Tales from today's commute....

[Frood42]

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

I have Marathon Plus tyres on my current bike, and they should be fine unless it gets really bad.

I plan on increasing my mileage, I want to upgrade to do that, so that I get a nicer and smoother ride.
I want to get something I can use year round, but is also usable on the the muddy towpaths/ bumpy off road bits I go on, but I also want disc brakes, I really like them.

I also fancy going for a drop handlebar bike, but I don't think a road bike would be able to do some of the more pot hole infested roads or bumpy off road bits I enjoy going on, so a cyclocross seems to be the better solution, but disc brakes seem to put the price up.

 

[BSRU]

I have Marathon Plus tyres on my current bike, and they should be fine unless it gets really bad.

I plan on increasing my mileage, I want to upgrade to do that, so that I get a nicer and smoother ride.
I want to get something I can use year round, but is also usable on the the muddy towpaths/ bumpy off road bits I go on, but I also want disc brakes, I really like them.

I also fancy going for a drop handlebar bike, but I don't think a road bike would be able to do some of the more pot hole infested roads or bumpy off road bits I enjoy going on, so a cyclocross seems to be the better solution, but disc brakes seem to put the price up.

A winter hack with Marathon Winters is a good idea as it allows you to ride safely when ice is around plus all that salt can cause components to wear out quicker than normal.

 

[J.Primus]

Absolutely beautiful commute in this morning. Warm enough to not wear a coat, cold enough so I wasn't hot when I arrived into work. Sun shining with no bike/car/ped shinanigans. Absolutely wonderful. And the cherry on the cake was that the traffic was so bad that everyone on public transport was going to be late and I was there early

 

[helston90]

Arms felt a chill this morning due to being in short sleeves and base layer- but only when exposed to the wind, legs felt fine in 3/4 shorts (their first outing).
This time of year is such a pain when deciding levels of clothing- I look forward to it just being either cold or hot, not 10 degrees in a.m. and 18 on the way home, how can I plan for that?

 

[HLaB]

Absolutely beautiful commute in this morning. Warm enough to not wear a coat, cold enough so I wasn't hot when I arrived into work. Sun shining with no bike/car/ped shinanigans. Absolutely wonderful. And the cherry on the cake was that the traffic was so bad that everyone on public transport was going to be late and I was there early

Part Ditto except the traffic here was unbelievably light

 

[J.Primus]

Part Ditto except the traffic here was unbelievably light

No idea what the issue was but the traffic was essentially static from Old St to Bank. The road is wide enough that I could just cycle past the whole column though.

 

[Frood42]

A winter hack with Marathon Winters is a good idea as it allows you to ride safely when ice is around plus all that salt can cause components to wear out quicker than normal.

Hmmm, something to think about then, the hybrid was fine in Jan with the stock tyres, as long as I took it slow, but then I was riding on London main roads (CS2 and CS3 mainly), so they were kept quite clear.

The salt/gritting is something to consider, I really should know better as I was bought up on/close to the coast.

Marathon Winters for the hybrid then, something to invest in now before they sell out

 

[BSRU]

Hmmm, something to think about then, the hybrid was fine in Jan with the stock tyres, as long as I took it slow, but then I was riding on London main roads (CS2 and CS3 mainly), so they were kept quite clear.

The salt/gritting is something to consider, I really should know better as I was bought up on/close to the coast.

Marathon Winters for the hybrid then, something to invest in now before they sell out

That's the conundrum, main roads are usually ice free so Marathon Winters are not needed but stray onto back roads, cycle paths or roads in the countryside then they are definitely needed.

 

[MichaelO]

No idea what the issue was but the traffic was essentially static from Old St to Bank. The road is wide enough that I could just cycle past the whole column though.

Loads of traffic this morning - and a huge tailback on the A23 heading South (I was going North) in Hooley - not sure why.
Seemed to be more stupid car driver & cyclists out than usual on the CS7 - must be the weather..

 

[ska1903]

Just another quiet ride in today but weather is definitely turning colder now.

Think it is time to start looking at getting some warmer clothes to wear for the commute.

 

[Nocode]

Arms felt a chill this morning due to being in short sleeves and base layer- but only when exposed to the wind, legs felt fine in 3/4 shorts (their first outing).
This time of year is such a pain when deciding levels of clothing- I look forward to it just being either cold or hot, not 10 degrees in a.m. and 18 on the way home, how can I plan for that?

Arm warmers are your friend. I cycled in this morning with full leggings (yes, I'm being a wuss) a base layer, arm warmers, a short-sleeve jersey and a buff under my helmet. Going home tonight the buff will be in my bag as will the arm warmers. If it's really hot then the base layer will also be in my bag. You can get even more versatile using knee/leg warmers as well.

 

[kipster]

Chilly and breezy this morning, used the arm and leg warmers (I felt cold), they did a good job. Had a guy on a hybrid let me out in front of him, then he drafted me for a while, he shouted thanks as he peeled off

 

[tadpole]

the Number 48 Bristol First bus driver tried to convince me, by using his bus as an argument/weapon that Buses don't need to give way on roundabouts in Bristol. He didn't like it when I questioned is parentages and whether he was human or a domesticated male bird of the family Gallus gallus domesticus.

 

[DCLane]

Managed to spot a gap in the rain and went for it ... 10 miles through very heavy traffic on dual-carriageways. Students are back in Leeds, including mine, as evidenced by lots of cars and lots of students.

Saw no other riders, except 2 in the city centre.

 

[fossyant]

Into the city centre, then back out before lunch. Wet, windy, cold and dull. The summer has gone !