Tales from today's commute....

[Winnershsaint]

I got a lot wetter than I thought I would on the way in on Thursday. Had an interesting encounter on the way home though. Part of my route involves crossing the A321. Its a left turn quickly followed by a right through Hurst village. I followed a Mini out of the left turn on to the main road who then signaled right and stopped to wait for a bus to turn right towards us. The lady in the Mini began to back up to allow the bus to turn onto the A321 and was doing so without ever having looked in her rear view mirror. If she had she would have seen a cyclist with one foot unclipped politely waiting behind her observing all road conventions. I'll be honest I was tempted to unclip and just drop the bike. Had I done this, and I would have been totally justified in doing so, the bike would have been squished and it would have been easy for me to step clear. Didn't do it, so bang went the opportunity for a claim on her insurance for a new bike. Instead I managed perhaps unwisely to lift the bike and me out of the way and got away with it. It was only as we continued to wait for the bus to make the turn fully that she became aware that there was a cyclist there. I got a sorry from her but she then sped off at a far greater speed than she should through the village

 

[Twelve Spokes]

On the commute home I didn't start losing the plot till Mr Beemer man at the Bow flyover found he hadn't planned to turn off of the flyover for the underpass and so proceeded to cut across everyone including me.To busy chatting to his boyfriend no doubt.Then the boy racer at Stratford pulled in then pulled out without looking giving me the hump.Then I get the finger from his passenger so I duly despatched the finger back.

Couldn't do my detour this morning as Upper Thames Street was shut causing me to be diverted so I went to Blackfriars Bridge and the Victoria Embankment Road was shut also.Nice one.

Lucky some of us can still concentrate after doing six days and getting up at half two in the morning,granted I got up at 5am today.Some motorists please note.

 

[Ollie W]

Beat my previous time up the short hill outside work by 9 seconds today which was nice. Will need to invest in another D lock as I can't quite fit the cable and D around the rear as well as the front.

It poured down this afternoon so getting home was interesting. My old waterproof trousers did the job but I'm going to need a waterproof jacket - my DHB soft shell did a good job of keeping me warm but wasn't particularly waterproof. I need more than one pair of shorts too - my ones were still drying from going under the shower yesterday so the ride was bloody painful! Still knocked a bit of time off yesterday's run which was nice.

 

[BSRU]

First commute today on the Genesis Croix de Fer with a triple chainset, it was far more enjoyable than using the compact double it came with.
Was cold at the start, +7, almost wish I had put my windproof jacket on but I warmed up nicely after a few kms.

 

[Linford]

I did have the intention of just doing my regular route this morning, but ended up hooking up with a MTBer who I see every morning come rain and shine for the last 6 or 7 years (when I've ben itn eh car/motorbike, and prior to that when I was previously cycle commuting), and found out today he works in the building right opposite my works.

Made for a very pleasant ride in

 

[Frood42]

I went out at the weekend, my front wheel seized up, and the cable for my rear gears gave a horrid creak/ting sound.
So frayed rear gear cable and seized up front wheel

I am saving up for a nice N+1, and the other spare bike (should really get rid of it) is in no condition for my normal commute, so no cycle commute into work until Wednesday due to waiting on repairs.

Instead I jogged into work, 3.81 miles in 49 mins, I think I need to work on that just a little

Join you all again Wednesday, I hope!

I shall continue to enjoy reading the thread though

 

[BSRU]

I went out at the weekend, my front wheel seized up, and the cable for my rear gears gave a horrid creak/ting sound.
So frayed rear gear cable and seized up front wheel

I am saving up for a nice N+1, and the other spare bike (should really get rid of it) is in no condition for my normal commute, so no cycle commute into work until Wednesday due to waiting on repairs.

Instead I jogged into work, 3.81 miles in 49 mins, I think I need to work on that just a little

Join you all again Wednesday, I hope!

I shall continue to enjoy reading the thread though

Before I had a backup commuter bike I had a spare set of wheels(same make) incase of wheel/tyre problems for a quick changeover.
Also have some spare gear cables for some reason.

 

[Ciar]

Friday finished at 12 for me, had a meeting with social services and my mum, so left did my impression of a drowned rat and guess what it stopped raining just as i neared my destination!

This morning, felt very painful not sure if that was because i did my first week with three commutes last week, or the bouncy castle i was on on saturday with my daughter and niece ;-)

as for today it was the first time i have felt the cold, so think it's time to maybe switch from short sleeves/shorts into something a tad warmer.

as for stratford i really cant wait until they finish that poxy cycle lane, the drivers are being complete cocks at the moment, it seems i have to sprint past the dreaded wogan cones to get into a decent spot!

