues were trying to convince me to take the train the whole way home. Lol, a moment later they were complaining about the congestion
A check of the weather radar suggested it would be passing about 15mins after I would have usually left, so I took my time changing. It was right, it was light drizzle when I left the office and within 5mins it had stopped and it was quite nice the far end. Sod's law though the tail wind wasn't as strong as this morning and it shifted slightly so it was only 1.5% of a benefit (it had been 11.9% of a dis benefit in the morning.

When I was on the stupid half mile detour for the ramp access to the other platform I annoyingly I saw the train I wanted. I was tempted to go exploring, as it was half an hour to the next one. I'm glad I never though, the trains must have been messed up, it was only 15minutes to the next one and the one scheduled 30minutes after the one I missed was cancelled.

Lol, that's where the joy ended. I had thought about getting of the train early but I wanted back to see the Scotland game

 

[wafter]

After a somewhat squiffy weekend eight chilled, sunny miles in this morning followed by twenty-odd aimlessly wafty miles on the way home; interspersed with some more time on the rings in the park.

Quite a lot exertion by my standards and enough to get a decent high on the way home, also a pretty low-carb day. No pub visits tonight or food out; did eat a whole packet of southern fried chicken breasts wth salad, mayo and a fat block of cheese though when home.

I like to think that if I keep pushing myself the improvements will become self-perpetuating.. although recent progression might just be an anomaly... time will tell.

 

[HLaB]

Quite fresh this morning but bright and dry. The roads were mainly empty until I got to the CC, that was busier than usual. At least they would trigger the Bridge Street lights, which they did. Just as I was dropping a mph not to go into the back of the queue a driver decided to cut in and fill the barely existent gap to the back of the queue. Rather than break to near zero at the bottom of a hill, I overtook then upped my pace to slot into a generous gap 4 or 5 cars in front of them. If it weren't for the pedestrian unfriendly lights at the toucan to bridge street (no light goes green for pads in Pottyboro until about 30secs after the last car has past #livinginthe60sstill 🤬) I would have been through town faster than a car. 30mins later and I wouldn't even need to pedal to be faster 😂

 

[fossyant]

Got away with it this morning. Started spitting about halfway but didn't get any heavier. Rebuilt rear wheel (new rim) didn't make any pings and dings.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

This mornings ride was 'interesting'. I should have gone for a jog instead (I'm trying to do one 5km run a week for bone density).

I made my way onto a recently installed stepped cycle lane - I join it from a shared pedestrian/cycle way which means effectively crossing two roads and being very mindful of traffic. I'd looked up the lane far enough for pedestrians that I might come into conflict with - checked again for traffic and cycled across the road hopping onto the lane.

I did a sweep around checking the traffic situation and then looked ahead to see two cyclists, riding side-by-side toward me. I had to rejoin the road quickly to avoid a collision - so I was glad I'd kept my wits about me because there was no time to do a proper look behind me. I shouted - not as loud as I'd shout at a tin box occupent and not particularly aggressively - "wrong way" as I took the evasive action. And again said loudly "use the other side" .. meaning the lane on the other side of the road.

I rejoined the cycle lane and a pedestrian had a go at me for shouting at school girls, saying repeatedly 'they're only year 5'. They weren't. Having got a look at their uniforms as I passed, they were year 9 or year 10 students.

Was I wrong to shout at them? I don't think so. Again, I wasn't aggressive - or at least I don't think it was. It was nothing like the way I'd yell 'stop' to a driver pulling out on top of me. The lane isn't really wide enough for cycling side by side. I passed them wide because the real danger is one of the riders clipping the other and the other consequently falling into the road into the opposing flow of motorised traffic.

Having never had an encounter like this on my morning ride (involving school children) - I had another on a shared pedestrian / cycle track. A young chap joined it from a blind junction without looking first, forcing us to both do an emergency stop. Thankfully I was aware of that blind spot for anyone joining the track and I was only doing (checks log) 9.5 km/h (5.9 mph). Two in one morning.

