Tales from today's commute....

[martint235]

I miss my new bike

I'm at our Angel office today so had to commute by train and tube . I always thought commuting by train was bad but gods the Tube is far worse!!!

 

[jagman.2003]

First real cold commute for me this season. Down to 3.5 degrees in places. Some frost on windscreens.
Dropped the speed down a bit to slightly below light speed, just to be cautious.

Full winter clobber was out, all worked wonderfully.

 

[summerdays]

It was colder than I was expecting it to be overnight, frost on the cars, but the light was lovely at first, trees floating in a sea of golden mist, but not too thick. However the sun disappeared behind the cars and then it started raining! Not much just enough to make putting on my coat worthwhile. And then had a lovely encounter with a friend (you can't do that in a car), that I hadn't seen for a few months, so quick 10 minute. And all finished off by the car pulling out and thanking me for letting him go, so I glared at him and shock my head! All so he could join the queue of cars waiting at the traffic lights, so unnecessary really.

 

[fossyant]

Chilly commute. Just one idiot in a jag who overtook me on a sharp left hander. Didn't like my "too close" shout so brake tested me. I nipped inside and said "too close" again. Driver then chases after me with horn on. Pulls alongside, shakes fist, so I say again "too close". Left it at that.

Mr fat old red faced man, its probably not a good idea getting that worked up.

 

[simon the viking]

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr thats all I've got to say about this mornings commute

 

[Panter]

It was forecast cold this morning so wrapped up well in a buff and fleece. Nearly died of heat stroke on the way in so I really need to learn to stick my nose out of the front door before blindly following weather forecasts!

 

[Exile]

4 degrees at the back of the house this morning, and that was in the early rays of the sun. Cars were a bit frosty so took it fairly easy on the ride in.

Made the mistake of not wearing the windproof layer this morning. Had to spin pretty hard at times to stop myself icing up. Could have stopped and put the jacket on, but was already running late and didn't want to stop unless I had to.

 

[Beebo]

Not much fun last night.
My rear brake failed, due to lack of maintenance on the pads! So I had to do a bit of DIY on the fly, and disenganged the rear brake so rode home slowly with only the front brake.
I'm on the hybrid (without mud guards) this morning whilst I wait for an urgent delivery of new pads.

 

[fossyant]

Reminds me to check my stock of road pads.....

 

[ianrauk]

Not much fun last night.
My rear brake failed, due to lack of maintenance on the pads! So I had to do a bit of DIY on the fly, and disenganged the rear brake so rode home slowly with only the front brake.
I'm on the hybrid (without mud guards) this morning whilst I wait for an urgent delivery of new pads.

Happened to me only last week. Rear pads worn which made the spring scrap the rotors. Made an awful racket. Like yours, rear ones too.
And of which reminds me... off to Disco Brakes to order some more as had to use my last spare pair.

 

[ianrauk]

Damn, Disco Brakes are out of BB7 Semi Metallic Pads....
But Merlin Cycles are doing pairs for £4.99+£2.00delivery.

 

[Beebo]

Damn, Disco Brakes are out of BB7 Semi Metallic Pads....
But Merlin Cycles are doing pairs for £4.99+£2.00delivery.

I ordered Sintered ones from Disco last night instead.
Will I notice any difference?

 

[ianrauk]

I ordered Sintered ones from Disco last night instead.
Will I notice any difference?

I found sintered to be noisier then Semi-metallic's.

 

[summerdays]

I can never remember which ones I should be ordering, but liking the look of red ones (I suspect it's the boring black ones I probably have normally). I suffered the worn pads so that the spring failed and got trapped in the mechanism earlier this year. Jammed the wheel totally and ended up having to get Mr Summerdays to rescue me - that's really rare as I normally can push the bike if all else fails.

 

[Beebo]

I can never remember which ones I should be ordering, but liking the look of red ones (I suspect it's the boring black ones I probably have normally). I suffered the worn pads so that the spring failed and got trapped in the mechanism earlier this year. Jammed the wheel totally and ended up having to get Mr Summerdays to rescue me - that's really rare as I normally can push the bike if all else fails.

My wheel jammed last night just as I was filtering up to a set of traffic lights. it was lucky that I was only doing about 5mph.
I had to wrestle the wheel out of the caliper; then remove both pads and the chewed up spring, before replacing the wheel and riding the remaining 10 miles with only a front brake.