Tales from today's commute....

[fossyant]

Overdressed this morning, couldn't be bothered taking off the waterproofs.

Traffic rather heavy in Bredbury near Morrisons, usual stuff. Saw a bloke get out of his transit and go over to a femail driver on inside - thought they'd had a bump. No. Van man thought the lady wasn't near enough to the curb (about 2 feet) as the road usually has two lanes of traffic, but it's not marked as it's too narrow - only the junctions are marked. Usually everyone squeezes in. This lady was just a little too far out. So instead of slotting in behind the lady, the van driver had to get passed, blocked her, got out of his van to have a rant, therefore blocking the whole road.

As I approached, I could hear what was going on, so shouted over to him "Calm down and wind your neck in" - he didn't like that, but shut up after that. Traffic behind started honking. What a knob !

 

[fossyant]

My 36 mile commute was completed in just under 45 min & accompanied by the bassy burble of a 7L V8. Hope to be back on the bike tomorrow.

And a fuel hole in your pocket !

 

[mangid]

I know it's potentially new year blues, but this weather is really starting to get me down :-). It's like Chinese water torture. Alarm went off at 5 as usual, woke up fine, not tired, but then I heard the wind, so I turned over and pulled the duvet up over my head :-(. Took me 5 minutes to get out of bed, as usual, really enjoyed it once out of the door and moving.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Wind direction has changed to more Westerly which has made it a bit easier for me. Set off in the rain so was drenched after a few miles, it stops and I dry out, then it really hammered it down for a couple of miles about 25 miles in, by the time I got to work the rain had stopped and the sun was trying to break through

 

[Beebo]

Wow, that was windy, I took the main road along the Thames and the headwind was mad, but had great fun jumping the gaps between cyclists struggling in the wind.
Lots of new cyclists who dont appear to be used to this sort of head wind. Cycle hard to get up behind them, rest for 30 sec and then sprit 100m to the next guy up ahead, and so on.

 

[ianrauk]

Wow, that was windy, I took the main road along the Thames and the headwind was mad, but had great fun jumping the gaps between cyclists struggling in the wind.
Lots of new cyclists who dont appear to be used to this sort of head wind. Cycle hard to get up behind them, rest for 30 sec and then sprit 100m to the next guy up ahead, and so on.

Yup, the wind was all over the place today. Couldn't make it's bleedin' mind up which way it wanted to blow...made for some hard work cycling at times and other was a breeze.

Yup, also noticed a definite rise in the amount of cyclists this week as I mentioned in a previous post yesterday.

 

[GrasB]

And a fuel hole in your pocket !

It's only money & I have enough... anyway the aural sensation generated by the engine, gearbox & exhaust is more than worth it.

 

[Frood42]

Wet and windy commute this morning, thankfully the rain was light, but unthankfully it had been raining hard earlier and so there were plenty of puddles/mini streams built up along the CS2 extension (it's just a water trap in places, and my shoes got wet more from the puddles than the rain).

Quickest commute of the new year (although a very poor 12mph avg) with a PB for Whips Cross Way.

As mentioned by others, there do seem to be a few more people cycling this year, so I got a couple of scalps, lets hope this continues (as it gives me a little more reason to push that little bit harder).
I was rather impressed to join the tail end of a group to make up a line of 4 bicycles (this is not the usual for my commuting route in the morning in the rain), all of us going through Stratford in a mini convoy.
.

 

[jagman.2003]

Stopped using a cycle speedo a while ago. Just told me I was faster or slower generally.
But got a Garmin for Xmas.
Inspiring & demoralising at the same time comparing segments on Strava.
Will be taking it constructively & analysing where I can best improve.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Rare sight tonight, dry roads, not all but enough

 

[fossyant]

Another longer commute home. Headded through and over south of the city cente to Evans at the National Cycling Centre. Picked up my new panniers and popped them inside the side pannier of my Topeak MTX.

Not so nice return uo the A57 (impatient lane switching drivers) before bearing off for Reddish. Another 15 or so mucky miles.

 

[MrGrumpy]

shock horror, left work just before 3 and needed no lights for trip home

 

[Fiona R]

Ride in at lunchtime, the was in my eyes and the headwind was spot on. . On my way home, dead dark and no wind at all, so not fair!

 

[GrasB]

I overtook a cyclist on the way home, followed at a respectable distance until a straight section of road, as it was long & no oncoming cars I decided to take it nice & slow as the car is very loud under acceleration. As I got level with him, he looked at me & shouted FLOOR IT! So I dropped a gear & open the throttle a little more. I never realised someones grin could be bigger than their head. Also realised that the following quote is an understatement!

"The first few times you floor the throttle the acceleration is breathtaking and other road users appear to have simply parked up in the road. But it’s only after a few blasts that you realise the pedal is only half depressed."

 

[ComedyPilot]

Blustery ride in this morning with just 1 idiot passing close.

Lovely 19 mile ride home in the dark tonight and loads of stars out. Bit chilly, but I was warm in under a mile anyway.