The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
TwistingMyMelon said:
Foooking hell that was grim, full fat headwind all the way in, wind seemed far worse than the "hurricane" after effects last week, gotta be worst headwind of the year so far
Spoilt myself last week and commuted on my quickest road bike with no rucksack, was back on the mTB today, with lunch, shirt, trousers , 2 x laptops and shoes in the rucksack
Last Thursday I got a 20mph average on the way home not trying too hard on the ride in today I was grinding up to a 14mph average!!!
Do you find riding sans rucksack is a lot quicker?Spoilt myself last week and commuted on my quickest road bike with no rucksack, was back on the mTB today, with lunch, shirt, trousers , 2 x laptops and shoes in the rucksack
Last Thursday I got a 20mph average on the way home not trying too hard on the ride in today I was grinding up to a 14mph average!!!
Been a while since I've been out on the bike without it and pushing hard so would be interesting to hear if the extra drag makes a difference?
AiD1 said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Foooking hell that was grim, full fat headwind all the way in, wind seemed far worse than the "hurricane" after effects last week, gotta be worst headwind of the year so far
Spoilt myself last week and commuted on my quickest road bike with no rucksack, was back on the mTB today, with lunch, shirt, trousers , 2 x laptops and shoes in the rucksack
Last Thursday I got a 20mph average on the way home not trying too hard on the ride in today I was grinding up to a 14mph average!!!
Do you find riding sans rucksack is a lot quicker?Spoilt myself last week and commuted on my quickest road bike with no rucksack, was back on the mTB today, with lunch, shirt, trousers , 2 x laptops and shoes in the rucksack
Last Thursday I got a 20mph average on the way home not trying too hard on the ride in today I was grinding up to a 14mph average!!!
Been a while since I've been out on the bike without it and pushing hard so would be interesting to hear if the extra drag makes a difference?
On my MTB , as its upright, a rucksack doesn't bother me so much, only when it gets really heavy like today, I find it makes less difference than a road bike.
Ironically sometimes its easier when the rucksack is full as it bounces round less than a empty one!
I do use panniers sometimes, but its less hassle with a rucksack, plus Panniers made the bike less nimble on the off road sections of my commute when I use the MTB
TwistingMyMelon said:
Yes and no, on road bikes I find a rucksack disrupts my normal positions and less aero & comfortable , this only really becomes an issue on steep climbs or riding flat out to get Strava segments where seconds matter/! It just knocks my "normal" position on the bike out a bit so is a bit noticeable going fast or slow.
On my MTB , as its upright, a rucksack doesn't bother me so much, only when it gets really heavy like today, I find it makes less difference than a road bike.
Ironically sometimes its easier when the rucksack is full as it bounces round less than a empty one!
I do use panniers sometimes, but its less hassle with a rucksack, plus Panniers made the bike less nimble on the off road sections of my commute when I use the MTB
Topeak MTX seatpost rack means rucksack is a thing of the past. Although it does mean you can't get out of the saddle... although doing that with a rucksack doesn't really work either. On my MTB , as its upright, a rucksack doesn't bother me so much, only when it gets really heavy like today, I find it makes less difference than a road bike.
Ironically sometimes its easier when the rucksack is full as it bounces round less than a empty one!
I do use panniers sometimes, but its less hassle with a rucksack, plus Panniers made the bike less nimble on the off road sections of my commute when I use the MTB
AiD1 said:
Do you find riding sans rucksack is a lot quicker?
Been a while since I've been out on the bike without it and pushing hard so would be interesting to hear if the extra drag makes a difference?
Not so much the drag (I'm on a MTB so fairly upright), but I definitely find the weight slows me down.Been a while since I've been out on the bike without it and pushing hard so would be interesting to hear if the extra drag makes a difference?
I don't often commute more than one or two days a week, but if I'm organised then I take in clothes etc. the day before and take them home in the car the day after. However, I'm rarely that prepared and, at this time of the year, often just decide to bike it if the weather is looking OK, so invariably have a rucksack.
It's probably about 5-6kg all in - shoes/jeans/keys/wallet/t-shirt/shirt/socks/shorts/lock/tube/lunch - and as we all know, weight is the big thing so imagine carting an extra stone of flab extra up those inclines.
Certainly makes a difference to speeds, having to drag an extra stone about!
Rocksteadyeddie said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Yes and no, on road bikes I find a rucksack disrupts my normal positions and less aero & comfortable , this only really becomes an issue on steep climbs or riding flat out to get Strava segments where seconds matter/! It just knocks my "normal" position on the bike out a bit so is a bit noticeable going fast or slow.
On my MTB , as its upright, a rucksack doesn't bother me so much, only when it gets really heavy like today, I find it makes less difference than a road bike.
Ironically sometimes its easier when the rucksack is full as it bounces round less than a empty one!
