How was your cycle commute?

[gentlegreen]

I think it's time to take a break from this thread at least.

 

[ddraig]

I think it's time to take a break from this thread at least.

because no one is agreeing with you?

 

[girasol]

I don't like people up my arse, so slow down if they do it to me, they eventually overtake

Yep, same here. It's really unnerving and I'll actually stop if I have to. Some people are really blatant about it as well, cheeky bastards.

edit: I once got so rattled by it that I just pulled into the pavement as soon as the curb let me. Hasn't happened much this year mind. Last year was worse for some reason. Maybe it was windier?

 

[ddraig]

i've got some sympathy about being annoyed on shared paths at busy times
i found it very frustrating but eventually as it was a shared path and it was my issue i changed to the road
at the end of the day gg, can you not see what other cyclists on this thread are saying and does it not make you think that you are over reacting and causing yourself stress and is it worth it? as you are never going to 'educate' every cyclist, pedestrian and driver out there, even in bristol

 

[klang]

First ride in without gloves since last year.

yeh, skiing gloves are def too warm now, switched to a lighter pair for the first time today. feels good

 

[Orang Utan]

If you think everyone else has a problem, but not you, then it's you that's the problem.
Listen to what people are saying GG!

 

[a_chap]

I sympathise with the problems of riding on shared paths. I like to ride quite quickly (when I can!) and would be inhibited by the potentially random directions of pedestrians, dogs, etc. That would frustrate me pretty much and I'd probably resort to shouting at people also.

That's why I (almost*) never ride on cycle paths or shared paths - I stick to the road where I'm dealing with traffic going the same direction and (in theory) trained drivers.

*There's a long uphill drag with a 60mph speed limit that is part of my route at the end of some 100+ mile rides. I use the cycle path that runs alongside that stretch of road because I'm usually a bit knackered by then.

 

[DownwardDog]

e2a posted for your post before that one^

oh come on
if someone is cycling in front they are taking the wind head on
the person cycling behind is benefiting by having less wind coming at them so less effort etc
i am sure chriswill would have swapped and taken the front position for a bit to even it out or repay the favour if it was needed
get that?

It also reduces induced drag for the cyclist in front. See also NASCAR.

 

[plurker]

I draft vehicles wherever I can, and often cyclists too especially along Clapham Road / Clapham Common / Balham where it's long and straight roads. Never in the wet mind. Have no issue with ppl taking my slipstream either.

 

[Orang Utan]

You draft vehicles? What? Cars? what if they break suddenly?
Strikes me as a bit silly

 

[Crispy]

You can draft double decker buses at quite a distance.
The X68 is great for this, as it's non-stop from croydon to waterloo

 

[Orang Utan]

I'n sticking to normal riding - I want a workout not an easy ride. One of the reasons I disapprove of all this Dutch nonsense

 

[Frances Lengel]

I don't like people up my arse<snip>

Don't knock it til you've...etc etc

 

[plurker]

You draft vehicles? What? Cars? what if they break suddenly?

I watch their brake lights, if they come on I brake also. If you draft 4x4 / MPVs from 4/5 metres back you can watch the road through their windscreen

I'n sticking to normal riding - I want a workout not an easy ride.

Heh, 3 days out of 5 a week I ride home then go straight out for a run so making the ride easier is good for me! On the way into work I tend to hammer it in, the timing of my commute means that the morning traffic is slower than me anyway so no need to draft anything...

 

[stavros]

I got out very briefly this morning, doing about 6 miles, but it was very cold and lightly snowing. My legs felt a little heavy, but hopefully they, and the weather, will be up to more next weekend.

 

[a_chap]

Stupidly, I mean really stupidly cold this afternoon.

 

[lighterthief]

-13 this morning in Oslo, but the sun is up early: spring is on its way

 

[Hellsbells]

No cycling for me today because I have to get somewhere uncycle-able tonight. But last night I cycled home from Putney to Walthamstow (about 18 miles) & as I hadn't been out all day, I hadn't realised how cold it was. By the time I got home, I was practically crying I was in such pain. Took over an hour to feel human again. God i hate frozen feet. Whats happened to the weather

 

[weepiper]

I have to start commuting by bike again tomorrow and there's currently about 3" of snow on the ground, and it's still falling

 

[T & P]

This morning was the coldest I've ever experiended in Britain- certainly when the wind was hitting my face. I was in physical pain.

I hate balaclavas and any sort of face-covering garments when I'm cycling, but I might have to reconsider because this morning wasn't fun at all.

 

[Orang Utan]

Where are you? It wasn't that bad in London

 

[T & P]

Perhaps it was just a nasty local gust. I was going through Battersea Park en route to Albert Bridge when a strong wind started hitting me sideways on the face. It felt like I was being bitch-slapped by Freddy Krueger.

 

[Orang Utan]

My ears got a bit nippy and my toes went numb, but I have been much colder before. It was 'only' about zero!

 

[Winot]

Head wind was a bitch though.

 

[Fruitloop]

Blizzard. That's how mine was.

 

[T & P]

According to one weather report I saw the 'feels like' temperature was -8 in the wind. I can certainly believe that...

 

[ddraig]

still no bike for me
back in work but wasn't up for it, an hour on 2 buses compared to 15mins on bike

 

[Orang Utan]

Head wind was a bitch though.

Yes, progress was very slow this morning

 

[Frances Lengel]

Bitingly cold yesterday riding to mother's. Even though I had a hat on my ears got cold to the point where the coldness of the ears could've (but thankfully didn't) developed into a headache. And the wind was against me. I think I'm turning into a pussy in that I do seem to be becoming increasingly sensitive to the cold.

 

[Frances Lengel]

still no bike for me
back in work but wasn't up for it, an hour on 2 buses compared to 15mins on bike

A fifteen minute bike ride, that's surely walkable? Gotta be better than pissing about (and spending money) on buses. Buses are good for recreation but not much fun for commuting.