Tales from today's commute....

[Supersuperleeds]

This mornings commute saw me break 1,000 miles for the second month running. Saw a gigantic bird of prey hovering about 8 foot over a field, watched it for a few minutes until I realised it was a bird scarer attached to a pole! Apart from that complete numpty moment a lovely, sunny, calm quiet ride into work.

A few more riders out in the sticks this morning, still not warm enough at 6:30 to ditch the jacket.

 

[ianrauk]

Gorgeous sunny morning....nice quick ride in too. but hampered by a crap load of snarled up traffic in Lewisham.. Saw my old cycling pardner and matey of these here parts, Mr Arallsopp, in his Velomobile on the A21, so had a nice chat whilst in traffic.

Ginger Bloke on a Boardman, he sure don't like me. I think it's because 1: He jumps reds to get in front of me and 2: He knows I am a faster, better cyclist then him. A classic case of all the gear and no idea. Doesn't stop him trying though.

 

[Sittingduck]

It is, yeh.

I'm going to take it up the bike shop later, but hate it when I can't sort out the problem myself.

Make sure when you are seating the tyre around by the valve that you push the valve up into the tyre and then seat the bead of the tyre and pull the valve back into position. It could be that the tyre isn't connecting with the rim properly... you may have already done this but worth asking.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

SS Jersey ( with a summery base layer on) and bib shorts this am (6) was little chilly to start with but was greatfulwhen it warmed up !!

 

[Sittingduck]

Took my Battersea Park>Embankment (with slight tail-breeze) route this morning

 

[Jdratcliffe]

Passed the 1000 miles for the year last night - followed by PB commute into work this morning
Target was to best 50 mins for the 15 miles - just beat 47 mins so will have to target 45 mins now!
(thanks to @MisterStan for the pacemaking!)

WOW thats good going i just manage 52mins for my 15mile commute can i ask your route? as i find mine hampered by traffic and lights and im curious if its true or just my excuse for being slow - http://app.strava.com/activities/50209846

 

[thefollen]

Out for beers tonight, so no cycle commute today. Shame- beautiful day for it, guess I'll just have to drown the sorrows ;-)

Spotted a bloke with the same bike as me at the Stockwell lights yesterday. Git RLJ'd them. Really annoying as you know the rules: spot someone with the same bike, race to ascertain the true master of it. The interval between his RLJ and green unfortunately had garnered him an uncatchable lead (or he'd turned off somewhere). Was revelling the prospect of giving him a good scalp with ting of the bell and 'nice bike mate'.

Took it easier last night anyway, enjoyed the ride. Arrived home a minute quicker than when I've been putting the foot down...

 

[dodd82]

Make sure when you are seating the tyre around by the valve that you push the valve up into the tyre and then seat the bead of the tyre and pull the valve back into position. It could be that the tyre isn't connecting with the rim properly... you may have already done this but worth asking.

Okay, thanks - I had the valve fully extended through the hole when putting the tyre back in place - I don't really understand why that would cause a problem though?

 

[ianrauk]

Okay, thanks - I had the valve fully extended through the hole when putting the tyre back in place - I don't really understand why that would cause a problem though?

Because the valve rim where it's attached to the inner tube is usually a little bit wider then the bead. So you need to push the valve in, sit the tyre then push down on the tyre to push the valve back.

 

[Andrew_P]

Take it all back my legs are not protecting me from numpties, two lanes going up Redhill pulling away from the lights me holding a primary out of the saddle them trying to squeeze through tooting me, they get by after being let out by the car in lane two I get a very pleasant two finger salute from the old dear in the passenger seat, nice.

I did catch them up at the lights a mile or so later but decided not to have a go, just the glare and single eyebrow raised as I passed them.

