Tales from today's commute....

[Rustyoil]

Rules 5 and 9 were observed by me today. Not sure about tomorrow.

Also discovered something which makes me more than a little paranoid:

Long story short - I've been trying to get BEAR Scotland (who maintain trunk roads and paths) to sort out a few issues along my commute, to no avail. They don't even have the courtesy to make excuse or tell me to piss off.
I've written to Transport Scotland, and CC'd in my MPs and MSPs, and lately, various newspapers.

All I get is some lame bullshit from Transport Scotland saying the paths are inspected annually and there have been no reported defects. (Don't get me started) Needless to say I replied in full and am awaiting a decent response. BTW I've heared NOTHING back from any politicians who purport to represent me. Typical.

Now this evening when returning home I see that while BEAR still have done nothing else, they HAVE bothered to move some rock-armour over an informal cycle line that many people use on/off the pavement.

I just used that line on Friday! (Can't attest to this morning as I take the path to left on way in and was mentally elsewhere) (trying to upload file)

 

[DWiggy]

First week back in the saddle after a long drawn out cold/flu type thing, feeling much better now but fitness has gone to pot, hopefully wont take to long to regain...on the bright side im loving riding my new steed, she's lovely!

 

[dodd82]

What a pleasant ride this morning. Last week's return to cycling had put me off after spending 35 minutes with burning lungs, but turns out it must have been the after effects of a virus, because I was fine this morning.

A little tough going in places but generally good, with some excellent passes by local truck drivers.

Slightly nervous ahead of tonight's return home, where I take on my nemesis that is a steep, busy, narrow hill... but feeling better about it than I did before I set off this morning!

 

[Sandra6]

Had what felt like an odd encounter with a motorist on the way home last night, but now I'm not sure if it was odd or not.
The store I work in is on a retail park, but on it's own plot - own car park - there's a road that leads to us and to the main car park -we're left, they're right. And then there's a main entrance/exit road to the middle of the retail park. The far end is a building site at the moment with a pedestrian pathway fenced off through it.
Last night I came out of our carpark, saw a car on the road in, and tbh I was already committed to pulling out, but with a safe distance, but noticed he was indicating left so assumed he was coming into halfords, so I shot across the road in front of him. He then turned and followed me - really closely all the way round the car park. He could've passed me safely at any time but he hung on my back wheel. Then when I shot across onto the pedestrian short cut he turned and pulled out of the car park - back onto the road he'd just left to come in in the first place. Maybe he just changed his mind, but it felt really weird having him follow me.
Then on the short up-and-over hill just before I get home a car behind decided to overtake at the brow of the hill - I was just over the brow and saw a car coming up (parked cars on one side means you can't overtake there at all) and could hear the car behind. I got as close to the kerb as I could and slowed, waiting for the crunch - but fortunately they both slowed down in time and idiot behind me had to pull back in and wait.

 

[Beebo]

It seems that TFL have decided to reduce the width restrictions in the Rotherthithe tunnel this morning to 6'6.

The whole of east London is grid locked!!

 

[BSRU]

Broke me Brooks Flyer Special saddle this morning, the tension pin sheared 14km from work.
Fortunately still usable but unfortunately only found once place that sells spares, £4 for the replacement but £5 for delivery.

 

[ianrauk]

Looked like a very nasty accident in Lewisham this morning at the A21 Roundabout. All 3 services in attendance. It's my usual route. Didn't fancy seeing anything not nice so made a detour. I hope whoever is involved ok. But with the amount of services personnel in attendance I guess not.

Apart from that, was a very nice quick ride in.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Over 50km this morning - sounds better than 31.9miles which is what I did in real money.

Ice tyres back off, lovely, warmish, calm, stress free commute into work and got over 15mph average for the first time in ages.

 

[dodd82]

Over 50km this morning - sounds better than 31.9miles which is what I did in real money.

Ice tyres back off, lovely, warmish, calm, stress free commute into work and got over 15mph average for the first time in ages.

32 miles into work, and presumably back again?

Wowzer.

Good for you!

 

[fossyant]

Longer 15 miler commute into the City. Didn't bother with overshoes, but me feet were getting cold by 10miles. One dozy female driver at my least favourite roundabout at The George in Stockport. I was coming round quickly, driver starts to edge out, I shout Oi (window down so she can hear me) oh no continues to pull out without even looking, despite more "Oi' from me. Good job I wasn't a double decker bus.

Apart from that, good run, heavy traffic though, but sailed past it all. Very sunny and bright but friends have said it was trying to snow a little further south.

 

[BSRU]

Over 50km this morning - sounds better than 31.9miles which is what I did in real OLD money.

 

[MisterStan]

Very foggy once i'd left my home town this morning - getting into Cambridge it was like cycling through cotton wool! Traffic seemed quiet and there appeared to be less cyclists out than usual, although I may just not have been able to see them!
The Busway is flooded again between St Ives and Swavesey - stopped and had a chat with one of the regulars (black Giant roadie and all black clothing - if you're on here!) about the flooding. Will be the long way home as the water was still rising....

 

[HLaB]

The fog partialy lifted for my commute making very pleasant conditions for the commute. Chose to wear the lightweight overtrowers, which was a good choice the rowing lake path was flooded again! So I then chose to go for another hard fast 17.5miles with a hill thrown in (not a major hill but the fixie would intensify it) to dry out my feet. I'll look at the full garmin stats tonight but I was 12mph for the first mile through the flooded rowing lake path and level crossing but by the time I'd got back to town (circa 16.5 miles later) the average had risen to 15.6mph. I then hit a little bit of gridlock and the average fell to 15.4mph for the whole 18miles. I'm quite happy with that, my feet never quite dried out though thank god I had a change of shoes in the office and I remebered a change of shirt

Edit: quick maths 16.9mph for the central 16.5miles.

 

[GrasB]

Very foggy once i'd left my home town this morning - getting into Cambridge it was like cycling through cotton wool! Traffic seemed quiet and there appeared to be less cyclists out than usual, although I may just not have been able to see them!
The Busway is flooded again between St Ives and Swavesey - stopped and had a chat with one of the regulars (black Giant roadie and all black clothing - if you're on here!) about the flooding. Will be the long way home as the water was still rising....

I took a southerly approach to Cambridge, for the most part it was clear . However, it started to get quite misty as I came out of Grantchester heading towards the A603 & was getting thicker as I 'climbed'* up to Coton. From what you say it was the right choice.

*Cambridge definition of climbing

 

[Supersuperleeds]

32 miles into work, and presumably back again?

Wowzer.

Good for you!

Nah, extended commute, I will do 15-20 miles tonight depending what time I get out of work.