Tales from today's commute....

[Beebo]

Totally different commute for me today, I had a meeting in London so took the train & hired a Boris bike from just outside Paddington.

http://www.strava.com/activities/117951500

Had a great ride across London taking in many of the sights inc. Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, cycled up the Mall to Trafalgar Square then down Whitehall passing Downing St. then past Big Ben & over the river ( following Pale Riders advice ) then back over London Bridge, before crossing Tower Bridge, just to say I'd done it !

Picked up another bike after my meeting & took a more direct route back passing St. Pauls Cathedral, but then did a lap of the Serpentine enjoying the spring sunshine

You went right past my office.
How did you find the boris bike? They take a bit of getting used to.

 

[Spartak]

You went right past my office.
How did you find the boris bike? They take a bit of getting used to.

You should of waved !!! I was the one with a massive grin on my face

Bike was okay ... a little under geared ?!?!

 

[MisterStan]

Mild this morning, bit of a headwind to contend with, but a good spin in nonetheless.

Only two twunts this morning, both racing me to pinch points. Kept my cool with the first, but the second got shown the finger.

 

[fossyant]

Damp roads, so took it easy on the new Pro4 Endurance tyres when cornering as the release agent hasn't worn off yet.

I have come to the conclusion that driving to work is obviously bad for people's health and stress. Keeping pace with traffic this morning, and actually going a bit quicker, car in front indicates left, so I jink the bike right and overtake. Chap in car behind me obviously didn't like me doing this and statred leaning on the horn after I'd passed the car. He got the birdy from me. 100 yards later we hit another traffic queue, I filter down both lanes, driver again, from some distance behind starts honking again. I'm afraid I did the birdy again. Never saw him after that.

 

[BSRU]

Interesting 40km ride in, over 500m of going up with 350 of those metres in a 15km section in the middle(3 repeats of a hill).
The repeats seem to paying off as all three were quicker than before, previous best very wind assisted, it did it feel easy even on the steel panniered CX bike.
This weekend must get the road bike commuter back into a state ready for use again.

 

[ianrauk]

Oh my word. This great weather just gets better. There really is nothing better then cycling to work on a sunny blue sky, no wind, dry day. Once again I managed the fastest commute of the year so far to work. It helps that I have reduced the amount of clothing worn.

Oh yes, and my commute bike just passed 15,000 miles since bought in Feb 2012. And it still looks and rides as if it's brand new. (well....I have gone through a fair amount of components since bought, New crankset, new cassette and 2 chains, 2 pairs of disc brake pads, new front forks due to accident not of my doing, new saddle and cosmetically, 2 new wheels and 2 new disc brake rotors. All hail the Kona Honky Inc.. right @Beebo

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Very wet ride this morning. Have decided to go to the dark side and am going to put mudguards on the Tricross.

 

[ianrauk]

Very wet ride this morning. Have decided to go to the dark side and am going to put mudguards on the Tricross.

Mudguards are no bad thing squire. Embrace the mudguard.
They protect you, protects the bike and protects the components from all the crap that the wheels throw up.
I used to take mine off in the spring, but now can't be arsed and keep them on all year round.

 

[Origamist]

Careless.

I seem to be determined to lose or destroy cycling accessories (you might recall that I lost my merino condom hat only a few weeks ago, Adrian!). This morning, to add to my carelessness, my water bottle ejected itself - this was due to my Vulcan death-grip and suction of a Dyson when drinking which deformed the bottle before I placed it in the cage. It popped out a mile later. Thankfully, it did not get run over by following traffic and I was able to reclaim it before Timperley residents snaffled it up!

Mild today 7C – in ¾ length bibs (can’t bring myself to type “knickers”) and a jersey/soft-shell gilet combo and I was still too warm. Triathlon vest tomorrow and shades…

 

[Beebo]

Oh my word. This great weather just gets better. There really is nothing better then cycling to work on a sunny blue sky, no wind, dry day. Once again I managed the fastest commute of the year so far to work. It helps that I have reduced the amount of clothing worn.

Oh yes, and my commute bike just passed 15,000 miles since bought in Feb 2012. And it still looks and rides as if it's brand new. (well....I have gone through a fair amount of components since bought, New crankset, new cassette and 2 chains, 2 pairs of disc brake pads, new front forks due to accident not of my doing, new saddle and cosmetically, 2 new wheels and 2 new disc brake rotors. All hail the Kona Honky Inc.. right @Beebo

I'm riding my trek hybrid this week as the Honky is up on blocks. The 105 shifters keep chewing my rear gear cable. It will be fixed at the weekend when I have time.
I seem to go through a rear cable every 5,000 miles. The front cable is fine, but this gets much less use. I estimate I must click the rear gears at least 100 times a day on my commute.

 

[ianrauk]

I'm riding my trek hybrid this week as the Honky is up on blocks. The 105 shifters keep chewing my rear gear cable. It will be fixed at the weekend when I have time.
I seem to go through a rear cable every 5,000 miles. The front cable is fine, but this gets much less use. I estimate I must click the rear gears at least 100 times a day on my commute.

Hmm.. don;t seem to have had that problem.
And you've just reminded me, 1 new set of gear and brake cables and 2 changes of handlebar tape...

 

[RHC82]

A near death experience on my way in this morning which was partly my fault. Overtaking two stationary buses in a cycle/bus lane and failed to notice that the bus directly in front of me was starting to pull out just as I was overtaking. Had to shift into a lane of oncoming traffic so that I didn’t go under its wheels. Definitely a brown trouser moment! I would have ended up on silly cyclists for that one

 

[summerdays]

Mudguards are no bad thing squire. Embrace the mudguard.
They protect you, protects the bike and protects the components from all the crap that the wheels throw up.
I used to take mine off in the spring, but now can't be arsed and keep them on all year round.

It also protects the person behind!!! If you are going to overtake me without mudguards then do the polite thing and overtake and disappear into the distance

 

[summerdays]

I keep getting the number of layers wrong at the moment and the last two days have seen me have to stop and abandon my jacket. So I must remember to not wear quite as much tomorrow when I set off.

 

[ianrauk]

I keep getting the number of layers wrong at the moment and the last two days have seen me have to stop and abandon my jacket. So I must remember to not wear quite as much tomorrow when I set off.

Yup, that strange time of year.
Was 4degs when I left this morning but knew it would get much warmer the further I got into my commute (hour+20).. so decided to risk being a little cold for a while.