Tales from today's commute....

[Origamist]

Was windy today, but not too bad. Dodged the showers, which was a bonus.

Had a good tow for a mile behind a tractor and troubled the Strava leaderboard in the Tatton area as a result.

 

[discominer]

This morning, quiet 20mph road, speed bumps and double white lines, traffic coming the other way. I'm in primary, but the clown behind just has to get in front, so goes across the white lines, sees the oncoming car and nearly left hooks me (nice braking by me). All as expected really, until I see the thing on top of the car... Alan's School of Motoring, Glasgow.
Next? Crow Road (magnatom's commute)- pinch point approaching, I'm in primary, but WVM can't bear it and has to get in front- he just missed the traffic light island.

 

[Nocode]

Thought I'd extend the morning commute a little bit this morning considering it was such a nice morning so commuted via Biggin Hill.

Shoes were still quite damp from last nights deluge and given it was a bit colder this morning my toes were quite chilly by the time I got into work. I am seriously going to consider a pair of winter boots for the upcoming winter commutes, think it would be a sound investment.

Had a white van driver try and pull out on me (I was alongside and he was indicating) but he obviously didn't like my head shake as he proceeded to rev his engine very loudly at me after pulling in behind.

 

[BSRU]

A good but chilly 46km commute in this morning.
Even harder to get up this morning than yesterday but managed to get up a 10 whole minutes earlier.
Enjoyed pulling away with ease from a guy on an S-Works road bike, on a cat 4 climb as well with me on the CX bike.

 

[donnydave]

Verified actual tailwind this morning allowing a rare outing for the top two gears. Thought I may aswell get strava on for the first time im ages if it was going to be fast one, got PB's but now I remember why I retired from competitive commuter cycling, I've only got 8 hours to recover for the struggle home in a massive headwind!

Cheers to MisterStan btw for kudos!

 

[dexter101]

First commute today where I havent been able to ride to work as I have to go somewhere after work. have to say I am feeling grumpy and tired and wish i had been able to cycle. Last nights commute was fantastic, no wind about and PB home just over 45 minutes for the 12.7 miles. Hopefully the after work trip to an Evans bike shop will lift my spirits...

 

[MisterStan]

Chilly start this morning, considered going back for knee warmers, but decided to MTFU, glad I did as we pulled a record time for Fenstanton - @martinclive 's office - hence were quite warm!

BMW driver (not stereotyping!) pulled out on me on a side road and then sat half way across the lane next to me, van coming in opposite direction, left him sweating for a bit and then dropped my speed so he could slot in. Dick.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Tyres sorted, front put onto the rear and new tyre on the front. Kudos to Halfords, I went in to buy a couple of inner tubes and they have changed the packaging, now shrink wrapped so much better for carrying around. Also I picked two tubes up and the lad at the till told me they were on offer, and for another penny I could have another one, so double kudos to them.

This mornings commute totally free of anything worth noting

 

[Biscuit]

So windy, if I stopped pedalling I would have gone backwards. At least it didn't rain. I guarantee the wind will have dropped or changed direction by the time I go home. Bah !!!!

 

[TheJDog]

On my way home, I decided to go to the park to do a lap or two. On the way down Abbey Road a wasp flew up the leg of my shorts and stung me on the arse. Then I had to hide under a tree for twenty minutes outside Lord's because it started to bucket it down. When it eased off I just went home instead.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Seems to be a day for car drivers being idiots then. Had a guy in an Astra who took offense to the fact that I ended up in front of him coming down Shooters Hill near the old police station. Bus lane filters in to normal lane, it just happened to make sense to slot in front not behind him as he wasn't moving. Punishment passed me after the lights and then got caught in traffic so I passed him by. He didn't like me being in secondary in front of him and honked his horn at me (I could have just let it go, but you know, I didn't) so I moved to primary to make sure I was safe. There was a gap to the traffic in front, but nothing serious. He sits on the horn so I turn to check it's me he has a problem with, means I slow down unfortunately, but what can you do. He screams past, catches up the traffic, I overtake him again. He is now desperate to give me no room and has wound his window down shouting - "will you stop farking about, I've got kids in this car, blah blah pull over and drag you off that bike, blah blah, you daffodil" I missed the bits in the blahs as I was busy watching the car he wasn't as it stopped for someone parking and he came within inches of rear ending it, I overtook them both in to clear road. He then screamed past me once more as I turned in to Blackheath, undertaking me for the right hander. As I left Blackheath he was pulled over by the side of the road on the phone, I'm presuming telling his ex-wife that when he dropped the kids off they'd have some new vocabulary.

I know I shouldn't have played, but to be honest his driving may have got more desperate as he sped around, but the gaps he was giving me actually increased when he recognised I was there (probably realised shouting at a cyclist and then knocking them off in front of witnesses wouldn't go well for him) so it was almost safer.

Balance was restored as aside from my dickish behaviour in baiting him, while I was sat at the lights by work an old white steelie came past me at speed, swept left through the red and took a big chunk of the main road straightening up barely missing the traffic that was already driving along it.

 

[jagman.2003]

New fastest commute on flatter route today. Slight side wind. Just gotta decide on route home now.

 

[simon the viking]

Had a REALLY close pass this morning.... Without exaggerating genuinely feared for my life. A lorry cut in severely on me, luckily I had a dropped pavement to go up otherwise I would've been under his wheels, he missed my bars by an inch and was still coming over after I'd got out his way. I had a quick rant and flicked a gesture at the disappearing back end.... it stopped about a hundred yards up the road... probably to check he had left me on my bike if I'd have caught up with him I was so charged up... I'd have dragged him out of his cab and wrapped my bike round his head.

I think I know the name of the firm due to the type of lorry and colour but I'm only guessing....so not going to bother calling them.... Tbh it's made me rethink my 'What's the point' attitude to head cams

 

[KneesUp]

A windy morning where it is the perfect cycling temperature in the shade and a bit too hot out of it.

I learned two things today - firstly, I am slowly getting fitter. I was doing (an indicated) 21mph into the (strong enough to send rubbish scattering down the road) wind on a (very slight) uphill, which seemed a long way off a few weeks ago.

Secondly, I'm not that much fitter - I blew up completely on the last hill before work (which obviously has no shade) and was down to 7mph.

All good fun though, and I'm sure it will make me fitter in the long run - the way I felt halfway up the hill I'm sure I'd have got off at one point.

 

[Origamist]

Cool, wet and windy. It is October?