At another pinch point I gave it full beans to keep up with traffic pulling away, treating it as a bit of intervals but got a bit carried away and struggled a bit up the next hill as I was exposed to the SW in open ground (plus had a bit to drink last night) anyway all these excuses are 'cause I got myself scalped by a Fix/Singlespeed Boardman with huge rucksack. I stepped on the gas and got in his draft was quite glad of someone doing the work for me for the next mile or so, no ego dent for me this morning. Think he could feel the weight of towing me along in to the headwind

 

[dodd82]

Because the valve rim where it's attached to the inner tube is usually a little bit wider then the bead. So you need to push the valve in, sit the tyre then push down on the tyre to push the valve back.

Okay, thanks - I sort of understand although not really! Will give it a go.

 

[helston90]

Had a great ride in and was well on track for a good time until I met a tractor who was stuck behind a digger on rural roads, finally snuck around the tractor at a give way whilst he was waiting and the digger I nailed once the road opened up a bit- I then had to continue this effort up the impending hill to stop him taking me back- he didn't! 12.3 miles in 36mins.
Also wore one of my new jerseys from Lidls as today was first time in short sleeves and my wife bless her said I looked like i was about to race in the TdF, it did look smart!

 

[HLaB]

Gorgeous sunny morning....nice quick ride in too. but hampered by a crap load of snarled up traffic

That about sums my ride up Although in search of that tailwind I headed out west out of town and then south and up Morbourne Hill on the fix and after that (circa 10miles) I was only 15.8mph but up to that point there was no traffic. After that I got the tail wind and another mile without traffic. I then hit the traffic but although congested at random points I managed to get the speed upto 16.2mph after 17 miles. It was only in the last mile and a half I encountered the heavier congestion which forced me to dimount in places and use pedestrian crossing but in the short mile and a half the average fell to 15.8mph.

 

[Andrew_P]

WOW thats good going i just manage 52mins for my 15mile commute can i ask your route? as i find mine hampered by traffic and lights and im curious if its true or just my excuse for being slow - http://app.strava.com/activities/50209846

http://app.strava.com/activities/50209846[/quote

Thats a little errie, exactly the same miles as me on a similariarish route and almost identical climbing! only I am going the opposite direction luckily for me! Don't envy the A23 Northbound in the mornings bad enough in the School run afternoons! Lots of places on the Northbound where traffic would slow me down even blasting down the Coulsdon bypass if there is traffic backing up I always ease off becuse so many break in to the bus lane without looking!

I have my Garmin set to autostop, just so I get a good comparasion of my performance rather than the traffic lights!!

Here is my record run http://app.strava.com/activities/49250835 from last week. To put that <mega> tailwind assisted record in to perspective, I only have ten commutes out 880 over two years above 19mph lol but it still counts. My Target is get at least one under 45minutes and to hit 20mph average. Even with autostop I reckon I will still need a good run of lights.

More importantly for me is that my record time in April 2011 was 1 Hour 12 minutes this was when I decided to try and commute every day all year.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

Thats a little errie, exactly the same miles as me on a similariarish route and almost identical climbing! only I am going the opposite direction luckily for me! Don't envy the A23 Northbound in the mornings bad enough in the School run afternoons! Lots of places on the Northbound where traffic would slow me down even blasting down the Coulsdon bypass if there is traffic backing up I always ease off becuse so many break in to the bus lane without looking!

I have my Garmin set to autostop, just so I get a good comparasion of my performance rather than the traffic lights!!

Here is my record run http://app.strava.com/activities/49250835 from last week. To put that <mega> tailwind assisted record in to perspective, I only have ten commutes out 880 over two years above 19mph lol but it still counts. My Target is get at least one under 45minutes and to hit 20mph average. Even with autostop I reckon I will still need a good run of lights.

More importantly for me is that my record time in April 2011 was 1 Hour 12 minutes this was when I decided to try and commute every day all year.

Nice I'm lucky that in the mornings i set off at 6:15-20ish as have to be at work for 8 ( get in early to deal with muppets so i leave dead on 4) so commute is traffic freeish but coming home average time is 1:05 as traffic is school runmadness