How was your cycle commute?

[Dogsauce]

Back on the commute today, with assistance from the train for half the journey. The hills do feel a little bit easier perhaps due to my more slender/emaciated frame, though I was on the 25kg bike with luggage (my clothes for the week) in the front, so it shouldn't have felt that much easier. Rumours of snow coming...

 

[Dogsauce]

Oh, and there was a nice red kite soaring fairly low above the dual carriageway just before work. Stuff like that will always make me smile in the morning.

 

[BigTom]

First ride into work on my new bike today (Specialised Source Disc), was very nice, 700c wheels much nicer to commute on than my old 26" hybrid. As usual nothing of note happened on my commute.

 

[weepiper]

This evening's commute home was Not Fun.



On the plus side I did score a perfectly usable free set of DT Swiss 420SL rims, a front Specialized Stout disc hub and a random unknown black rear disc hub to build into an essentially free new set of wheels (I'll have to pay trade price for a set of spokes and that's it) which I've been needing to get around to for a while.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I need new wheels. I've worn out the rear rim. No idea how I'll square it with Mrs Filter. I've got my eye on Campag Zondas.

 

[Rebelda]

Much more pleasant cycling though London without the buses!

Someone shouted either 'cute bottom' or 'big bottom' at me. I'm going to assume they like a larger bottomed-woman and take it as compliment


That's what was different!

That's what was different about yesterday! Bloody lovely, it was.

I'd put my money on cute bottom, Biddly

Nearly got swept across Old St roundabout by a tasty sidewind this evening. Then I'm pretty sure I experienced a head, tail and side wind all at the same time. I was more or less stationary, peddling like fuck going 'aaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhhh' Must have looked a right loony to anyone who didn't know what was going on at the time.

Will overshoes stop the wind from whistling through my ventilated bike shoes and freezing my toes off?

 

[Orang Utan]

My bike is still in the shop. I left it with them a month ago and they still haven't called to say it's ready.
Just as well as I haven't had the money to pay them
Better call them on Monday as I get paid on Tuesday.

 

[Biddlybee]

Will overshoes stop the wind from whistling through my ventilated bike shoes and freezing my toes off?

I was going to ask about magic socks yesterday, my toes were freezing

 

[Dogsauce]

I've chickened out today, partly as I still feel like shit from last week, but mostly because the forecast is for a 29mph headwind and heavy rain at hometime. There's times when even I throw the towel in.

 

[The Boy]

Will overshoes stop the wind from whistling through my ventilated bike shoes and freezing my toes off?

They do help ime.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Yeah, I won't cycle without two pairs of socks and at least thin neoprene overshoes at this time of year.

Edit: although that's on 30 mile+ jaunts in the countryside, I did used to wear them on my commute.

 

[Rebelda]

Yeah, I won't cycle without two pairs of socks and at least thin neoprene overshoes at this time of year.

Edit: although that's on 30 mile+ jaunts in the countryside, I did used to wear them on my commute.

I wear hiking socks, either on their own or layered up. They really make a difference. Biddlybee I'm sure I've seen "windproof" socks somewhere. They might help, but I'm not convinced there's a way to completely avoid cold toes.

Right, overshoes. A new piece of kit to research, yay

 

[ChrisFilter]

You can get wind and waterproof socks and they do help. Gore or Sealskins both do them I think.

 

[ChrisFilter]

I'd get the overshoes from Decathlon tbh. Their stuff is almost without fail as good as stuff twice as expensive elsewhere.

 

[Biddlybee]

Do they just go over shoes?

 

[Rebelda]

Do they just go over shoes?

Specifically cycling shoes for clipless pedals, but I've seen people wearing them over trainers. I've never looked into it, so that's my assumption anyway

I love a trip to Decathlon. I get a bit twitchy though - need blinkers so I don't buy everything

 

[Biddlybee]

Yeh, I've seen them, but they never look big enough to go over trainers I don't do clipless. I'll just get some thicker socks

Shout if there are some decent ones in decathlon.

 

[Dogsauce]

My cycling shoes are trainer-style ones (Mavic), the Aldi overshoes I have go over them no problem. Only problem is that the bottom of them is getting very worn after only a few months, they're not designed for walking in, yet everyone has to dismount at some point! For eight quid they do just fine.

One of the online cycling shops had quite a good deal on sealskin socks in their January sale, probably worth a look to see if that's still on. Somewhere also had Gore overshoes half-price which'll be massively better quality than what I have.

