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How was your cycle commute?

a_chap said:
It's looking highly likely that I won't be riding Barry's Bristol Ball Basher tomorrow. Which is a shame - it's part of my LEL preparation.

GG - what's the weather like now in Brizzle? Any idea what it's like out in the hilly bits (e.g. according to the route sheet that includes places like Hawkesbury Upton, West Harptree, Wookey Hole)
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Wet and chilly south of Bristol. Dunno about Hawkesbury.
 
gentlegreen said:
We seem to have escaped the worst of the weather so far - all north of here - but it's cold and predicted to get even colder - moderate north easterly wind ...
I've been trapped indoors with flu all week - not looking forward to getting back on the bike on Monday when it will be full-on winter again. :(

EDIT :-

Just peeked out my front door for the first time and it's bloody cold - amazed it isn't actually snowing.
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Maybe be gentle to yourself and don't get on your bike on Monday, and until you feel better? Just a thought:)
 
smorodina said:
Maybe be gentle to yourself and don't get on your bike on Monday, and until you feel better? Just a thought:)
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:)
Thanks, but I have no choice.
No other way to get to work. It's only 4 miles - may have to walk the one hill ...

I actually walked to the supermarket today. A bit wobbly, but I should be OK tomorrow if I manage to take it easy.
I've even eaten some solid food.

If I don't get my lungs working I'm afraid bronchitis may take over.
And I'll go nuts if I spend any more time alone.
 
My cycle commute back home tonight was on the tube...
God bless circle line that allows bikes on the trains, for it was too fucking cold to ride:D
 
So around 5:30 this evening I was riding home from work. A Fiat Doblo driver parked on the roadside decided to open his door just when I passing him by, the door went into left handle bar and I kind of flew into the middle of the road. Luckily there were no cars immediately behind me, those that were approaching that bit of the road saw me and maneuvered out of the way. I was not injured, got a bit of bruising on my hip and there is a bump that feels like a stone in my right buttock, had some skin ripped off both palms and a chunk of skin came off of one of the right hand fingers, a bit of bleeding.

The driver and his partner came out, apologised, were visibly shaken and said that they had a crying baby in the car. I asked them for their contact number and said that I'll take a picture of the license plate. This was followed by the driver's question: Oh, you are after some money? I told him that it's not a matter of anyone wanting anything, it's about if you caused any damage to my bike or me, you'll have to compensate the cost of the damage. So I took the picture and he gave me his number. I said to him I think I am all right, I put the chain back on and asked him for a wipe & a plaster. He said let us know if there is any damage, we may need your bank details.

As I proceeded further home, the front of the bike felt pretty wobbly. Something is not right with the front wheel and the stirring thing. I managed to get home, the wheel is wobbly and the tire is flatter than it was a couple of days ago. I am thinking of taking the bike to a shop but I am also thinking that maybe I pissed off/paranoid and I should check things myself. I am a total dufus when it comes to bikes. What should I be checking?
 
sorry to hear that
still in shock i expect
have you checked the wheel is straight?
i thought mine was when i got knocked off a few weeks ago but it was buckled
also that the brakes aren't jamming etc
 
ddraig said:
sorry to hear that
still in shock i expect
have you checked the wheel is straight?
i thought mine was when i got knocked off a few weeks ago but it was buckled
also that the brakes aren't jamming etc
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Thank you. Just had another look. From what I can tell, the wheel seems to be straight. The left break is really really tight, it was not like this before. The right break feels the same as it used to.
 
little_legs said:
I was not injured, got a bit of bruising on my hip and there is a bump that feels like a stone in my right buttock, had some skin ripped off both palms and a chunk of skin came off of one of the right hand fingers, a bit of bleeding.
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Sounds like an injury to me! You may feel worse tomorrow, sometimes muscular pain does not come on for 24 hours or so. If you do feel bad, take the day off to rest and recover.
 
Geri said:
Sounds like an injury to me! You may feel worse tomorrow, sometimes muscular pain does not come on for 24 hours or so. If you do feel bad, take the day off to rest and recover.
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Yep, I expect to be a bit sore tomorrow. Can't take time off though, it's the end of the fiscal year at work and it's been non-stop, and they let 2 people in my dept. to take leave this week.

I want my bike to be ok because I'd rather be in a bit of pain and freeze my butt off than take bus #12. But if the bike is not ok, I might be risking taking it on the road.
 
First day back on the bike commute and on my new bike. The thing weighs a ton and us a little rattley (which I was expecting) tho had some cheap bib tights from Sports Direct that were ridiculously small and really restricted me...Ditched them for the journey home. Felt great to be back in the saddle tho :)
 
Get a shop to take a look little_legs. It's quite possible the frame/fork/handlebar etc could have got bent in the collision and while it might not be obvious to you a good repair shop will be able to tell quite quickly what's up.
 
ddraig said:
also are the gears working and straight?
mine got knocked round a bit
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The one on the left hand side that 1, 2 and 3 on it is really tight too. I have to press on the dial harder to make it go higher.

weepiper said:
Get a shop to take a look little_legs. It's quite possible the frame/fork/handlebar etc could have got bent in the collision and while it might not be obvious to you a good repair shop will be able to tell quite quickly what's up.
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Yeah, I'll take it to a shop. Thank you. x
 
You all gotta be nuts cycling in this icy weather. I won't do it anymore, come a cropper on black ice one too many times.
 
they got hit by a door!
it has not been icy here yet, snowing earlier so may well be tomorrow and won't risk it as still recovering and wary
 
Blagsta said:
You all gotta be nuts cycling in this icy weather. I won't do it anymore, come a cropper on black ice one too many times.
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No ice in London! Just chilly winds! And what an incentive they make when you are wearing shorts! I'm rather enjoying it! It's bracing! Lots of exclamation marks!
 
I think my face evolved over the past few days, that is to say that I wasn't crying riding against the wind... :D
Or maybe it's getting warmer??
 
Whenever I get on the bike first thing in the morning, I spend the next five minutes looking like I'm bawling my eyes out due to my eyes watering. Not a good look.

Experimented with shorts yesterday. Too cold, way too cold.
 
Definitely getting warmer.
One thing this cold is good for - an incentive to cycle faster! I'm down to 8 1/2 miles in 35 minutes - 14 1/2 mpg average - whoosh!
 
I'm going to start cycling next week. Not looking forward to it, it's too flipping cold. Although it's been pretty bad walking in this weather and at least cycling is quicker. I might have to get one of those headbands to keep my ears warm though.
 
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