Tales from today's commute....

[HLaB]

Bike ok?
Good to hear there are drivers who will stop to help.

I had to scurry across the road to retreave a bar plug but other than that it seemed to be OK, for the two miles after it seemed OK (1.5 miles fast, 0.5 miles slow filter). Thanks

 

[ianrauk]

I had to scurry across the road to retreave a bar plug but other than that it seemed to be OK, for the two miles after it seemed OK (1.5 miles fast, 0.5 miles slow filter). Thanks

Glad to hear it...being ok that is... not scurrying across the road for a bar plug

 

[Frood42]

i had to fix a puncture with the new marathon plus tyres on

I sometimes go through Leytonstone, I like the fact the cycle lane sits in the door zone

A puncture in a Marathon Plus, quite an accomplishment, mine have been very good to me so far (no punctures), but I did find them to be a pain to get back on the wheel (bad valve on a tube, so I replaced the tube), there seems to be a knack to them (watched a chap do it on YouTube).

 

[Celliptigo]

3 people did LEL on them. Nutters.
@Trickedem can confirm and perhaps tell their story.

Yes I know one of the guys. We rode up Mont Revard recently

 

[potsy]

Foggy early on for me, cleared up the closer to Stockport I got

These very early starts are not quite as appealing now it's getting colder

 

[Ciar]

I sometimes go through Leytonstone, I like the fact the cycle lane sits in the door zone

A puncture in a Marathon Plus, quite an accomplishment, mine have been very good to me so far (no punctures), but I did find them to be a pain to get back on the wheel (bad valve on a tube, so I replaced the tube), there seems to be a knack to them (watched a chap do it on YouTube).

If i am honest it's probably because i did an ickle bunny hop on one of the ramps along leytonestone high road, so no doubt landed slightly off kilter and popped the tube, my fault I forgot i am not running on happy medium knobbly's anymore hah.

yes the cycle lan isn't the best but i travel early enough to avoid cars parked in it thankfully, looking forward to trying the new part of the cycle lane at stratford looked good when i rode past it this morning.

 

[Celliptigo]

You are mad... but fair play!

I am intrigued about them though, are they harder work than a bike? How quickly can you go?

They are around 30% harder than a road bike according to the experts. I'm a runner who is suffering from Achilles problems so I'm using this as a replacement as there is zero impact on the joints, i'm doing a 100mile ride at the weekend which should take around 6hrs

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Wind has died down, but still hard work, might be to do with the fact that I haven't been near the bike with the track pump for at least two weeks

 

[musa]

Went out for a training ride of 20miles (purley to redhill and back via old coulsdon)

now a lesson to all if you plan to ride and come across as a roadie it is a MUST to carry spare tube pump etc with you ESPECIALLY when it wet, damp.

Came across a guy (who told me he cycles from clapham to redhill) who had a flat who was going to run the last 2/3 miles to Redhill. Gave him a tube and pump to use

 

[Frood42]

looking forward to trying the new part of the cycle lane at stratford looked good when i rode past it this morning.

I have my reservations, there are pluses and minuses, my main concern is cars turning left across the cycle lane without slowing appropriately (you will always get one muppet). Interaction between buses and cycles at the bus stops should be interesting.

I have not had any issues on that bit of road, but three lanes did seem excessive and drivers tended to drive a bit quickly down there, some treating it like a dual carriageway, hopefully with the lane taken away this will happen less.
The three lane roads around Westfield Stratford City and Morrisons could also do with being reduced down to one or two lanes, it would make things much more pleasent for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Not tried the new cycle lane under Bow flyover, as I go over the Flyover, but I did see when looking down from the flyover that the cycle lane seemed to go behind a bus stop.

The only time I do not the use the flyover is when I am going right at the roundabout to get onto the Lee Vally walk/canal tow paths, so that new cycle lane won't get used by me, as I much prefer the flyover to the roundabout.

 

[Ciar]

I have my reservations, there are pluses and minuses, my main concern is cars turning left across the cycle lane without slowing appropriately (you will always get one muppet). Interaction between buses and cycles at the bus stops should be interesting.

I have not had any issues on that bit of road, but three lanes did seem excessive and drivers tended to drive a bit quickly down there, some treating it like a dual carriageway, hopefully with the lane taken away this will happen less.
The three lane roads around Westfield Stratford City and Morrisons could also do with being reduced down to one or two lanes, it would make things much more pleasent for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Not tried the new cycle lane under Bow flyover, as I go over the Flyover, but I did see when looking down from the flyover that the cycle lane seemed to go behind a bus stop.

The only time I do not the use the flyover is when I am going right at the roundabout to get onto the Lee Vally walk/canal tow paths, so that new cycle lane won't get used by me, as I much prefer the flyover to the roundabout.

I went under today, i myself also find going over the flyover the safer bet, wanted to check out the changes to the cycle lane seems interesting and your right it goes round the bus stop which is interesting for the peds standing on the pavement!

 

[donnydave]

Glad I chucked the soft shell and booties in the pannier this morning.

if you dropped all your kit in a muddy puddle would your clothing be soft shell - tainted glove


can't believe that took 2 days to think of. Hardly worth it.

 

[MisterStan]

if you dropped all your kit in a muddy puddle would your clothing be soft shell - tainted glove


can't believe that took 2 days to think of. Hardly worth it.

 

[donnydave]

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[HLaB]

I went under today, i myself also find going over the flyover the safer bet, wanted to check out the changes to the cycle lane seems interesting and your right it goes round the bus stop which is interesting for the peds standing on the pavement!

Does it go round the back of the bus stop; its a Eropean design I believe; in front of the stop there's more negative interaction between the cyclist and folk entering/ exit they are usually more focused on that and their visibility to and from is blocked by the bus. Behind the visibility is better and people are generally less focussed on getting/ rushing to a bus stop compared to to a bus.