The daily "I cycled to work" thread

[ode]

First day of the kids summer holidays, so the start of 6 weeks' cycling to work for me. Lovely morning for it

[lufbramatt]

Chainset decided to dump the chain as I pulled away from traffic lights this morning, I ended up flat on my back in the middle of the road, nice bloody knee and a perfect hexagonal puncture mark on my other shin from a bolt. To add insult to injury I managed to crush the bottle of water in my rucksack as I hit the deck, so the contents of my bag got soaked too. Although my phone escaped unscathed.

Gonna have some nice bruises tomoro!

[okgo]

AyBee said:

For those Londoners who usually cross Putney Bridge - are you still crossing it or taking a different route please? I've tried walking over and tried crossing further up, but I don't really like either.

Shreddies and Muesli

I am going through Wandsworth one way, then taking a left after, down through battersea village then over battersea bridge.

[WinstonWolf]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

S10GTA said:

Oddly I have noticed the bike rack where I work has only had one bike in it this week, normally it has 5 or 6. The one is mine. Is it just too hot for people to ride?

The bike racks at work have been noticably emptier the last couple of weeks. Obviously the hot, sweaty, stinking tube is a better option

It's the start of the school holidays, a lot of people are probably off

[Usget]

AyBee said:

For those Londoners who usually cross Putney Bridge - are you still crossing it or taking a different route please? I've tried walking over and tried crossing further up, but I don't really like either.

Shreddies and Muesli

Where are you going from and to?

I go from Richmond to SE1. My old route crossed Putney Bridge, up through Fulham, and along the Albert Embankment, but now I'm having to go on the South Circular to Wandsworth, over the big roundabout, through CJ all the way to Vauxhall. It's actually quicker, but more stressful.

[AyBee]

Usget said:

AyBee said:

For those Londoners who usually cross Putney Bridge - are you still crossing it or taking a different route please? I've tried walking over and tried crossing further up, but I don't really like either.

Shreddies and Muesli

Where are you going from and to?

I go from Richmond to SE1. My old route crossed Putney Bridge, up through Fulham, and along the Albert Embankment, but now I'm having to go on the South Circular to Wandsworth, over the big roundabout, through CJ all the way to Vauxhall. It's actually quicker, but more stressful.

Putney to EC4. Have tried Wandsworth, left, big roundabout, Vauxhall, but whilst it's quicker, I'm not a huge fan of the roads. Haven't tried turning left and over Battersea Bridge though so might try that.

[WinstonWolf]

If you've got the wind against you tonight good luck! Struggled to hold 12 MPH across the fens just now

[JQ]

WinstonWolf said:

If you've got the wind against you tonight good luck! Struggled to hold 12 MPH across the fens just now

Yep, it was windy heading south out of Manchester tonight.

[AC43]

Great run in this morning. Much cooler, far less humid.

Plus feeling the benefit of my recent running/cycling/swimming frenzy.

Going at it hammer and tongs to loose a few lbs before my holiday.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Any one else get caught in a torrential downpour on the way in this morning? The battle is on to get all my kit dry for this evening.

[Kell]

I did.

Now that I don't have to drop my daughter off at the Child Minder's in the morning I was planning to go from High Wycombe to Knightsbridge (taking my road bike rather than the fold-up one I have to use on the train.

Got up early to do it, and got near the station when the heavens opened. Proper Thunder and lightning and torrential rain. So I thought 'bks to this'. Was then thinking about getting off at Ruislip, but it was still tipping it down there (and apparently got flooded).

So in the end, I got off at Wembley instead. As I'd planned a 33 miler, I figured I needed to put some extra miles in so did 5 laps of Hyde Park for a respectable 22 and a bit miles before work.

[lufbramatt]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Any one else get caught in a torrential downpour on the way in this morning? The battle is on to get all my kit dry for this evening.

Got woken up by it just before 5am, thankfully it had moved west by the time I had to leave for work. Was glad I still have my mudguards on the bike though, lots of spray from the wet roads.

[Gizmoish]

It was spitting as I came in, nothing more.

Numpties in abundance though. Why DO twonks with fashionable hair insist on edging through in front of other cyclists waiting at junctions and then start off at 0.3mph?

[S10GTA]

It's cooled down now, and the bike rack is full...

[AC43]

Cycled in/ran at lunchtime/cycled back yesterday.

Swan first thing/cycled in/will cycle back today.

I have earned the right for a couple of pints later.....

[okgo]

AyBee said:

Putney to EC4. Have tried Wandsworth, left, big roundabout, Vauxhall, but whilst it's quicker, I'm not a huge fan of the roads. Haven't tried turning left and over Battersea Bridge though so might try that.

I don't like south of the river, its pretty grim, and there are loads of trucks as almost the entire length of south bank from Wandsworth to Waterloo is a building site.

That said, there are cut throughs by Wandsworth which mean you can actually avoid all of the one way system, if you go down by the river.

[Usget]

Fitted my 28s and new saddle last night.

I say "fitted" - I mean "shouted at until they fit". There is not a lot of clearance there, but clearance indeed there is!

First impressions - they take a lot of the road buzz out and make the bike feel a lot more secure, but they feel like they've added a bit of rolling resistance. But that's probably in my head. I'm almost looking forward to the next wet day so I can try them out (GP 4 Seasons) as the bike was simply terrifying on the Fairy Liquid-spec BTwin tyres which I had previously, mistakenly, fitted.

[TheLemming]

Usget said:

Fitted my 28s and new saddle last night.

I say "fitted" - I mean "shouted at until they fit". There is not a lot of clearance there, but clearance indeed there is!

First impressions - they take a lot of the road buzz out and make the bike feel a lot more secure, but they feel like they've added a bit of rolling resistance. But that's probably in my head. I'm almost looking forward to the next wet day so I can try them out (GP 4 Seasons) as the bike was simply terrifying on the Fairy Liquid-spec BTwin tyres which I had previously, mistakenly, fitted.

Have you got the pressures right, or made sure nothing is rubbing?
4seasons I found roll beautifully compared to most things.

[mr pg]

AC43 said:

Cycled in/ran at lunchtime/cycled back yesterday.

Swan first thing/cycled in/will cycle back today.

I have earned the right for a couple of pints later.....

Not as you were swanning around first thing you don't. :-)

[Usget]

TheLemming said:

4seasons I found roll beautifully compared to most things.

Yes, but going from 23mm wide to 28mm wide has to add a bit of drag, doesn't it?

The wheels spin nicely and I don't think they're rubbing on anything - I'll have another check this evening. I've got them at 90psi for now, I'll give them another 20 tomorrow and see what difference that makes.