biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
More autumnal riding - dark foreboding skies and a swirly breeeze but actually pleasant and enjoyable.
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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Last night I came the closest to an incident in a long time after some dickhead bus driver failed to check his mirrors (or just decided I didn't matter) before pulling out from stationary around a van; nearly slow-motion-crushing me against a parked bus on the other side of the road in the process.. he seemed unconcerned and looking back I wish I'd clocked the reg and reported him.
This morning was much nicer than yesterday; still grey but with a bit of ethereal mist. Thankfully no rain but occasional light drizzle; I made do with the jacket and the usual lightweight walking trousers. No heart rate data again as my HRM has gone from simply "forgotten" yesterday to "lost" after I failed to put my hands on it last night
Got out in good time and despite the headwind and damp didn't regret not being one of the muppets sat in traffic. Some nice interactions with people on the tow path and I passed within feet of a nonchalant heron on the bank of the canal
Once more grateful for the mental health benefits of a pleasant ride in; a welcome escape from the exhaustion of constant stress and conflict that now seems to typify "normal", conformist life.
This morning was much nicer than yesterday; still grey but with a bit of ethereal mist. Thankfully no rain but occasional light drizzle; I made do with the jacket and the usual lightweight walking trousers. No heart rate data again as my HRM has gone from simply "forgotten" yesterday to "lost" after I failed to put my hands on it last night
Got out in good time and despite the headwind and damp didn't regret not being one of the muppets sat in traffic. Some nice interactions with people on the tow path and I passed within feet of a nonchalant heron on the bank of the canal
Once more grateful for the mental health benefits of a pleasant ride in; a welcome escape from the exhaustion of constant stress and conflict that now seems to typify "normal", conformist life.
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Couldn't quite work out the wind direction, but I think it was blowing west. The breeze was drying out some of the tracks a little. Rather pleasant ride and my new Endura Humvee 2 trousers are rather warm, certainly warmer than the Altura pants. I'm going to stick with trousers rather than bibs for the commute - just quicker to get on, and they offer some waterproofness in showers/spray.
The 'bog of doom' on my way back home is deteriorating again, it's never really dried out this year. The change of tyres following my blow out means I can cross it fine as these aren't slick.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Didn't realise it was a recovery week in my training plan and took advantage of the ESE tail wind and rushed to catch the 5min to train this evening. It was my second fastest commute since I've settled on that route, missing out by 18s on the fastest. That was easily the cars I got held up by. I made it with about a minute to spare.
Actually looking at it: that route is fairly consistent time wise :-)
Actually looking at it: that route is fairly consistent time wise :-)
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Jenkins
Legendary Member
- Location
- Felixstowe
Thank you - you've just reminded me to find out how to turn off that 'Athlete Intelligence' rubbish.
markharry66
Guru
Cycle in yesterday and today. Over dressed this morning felt warm to warm for clothes I was wearing. Lesson learned October is unpredictable for weather. Seems I have hit sweet spot after last week no traffic and no dickheads long may it continue.
markharry66
Guru
Get some oil on those old bones 😜
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Blimey, that was warm. Had heavy rain overnight, didn't look too great on awaking. Popped my head out of the front door for the 'latest' forecast and it felt warm with very little rain. Decided no waterproofs.
Slight tail wind on the way in, but sweating and soggy when at work. Temp says it's 16c ! Colleagues who had walked in were rather warm too. The rain held off, nothing more than a few spots. Fairly pleasant ride in.
Slight tail wind on the way in, but sweating and soggy when at work. Temp says it's 16c ! Colleagues who had walked in were rather warm too. The rain held off, nothing more than a few spots. Fairly pleasant ride in.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Ditto!
Last night's ride was extended thanks to the unexpectedly warm temperature and lack of rain; my enjoyment buoyed further by more surprise smiley redhead content on the tow path
This morning was bleak but warm and dry barring the fine mist hanging in the air. A headwind to start couldn't keep the smile off my face from simply being out on the bike in tolerable conditions.
A nice peaceful ride laced with the warm comforting smell of autumnal decay and punctuated by the gentle, reassuring patter of detritus hitting my extended front mudflap (and as such not getting stuffed up the bottom of the seatpost tube to cause untold damage).
I had a few nice interactions including with a couple of keen blokes at the monkey bars when I stopped briefly for a bit of decompression. I saw quite a few coots / moorhens (can never tell the difference) and managed to miss the old deaf cat that likes to sit in the middle of the tow path; despite it's increasingly effective camouflage against the carpet of fallen leaves.
The secateurs have remained unused in my bag for the past week or two and I think snippy-snippy season is over with the brambles relenting until next year.
I'm glad to have the opportunity to push the rides out a bit more as often getting out is the hardest bit; although I suspect this will ultimately come to an end as the dark tightens its grip and temperatures fall..
This morning was bleak but warm and dry barring the fine mist hanging in the air. A headwind to start couldn't keep the smile off my face from simply being out on the bike in tolerable conditions.
A nice peaceful ride laced with the warm comforting smell of autumnal decay and punctuated by the gentle, reassuring patter of detritus hitting my extended front mudflap (and as such not getting stuffed up the bottom of the seatpost tube to cause untold damage).
I had a few nice interactions including with a couple of keen blokes at the monkey bars when I stopped briefly for a bit of decompression. I saw quite a few coots / moorhens (can never tell the difference) and managed to miss the old deaf cat that likes to sit in the middle of the tow path; despite it's increasingly effective camouflage against the carpet of fallen leaves.
The secateurs have remained unused in my bag for the past week or two and I think snippy-snippy season is over with the brambles relenting until next year.
I'm glad to have the opportunity to push the rides out a bit more as often getting out is the hardest bit; although I suspect this will ultimately come to an end as the dark tightens its grip and temperatures fall..
GeekDadZoid
Über Member
Ebike and waterproofs ended up a decent combination. Rained for the first 20 mins and then dry for the rest.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Last night's ride was extended thanks to the unexpectedly warm temperature and lack of rain; my enjoyment buoyed further by more surprise smiley redhead content on the tow path
This morning was bleak but warm and dry barring the fine mist hanging in the air. A headwind to start couldn't keep the smile off my face from simply being out on the bike in tolerable conditions.
A nice peaceful ride laced with the warm comforting smell of autumnal decay and punctuated by the gentle, reassuring patter of detritus hitting my extended front mudflap (and as such not getting stuffed up the bottom of the seatpost tube to cause untold damage).
I had a few nice interactions including with a couple of keen blokes at the monkey bars when I stopped briefly for a bit of decompression. I saw quite a few coots / moorhens (can never tell the difference) and managed to miss the old deaf cat that likes to sit in the middle of the tow path; despite it's increasingly effective camouflage against the carpet of fallen leaves.
The secateurs have remained unused in my bag for the past week or two and I think snippy-snippy season is over with the brambles relenting until next year.
I'm glad to have the opportunity to push the rides out a bit more as often getting out is the hardest bit; although I suspect this will ultimately come to an end as the dark tightens its grip and temperatures fall..
We are missing sausage purchases at the moment.
We are missing sausage purchases at the moment.
Sausages on two of three days this week - reduced to two per sitting as my guts are ruined though so I've let the side down with only around 45% typical sausage consumption this week
