Tales from today's commute....

[Sheffield_Tiger]

"doing wheelspins in a Kia is a bit sad isn't it?"

My interaction with one young twit. I think I was right. He didn't have any argument

 

[martint235]

That was almost very interesting. Got beeped on the way into a pinch point. Chased the car down as is my wont and caught him in a traffic queue. Tapped on window, driver winds window down. So far so normal. 3 guys get out of the back seat (all on passenger side), not so normal. Still as I say if you're not willing to deal with the consequences don't start stuff. Started chatting to driver (I tend to be polite if not overly polite to the point of sarcasm). Passenger number 1 starts to come around the front of the bonnet. I unclip and stand up straight. Politely suggest that whatever he's thinking he should un-think it and go back to the pavement. He does (phew). Driver seems quite reasonable* and we discuss his actions, shake hands and part amicably. It got VERY nervous. Driver has a big lump stood inches away from his face, passengers have superior numbers but big lump to face. I've got 4 blokes to face! It could have ended worse I suppose.

*as reasonable as you need to be when you've got 3 mates backing you up!!

 

[HLaB]

A bit lighter tonight so I decided to go for a wee wander; I didn't go overboard as I am saving my legs for the weekend but it was too nice a night to waste.

 

[Beebo]

Cold, wet, dark, shite.

 

[Spartak]

Wet ride home lunchtime, but that didn't deter me from riding part of the MTB ( Nova ) trail at Ashton Court.
Had a great time splashing through all the muddy puddles

http://www.strava.com/activities/116694590

 

[fribbleblib]

Big test of the brakes twice this morning.

Van pulling out of driveway without looking caused an emergency stop on my part, a SMIDSY on his.

Then five minutes later, a coot leaps out of the river and straight across the path in front of me. No checking left & right, no apology, nothing.

 

[wilkotom]

Wow - I got hit last night going through Mitcham too, rear-ended going through the lights heading toward Commonside / Cricket Green and then got pulled along by the car's wing mirror which had hooked into my handlebar before it broke. [...] I've reported it to Roadsafe for all the good it'll do.

Got a letter from the police this morning. Roadsafe had asked me to report formally as a hit and run collision, which I did. The letter confirms what I thought - NFA ( not much chance of anything else, it being my word against the driver). At least it's been logged for future statistics.

 

[spenno37]

wind really puts me off

 

[BSRU]

A good 50km ride in, some rain about 3km from work but it was short lived and quite refreshing, weather much better than forecast.

 

[fossyant]

Lots of frozen rain on the cars so took the MTB with studs. Side roads were dodgy, but most of my route to work on days like these is off road. Muddy lets say the least. Trees down at one point, so hoisted the bike over. Only down side is the ground was a quagmire, so now have filthy shoes too.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

View attachment 39124 View attachment 39125 View attachment 39126

Lots of frozen rain on the cars so took the MTB with studs. Side roads were dodgy, but most of my route to work on days like these is off road. Muddy lets say the least. Trees down at one point, so hoisted the bike over. Only down side is the ground was a quagmire, so now have filthy shoes too.

Similar here, cars very frozen and roads wet, so got the ice bike out. Was a cold but sunny ride and hardly any ice at all. Completely knackered and it is only Monday.

 

[apb]

Lovely morning today. Clear and crisp though a little wet on the road. Gave my bike a good scrubbing so had a very pleasant ride in.

Might go for a wee cycle during lunch.

 

[Stephen C]

Exciting ride in this morning, chain fell off the large chainring twice (I changed the cables last night and haven't properly adjusted the front derailleur settings), but perfected how to get it back on ala @gaz (
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNOWD8moUs8
).

Also saw the aftermath of a car crash with one car missing a back wheel and another in the ditch beside the road!

Beyond that, it was a glorious morning!

 

[gaz]

Rear brake gave out on approach to a roundabout. Started making a really nasty sound. tried to fix it, had a look at the pads, no sign of grit.
tried to ride on, sounded really bad. In the end turned around and swapped bikes.

 

[Origamist]

A bit chilly this morning, but lovely commute weather.

It is increasingly likely that my commute will grow to 31 miles each way (Sandbach to Sallford Quays). I reckon I'll have to get the train on Wednesday to rest my body (2 days on, one off, 2 days on).

@fossyant Nice sturdy looking MTB. I used to have a Diamond Back mountain bike in the late 90s. They had been through a rebranding and mine was a DBR (Diamond Back Racing) - it was a composite frame and pretty lightweight. Good bikes back then.

@gaz Just saw your Daily Mail copyright battle - v good work!