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How was your cycle commute?

Riding home at lunchtime to feed the dogs my route follows a cycleway through the Council offices. On the way out I was held up by a really slow driver. Usually I'd have overtaken him but for some reason decided not to and rode slowly behind him until the mini-roundabout 50 yards further along.

At the roundabout a construction lorry thundered through the roundabout without looking or slowing, had the driver been going any faster he'd have been clobbered. Then again had I have overtaken him I wouldn't be typing this now...
 
Idiot driver pulled out on me from a side road, luckily I was on the ball and managed to stop. Idiot was looking at her phone not at the traffic approaching.
 
There's a Genesis Croix de fer cross bike that's recently appeared in the rack at work, it's quite pretty. Cross bikes look like good commute machines for the terrible roads around here.

I was nearly doored on the way in, moving reasonably fast up the inside of a long line of traffic at the lights, suddenly saw the passenger door swing open as I sped past, narrowly missing me (kind of happened as I was level with the car, no time to take evasive action). There was a wide gap on the left (empty marked up parking bays), the car hadn't even pulled in or anything, totally unexpected. I've been nearly doored from the right at pretty much exactly that spot too. I don't generally travel that way these days because traffic is bad, but chose to this morning as a chunk of the centre of Leeds was shut down because of a big fire at the old Majestyk cinema.
 
That happened to me once, except I did hit the door and did a somersault, then landed on my back. I then sprang back up (adrenaline) and I was ready to hit the driver, but of course I didn't, as it's not something I'd do.

That was a long time ago, back in the 90s, I learned my lesson after that, but still, sometimes there's no space, so to this day I keep a keen eye on the doors when going through a narrow road :D

Been off bike for a week, but hoping to ride to work again on Thursday. I hurt my left hand and can't grip things properly, or put weight on it. It's on the mend. That RICE thing really does work!
 
Wet enough as I was getting ready for me to don my full waterproofs; trousers, jacket, overshoes.
Then it stopped raining about 1 mile into my ride adn I spent then remaining 8 miles in total boil-in-the-bag mode. Possibly the worst combination; warm and not that rainy.
 
The weather has been pretty kind for September; it's been nice getting back into riding in these conditions.

Aldi winter kit sale is on at the moment, bagged myself some lobster gloves and overshoes last night for when it's back to normal.
 
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Reactions: han
Still tshirt weather for me, I don't feel the cold.

I'm getting into wearing cycling clothes at work these days to save time, but need something a bit smarter. Basically need quick drying trousers that don't look like lycra leggings....
 
Did the second commute on the cross bike today and I have to say I really like it. It's not as quick as my supersix but the trade off with the confidence it inspires is well worth it.

Bring on the winter!
 
I am reading a book by an American fellow called Grant Petersen. It's called Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide To Riding Your Bike. He is, as his fellow Americans would describe, rather ornery, but I like the cut of his jib so far. Here are some bullet points of myths he wishes to shatter that he sets out in his introduction:
"The six-ounce bike helmet provides ample brain protection.
Long, hard rides are healthy and lead to a lifetime of fun.
Racers are good role models.
Carbohydrates are the best fuel.
Cycling is a great way to lose weight.
Today’s technology makes bike riding more fun and efficient. "

My phone edited out the bullet points. But I like what he is saying. Even though I already disagree with him.
 
Orang Utan said:
I am reading a book by an American fellow called Grant Petersen. It's called Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide To Riding Your Bike. He is, as his fellow Americans would describe, rather ornery, but I like the cut of his jib so far. Here are some bullet points of myths he wishes to shatter that he sets out in his introduction:
"The six-ounce bike helmet provides ample brain protection.
Long, hard rides are healthy and lead to a lifetime of fun.
Racers are good role models.
Carbohydrates are the best fuel.
Cycling is a great way to lose weight.
Today’s technology makes bike riding more fun and efficient. "

My phone edited out the bullet points. But I like what he is saying. Even though I already disagree with him.
Click to expand...
He's already pissed me off by saying this:
"Lift your front wheel over bumps and potholes. On the downstroke, just smoothly pull on the handlebar and shift your weight rearward as your front wheel hits the rough spot. A 250-pounder can ride as light as a 180-pounder this way."
He said this after saying that you can't just learn to ride a bike. That's one of the first things you ever find out as a kid when you ride a bike. WTF is he on about? He is using very technical language to describe something you just know in your bones. Other daft stuff he advises is to pull up your pedal if you are leaning into a turn. You find that out soon enough!
 
