How was your cycle commute?

[tommers]

'a few' tommers?

Were you on the dodgems?

Felt like it. First one was somebody shooting a gap that was too small. To the point where she actually hit me. Not hard enough to come off but she knocked me on the way past.

Second was at a junction. I was trying to get across to the left of some traffic and went across the front of a van. He then drove into the back of me, deliberately or not I don't know.

And the third one was at a roundabout. Two exits, left and right. I was on the left of a car with no indicators on. I went straight on, he turned left. Bust my derailleur But luckily the bike shop (which was about 3 miles away) had a spare Suntour to replace it.

So after that I decided that I was getting a bit too risky and needed to take some time off.

 

[braindancer]

This was in the day - quite a few of the attacks that have happened this year have been in the day or early evening....

 

[Orang Utan]

This was in the day - quite a few of the attacks that have happened this year have been in the day or early evening....

i suppose i've only been on the lea path at the weekend when it's been busy

 

[han]

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/ne...scribes_ordeal_from_hospital_bed/?ref=mr&lp=6

Back to using Lea Bridge road again then ....

Such a shame - cycling across the marshes is such a great way to start and/or finish the day but the number of attacks on cyclists this year has been ridiculous. Got to the point where it's making me think it's not worth the risk.

God that's horrible.
Sounds like it's worth just avoiding Walthamstow Marshes completely. I've only cycled there at the weekend, in a group, due to having heard about attacks (which have been going on for years), and I'm certainly not going to go there alone at any time.

Poor bloke, not even having an ambulance to pick him up...

So, people go on quiet paths to avoid being crushed by lorries, only to get attacked by gangs when on these paths.....thanks London. Well, at least this is an unusual scenario. I haven't heard of this happening in other green areas of the city........ awful though.

 

[Orang Utan]

I've heard about it happening in London Fields and Victoria Park

 

[fen_boy]

Fucking hot and windy

 

[joustmaster]

Fucking hot and windy

like cycling with a load of hairdryers pointed at me

 

[The Boy]

yesterday was nice setting as i only had a short part of the journey on city centre roads.

today i have to go by some horrible city centre roads and junctions, and every fucker will probably be in a right strop cos the sun's out. will likely be grim enough to make the unpacking at the other end an attractive proposition.

 

[Winot]

Much better than the tube.

 

[fen_boy]

I have an option of a lift home or 30km cycle across the fens in searing heat. What should I do?

 

[Virtual Blue]

Not posted here for a while but here's my cycle diary for last 2 weeks.

week one
while cycling down Bedford Hill, some cunt spat at me.
Luckily it landed on my arm.
was vexed.

End of week one - cycled for 40 miles and got eye infection - damn pink eye.
Took over one week to clear up.

Beginning of the week 2
bike chain snapped in middle of journey and I was miles away from anywhere.

Yesterday morning, damn cyclist crashed into the rear of me.

It's been fucking shit the last two week.s

 

[a_chap]

My commuting's been virtually nothing for ages

In fact my recent riding has been:

• 600km ride then nothing for 2 weeks.
• 600km ride then almost nothing for 2 weeks.
• 400km ride then nothing for the last ten days.

Not sure I'd recommend it really.

 

[plurker]

I have an option of a lift home or 30km cycle across the fens in searing heat. What should I do?

I'd do the ride tbh. Awesome day for being out riding. Take plenty of water.

 

[The Boy]

My commuting's been virtually nothing for ages

In fact my recent riding has been:

• 600km ride then nothing for 2 weeks.
• 600km ride then almost nothing for 2 weeks.
• 400km ride then nothing for the last ten days.

Not sure I'd recommend it really.

still more ks than the rest of us put together.

 

[The Boy]

I'd do the ride tbh. Awesome day for being out riding. Take plenty of water.

this

 

[fen_boy]

I rode home in the end. My reticence was mainly due to the ride in in the morning as I pushed pretty hard and felt sick for two hours after and also the state of some colleagues who went out on our normal chain gang at lunchtime and got wrecked. It was fine in the end. I just went slower.

