Rocky
Hello decadence
Thank you, Ian
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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Thank you, Ian
Ahh, there we go! I was sure I got your name right but it wouldn't auto-complete when I tried to tag you for some reason.
Hope you enjoyed the rest of your walk
Rocky
Hello decadence
Ahh, there we go! I was sure I got your name right but it wouldn't auto-complete when I tried to tag you for some reason.
Hope you enjoyed the rest of your walk
I did!! As you said, it was a lovely morning - and good to have a chat about Bromptons!!
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
Today's commute was the homeward leg of yesterday's commute. I do deliveries on a Wednesday and usually take the van home with me on Tuesday evening. Yesterday's ride in was fun - I took the gravel bike and extended the route out to about 38km, about half of which is on forest trails or old railway paths - but very cold: there was ice on the roads and it took about ten minutes before my fingers warmed up enough to allow me to unlock the brewery door and let myself in! Oh, and I saw some deer, who may well have been wondering what I was doing on their patch so early. Other than that, not an especially inspiring ride; nearly two hours is slow even for me!
Today's ride home was very different. A similar route, but it was one of those rides where I felt like I could carry on forever. A slightly shorter route at 36km, but it felt like I had a hidden motor. Even the climbs were dispatched with ease and I made it home in about an hour and a half. Genuinely one of those rides which makes you realise how great cycling is.
Today's ride home was very different. A similar route, but it was one of those rides where I felt like I could carry on forever. A slightly shorter route at 36km, but it felt like I had a hidden motor. Even the climbs were dispatched with ease and I made it home in about an hour and a half. Genuinely one of those rides which makes you realise how great cycling is.
Phew. At last, it's not bittingly cold. 10° when I left for the station this morning. And 10° is the magic number where I can do away with the winter jacket, wooly beanie, long finger gloves and longs.
Positively mild out 😁. Bit of drizzle though but not enough to get you really wet.
I'll take that over the relentless cold spell we've had.
Positively mild out 😁. Bit of drizzle though but not enough to get you really wet.
I'll take that over the relentless cold spell we've had.
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
I like that small wheeler! What is it?
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Yep empty roads and warm winds a joy.
Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
9 miles out of 10 completed in the dry this morning, then rather heavy rain hit and wearing the lightweight jacket was justified. Thankfully I can get my kit dry during the day and it is due to be clear on the way home. 10 miles along pleasant country lanes and only one dullard overtaking on a bendy section who nearly spannered his Tesla into an oncoming Transit van.
It's a Tern Verge 9 speed.
It's ok for the new commute that I do (18 mile round trip). Pisses all over the Brompton I had when I did a similar journey back in 2018. Much quicker, responsive and doesn't fall apart when ridden hard or in wet weather.
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
I like small wheelers. I sometimes commute on a heavily modded Dawes Kingpin which is running drop bars and fixed wheel. It's a really responsive bike and I'm thinking about building another with 2x10 gearing.
Pushed last night's ride out to about 14.5 miles for the usual reasons, bringing the week's total to about 65. Small potatoes for many but the most I've managed for a number of months I suspect; sore arse and aching joints notwithstanding this is very welcome.
While hardly warm it was less cold than it had been and there's now at least a tangible chunk of daylight remaining when I leave work, although it's all gone by the time I get back to the car. Made me realise that I probably leave work in the dark for 3-4 months of the year, and some part of the ride home is in the dark for even longer than this. Hopefully given another week or two I'll no longer need the head torch to see where I'm going; at least if taking the most direct route back (not that I do this very often if it can be helped).
The most notable part of the ride probably came after witnessing a fellow rider's phone fall out of their pocket in front of me on St. Aldates... they kept going seemingly unaware, I picked it up and gave chase. I thought I might have a job catching up with them but as it happens after a few hundred yards I could see the loss dawn on them as they stopped and frantically started patting down their pockets. Needless to say they were very happy to have their panic quelled and that was a nice little interaction.
The site of the morning's puncture on the tow patch was still covered in crap but thankfully I avoided any more damage; arriving back at the car really nice and relaxed; which was a good thing considering the few instances of abject stupidity encountered on the rest of the journey home
Stuck at home today, but can't say as I'm missing the ride given the large volume of water falling from the sky!
