How was your cycle commute?
- Thread starter ChrisFilter
- Start date
Hoss
...It was the blurst of times...
Thanks BigTom han iamwithnail Yeah, it's painful but not serious, I suspect I'll be aching for a few days at least. Thanks for the recomendation. I'll see what Levenes say.
iamwithnail
Well-Known Member
Was so great this morning till I got to the roundabout at London Wall/Barbican (Museum olf London) - turning right from London Wall, stopped at the junction as there was a single minicab coming round, he screeched to a halt in the middle of the roundabout, (I was very obviously stopping, slowed right down and foot down to stop, type speeds, didn't flash or wave me our) then drove on shaking his head as though he'd done me a favour, and I shouted "IT'S A ROUNDABOUT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" then he rolled down the window and started arguing, pointed out he had right of way, and did he really expect me to pull out in front of a cab on a fast roundabout?
Wanker. Still did it in near record time.
Wanker. Still did it in near record time.
plurker
tú no tienes la culpa mi amor que el mundo sea feo
A tiny little section of closed road at South Lambeth roundabout, by Stockwell, let me on a massive diversion. I must have missed the correct diversion signs back onto the A3, cause I ended up riding up to Vauxhall, then made a snap decision to head along Millbank and Houses of Parliament and then Embankment.
Horridly trafficy. I had thought that Embankment already had a CS bit, but it was normal road, with no cycle markings at all that I noticed.
Still, nice to ride along by the river in the sunshine, even it it was unexpected. A little nippy this morning too, I almost stopped to put a second layer on!
Horridly trafficy. I had thought that Embankment already had a CS bit, but it was normal road, with no cycle markings at all that I noticed.
Still, nice to ride along by the river in the sunshine, even it it was unexpected. A little nippy this morning too, I almost stopped to put a second layer on!
Pgd
Well-Known Member
Freehub failed again this morning! Although it looks like (by the date of my previous post on the subject) it's lasted the best part of 3 years this time, so, fair enough I guess. Started failing at Oval but made it as far as Lambeth North before it failed completely. Had to walk/jog over Waterloo Bridge pushing the bike along the pavement. Disappointed that no-one took the opportunity to say "you know the trick with those things, mate, is to sit on the seat and push the pedals round" or similar ;-)
If I can get it home I'll be able to have a fiddle over the weekend (I stripped the wheel down to the axle bearings back in the summer so I know mostly what I'm doing) ... but I guess that'd involve waiting 'til after rush-hour on the train, when I have kids to put to bed etc. Damnit.
ETA: Was hoping to make it to 1500 miles for the year by the end of the week... not happening now.
I've been walk-tram-walking it this week due to being disorganised and a little bit stressy with exams and assessments and stuff. Horrible, horrible, horrible. Worse than driving in about all the one-to-a-car commuters. Me and other half both off for two weeks after Monday so i reckon I'll try and sneak out for some long rides if the weather is tolerable at any point.
Ponyutd
Greebo likes this....r.i.p.
Germany opens first stretch of bicycle ‘autobahn’
It's a start. Looks great fun
It's a start. Looks great fun
Pgd
Well-Known Member
1,500 miles for the year completed!
Visited my folks in Malvern over Christmas and took my Dad's old Raleigh Max MTB out of the shed for the last 20 miles I needed. Up to Worcester, up and down the riverbanks (with a few flooding diversions here and there), and back again via Bellevue Terrace. I had thought to try the Wyche climb, but being a bit out of shape and on an unfamiliar, heavy and too-small bike I just couldn't face it. Will have to bring my usual commuting bike down another time and give it a go.
Here's to at least 2,000 miles in 2016!
Visited my folks in Malvern over Christmas and took my Dad's old Raleigh Max MTB out of the shed for the last 20 miles I needed. Up to Worcester, up and down the riverbanks (with a few flooding diversions here and there), and back again via Bellevue Terrace. I had thought to try the Wyche climb, but being a bit out of shape and on an unfamiliar, heavy and too-small bike I just couldn't face it. Will have to bring my usual commuting bike down another time and give it a go.
Here's to at least 2,000 miles in 2016!
iamwithnail
Well-Known Member
Nice one!
Apparently I've only done 900miles this year, according to Runkeeper. I'd hazard I record about 2/3 of my commutes (most of my mileage), so probably in the region of 1200. 1500 next year is my new target!
Apparently I've only done 900miles this year, according to Runkeeper. I'd hazard I record about 2/3 of my commutes (most of my mileage), so probably in the region of 1200. 1500 next year is my new target!
braindancer
not for long
I've been aiming for 6000 miles this year, I've done 5995! I'll be popping out later to do 6 miles 
and then I'll be sitting on my arse for the rest of the year....
and then I'll be sitting on my arse for the rest of the year....
iamwithnail
Well-Known Member
Wow, that's epic!
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
I clocked out of 2016 with 4068 miles, just over the target. Took a bit of effort in the last few weeks as I've not commuted since mid-November, and was behind due to the time I lost after being knocked off in February. Back on the commute on Wednesday, feeling fearful already.
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
All these measurements in miles are just wrong. I fell 100km short of my 10,000km target which is fucking annoying.
