How was your cycle commute?

[gentlegreen]

First proper maintenance session for weeks and I'd somehow let the front brake inserts wear down to the metal. I may have to get all nerdy and keep a clipboard mileage/service diary.
Only slight damage - and in any case the front wheel bearing is dead rough so I suspect I will be having a new wheel built at some point - probably not on an XT hub...
Really need to get a new front fork / disc brake sorted out this year.

Transmission has been feeling rough recently, and my recently acquired gauge says the six month old chain is shagged- hopefully I have a month or two before I need to fit a new chain / cassette combo - and probably at least one new chain-ring.

 

[a_chap]

Having been on my hols this week I'd left the commuter at one bike shop and the recumbent at another for a bit of professional TLC.

Re: the commuter. It's very odd having brakes that work - you so get used to riding without any.

Re: the recumbent. Mrs Chap dropped me off at the bike shop so I rode the 8 miles home without my usual (heavy) rack bag and tools, without my usual 3.75 litres of drinks and minus the 10Kg I've lost so far this year. Damn it was easy going uphill.

 

[stavros]

Fecking brilliant this morning. I delayed going out because I thought it might chuck down, but it pretty much stayed away. I was mostly on very busy roads, including dual carriageways, but I don't think a single driver was a cunt to me at all. I also seemed to pace myself very well too. The only drawback was a half mile tail-back approaching one roundabout, but very politely I didn't weave in and out of the traffic, which I sometimes do, and got there eventually.

 

[Gromit]

Finally started my commute by bike to my new job.
8.5 miles, 37 minutes on the way in, but that's on empty streets.
Too many huge roundabout for comfort, but a good morning workout, esp if I strive to get it down to 30 minutes.
I need more lights and a luminous rucksack cover.
Don't have enough room in my bag for all my stuff though and can't really get a bigger one. Panniers are out of the question too.
Because of this I forgot my shoes and am walking about a high school in pinstripes and clippy cloppy cycling shoes.
I also have nowhere to hang my wet gear, besides behind my desk and I have to get the caretaker every time I want a shower. Which is shit - changesble from hot to cold and the presssure varies enormously. and there is no hook to hang my suit on and no curtain to prevent my clothes being sprayed.
Still, feels good to begin a proper daily workout again.

 

[Onket]

Eh?

 

[Orang Utan]

Cross thread beefs are frowned upon here. What is your problem? Why are you suddenly interested in my bike commute? Go away little boy

 

[smorodina]

Frozen handses...
Didn't expect it to be this cold when I was leaving, and not really looking forward to the cycle back... hmmm..
I'm thinking double-glovving...

 

[girasol]

yeah, I have been wearing thick wind-proof gloves all winter, and when it's extra cold I have a thinner glove that goes inside. Seems to do the trick. My worse problem are my feet, they don't feel cold while I'm cycling, but afterwards my toes sometimes go numb.

Having said that I'm working from home today

 

[ddraig]

cold wind but not too cold overall this morn!
and half term yay

 

[smorodina]

wind-proof gloves

what are yours? i've pearl izumi, and i think i need to upgrade

but afterwards my toes sometimes go numb.

i thought it's normal

 

[gentlegreen]

 

[girasol]

what are yours? i've pearl izumi, and i think i need to upgrade
i thought it's normal

Them
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/Uni...D=CGOR0132KK&gclid=CMvMr4KRrrUCFchc3godMCoAqA

 

[smorodina]

girasol, nice ones!

 

[Onket]

Mine were less than half that price and are made by m-wave according to the label.

 

[smorodina]

Onket, you won

 

[girasol]

Mine were less than half that price and are made by m-wave according to the label.

I got mine on sale a while back, they cost me about £15 (gloating isn't very nice though is it?)

edit, actually if we are going to gloat, I got really lucky, this is what I got on the sale (from my orders at amazon)

Gloating can be fun

...why am I so competitive?



Actually, looking into the order, the gloves were £12 the jacket an amazing £33 (that usually costs around £100) and £3.97 was P&P... Bastards didn't let me have free delivery!

 

[smorodina]

Gloating can be fun

if the aim of gloating is raise jealousy in others (which I believe it is), you achieved it
*leaves the building in shame*
the amount of money I spend on cycling is seriously bad...
can't even bring myself to talk about it.....

