Tales from today's commute....

[Twelve Spokes]

Last nights commute was fine but slow,too tired.Managed to get my workmate along with me after a bit of un-subtle hinting to the managers.Generally fine in and return although very few cyclists around.Just about to leave for my next commute.Commute 184 of 203 and a rare break into the 200+ barrier.That may change though as the roster changes next month.

 

[fossyant]

Little nippy out, on or around freezing, so took the MTB, just because. Pleasant ride down by the river and saw just two other cyclists and two pedestrians on the TPT.

 

[400bhp]

Had a nice bit of banter with a guy on the way in who was heading towards wilmslow. Not a full on SCR but a kind of gentleman's SCR.

I'd started to gt a sweat on and started cursing a little about my softshell jacket had just been washed and I didn't want to wash it immediately again.

Had a bit of a chat with him and hopefully he will decide to move his backup light on his rucksack further down as it was invisible from behind.

Enjoyed that :-)

 

[sazzaa]

Lovely day here, sunny and frosty, just what I needed after a week off the bike!

 

[Frood42]

Nice 20 mile commute this morning (a bit like this: http://app.strava.com/activities/95874938), I like leaving at 06:00, less people about on my way into London, and as I then loop back along the CS3 towards Ilford again there are not too many people about, and as I get to work for roughly 07:45 - 08:00 (depending on the weather) the traffic is fairly light.

Did see quite a few cyclists on the CS3 towards Tower Hill (Cable Street).
One impatient Barclays hire bike which decided to try and undertake me as I was setting off from the lights, he got left behind with no effort needed, but it did mean that a whole load of other cyclists were forced to overtake him again that were behind me (I was at the front at the lights)...

The weather was chilly, but not too chilly at first, but then on the loop back towards work on the CS3/A13 (Newham Way/Alfreds Way) I hit a rough bit of headwind which really slowed me down.

Still better than taking the bus or train.


.

 

[fossyant]

I might just squeeze 4000 miles out this year. What a bummer. Less than 200 were weekend stuff, nearly all commutes. Worse year in a long time. Ah well, it can only get better.

 

[DCLane]

Having planned a 5000 mile target, with triathlon training and other activities taking up riding time, I'm already over 6000 miles. Commuting's helped massively, particularly as I hardly ever use the car to commute now.

Last year's mileage total of 6640.2 miles is looking at me from the horizon and I'm half-thinking ... "I'll give it a go to beat it".

 

[donnydave]

Well head wind going, took me another 15 mins this morning, and then coming home, head wind again and then the weather went wild for about 20 minutes, absolutely tippd it down and the wind went crazy. It was like a monsoon. @MisterStan caught me and agreed it had not been the best week for cycling!

Really starting to sort the men from the boys this week, definite drop in the number of cyclists around

I'm still slogging away out there, I think I travel a bit later to you, I normally get on the busway at longstanton at around 8am. Noticeably fewer people although I saw the guy with the Linux pengiun on his pannier rack today for the first time in ages

 

[martinclive]

I'm still slogging away out there, I think I travel a bit later to you, I normally get on the busway at longstanton at around 8am. Noticeably fewer people although I saw the guy with the Linux pengiun on his pannier rack today for the first time in ages

We tend to be at Longstanton around 7.30am or just after - as you say - definitely getting quieter out there

Was great to be back on the bike today - have had to take a week off after a horrendous bout of calf cramps (both legs and also went down to left foot) just over a week ago on the way home - it did some damage to the muscles and left me struggling to walk (let alone cycle) for a day or two - feeling recovered now - but not sure on the cause which is a bit of a concern

Am lowering the caffeine and alcohol intake while making sure keep the fluid intake (and salt - but not too much) up - will see how it goes but would be a disaster if it restricted the commuting.......................all quack suggestions gratefully received!!!

 

[BigCam]

Longstanton about 7.00am for me - but straight over and on to Bar Hill...

 

[potsy]

Wall to wall sunshine here today, took advantage and went the off road route along the river

Even got a 'hello' from a few of the walkers

 

[donnydave]

We tend to be at Longstanton around 7.30am or just after - as you say - definitely getting quieter out there

Was great to be back on the bike today - have had to take a week off after a horrendous bout of calf cramps (both legs and also went down to left foot) just over a week ago on the way home - it did some damage to the muscles and left me struggling to walk (let alone cycle) for a day or two - feeling recovered now - but not sure on the cause which is a bit of a concern

Am lowering the caffeine and alcohol intake while making sure keep the fluid intake (and salt - but not too much) up - will see how it goes but would be a disaster if it restricted the commuting.......................all quack suggestions gratefully received!!!

Crikey that doesn't sound fun! I had almost a week off due to having to do a bit of travel here and there for work. After 4 days not cycling I was so lethargic and generally lacking in energy and motivation. Back on it today, albeit a bit lead-legged from inactivity but feeling good now for the way home. Can't really offer much about the cause of your leg troubles, only thing I can think of thats relevant is this time last year I stuck out with shorts for as long as I could but I got very achy knees. This year I've switched to longs way earlier, to the point its a little uncomfortable towards the end of my commute when I've really warmed up but my knees ache a lot less, I put it down to the temperature and pushing too hard before warming up

 

[martinclive]

Can't really offer much about the cause of your leg troubles, only thing I can think of thats relevant is this time last year I stuck out with shorts for as long as I could but I got very achy knees. This year I've switched to longs way earlier, to the point its a little uncomfortable towards the end of my commute when I've really warmed up but my knees ache a lot less, I put it down to the temperature and pushing too hard before warming up

Thanks mate - was in 3/4s have gone to longs and trying to stretch before going out
Will take gentle for a few days and see how it goes
Take care out there!

 

[Stephen C]

I think I found a contender for idiot of the year this morning, approaching a right turn-off that I need to take, indicate nice and early and start pulling across to the centre of the road. An ambulance (not flashing blues) approaches from the other direction, also indicating (left), and a car pull to a stop at the give-way sign for this junction. Just as we were all slowing to assess the situation, a Roll-Royce floors it from behind the ambulance, overtaking the ambulance, before racing past me and off down the road!

There is no way he could've seen the car stopped at the junction, or if the ambulance had waved either of us to go. The look on the ambulance drivers face was a mix of absolute disbelief and amazement that there wasn't an accident!

 

[Glow worm]

Have had to take a week off after a horrendous bout of calf cramps (both legs and also went down to left foot) just over a week ago on the way home - it did some damage to the muscles and left me struggling to walk (let alone cycle) for a day or two - feeling recovered now - but not sure on the cause which is a bit of a concern

Am lowering the caffeine and alcohol intake while making sure keep the fluid intake (and salt - but not too much) up - will see how it goes but would be a disaster if it restricted the commuting.......................all quack suggestions gratefully received!!!

I get bad cramp like pains in my thighs from time to time (it's pretty bad right now in fact) that can knock me out for up to a week. I take magnesium (reduces muscle pain) and calcium (helps normal muscle function) tablets . Also, believe it or not, - cherry juice. It's a powerful anti antioxidant to help muscle recovery. With my particular condition, co-enzyme Q10 does seem to have reduced the number of attacks I get as well as their severity. I would recommend you do a bit of research before taking though as a it can have side effects.

Other than that, keep hydrated and reduce alcohol/ caffene intake- all the obvious stuff really. Difficult though for me as I get pretty low when I can't ride, and strong lager often seems very necessary!