I do use panniers sometimes, but its less hassle with a rucksack, plus Panniers made the bike less nimble on the off road sections of my commute when I use the MTB
Topeak MTX seatpost rack means rucksack is a thing of the past. Although it does mean you can't get out of the saddle... although doing that with a rucksack doesn't really work either. On my MTB , as its upright, a rucksack doesn't bother me so much, only when it gets really heavy like today, I find it makes less difference than a road bike.
Ironically sometimes its easier when the rucksack is full as it bounces round less than a empty one!
I do use panniers sometimes, but its less hassle with a rucksack, plus Panniers made the bike less nimble on the off road sections of my commute when I use the MTB
I still go with a rucksack out of convenience and old habits, plus when you swap round bikes I can just grab the bag and head off.
Usget said:
Absolutely wonderful morning for a ride, shame about the traffic.
Followed a bloke on a Cervelo S3 in Wheelers shorts all the way from Roehampton Gate to Lambeth Bridge. I thought it may have been okgo, especially as I PB'd along Millbank trying (in vain) to keep up...
Was it quite a fat bloke? Provided a good draft, yeah? Could have been him. Followed a bloke on a Cervelo S3 in Wheelers shorts all the way from Roehampton Gate to Lambeth Bridge. I thought it may have been okgo, especially as I PB'd along Millbank trying (in vain) to keep up...
Nice ride in today and yesterday. Making the most of the last light mornings and half term traffic.
Finally getting into a bit of a rhythm on the new bike, and times are getting better and better now. 3 x PBs on the ride in and predominantly still/the lightest of tail winds. Previous PBs were set with a decent slice of wind assistance
No doubt helped by the fact I actually bothered eating before leaving the house today...
Finally getting into a bit of a rhythm on the new bike, and times are getting better and better now. 3 x PBs on the ride in and predominantly still/the lightest of tail winds. Previous PBs were set with a decent slice of wind assistance
No doubt helped by the fact I actually bothered eating before leaving the house today...
First ride home for a long time last night in pitch black, quite enjoyed it, took loads more concentration though as my eyes are poor in low light, even though I know the route inside out! off road sections were best, as I could just wack the lights up to full and enjoy the night wildlife
Nice ride in this morning, but killer headwind again!
Nice ride in this morning, but killer headwind again!
Meeting in glamorous Stafford at 9 has bought me a day off.
Note the following takes place with me holding a consistent line and speed.
Last night got passed a bit close by a BMW X5 coming up to a traffic calming pedestrian shelter do dad. It was a bit dicey but they got away with it. No harm done in my book.
However the white 3 series tail gating him had pulled out behind the X5 and so didn't see the bollards until the x5 pulled back in, meaning he had to slam on the anchors. Then he accelerated past with a long blast on the horn like it was somehow my fault... Tiny penised moron
Note the following takes place with me holding a consistent line and speed.
Last night got passed a bit close by a BMW X5 coming up to a traffic calming pedestrian shelter do dad. It was a bit dicey but they got away with it. No harm done in my book.
However the white 3 series tail gating him had pulled out behind the X5 and so didn't see the bollards until the x5 pulled back in, meaning he had to slam on the anchors. Then he accelerated past with a long blast on the horn like it was somehow my fault... Tiny penised moron
Vocal Minority said:
Tiny penised moron
In a resale white BMW you say?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBi9m4nNPYQ
It must be a universal thing.
Impatient b
h in battered 206, who had just squeezed me between her scratched and scraped stbox and a line of parked cars: "What are you doing, you keep going faster, how am I supposed to overtake you?"
Me:"I was going 26mph (in a 30 limit, but very built up residential area) at the top of the hill. Of course I'm going to go faster as I go down, it's called gravity. Why were you trying to overtake me anyway?"
Her:"You're on a bike, what am I SUPPOSED to do?!"
Me:"Try waiting for five fking seconds you impatient bh."
Her:"fk you! You have to slow down to let me overtake!"
Then she squealed off on the wet road without looking, and almost hit a car coming the other way. She beeped at them as if it was their fault. I really should get a camera. Any suggestions?
h in battered 206, who had just squeezed me between her scratched and scraped stbox and a line of parked cars: "What are you doing, you keep going faster, how am I supposed to overtake you?"Me:"I was going 26mph (in a 30 limit, but very built up residential area) at the top of the hill. Of course I'm going to go faster as I go down, it's called gravity. Why were you trying to overtake me anyway?"
Her:"You're on a bike, what am I SUPPOSED to do?!"
Me:"Try waiting for five f
king seconds you impatient bh."Her:"f
k you! You have to slow down to let me overtake!"Then she squealed off on the wet road without looking, and almost hit a car coming the other way. She beeped at them as if it was their fault. I really should get a camera. Any suggestions?
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