While hardly warm it was less cold than it had been and there's now at least a tangible chunk of daylight remaining when I leave work, although it's all gone by the time I get back to the car. Made me realise that I probably leave work in the dark for 3-4 months of the year, and some part of the ride home is in the dark for even longer than this. Hopefully given another week or two I'll no longer need the head torch to see where I'm going; at least if taking the most direct route back (not that I do this very often if it can be helped).
The most notable part of the ride probably came after witnessing a fellow rider's phone fall out of their pocket in front of me on St. Aldates... they kept going seemingly unaware, I picked it up and gave chase. I thought I might have a job catching up with them but as it happens after a few hundred yards I could see the loss dawn on them as they stopped and frantically started patting down their pockets. Needless to say they were very happy to have their panic quelled and that was a nice little interaction.
The site of the morning's puncture on the tow patch was still covered in crap but thankfully I avoided any more damage; arriving back at the car really nice and relaxed; which was a good thing considering the few instances of abject stupidity encountered on the rest of the journey home
Stuck at home today, but can't say as I'm missing the ride given the large volume of water falling from the sky!
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Pushed last night's ride out to about 14.5 miles for the usual reasons, bringing the week's total to about 65. Small potatoes for many but the most I've managed for a number of months I suspect; sore arse and aching joints notwithstanding this is very welcome.
While hardly warm it was less cold than it had been and there's now at least a tangible chunk of daylight remaining when I leave work, although it's all gone by the time I get back to the car. Made me realise that I probably leave work in the dark for 3-4 months of the year, and some part of the ride home is in the dark for even longer than this. Hopefully given another week or two I'll no longer need the head torch to see where I'm going; at least if taking the most direct route back (not that I do this very often if it can be helped).
The most notable part of the ride probably came after witnessing a fellow rider's phone fall out of their pocket in front of me on St. Aldates... they kept going seemingly unaware, I picked it up and gave chase. I thought I might have a job catching up with them but as it happens after a few hundred yards I could see the loss dawn on them as they stopped and frantically started patting down their pockets. Needless to say they were very happy to have their panic quelled and that was a nice little interaction.
The site of the morning's puncture on the tow patch was still covered in crap but thankfully I avoided any more damage; arriving back at the car really nice and relaxed; which was a good thing considering the few instances of abject stupidity encountered on the rest of the journey home
Stuck at home today, but can't say as I'm missing the ride given the large volume of water falling from the sky!
I am truly impressed that so many commuters ride when the temperature is in the unreasonable range. I am not a commuter (work in the home office) and ride for the pleasure of it but only when the temperature is at a civilised level of say 50+ and the sun is shining.
It is 28 this morning but should be in the 70's next week, so riding again soon.
I am truly impressed that so many commuters ride when the temperature is in the unreasonable range. I am not a commuter (work in the home office) and ride for the pleasure of it but only when the temperature is at a civilised level of say 50+ and the sun is shining.
It is 28 this morning but should be in the 70's next week, so riding again soon.
Cheers - tbh I'm very much of the same mindset as you; however it's certainly the lesser of two evils when faced with the overwhelming incentive to kill myself and everyone around me that's the reality of commuting all the way in the car
Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
Had to stop as I was dazzled by the high beams of an oncoming Mercedes this evening.
The beams only dipped when I was about ten yards away. The driver, to his credit apologised & said that the lights were automatic. I suggested that he should work out how to control them but he seemed to think that he had a complete defence to driving without consideration for others and not being in proper control of his car by blaming the automatic dipping beam setting which he hadn't bothered to learn how to work or disable, and I had no confidence that he was going to do so.
After getting home, I easily found various instructions online which would enable a driver to regain control of their high beams.
Thankfully I got the reg on camera so I will send it in and see what happens next!
The beams only dipped when I was about ten yards away. The driver, to his credit apologised & said that the lights were automatic. I suggested that he should work out how to control them but he seemed to think that he had a complete defence to driving without consideration for others and not being in proper control of his car by blaming the automatic dipping beam setting which he hadn't bothered to learn how to work or disable, and I had no confidence that he was going to do so.
After getting home, I easily found various instructions online which would enable a driver to regain control of their high beams.
Thankfully I got the reg on camera so I will send it in and see what happens next!
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
It's remarkable how Mercedes drivers are the same here as well: it's kind of comforting in a way that when so many things divide us, some connection seems to exist across the world.
Out of interest, did you find any instruction for how to operate the indicators in a Mercedes? They don't seem to manage those either.
