Tales from today's commute....

[wafter]

Awake before six again thanks to crap bladder; with added misery today courtesy of some laughably bad anxiety dreams.

Out the door at ten past seven; earlier than usual as I had to drop the car off for its MOT.

This annual ritual added about 3.5 miles to the beginning of the ride; which thankfully wasn't a problem given my uncharacteristically competent time management on this occasion.

A sedate ride due to being generally knackered and still feeling the effects of yesterday's trip to the shops. Weather was dry and overcast; chilly but manageble in the zipped baselayer - hands comfortably warm by mile 4 and all of me pretty toasty soon thereafter.

Stopped at the bars for a minute's dead hang then on to the sausagemongers in the city centre. Still had plenty of time by the time I'd got to Iffley lock so I pressed on to Kennington then back on myself to arrive at work nicely on time.

A generally pleasant if somewhat fatigued 14 miles; pushing double the usual journey length. Depending on the outcome of the MOT it'll be another 11-12 back to the garage, or 4ish to the city centre if it's all gone wrong and I need to get the bus. Fingers crossed...

 

[Alex321]

have to agree seems pretty pointless when rest of europe doesnt bother, but then we are not part of the eu anymore

What makes you think the rest of Europe don't bother?

I think all European countries change the clocks in Autumn and Spring, mostly all on the same weekends. They certainly changed in Germany last Saturday/Sunday night, as I was there then and there were notices reminding us to change.

 

[C R]

What makes you think the rest of Europe don't bother?

I think all European countries change the clocks in Autumn and Spring, mostly all on the same weekends. They certainly changed in Germany last Saturday/Sunday night, as I was there then and there were notices reminding us to change.

All of the EU changes at the same time as the UK

 

[markharry66]

straight into work no hassle no bother and no temporary traffic lights best ride in for a long time not even that cold for November, forecast for this week no rain so far. Cant believe still cycling in November see how December goes

 

[biking_fox]

Car everywhere today. Felt like mostly in the cycle lanes!

 

[fossyant]

Car everywhere today. Felt like mostly in the cycle lanes!

Avoided most of the traffic until near Whalley Range High School - the usual dropping kids off on a main road with double yellow lines - parent's don't give a hoot - it did allow me to get over in the traffic to turn right past the grammar School - at least they have put cones out on the junctions and little cardboard 'kids' saying 'Don't park here' - feel an email coming on to Whalley Range School though - it's getting very dangerous, especially for the kids.

Mizzle again though, but not enough for waterproofs (bought a new jacket at weekend).

Slight delay setting off as I couldn't find one of my gloves. Our drying rack is located in our bay window in the kitchen, and we've a bin below it. I suspected a glove had dropped off the rack into the bin, so had to empty it. Nothing. Then MrsF said 'oh I remember seeing an black and red glove in the bin last week' - out I went, emptied the bin bag from before the weekend, found a soggy glove in there. Into the washing machine it went. Spare gloves on !

 

[C R]

Avoided most of the traffic until near Whalley Range High School - the usual dropping kids off on a main road with double yellow lines - parent's don't give a hoot - it did allow me to get over in the traffic to turn right past the grammar School - at least they have put cones out on the junctions and little cardboard 'kids' saying 'Don't park here' - feel an email coming on to Whalley Range School though - it's getting very dangerous, especially for the kids.

Mizzle again though, but not enough for waterproofs (bought a new jacket at weekend).

Slight delay setting off as I couldn't find one of my gloves. Our drying rack is located in our bay window in the kitchen, and we've a bin below it. I suspected a glove had dropped off the rack into the bin, so had to empty it. Nothing. Then MrsF said 'oh I remember seeing an black and red glove in the bin last week' - out I went, emptied the bin bag from before the weekend, found a soggy glove in there. Into the washing machine it went. Spare gloves on !

There's nothing practical that schools do that will have an effect. Proper continued enforcement by the police is the only solution.

 

[cyberknight]

Due to a road closure due to accident on my commute i will be in the car today as i will be facing using roads i do not like to use in rush hour traffic
Made the right choice , took 40 mins in the car dodging bumper to bumper traffic and impatient drivers trying to beat traffic jams , apparently the road closure was a road rage incident with one person charged with gbh

 

[fossyant]

Decent ride in this morning. Detected a slight breeze so let's hope this cloud blanket get's shuffled soon. Some cheeky person robbed my space this morning (I'm usually one of the first in) - pain in the aris moving my locks.

 

[biking_fox]

Decent ride in this morning. Detected a slight breeze so let's hope this cloud blanket get's shuffled soon. Some cheeky person robbed my space this morning (I'm usually one of the first in) - pain in the aris moving my locks.

It's remarkably annoying when that happens - much more common in summer when the racks are busy.

Rode in up the Oxford road cycle paths today, pleasantly surprised by the large number of well behaved folk ok wheels.

 

[fossyant]

It's remarkably annoying when that happens - much more common in summer when the racks are busy.

Rode in up the Oxford road cycle paths today, pleasantly surprised by the large number of well behaved folk ok wheels.

I saw loads on the Oxford Road paths, as I was waiting to cross at Fallowfield Sainsbugs. Good to see.

 

[fossyant]

Decent ride home. Pitch black, before I did the bog-o-doom climb or divert via the farm tracks for another couple of miles.

I've not done the 'bog' climb in the dark due to the shenanigan's a few weeks back.

Hit the climb, lights on full, got a few hundred metres, could see feet, pressed the remote, big light off, dipped on. Mum and kid walking home. I said thanks as they moved. Hit full and carried on up the hill and started across the 'bog'. Lights on warp factor..

Picked up at least six lads in black and one bike.

Oh fook.

Braked, but had no real option to carry on. Just said 'thanks lads' as I hit full power getting through the bog.

The lads were just smoking weed, but FFS I shouldn't feel like this just getting home from work at 6pm as a grumpy old fekker.

Stick to the wide farm track I think.

 

[ianrauk]

Dark with mizzle this morning. But thankfully not cold.
I left home without my bag and had to turn back to get it. Fortunately I hadn't made it far. Picked it up and back on my way to the station. Put a bit of effort in and got to the station in time for my usual train.

 

[Arjimlad]

Semi-rural commute to Thornbury this morning along some back lanes. It was rather nice despite the grey/mizzle.

 

[ianrauk]

Back on the big boys bike today as am cycling the 26 miles to home this afternoon. First time doing this since I moved. Come the warmer weather I'll cycling all the way in and back once a week or so.