 

[Frood42]

Before I had a backup commuter bike I had a spare set of wheels(same make) incase of wheel/tyre problems for a quick changeover.
Also have some spare gear cables for some reason.

I brought myself the Carrera Crossfire 3 from Halfords as I wanted an Ok bike, but nothing too expensive until I was sure I was going to keep the cycling up (after a 15 year break).

This is my first full year commuting by bike, I have done 5898 miles so far (I am happy with that!), so ready for the winter commute I have decided to get myself a nice cyclocross bike.

As I am going to get a new bike and the Carrera will end up being a spare, I would rather put money towards extra wheels or bits for the new bike than the old.

I was thinking something like this:
http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/caadx/caadx-disc-ultegra-compact-crankset

This would keep me motivated to keep getting out there and keep getting the miles in, which can sometimes be hard work (but pleasent) on the hybrid.

 

[HLaB]

Lol, something was rubbing but I couldn't put a finger on it, untill I got to work and noticed my rear wheel wasn't in the dropouts correctly; I had tightened the fixie chain quickly before I left the flat

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Cold and windy this morning. Had to stop and put on full finger gloves as my fingerless ones were useless this morning. Still in shorts though

 

[Frood42]

I was thinking something like this:
http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/caadx/caadx-disc-ultegra-compact-crankset

This would keep me motivated to keep getting out there and keep getting the miles in, which can sometimes be hard work (but pleasent) on the hybrid.

Or of course, if I had more money than sense I could get one of the Super X range

£3700


Simply the world's most advanced cyclocross machine.
With its BallisTec carbon construction and SAVE Stays, the SuperX is lighter than most road bikes, unmatched in stiffness-to-weight and smoother than a belgian beer. Nothing will accelerate faster, corner harder or be easier to shoulder than the SuperX.



http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/superx
http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/superx/super-x-hi-mod-disc


I can only dream

 

[BSRU]

I brought myself the Carrera Crossfire 3 from Halfords as I wanted an Ok bike, but nothing too expensive until I was sure I was going to keep the cycling up (after a 15 year break).

This is my first full year commuting by bike, I have done 5898 miles so far (I am happy with that!), so ready for the winter commute I have decided to get myself a nice cyclocross bike.

As I am going to get a new bike and the Carrera will end up being a spare, I would rather put money towards extra wheels or bits for the new bike than the old.

I was thinking something like this:
http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/caadx/caadx-disc-ultegra-compact-crankset

This would keep me motivated to keep getting out there and keep getting the miles in, which can sometimes be hard work (but pleasent) on the hybrid.


View attachment 29341

I almost nearly bought that CX bike, it is an excellent bike and prefect for commuting, I think it is over 3kg lighter than the bike I went for.
I bought a Genesis Croix de Fer as a winter bike instead because replacing parts on it is cheaper as it is Tiagra and it's nice steel frame.

It does make sense to save your cash for the new bike, especially such a good one as the CAADX.

 

[BSRU]

Or of course, if I had more money than sense I could get one of the Super X range

£3700


Simply the world's most advanced cyclocross machine.
With its BallisTec carbon construction and SAVE Stays, the SuperX is lighter than most road bikes, unmatched in stiffness-to-weight and smoother than a belgian beer. Nothing will accelerate faster, corner harder or be easier to shoulder than the SuperX.



http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/superx
http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/superx/super-x-hi-mod-disc


I can only dream

My better half would kill me if I bought one of those

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I brought myself the Carrera Crossfire 3 from Halfords as I wanted an Ok bike, but nothing too expensive until I was sure I was going to keep the cycling up (after a 15 year break).

This is my first full year commuting by bike, I have done 5898 miles so far (I am happy with that!), so ready for the winter commute I have decided to get myself a nice cyclocross bike.

As I am going to get a new bike and the Carrera will end up being a spare, I would rather put money towards extra wheels or bits for the new bike than the old.

I was thinking something like this:
http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/cyclocross/caadx/caadx-disc-ultegra-compact-crankset

This would keep me motivated to keep getting out there and keep getting the miles in, which can sometimes be hard work (but pleasent) on the hybrid.


View attachment 29341

I would consider turning the hybrid into the winter hack, just get some marathon winters for it and use it when it is icy