Tales from today's commute....

[Supersuperleeds]

How much weight have you lost?

About 3 1/2 stone I reckon since the start of last year. Could do with shedding another half a stone.

I've gone from a 38 waist to a 32 and a 18 (might have been 18.5 thinking about it) collar to a 16

 

[Arjimlad]

MIssing the bike - a viral chesty cough militates against riding as I want to get better ASAP.

 

[Ganymede]

Newbie alert! first commute done this morning, I am feeling on top of the world! it was also my first time on a road bike so the first few minutes were a tad... wobbly!

took me 50 minutes to do 12.5 miles (Thaxted to Bishop's Stortford), which I'm quite happy with for a first ride. unfortunately my phone isn't working at the moment so couldn't record my time or any more useful information!

Good points:
all road users behaved themselves and I thumbs up'ed some cars for being especially kind
I felt fairly good including on the essex mountains! (gently rolling hills)
I'm looking forward to the ride home tonight and to next week.
Saw one other cyclist, although he was stood on the side of the road chatting but felt like stopping and high fiveing him!


Points to improve on:
my rear end hurts, quite satisfying though, reminds me of being a teenager (no inuendo meant!)
i purchased 99p cycling gloves (I thought they would protect my hands in a fall and didn't think I would need them for comfort) and they actually rub between the fingers, might have to treat myself to something more pricey.
the bike has gear changers on the frame not the handle bars, took me most of the ride to get comfortable using them and really ended up just flicking between big and small chain rings, i'm sure I will get better at it but think, If I stick with this bike, this will be the first upgrade!
Im not sure but I might be over stretching, when im on the hoods and peddling it feels like im pulling a superman! might just be my flexibility and might improve with time, its not uncomfortable just think might not be the most efficient way to ride!

loving this forum and some great stories (and some horror stories!) of peoples commutes, really inspired me and motivated me to give it a go!

That's such a great post! I hope it's onwards and upwards for you from now on.

I'm sure if you post about your gear changers and overstretching on the techie part of the forum there will be lots of advice.

Hurrah!

 

[smutchin]

All this commuting is working, realised today that when I now get on the drops, my gut doesn't get in the way

Well done! I had the same experience when I shed over two stone a couple of years ago. It's a brilliant feeling, isn't it? I use the drops routinely these days, and actually find it comfortable.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Well done! I had the same experience when I shed over two stone a couple of years ago. It's a brilliant feeling, isn't it? I use the drops routinely these days, and actually find it comfortable.

And the best thing is I am probably eating just as much if not more than when I started cycling, if I went on a diet I might be able to get up some hills

 

[ianrauk]

About 3 1/2 stone I reckon since the start of last year. Could do with shedding another half a stone.

I've gone from a 38 waist to a 32 and a 18 (might have been 18.5 thinking about it) collar to a 16

Marvellous...

 

[confusedcyclist]

About 3 1/2 stone I reckon since the start of last year. Could do with shedding another half a stone.

I've gone from a 38 waist to a 32 and a 18 (might have been 18.5 thinking about it) collar to a 16

Keep it up!

 

[potsy]

Came out of the park last nigt and onto the shared use path for the last mile, what a mistake!!
Out of nowhere came 200 runners taking up both lanes with their heads down, almost had to do an emergency decamp onto the grass verge

Took the easy option and went back onto the road instead, bloody joggers

 

[martinclive]

Came out of the park last nigt and onto the shared use path for the last mile, what a mistake!!
Out of nowhere came 200 runners taking up both lanes with their heads down, almost had to do an emergency decamp onto the grass verge

Took the easy option and went back onto the road instead, bloody joggers

Bet they were not even wearing high viz and helmets

 

[potsy]

Bet they were not even wearing high viz and helmets

They were running faster than I was cycling I know that

 

[MisterStan]

They were running faster than I was cycling I know that

You should take a leaf out of @Supersuperleeds book and lose a bit of weight then...

 

[Tynan]

As I exited Old St rab heading west I heard a voice say into my right ear 'biscuit?'

I turned to see the passenger in a white van leaning out holding the remains of a packet of McVities Chocolate Digestives, to be polite I took one and ate it to mutual pleasure and audible delight at something reeking of tdf, even if only of a humble working class kind

good fun

 

[MisterStan]

As I exited Old St rab heading west I heard a voice say into my right ear 'biscuit?'

I turned to see the passenger in a white van leaning out holding the remains of a packet of McVities Chocolate Digestives, to be polite I took one and ate it to mutual pleasure and audible delight at something reeking of tdf, even if only of a humble working class kind

good fun

Was this whilst stopped or moving? I hope you downed the rest of your water afterwards and threw the bottle away!

 

[Tynan]

rolling along at a fair pace considering it's my third day riding after a three month layoff

riding while eating a biscuit in the London rush hour and a van next door was excitement enough for me I'm ashamed to say, in the rather motley peleton of boris bikes, shoppers, mtbs and blokes on road bikes but in jeans I was clearly the nearest thing to a pro rider in my lycra and tinted coloured glasses. I did have a GB stylee bottle borrowed from my son in this hot weather but, as he warned me, the top is cracked so as much water goes down your front as into your mouth, so I left that alone

 

[Spartak]

Longer commute this morning, passing Bristol Parkway station & heading round the now disused Filton Airfield, thru the shopping complex at Cribbs passing the very posh Porsche, Mini & BMW dealerships, next door to them is a very nice looking building housing the Bang & Olfusen shop and I did giggle between them all is Andys Gas !
Then through Henbury ( not many Porchse or B&O owners there ) and past Blaise Castle before passing under the Iron Bridge at Shirehampton. 23.6 kms this morning & in work by 05:30 !

Managed 30kms on my commute home lunchtime 8-)

http://app.strava.com/activities/173885908

Going via Easter Compton & the climb of Over Lane up to the A38 at Almondsbury, then thru Bradley Stoke. Used the new cycle crossing at Old Gloucester Rd. to cross the busy ringroad at Hambrook.