 

[tommers]

I also cycled home. It was alright until the last 5 miles or so. Not sure the headwind helped or not. Just about stopped sweating now.

 

[braindancer]

Definitely not a day for whizzing - I took it super eezee - which I do most days to be fair....

 

[Dogsauce]

I've got site work Weds-Fri so having to drive and then make up my miles elsewhere. Might go out tomorrow night if it isn't horrible, there's a slow (12-14mph) club social if I can get home in time and then back out to the start point.

Working outdoors in this heat in thick flameproof overalls isn't much fun.

 

[Dogsauce]

Tube strike today for you Londoners. I understand this means watching out for a higher than usual quantity of idiots on Boris Bikes that don't know what they're doing, though if you stay off the pavements you probably won't run into them.

 

[joustmaster]

My chain exploded, yesterday. In the middle of a 4 lane roundabout.
It had been skipping a little, and was in need of a fiddling.

Don't ignore your maintenance!

 

[Dogsauce]

I had trouble unclipping having halted abruptly at a junction this morning, nearly ended up sprawled on the floor but just wrenched free in time. I had a joke about it with the bus driver who was next to me at the next lights, I probably wasn't a very graceful sight. It was on the 'loose' side too, normally the other leg that gives me problems (last week I actually had to remove my shoe when I got to work because I couldn't break free).

My 'new' bike came with a set of Look pedals - are they any better/easier for snapping in and out of? I have standard SPDs at the moment.

 

[joustmaster]

Following my chain death, I have taken my bike apart, cleaned it all properly, and put it back together.
I feel quite proud that I didn't fuck it up

But my new chain/old cassette combo is causing a lot of skipping. I'm pretty sure it's not the indexing of the gears or anything else.
Does that sound likely?
Do I have to buy a new cassette or will it settle down after a bit?

 

[weepiper]

Following my chain death, I have taken my bike apart, cleaned it all properly, and put it back together.
I feel quite proud that I didn't fuck it up

But my new chain/old cassette combo is causing a lot of skipping. I'm pretty sure it's not the indexing of the gears or anything else.
Does that sound likely?
Do I have to buy a new cassette or will it settle down after a bit?

Yes. If your old chain was so worn it snapped you definitely need a new cassette too. And maybe a chainring or two as well.

 

[joustmaster]

Yes. If your old chain was so worn it snapped you definitely need a new cassette too. And maybe a chainring or two as well.

I will get one ordered.
The chain ring looks OK. Except one tooth that is completely missing
I'll get a new one of those too...

Thanks again for the excellent advice

 

[iamwithnail]

Spotted on my commute home: Orang Utan at peckham rye park as I was leading my boy over the road by the lane uo to the cafe. Hiya!

 

[Orang Utan]

Spotted on my commute home: Orang Utan at peckham rye park as I was leading my boy over the road by the lane uo to the cafe. Hiya!

Thought it was you! I did manage a muted hello, but i was slightly out of breath - hi!

 

[Dogsauce]

London commute today. 3.2 km, not even worth getting dressed for. Horribly humid this morning too, and not much better coming home.

 

[sim667]

Had a cab driver turn across me whilst cycling along a cycle path on the pavement (at the entrance to a garage) and I managed to stop just half a foot or so away from smacking into the side of the cab)..... Cab driver was totally oblivious, so I thought I'm not having that so pulled up next to him in the garage to tell him. My colleague and close friend got out the back to get cash from the cashpoint..... Ensue hasty retreat in which I hit my mate with my bike

 

[iamwithnail]

• Thought it was you! I did manage a muted hello, but i was slightly out of breath - hi!

I wasn't sure if it was the 'we've-just-rocked-up-to-the-same-bit-and-caught-the-eye' or not so gave my generic awkward 'alright?' I forgot the bike seat for the boy so we were 'racing', me scooting the bike and him running. He's surprisingly fast!