How was your cycle commute?

[Orang Utan]

Yeah, run her the fuck over.

Today I got told by one of those roadside speed displays on my street that i was breaking the speed limit - i didn't think they'd be able to detect bicycles!

 

[plurker]

^^ there used to be one on Emmanuel road, up the side of Tooting Common, which I could set off whilst running. Got it up to 10mph once

First ride today since being out of London for 10 days. Noticed a couple of things: 1) really apparent how dirty the air is here and 2) there's hardly any traffic - are schools still out?
Looks like the Kennington r/works are moving at some pace...

 

[Winot]

Some schools still off (training day).

 

[golightly]

the ripple effect of the Oval works is profound - Walworth road is certainly much busier but there are also some crap temp lights there too by Burgess Park. I notice I'm not really getting a workout on my commute either, there is a ton more cyclist congestion and once we get into April and people rediscover their bikes this will be a pootle rather than a trot. Bollocks!!!

There's also the road works around St George's Circus, and the road closure at Kingsway to contend with plus the road works at the north end of Blackfriars Bridge. I can't seem to find a clear route anywhere at the moment. Hohum.

Bumped into han while trying out my new bike today, so not all bad.

 

[Virtual Blue]

anyone suffer from allergies due to weather?

you guys ever worn one of the these? any good?

 

[Orang Utan]

Bane (which is what I shouted at an undertaking prick the other day)

 

[plurker]

anyone suffer from allergies due to weather?

you guys ever worn one of the these? any good?

I suffer from hay-fever and diesel fumes give me mild similar symptoms. I've worn a mask like that whilst working in a spraybooth, I imagine that riding wearing it would be horrible - the speed I go I take deep breaths, and I found a much smaller mask restrictive in the past, so I just put up with it.

Ride today was ok again, nice to be in the sunhine - short-sleeves, and leaving all my waterproofs at home = no bag
I was pleased to jump to 2nd overall on a segment I've been stuck at 5th on for ages, so that was good. A result of pumping up my rear tyre this morning, no doubt. I do like caning it past be-lycraed ppl on full carbon De Rosa bikes on my beaten up old roadie

 

[iamwithnail]

Cycled home last night in just shorts and t-shirts, no waterproofs or layers, was lovely.

 

[Virtual Blue]

Cycled home last night in just shorts and t-shirts, no waterproofs or layers, was lovely.

same.
great going at speeds with very little on.

 

[iamwithnail]

This evening will be boris biking to just south of the river and then running hte rest of the way. MOAR VITAMINNS D.

 

[plurker]

^ sounds like a good plan, I've never thought of that - I'll be riding all the way home then going running. Gonna be sweaty!

 

[iamwithnail]

Mostly cause my knees won't take the sudden jolt from 2, 2.5 miles to 5.

 

[weepiper]

anyone suffer from allergies due to weather?

you guys ever worn one of the these? any good?

I used to wear a Respro mask like this

when I had a long commute 13 or 14 years ago. It was pretty hot and uncomfortable tbh but I found it slightly preferable to having a sore chest from fumes. I think it really depends what sort of riding you're doing.

 

[iamwithnail]

I've been thinking about this, as my asthma (normally kicked off by dust/mould) has been fucking killing me this week with all the pollution/saharan sand. I kind of want to try one, but that's just stupid. Perhaps my cycle/run in the evening pollution will make up my mind...

 

[plurker]

I used to wear a Respro mask like this

when I had a long commute 13 or 14 years ago. It was pretty hot and uncomfortable tbh but I found it slightly preferable to having a sore chest from fumes. I think it really depends what sort of riding you're doing.

This is what I had but discarded after seeing some link saying that the filter doesnt trap diesel particles as they're too small; plus if you have facial hair the gaps caused mean it's not achieving anything at all

 

[weepiper]

This is what I had but discarded after seeing some link saying that the filter doesnt trap diesel particles as they're too small; plus if you have facial hair the gaps caused mean it's not achieving anything at all

facial hair is not an issue here
I dunno, I did definitely find it made a difference for me but it may be that it was pollen that was irritating my chest rather than pollution.

 

[han]

Bumped into han while trying out my new bike today, so not all bad.

Gorgeous bike, golightly. I do like Kona bikes. Nice versatile cyclo cross you have.

 

[Dogsauce]

I found riding with cycling glasses and a cheapo buff copy over my mouth and nose got rid of the worst of my hayfever problems. Cycling glasses are one of those things that I can't ever believe I did without.

 

[Virtual Blue]

I used to wear a Respro mask like this

when I had a long commute 13 or 14 years ago. It was pretty hot and uncomfortable tbh but I found it slightly preferable to having a sore chest from fumes. I think it really depends what sort of riding you're doing.

i used those about 15 years ago.
unsure if they're changed but i found them to be quite uncomfortable and restricted deep breathing.

apparently, from the reviews that i read, those biologic masks are non-restrictive allowing the user to draw quick and full breathes. was wondering if it was true.

i ride my race bike in spring and summer.
so want freedom to go fast and most importantly to travel light

 

[golightly]

Gorgeous bike, golightly. I do like Kona bikes. Nice versatile cyclo cross you have.

I have panniers now, so no sweaty rucksack back for me.

 

[tommers]

Pretty much perfect day.

My hip hurts now though. Getting old.

 

[Orang Utan]

my knees seem to complain a lot.....

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

My knees also hurt today. I have been styling it out on MKS/Cristophe pedal combo which is period for my '85 Peugeot, but i think my knees prefer Time ATAC. Shame as it annoys the carbon commuters no end when they are confronted with old guy on old bike in trainers and clips.

 

[a_chap]

my knees prefer Time ATAC

I amazed more people don;t use them, Time ATAC pedals/cleats are by far and away the most knee-friendly.

it annoys the carbon commuters no end when they are confronted with old guy on old bike in trainers and clips.

Roadies also dislike being overtaken by an old bloke on a Pashley Roadster.

 

[iamwithnail]

I have too much cross section to be worried about people overtaking me. It's just gonna happen!

 

[Crispy]

My front brake cable had frayed and snapped shortly after leaving this morning. I think I can blame Brixton Cycles for not putting a proper grommet on the end of the sheath when I had new brakes fitted last year - the cable had been rubbing on the metal "socket" on the frame

 

[plurker]

Genuine question.
What difference does a pedal make on the knees? Surely it's more to do with crankset size/crankarm length, not the pedal itself?
I'm still rocking mid-1970s pedals on the Pug, so only posting for interest really!

 

[Orang Utan]

I often ride on my tiny SPD pedals with normal shoes. Perhaps that's what's doing my knees in. Probably cycle in too high a gear too.

 

[joustmaster]

Genuine question.
What difference does a pedal make on the knees? Surely it's more to do with crankset size/crankarm length, not the pedal itself?
I'm still rocking mid-1970s pedals on the Pug, so only posting for interest really!

I'm pretty sure most damage is done by riding in a gear thats too high, so having to use a lot of force to turn it.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Genuine question.
What difference does a pedal make on the knees? Surely it's more to do with crankset size/crankarm length, not the pedal itself?
I'm still rocking mid-1970s pedals on the Pug, so only posting for interest really!

Its about the lateral float ie the cigarette stubbing out with toe motion of the foot; Time pedals give tons of this whilst allowing power transfer, Shimano and other pedals less so, its slightly more binary. My knee didn't seem to agree with going back into clips with trainers - there was if anything too much float - or more than I was used to..., plus have also shifted to 172.5 crank arms from 170, it all adds up.