 

[Onket]

Wasn't a gloat, it was a helpuful suggestion so that smorodina could make a more informed decision, possibly following a google search.

So there.

 

[pissflaps]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21359230

 

[girasol]

Wasn't a gloat, it was a helpuful suggestion so that smorodina could make a more informed decision, possibly following a google search.

So there.

The things we most hate in others is what we most hate in ourselves I well and truly gloated there

Keep an eye out for bargains is my advice, I got lucky when I was buying my gear - but Amazon and others have their end of line sales regularly, where you can pick up some great deals for items that are going to be replaced by the next, more expensive, model...

Note the time I bought them, 2nd of March 2011, I reckon end of Winter is a good time to go out looking for those, if you can last that long!

 

[Onket]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21359230

I once got shouted at for going slightly faster than walking pace by a dog walker who was letting their dog run free. Wasn't in Wales, though.

 

[Onket]

The things we most hate in others is what we most hate in ourselves I well and truly gloated there

Keep an eye out for bargains is my advice, I got lucky when I was buying my gear - but Amazon and others always have end of line sales, where you can pick up some great deals for items that are going to be replaced by the next model...

I genuinly wasn't gloating. Yours are probably twice as good as mine or something.

Anyway, where the fuck is gentlegreen ?!

 

[pissflaps]

Cars slaughter hundreds of people annually, almost entirely as a result of driver error. Where are the outraged calls for better driver training? Completely one-sided report from the bbc as well.

 

[girasol]

I genuinly wasn't gloating. Yours are probably twice as good as mine or something.

Anyway, where the fuck is gentlegreen ?!

Yeah, like I said, the thing we hate the most in others is what we hate the most in ourselves You were trying to be helpful and I assumed you were showing off. I'm a bad, me!

 

[Utopia]

I suspect I'm about to report a taxi for doing what the bus did a couple of days ago, but the idiot driver that followed was even worse.
I'm not sure about the third car that came the closest to hitting me - my road positioning was probably a bit off for such a narrow road....



Two minutes, half a mile .... it had all started so well - getting all the way home in daylight.

I know you're entitled to do so but why do you position your bike so close to the middle of your lane?, I(I do 19 miles a day total to & from work & 30+ mile recreational cyclist) always keep as left as I can(even bunny hopping drains if needs be!) allowing for badly postioned/aggressive drivers.

 

[pissflaps]

it's the choice between being ignored or being annoying...

annoying people get seen.

 

[ddraig]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21359230

oh for fucks sake
i've been threatened a few times and even kicked in the back as i went past one weirdo bloke on that path, some of it is unlit and people walk down there in dark clothing as there is a car park off the path.
i used to be lit up and proper hi vis as well as a bell and it was very difficult and frustrating to get people walking 3 or 5 abreast move over so you could go past after slowing down.

it is a shared path and can be very busy at commute times and weekends.
thought there was a council inquiry that suggested a code of conduct for all, including dog walkers being more responsible.
some people do hammer it down there tho! can't be widened in most places so not sure of the solution.
glad i don't have to use it daily now!

 

[gentlegreen]

I know you're entitled to do so but why do you position your bike so close to the middle of your lane?, I(I do 19 miles a day total to & from work & 30+ mile recreational cyclist) always keep as left as I can(even bunny hopping drains if needs be!) allowing for badly postioned/aggressive drivers.

This is how it is taught by all the main training organisations - including the IAM.
At 15MPH I'm not even classed as a "slow moving vehicle".
Do you really believe I would have been given more clearance by dangerous drivers like these if I'd hugged the gutter ?
It's sad that "mere cyclists" have to herd petrolheads, but perhaps we're the only ones who care.

 

[gentlegreen]

.

 

[joustmaster]

I know you're entitled to do so but why do you position your bike so close to the middle of your lane?, I(I do 19 miles a day total to & from work & 30+ mile recreational cyclist) always keep as left as I can(even bunny hopping drains if needs be!) allowing for badly postioned/aggressive drivers.

I keep fairly far to the right. Not as far as GG though.

The idea is that a car has to either slow down, or move out, to pass you - they have to take note of you and deal with you as a vehicle.. If you stay in the gutter, they don't have to. They can keep the same direction and speed, and pass by you very close, as if you aren't there.

It also gives you the benefit of being away from pedestrians and parked cars.