How was your cycle commute?

[gentlegreen]

And it's just an average of 13.7mph, so not that amazing. Barely any traffic or lights to slow me down

It's taking me just under an hour at the moment to do both commutes - 9.5MPH average

 

[Orang Utan]

Why? They are a far more comfortable way to carry things than a rucksack. Once you go rack you never go back.

They don't fit on a racer - no rack!

 

[Orang Utan]

It's taking me just under an hour at the moment to do both commutes - 9.5MPH average

Aye, but I am also riding my bike for fitness and have limited time, so need to go faster

 

[DownwardDog]

They don't fit on a racer - no rack!

An Old Man Mountain Sherpa rack will.

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/RackPages/RearRacks.html

 

[gentlegreen]

Aye, but I am also riding my bike for fitness and have limited time, so need to go faster

I'm also maxed-out.
There's the odd hill though..

 

[DownwardDog]

I'm not fitting anything to my racer! It has to go on my back or not at all

That's going to be very sweaty and will eventually give you a bad back.

 

[DownwardDog]

It's taking me just under an hour at the moment to do both commutes - 9.5MPH average

Sur la plaque!

 

[girasol]

I fitted one of those metal baskets at the front of my bike and rode like that for about 16 months, but recently I started riding with a rucksack. Baskets limit maneuverability a bit. But will probably go back to using it once it gets warmer... One good think about rucksacks is that they cushion your fall, if you fall on your back that is

Tempted by pannier, but it will just add even more weight to my already weighty hybrid.

 

[Orang Utan]

I'm also maxed-out.
There's the odd hill though..

Flat all the way, apart from a small descent that took me to 33mph!

 

[Orang Utan]

That's going to be very sweaty and will eventually give you a bad back.

Well I don't see any way round it, unless I get a new bike.
I'm not removing a bike rack each time I want to take it out for a spin at the weekend

 

[DownwardDog]

Well I don't see any way round it, unless I get a new bike.
I'm not removing a bike rack each time I want to take it out for a spin at the weekend

You could get a quick release beam rack - unless you have a CF seat post.

 

[gentlegreen]

Sur la plaque!

Are you suggesting I need to push myself more ?

The 48 tooth front (x11 rear x 26") gets used once a day on the way home where I have a slight downhill - usually hit about 25MPH for a bit.

 

[Orang Utan]

You could get a quick release beam rack - unless you have a CF seat post.

I don't know what a CF seat post is.
Where does it attach to?
As far as I can tell on a racer, the only place you can attach a rack to is the seat post and therefore it wouldn't be very strong

 

[Orang Utan]

Anyway, why are we talking about putting a rack on a racer?
It's unconscionable!

 

[gentlegreen]

Anyway, why are we talking about putting a rack on a racer?
It's unconscionable!

Because what you really need for commuting is a tourer / hybrid.

 

[gentlegreen]

Not sure if they count, but back in the 80s when I started cycling, the standard cheap hack was a 10 speed with the lowest gear being 42 x 28 x 27 inches - totally bonkers - I walked one hill all that time.
I had 3 of those over the course of the first 10 years of cycling - (first was borrowed, second stolen).
The first thing I did was fit a rack and a basket.

 

[Orang Utan]

Because what you really need for commuting is a tourer / hybrid.

Perhaps I'll get a hybrid for commuting one day, but i can only afford one bike

 

[gentlegreen]

Perhaps I'll get a hybrid for commuting one day, but i can only afford one bike

Well put a rack on it - has it really got no fixing points at all ?

 

[Orang Utan]

It's a racer. Why would I put a rack on it?
I have to just pack my bag lighter somehow

 

[Frances Lengel]

What about one of those bags with a strap that goes over one shoulder and hangs at your side like a postmans bag? You won't get the inevitable sweat patch on your back with one of those like you do with a rucksack.

 

[Orang Utan]

Too small and not nice to wear on a bike.
Not bothered about sweat as I have a shower after a ride.

 

[Onket]

Perhaps I'll get a hybrid for commuting one day, but i can only afford one bike

I've got an almost road-worthy hybrid you could have for a bargain price.

 

[Orang Utan]

What is it and how much?
The commute back from work is such a contrast.
The roundabouts are much scarier and the one next to the old cinema in Woolwich scared me enough to use the crossing instead. The ride between Plumstead and Greenwich is horrendous - a rat run with no cycle lane, a dual carriageway and a huge 20 foot wall on the left and no pavement for some stretches.
Where there is a cycle lane, it has cars parked in and buses pulling in and out all the time.
No fun.
I kinda wish I had a helmet cam, so gg can have kittens on my behalf

 

[gentlegreen]

I had my first ever bad interaction with a bus on the way home.



If you think I'm a bit sad, check out how I got the reg from just the bus company code :-

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bristol first bus 46254&hl=en&client=firefox-beta&hs=5Qo&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Z0wRUceKI-qY1AWYkYCoDQ&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAA&biw=1371&bih=687

 

[ddraig]

2 bags!
one back and one front
one of these for front

 

[gentlegreen]

I could never ride any distance with a bag on my back - and I never have - all the 25 years I've been cycling.
I have a small shoulder bag for my phone, music players, Allen keys etc, but that's it.
I have a day bag, but it goes in a basket on the back.
I now have a £100 OMM rack and a £15 pair of panniers.

 

[a_chap]

The roundabouts are much scarier and the one next to the old cinema in Woolwich scared me enough to use the crossing instead.

Pussy.

One of the roundabouts on my commute is on a 70mph dual carriageway. I have to turn right, so I have to manoeuvre into the third lane frantically indicating right.

Even more fun in the dark or when it's foggy of course

Actually I suspect I might get killed doing that one day. Ho hum.

 

[tbtommyb]

Yesterday I asked a guy at the lights for directions (hadn't gone to Brixton from that direction before) and he was really helpful and showed me pretty much the whole way. Nice bloke.

And then today I showered at work for the first time and only realised I'd forgotten my towel when I got out of the shower.

 

[ddraig]

good start, nightmare end
i just knock about in stuff i've cycled in in til cooled down
then somedays i don't bother changing at all

 

[ddraig]

had to stop in a bus shelter on the way home as the rain was building and freezing!
least it wasn't the weird 2 min full on snow flurry that happened about 3 times earlier in the afternoon