Tales from today's commute....

[fossyant]

Long route into Manchester - good 18 miles (9 miles is the direct route). Just pulled onto A34 (3 miles from end of ride) and another pesky GB Squad rider goes past me. I carry on at normal pace, but as soon as we hit the A34 Mountain (it's a lump but that's the Strava name) the power of FIXED reels him, in so I had to ease off as I'm not about to steam past a squad rider that's already scalped me.

Must say on short drags, a FIXED gear is much better than a geared bike. That's two squad riders the "power of fixed" TM has had me catch them.

Went a detour back to the office to check out new commute routes to the new office !

 

[Andrew_P]

I hate it when the wind is the wrong way round, I blast in to work feeling like cycling god, over do it and struggle my way home.

I did have someone tell me it was murdering them trying to keep up with me this morning and they only kept up because I was getting caught at lights, looked half my age too. Well done me lol

 

[I like Skol]

Had some fun on the commutes this week.
Day 1 saw someone on a 29'r MTB come steaming past me (I briefly heard his knobblies before I saw him) and I wasn't hanging about. This was dropping down to the river from Haughton Green before climbing back up to the Sunblest bakery. Credit to him, he just about managed to stay in front (I wasn't trying too hard as I don't do SCR) but he must have been about ready to pop as we crested the climb, he was doing his best to look calm but I could see he was madly fishing around the gears trying to find a comfortable one and his body language betrayed his pain. Next morning on the way home I ended up side by side with a big motorbike at some lights. incredibly, as he zoomed away (leaving me way behind) he actually appeared to shoulder check to make sure I wasn't coming up his inside as he moved left
Day 2 was a car day
Day 3 was gloriously sunny and I posted an 18.3mph Ave going in to work in the evening (On my hybrid with panniers attached).
Day 4 wasn't quite as quick, only managed an 18.2mph Ave

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Brrrrr. I'm over the NNE wind.

One cyclist no basket. Otherwise nowt to report other than I've adjusted the strap on my messenger bag and someone had nicked "my" space in the cycle parking. Hopefully our lockers will rock up by the end of the month.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Hey, we are coming to the UK for 3 weeks in July. We are staying in Wonersh, Surrey for 10 days. Any suggestions for any good routes--I want to do day trips to vicinity pubs!!

Wonersh you say? I know it well. No shortage of good rides or good village pubs in most directions. Follow the Surrey Cycleway signs for loops large and small (and very hilly and slightly less hilly).

You've got to go to / through Peaslake. It's a regular cycling Mecca and I'm told, being more of a flapjack man, the cheese straws from the Village Shop (open seven days a week and serves take out coffee in REAL mugs) are to die for. Dorking = Go West East Young Man! - is the cycling capital of Surrey, and the Surrey Hills, an AONB, are on the doorstep and quite the most peachy cycling is SE England.

 

[AboutLee]

Came out of work in a foul mood and got home in more of a mood.

Joined the bus/cycle lane and checked to make sure no buses were coming and took primary position as the road bends. All of a sudden I'm over taken by a hgv in the bus lane and the driver beeps as he goes past!!! Dutch lorry clearly doesn't know the uk Highway Code. He was followed by a 4x4 right up the lorries back side. Took my by surprise of what happened and stopped further on.

2mins from my house coming up to the lights heard a lorry (tk maxx) behind and gave way which he took the whole space I gave him, (guess you give an inch they take a mile) then cuts me up then nearly mounts the curb preventing me going up the left hand side of him. Quickly went to the right looked in his mirror to see him smiling!!! Clearly knew what he had done.

So eventful ride home got in stripped down and I'm writing this in the bath haha

 

[summerdays]

Next morning on the way home I ended up side by side with a big motorbike at some lights. incredibly, as he zoomed away (leaving me way behind) he actually appeared to shoulder check to make sure I wasn't coming up his inside as he moved left

But we should do exactly the same anyway ... good for him!

 

[summerdays]

This morning ... a different route ... I knew where I was trying to get to the other side of UWE and I tried to get through ... what I do know is I didn't take the most direct route and that eventually I used some steps to get up and finally found my way out the other side (I've yet to look at my track to see how much circling around I did in UWE!!!)

 

[Archeress]

This morning ... a different route ... I knew where I was trying to get to the other side of UWE and I tried to get through ... what I do know is I didn't take the most direct route and that eventually I used some steps to get up and finally found my way out the other side (I've yet to look at my track to see how much circling around I did in UWE!!!)

Doesn't look too bad, but looks like there are more straightforward routes through.

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[summerdays]

Doesn't look too bad, but looks like there are more straightforward routes through.

Hugs
Archeress x

Noticed that there are more pavements marked as cycle paths beside the main roads and the pavements have got quite a bit wider too on the road outside UWE, since the last time I was down that road.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

why is there always something to moan about with the weather,
bloody wind

 

[Origamist]

Terrific commute home. If the weather holds, will ride the good bike on Thurs as a special treat!

 

[stowie]

I was cycling today and the front wheel caught a plastic bottle top. It shot out from under the tyre and landed through the open window of the queuing car in the opposite carriage way. I think I might have invented bicycle tiddly-winks.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

That wind can go do one.

14 cyclists mind including seven I took at Turners Hill, one after the other. Boom!

Clearly the long way home is more popular than the regular way home.

No bike commute tomorrow. Got to go to a meeting in Chichester so will be training it.

 

[400bhp]

Ooh I did a mini London commute today.

Fark, tis a bit mental darn there. Got beeped by a taxi for being in his way in a bus lane. I didn't react cos I dn't have a cycle scamera.