Tales from today's commute....

[summerdays]

today the rain stopped just a short while before setting off, so calm but lots of muck thrown up at the bike and me.
I had one driver who was trying to take a short cut through back streets and was stuck behind me. I joined the main road and rolled into the ASL as the lights went red. Lights change they race round me to the next set 100 m ahead, so I went round them into the ASL as I need to go to go right and if I wait behind I'm next to the puddle that forms on that corner. And when the lights changed, victory was mine as I turned right before the first car and left them stuck there till the end of the next sequence :-)

 

[ianrauk]

Heavy, heavy rain this morning so best thought that I do the short commute instead. Damn it was dark and wet out there. A lot of standing water and spray thrown up by vehicles. But as It was my short commute and it's all down hill I had a very quick time in. Saw only one other cycle commuter on the roads. Who are the silly ones?

 

[tweedsteed]

Just got my first pair of overshoes and boy, what a difference in the rain! Stopped at the lights in Farringdon and a gent drenched from head to foot said,"I really need to get some of those...".

 

[Beebo]

Damn it was dark and wet out there

The darkness was what struck me the most too. Full lights required.
It was very wet but it was warm. I wore my Nightvision jacket, but had to undo it as I was steaming up, so the rain got in anyway.
I'm not surprised you went the quick way, it's days like today that a 12 mile commute is just about enough for me. If I had to do 20 miles in that I would have had a sense of humour failure.

 

[MichaelO]

I must admit, I heard the rain coming down at 4am while I was still in bed, and made the easy decision to get the train today. 20 miles in the rain is just not fun! What a wimp!

 

[fossyant]

I must admit, I heard the rain coming down at 4am while I was still in bed, and made the easy decision to get the train today. 20 miles in the rain is just not fun! What a wimp!

What !

 

[fossyant]

Warm and wet and windy. The Varium jacket is ideal in this weather. What a bargain they were earlier this year

 

[ianrauk]

The darkness was what struck me the most too. Full lights required.
It was very wet but it was warm. I wore my Nightvision jacket, but had to undo it as I was steaming up, so the rain got in anyway.
I'm not surprised you went the quick way, it's days like today that a 12 mile commute is just about enough for me. If I had to do 20 miles in that I would have had a sense of humour failure.

Indeed.. my temp gauge was showing 11degs when I left home so just wore a l/s jersey with a Montane featherlite. Not the best rain protection in the world, but did ok for the journey. My short commute is 12 miles.

 

[I like Skol]

night time off-road commute this morning via the canal and Haughton & Reddish Vales. Just had to take my cycling clothes outside the factory to shake the dried mud off them

That new light is awesome

 

[Leaway2]

Sorry to hear it, @Leaway2 . Do you have another bike to use while this one is being fixed?

Thanks @victor. Yes I have a few.

 

[Exile]

Everything is filthy. Even the top of my rack bag got a thin coating of gritty muck. Everything is also soaked, but I expected that so don't mind as much (until I come to put the damp kit back on, that is).

At least the wind had died back a bit, couldn't do with another day of being battered and pushed about. Still got forced to the kerb by a MGIF numpty though. Same place as yesterday, so I think it's time to start riding even more assertively there. What's more assertive than taking the lane though? Key on a stick? D-lock on a chain?

 

[2wheelsgeth]

Everything is filthy. Even the top of my rack bag got a thin coating of gritty muck. Everything is also soaked, but I expected that so don't mind as much (until I come to put the damp kit back on, that is).

At least the wind had died back a bit, couldn't do with another day of being battered and pushed about. Still got forced to the kerb by a MGIF numpty though. Same place as yesterday, so I think it's time to start riding even more assertively there. What's more assertive than taking the lane though? Key on a stick? D-lock on a chain?

I was chatting to my cousin the other day, and on her commute in Cardiff she often passes a fella riding with a screwdriver held in his outstretched right arm, presumably in an attempt to keep motons at bay. Presumably it works, as he always does it - not sure I can really recommend it, mind!

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

04:50 this morning and the rain on the windows woke me! Why this morning I asked ! Kitted up after brekkie and headed out and it had calmed down a little. I'd got one figure in mind, 19.59 miles. 15 miles in and approaching the turn into the wind and it started hammering again didn't it. Had to crack on though, and did a 22, passing the 10000 mile mark for the year oh yeah

 

[Ganymede]

Last night... sooooo tired. Fell asleep a bit on the train and when we arrived at my station at 11.20pm I was yawning uncontrollably - made a couple of fellow-travellers laugh, me in my cycle gear looking more like ready for bed. 3.5 dark and grinding miles later I am wide awake, totally knackered, lying in bed staring at the ceiling with no prospect of sleep. Oh my days.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Well the money I saved on the bus fare bought me fish and chips for lunch and they were just lovely!

Shoes have almost dried out too
Double bubble!!