Pgd
Well-Known Member
First cycle commute of 2016, and my first time on a Boris/Ken/TfL/[high street bank] bike. Trying out cycling from Zone 2 to the office (near Holborn tube) to save on train fares on days when I can't do a full commute. Have to say, both the bike and the system worked better than I feared they might. Took ~30mins Clapham Junc --> Holborn, which is about the same as on the train/bus given that I'd need to change trains at CLJ anyway (and sometimes have to let a couple go before I can get on). I think this is a go-er.
[Notes to myself:
-- The bikes are just too damn small, so raise the saddle as high as you dare (I also ended up perched right at the back of the seat to give my arms more reach)
-- They're heavy, unwieldy fuckers, and there's nothing to be done about it. Take it easy or you'll end up a sweaty mess with little to show for it.
-- Take off as many layers as possible and stick them in the front rack, and wear lightweight trousers.]
[Notes to myself:
-- The bikes are just too damn small, so raise the saddle as high as you dare (I also ended up perched right at the back of the seat to give my arms more reach)
-- They're heavy, unwieldy fuckers, and there's nothing to be done about it. Take it easy or you'll end up a sweaty mess with little to show for it.
-- Take off as many layers as possible and stick them in the front rack, and wear lightweight trousers.]
Virtual Blue
ready
First cycle of the year - 8.4 miles 36mins.
Christ, i need to shift some weight...too many White Russians and cheese over xmas.
Christ, i need to shift some weight...too many White Russians and cheese over xmas.
iamwithnail
Well-Known Member
These last two posts have me thinking I'm pretty slow! CLJ to Holborn is about 5 miles, which takes me 28 minutes on my commuter bike, never mind a boris bike. (Different route, but still), and on longer runs, I think my best was about 10 miles in 45, which I was pretty pleased with. 
Pgd
Well-Known Member
These last two posts have me thinking I'm pretty slow! CLJ to Holborn is about 5 miles, which takes me 28 minutes on my commuter bike, never mind a boris bike. (Different route, but still), and on longer runs, I think my best was about 10 miles in 45, which I was pretty pleased with.
10 miles in 45 is 13.3mph, which isn't bad at all... I suspect we'd be about the same out on the open road (my 2015 L2B average was ~13.5 I think). All the inner-London times show, I think, is that there are limits to how fast you can go, unless you start RLJing or extreme-filtering!
But yeah, some of the posts on here do get a bit depressing sometimes...
Virtual Blue
ready
These last two posts have me thinking I'm pretty slow! CLJ to Holborn is about 5 miles, which takes me 28 minutes on my commuter bike, never mind a boris bike. (Different route, but still), and on longer runs, I think my best was about 10 miles in 45, which I was pretty pleased with.
like Pgd said, 10 miles in 34mins isn't bad!!
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
First commute in six weeks after paternity/parental leave & Christmas. Had to take in a lot of stuff (clothes, shoes, towel, laptop, project folder, very heavy D-lock) so did the 9.2 miles on the 24kg 'butchers bike' with everything in the front basket, took about 47 minutes with a headwind. Cool here today, but I was stripping off layers once I got to the climbing bit.
I was planning to get the train for half of the journey (most of the uphill bit) but heavy traffic and a bit of dithering at home gave me no chance of making the 8am service, so rather than wait 25mins for the next train I just rode the whole lot.
Didn't feel as bad as I'd expected, but I've done a few miles already this week with quite a bit of climbing so not that out of practice.
Friday looks like a day to bring out the road bike, so I can expect to complete the journey about 20mins quicker then.
I was planning to get the train for half of the journey (most of the uphill bit) but heavy traffic and a bit of dithering at home gave me no chance of making the 8am service, so rather than wait 25mins for the next train I just rode the whole lot.
Didn't feel as bad as I'd expected, but I've done a few miles already this week with quite a bit of climbing so not that out of practice.
Friday looks like a day to bring out the road bike, so I can expect to complete the journey about 20mins quicker then.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
I have just discovered the joy of these miracles of sock technology. Amazing socks.
plurker
tú no tienes la culpa mi amor que el mundo sea feo
Yeah - I usued to use them on my motorbike loads.
For cycling I only wish that they could make them slightly thinner; their fatness means my trainers are really tight, so I resorted to putting plastic bags over my trainers, which are inside (Endura,leaky) overshoes
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
You can get thin ones and thick ones.
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
Anyone got any suggestions for securing a bike seat to a frame? I want to start cycling to work again, but we don't have a secure lock up any more, meaning the bike needs to stay in a public car park with a bike rack.......
I've seen someone use an old bike chain and and inner tube to do it before, but I can't be faffed to go round looking for an old bike chain and inner tube.
I've seen someone use an old bike chain and and inner tube to do it before, but I can't be faffed to go round looking for an old bike chain and inner tube.
I use a long chain (1metre?) and go through the back wheel, frame, around a post and attach the padlock to the back of the seat.
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
Kryptonite make a little cable designed for this, you put your D-lock or whatever you're using to lock the bike up through the loop on the other end
braindancer
not for long
Ooh can you? I've only got a really thick pair that my feet sweat hideously. Might have to try out a thin pair....
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Damp. It's grim up north. Back light ran out of charge before I got into town so I rushed for the train and just got the 8am one rather than chance the dual carriageway without it. Didn't really mind the excuse, the wind was freezing, bridge of my nose getting really cold and giving me a headache even with a buff pulled up over it. Fuck off winter. So overcast here, with the tinted office windows outside looks like perpetual dusk.