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Though he does redeem himself by saying this:
"No ride is too short. Carbs aside, is a small spoonful of your favorite ice cream too little to bother with? Is a two-minute massage not worth the trouble? Pedaling a bike is the same way. It’s pure fun, no matter how short it is. Five minutes of riding after a day of sitting or standing is a great way to unwind."
FUCK YEAH!
 
han said:
Still tshirt weather for me, I don't feel the cold.

I'm getting into wearing cycling clothes at work these days to save time, but need something a bit smarter. Basically need quick drying trousers that don't look like lycra leggings....
Click to expand...
No idea about quick drying but m&s and Ted Baker both do ranges that are specifically aimed at cyclists, and I'm sure there's a third high street maybe that does too, h&m?
Worth looking at for trousers to cycle in, though m&s support Israel so best avoided if possible.
 
DownwardDog said:
He's definitely right about this. Very few leisure cyclists, particularly ones who start specifically to lose weight, can regularly push themselves into the red.
Click to expand...
Cycling as a form of exercise is great though isn't it? If nothing else it's low impact and the bike takes your weight so much like swimming it's good if you're overweight.

Issue is getting people to do enough/hard enough to lose weight which would be true with any form of exercise no?

OU has he said anything about why he says this yet?
 
DownwardDog said:
He's definitely right about this. Very few leisure cyclists, particularly ones who start specifically to lose weight, can regularly push themselves into the red.
Click to expand...
That was the main thing I disagree with. It's a great way to keep fit. Haven't got to that bit yet though so don't know why he is saying it. BigTom
 
People that tried to kill/maim me this morning:
  • bloke in the black bmw who didn't so much jump the lights on the A4 as stop, change his mind, drive around traffic coming across his path and miss me by inches
  • workman on the quad bike ATV thing by the steam museum driving the wrong way up the road in between stationary traffic and the pavement.
  • Ignorant phone staring twat who pulled out right into me by kew bridge, forcing me in front of a van who had to slam on the brakes
I suppose, if nothing else, a commute like that means you arrive at work wide awake.
 
hiccup said:
People that tried to kill/maim me this morning:
  • bloke in the black bmw who didn't so much jump the lights on the A4 as stop, change his mind, drive around traffic coming across his path and miss me by inches
  • workman on the quad bike ATV thing by the steam museum driving the wrong way up the road in between stationary traffic and the pavement.
  • Ignorant phone staring twat who pulled out right into me by kew bridge, forcing me in front of a van who had to slam on the brakes
I suppose, if nothing else, a commute like that means you arrive at work wide awake.
Click to expand...

That sounded eventful.
Have you got a sports cam?

I use a cheapo Chinese GoPro non brand since having a near crash experience...
Documenting all the twats that annoy me.
 
Chilly on the fingers this morning, I can sense Autumn is here. A bright low sun is also a bit of a hazard, my commute is pretty much due west for 8.5 miles, affects my ability to see clearly ahead and also my own visibility to people coming up from behind, so I have to ride cautiously with an awareness of this, and stay wide so I'm more visible silhouetted against the sun.

There was a ride I did last week where I had three serious near misses on a short three mile run into town, the sort you normally get about once a week. I'd normally categorise a serious near miss as one I'd feel compelled to grumble about to my lodger later, we'd often share stories of near death every few days. I'm also getting tempted by the idea of a camera, although the police up here are really shit about doing anything for cyclists.
 
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