 

[Dogsauce]

It's Chain Reaction doing some good deals on Sealskinz:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clearance/socks

 

[Supine]

I caused a road traffic accident!

Is cycling through a cross roads with traffic lights and i was going straight through on the green so had right of way.

A car coming towards me was turning right. It tried to push out and make me stop, the driver definately saw me. Basically a cunts move. Anyway, i had right of way so i kept on cycling. It realised i wasn't a push over so the driver hit the breaks and the car behind it crashed into its back. I swerved around and have the driver a few choice words then continued.

I suppose i should have stopped and offered myself as witness to the second driver but i didn't think about that until after i was long gone.

Nobody was hurt and the two drivers were pulling over to exchange details.

Fucking aggressive bully driver trying to force me to stop

 

[steeeve]

I caused a road traffic accident!

Is cycling through a cross roads with traffic lights and i was going straight through on the green so had right of way.

A car coming towards me was turning right. It tried to push out and make me stop, the driver definately saw me. Basically a cunts move. Anyway, i had right of way so i kept on cycling. It realised i wasn't a push over so the driver hit the breaks and the car behind it crashed into its back. I swerved around and have the driver a few choice words then continued.

I suppose i should have stopped and offered myself as witness to the second driver but i didn't think about that until after i was long gone.

Nobody was hurt and the two drivers were pulling over to exchange details.

Fucking aggressive bully driver trying to force me to stop

The second driver was probably at fault in the eyes of the law (and insurance companies) you should always leave enough space to stop should the car in front need to stop in an emergency. The main cause of nearly all motorway pile ups!

 

[Lord Hugh]

You can get wind and waterproof socks and they do help. Gore or Sealskins both do them I think.

Aldi have also sold them at least once before, I have a set of them and Sealskins and can't tell the difference.

 

[Onket]

Left my lights on the bike today by mistake. The front one was quite expensive so called the station to ask if they'll take them off for me.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Dogsauce]

Hope you get away with it Onket. I once left my phone in the holder on the handlebars, chained up to the gate at the entrance to a car boot sale. Fortunately it was quite a middle-class boot sale and it was still there when I noticed I didn't have it an hour later, but a stupid thing to do all the same.

There does seem to be less of a culture of 'stripping' bikes up here in the north, I hear London is pretty awful for it.

The battery for my front light had a meltdown on Monday night, but it's a cheapo Chinese one and they're not known for quality. I'm hoping the ebay seller will send me a replacement. Luckily I had a spare mini-light, but had to ride a bit cautiously with it as it's nowhere near as bright.

 

[BigTom]

I caused a road traffic accident!

Is cycling through a cross roads with traffic lights and i was going straight through on the green so had right of way.

A car coming towards me was turning right. It tried to push out and make me stop, the driver definately saw me. Basically a cunts move. Anyway, i had right of way so i kept on cycling. It realised i wasn't a push over so the driver hit the breaks and the car behind it crashed into its back. I swerved around and have the driver a few choice words then continued.

I suppose i should have stopped and offered myself as witness to the second driver but i didn't think about that until after i was long gone.

Nobody was hurt and the two drivers were pulling over to exchange details.

Fucking aggressive bully driver trying to force me to stop

You didn't cause this collision. Legal fault will be with the driver behind who should leave enough distance to stop, actual fault lies between the two drivers. You had right of way so the first driver should never have tried to move out. Probably you should have stopped to leave details as a witness but you didn't cause it, you're not at fault.

 

[Lord Hugh]

Yeh, I've seen them, but they never look big enough to go over trainers I don't do clipless. I'll just get some thicker socks

Shout if there are some decent ones in decathlon.

They go over almost anything if you get the right size

 

[bunkum]

i'll admit i'm pretty lax when it comes to following the traffic rules on my bicycle (though not anti-socially so, IMO) and yeah, sometimes I deserve a telling off, but why is it ALWAYS middle-aged white men who take it upon themselves to do so?

i've taken to sticking my tongue out at them. officious gits.

 

[DownwardDog]

A middle aged white man recently expressed his displeasure at my red light cycling antics by throwing a donut at me.

 

[Orang Utan]

Bike shop finally called. £280! Yikes!

 

[bunkum]

A middle aged white man recently expressed his displeasure at my red light cycling antics by throwing a donut at me.

see for that, i'd probably say thanks