I've written a missive to the school commending all of their pupils who cycle all walk to school, but going to on to ask whether the pupils receive any cycle training or messaging on safe travel (aside from hi vis/helmets). Hoping for a positive response. There's another school in the area that has effectively banned cycling to school (restricted to older pupils who have passed bikeability level 2) and their road safety education amounts to 'wear hi viz'. Don't really want to see a repeat of that. It is great that so many pupils are walking and cycling.

I really do like my morning loop, but now I'm pondering changing it. I'd chosen it really to show that the good cycling infrastructure is getting used but maybe it's time for a change anyway.

 

[Arjimlad]

Beautiful ride today on the country lanes, but the A38 slowed me down a bit as there were too many cars. At least I could get past in most places fairly easily.

One of those where I felt doubly lucky to be cycling.

 

[cyberknight]

The council have actually cut the bit I reported last week, a little anyway.its by no means perfect but at least I can squeeze through slowly

 

[cyberknight]

ran over a small animal yesterday that darted under my wheels from long grass, why it couldnt stay where it as safe is beyond me .I have noticed things like to play chicken and run right under you in the hope you will stop.
Coming back home it turned out to be a rabbit that i had squished

 

[Maylian]

I've had a lovely few days commuting in, after only virtual rides last week, which are so different to the stop/start riding in real life. Monday and Tuesday rides were sunny and generally very pleasant on the Bristol 2 Bath cyclepath, with a few minor headshakes at people on e-bikes or speedy sit down scooters, or other cyclists going for gaps that I thought were a bit too close to pedestrians.

In an effort to help lose some weight I've started to reduce my calorie intake and have fasting days, so yesterday's ride home after having a few apples and cycling into the wind felt painful at times, but turned out to only be a little slower than normal. Plus my new "bullet proof" wheels from Spa cycles arrived and so far, seem up to the job of carrying my bulk!

 

[biking_fox]

Cycle to work day - so met up with some other regular local commuters. I don't think I've noticed them on my normal rides, but we're all at slightly different times and route choices. Nice to have some company and a sunny morning!

 

[wafter]

ran over a small animal yesterday that darted under my wheels from long grass, why it couldnt stay where it as safe is beyond me .I have noticed things like to play chicken and run right under you in the hope you will stop.
Coming back home it turned out to be a rabbit that i had squished

Sadly the danger posed unintentionally by us is different to that which stuff has evolved to avoid - the instinct is simply to run away from predators coming straight for them - not great if the direction they choose is under out wheels.

At least if it was there on the way back, it likely had a pretty swift demise. Accidentally killing stuff isn't pleasant, but irreparably wounding something is so much worse

 

[fossyant]

It's warming up. Very pleasant ride in this morning.

 

[Maylian]

Sadly the danger posed unintentionally by us is different to that which stuff has evolved to avoid - the instinct is simply to run away from predators coming straight for them - not great if the direction they choose is under out wheels.

At least if it was there on the way back, it likely had a pretty swift demise. Accidentally killing stuff isn't pleasant, but irreparably wounding something is so much worse

What's people noise of choice to try and scare them away before you get too close? I tend to adopt a hissing / clicking noise, although the squirrels lately have become very laissez-faire to this.

 

[HLaB]

It was actually yesterday but having looked at the long range weather forecast I pulled forward my Tuesday workout to Sunday to give me the freedom to explore and bag OS tiles on Tuesday night. So my 12miles commute turned into 30miles. I should have stopped to take more photos as the scenery on the edge of the Chilterns was great. I think I surprised an Orthodox Jew when I gave him a friendly hello on a broken road/ bridleway in the middle of nowhere. I kinda got a stunned/ no response 😂

 

[cyberknight]

Sadly the danger posed unintentionally by us is different to that which stuff has evolved to avoid - the instinct is simply to run away from predators coming straight for them - not great if the direction they choose is under out wheels.

At least if it was there on the way back, it likely had a pretty swift demise. Accidentally killing stuff isn't pleasant, but irreparably wounding something is so much worse

its a pity the cyclepath is so overgrown, i had no chance to see it before it dodged in front of me even though i was going steady
i did email the council last week ....