Tales from today's commute....

[Jenkins]

Mudguard bracket snapped at the rear on the way home, but the stays held up and I got home with a percussive rattling...

Something similar for me on the way home today - the plastic clip where it attaches to the brake mount on raceblade longs disintegrated and the guard went under the brake bridge and jammed locking the back wheel at about 20mph. Now need a new pair but SKS still haven't brought them back to the market.

 

[MisterStan]

Nice bit of tailwind coming home last night meant an average speed of 21.3mph for the 19 miles. Spotted a barn owl and a heron.

Cool and sunny this morning, light winds.

 

[Exile]

No riding today. Unexplained overnight deflation on the cross bike which I was too lazy to fix, and the other bike is in that strange state of having neither crankset nor cassette currently fitted (part way through stripping it down and doing a full clean and service) and I didn't fancy scooting it to work, so on to the bus I went.

Sort of works in my favour, because I'm now meeting the OH after work and he's paying for a meal as he's away this weekend and feels a little guilty about leaving me to hold the fort. Personally, I really don't mind, but if I said that I might not get free food!

 

[Simontm]

Nice ride in with not a lot of traffic although the lot that were came from the numpty school of driving for some reason today.
Numpty count: 3 A Focus and a BMW both near passed forcing me to brake and swerve. After exclaiming: "By jolly, I say Sir, you couldn't possibly allow a gentleman on a velocipede a modicum of space, could you old chap?"... or words to that effect with the universal sign for blithering idiot, I overtook both of them at points further up - as is in rush hour. Funnily enough, when it came to their respective turns to overtake again, they both gave me plenty of space

The third was an estate car that misjudged the speed down Westmead and nearly rear-ended me. Did apologise, which is a change on that route!

One other numpty thing - As you near Beddington Park (Pass the park on Strava) on the A232, there're road closed ahead signs. Five cars in front of me went straight on, all seemingly surprised when there was indeed a closed A232 ahead (I turn off there onto the Route 75).

 

[Panter]

A fair few close passes today for some odd reason, no idea why they seem to come in waves like that.
Still, nice sunny morning again

 

[MichaelO]

Took the scenic route to work - very pleasant, if not slightly hillier than the usual direct route. 22 miles of fun!

 

[ianrauk]

Nice bit of tailwind coming home last night meant an average speed of 21.3mph for the 19 miles. Spotted a barn owl and a heron.

Cool and sunny this morning, light winds.

Damn, impressive average Stan. I wished I lived in the flatlands .. I can only dream of those sort of averages on my commute.
But then again, if I didn't add two 12% hills to my commute every morning and hit the main direct (downhill) route to work rather then the convoluted extra miles I may raise my average...

Anyway. It was a really nice commute this morning. Mild (just LS jersey) and very little wind made for good going. Traffic a nightmare though. So managed a measly 16mph avg.

I got scalped by a fixie rider I've never seen on my commute before. Boy he had the biggest thighs and calves and he could shift. Really impressive. I didn't even bother trying to catch up and keep with him. I was beat as soon as he overtook me.

 

[Butty1972]

Tales from today's commute:
It was raining when I set off, but rule #5 and rule #9 etc...
First time riding clipped in, SPD shoes. Riding clip-less isn't too difficult if, *if* you read all the advice on this forum and prepare yourself. thank you to everyone who contributed to that thread, all ok first time out, never felt nervous, no clip-less moments yet :-)
Mavic Rush SPD shoes are lovely and comfy and reasonable priced but are not waterproof. Although they never claimed to be.
March is still too early to be wearing fingerless gloves, even if they are lovely new Endura ones... My hands were freezing within 2 minutes, should've gone back and changed them.
Oblique railway lines are very very tricky, again.. 2nd off at the same place in 9 months. I was trying really hard too, holding the bike really firmly, to stop the wheel being dragged in, but I either failed or the tyre slipped on the steel, it happened too quickly to take in.
As I went down, knee, hip, and then my head whiplashed into the road. Not going to open the debate, but I am never going out without my helmet on.
Its an excuse to buy some new bib tights.

 

[MisterStan]

Damn, impressive average Stan. I wished I lived in the flatlands .. I can only dream of those sort of averages on my commute.
But then again, if I didn't add two 12% hills to my commute every morning and hit the main direct (downhill) route to work rather then the convoluted extra miles I may raise my average...

Anyway. It was a really nice commute this morning. Mild (just LS jersey) and very little wind made for good going. Traffic a nightmare though. So managed a measly 16mph avg.

I got scalped by a fixie rider I've never seen on my commute before. Boy he had the biggest thighs and calves and he could shift. Really impressive. I didn't even bother trying to catch up and keep with him. I was beat as soon as he overtook me.

I'll have you know there was 266 feet of climbing involved!

 

[MisterStan]

Tales from today's commute:
It was raining when I set off, but rule #5 and rule #9 etc...
First time riding clipped in, SPD shoes. Riding clip-less isn't too difficult if, *if* you read all the advice on this forum and prepare yourself. thank you to everyone who contributed to that thread, all ok first time out, never felt nervous, no clip-less moments yet :-)
Mavic Rush SPD shoes are lovely and comfy and reasonable priced but are not waterproof. Although they never claimed to be.
March is still too early to be wearing fingerless gloves, even if they are lovely new Endura ones... My hands were freezing within 2 minutes, should've gone back and changed them.
Oblique railway lines are very very tricky, again.. 2nd off at the same place in 9 months. I was trying really hard too, holding the bike really firmly, to stop the wheel being dragged in, but I either failed or the tyre slipped on the steel, it happened too quickly to take in.
As I went down, knee, hip, and then my head whiplashed into the road. Not going to open the debate, but I am never going out without my helmet on.
Its an excuse to buy some new bib tights.

Ouch! I hope you are not in too much pain. GWS.

 

[robjh]

Nice bit of tailwind coming home last night meant an average speed of 21.3mph for the 19 miles. Spotted a barn owl and a heron.

GBW by any chance? With the wind behind you there's nothing to stop you there. But with a headwind....

 

[MisterStan]

GBW by any chance? With the wind behind you there's nothing to stop you there. But with a headwind....

Yep. Normally we have a cross wind which can help or hinder depending on your route. Yesterday the planets all aligned for the first time in a while and it was a more or less perfect tailwind all the way home. Not particularly strong, but when you give a bit of effort, it pays you back.

 

[Sittingduck]

Shorts this morning! Felt slow though and was forced to dismount and walk by St Paul's - some kind of big wig shindig in the City Today and there are barriers and road closures everywhere.

 

[ianrauk]

Shorts this morning! Felt slow though and was forced to dismount and walk by St Paul's - some kind of big wig shindig in the City Today and there are barriers and road closures everywhere.

Saw it on the BBC news this morning.
It's a service to honour Brit soldiers participation in the Afghan conflict.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Nice bit of tailwind coming home last night meant an average speed of 21.3mph for the 19 miles. Spotted a barn owl and a heron.

Cool and sunny this morning, light winds.

I couldn't drive to work that fast