The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
My first wet and windy ride this evening. The gravel path I use for 1/4 of my route was particularly wet. Not sure the mud spots will come out of the (previously) White arms on my PH Jersey 
My bike was dirty before but it's now properly filthy. Driving tomorrow so it'll get a proper wash down and the chain lubed over the weekend. Race Blades are still pissing me off with rubbing on the front wheel but they did keep my backside & bag totally clean. The worst of the water and muck came off the leading half of the front wheel where it isn't covered.
ETA: SKS' site says the Race Blade XL is for 700x23-32 tyres. Cannondale's site says my tyres are 700x35! Might explain the rubbing then. Will mention that to the shop when they give it a free check up in a couple of weeks. It serves me right for buying a bike that didn't have any proper mounts tbh. Perhaps I'll just get dirty and wet instead.
My bike was dirty before but it's now properly filthy. Driving tomorrow so it'll get a proper wash down and the chain lubed over the weekend. Race Blades are still pissing me off with rubbing on the front wheel but they did keep my backside & bag totally clean. The worst of the water and muck came off the leading half of the front wheel where it isn't covered.ETA: SKS' site says the Race Blade XL is for 700x23-32 tyres. Cannondale's site says my tyres are 700x35! Might explain the rubbing then. Will mention that to the shop when they give it a free check up in a couple of weeks. It serves me right for buying a bike that didn't have any proper mounts tbh. Perhaps I'll just get dirty and wet instead.
Edited by m444ttb on Thursday 18th December 19:46
Now I've finished work for the year, I can say that I've cycled in every day of 2014 without missing any. In fact, I haven't missed a day since the end of Feb 2013.
There have been days where I have questioned my sanity in the face of gale force winds, driving rain and hail, but it's saved me quite a bit of money and lost me 20kg...
There have been days where I have questioned my sanity in the face of gale force winds, driving rain and hail, but it's saved me quite a bit of money and lost me 20kg...
uncinqsix said:
Now I've finished work for the year, I can say that I've cycled in every day of 2014 without missing any. In fact, I haven't missed a day since the end of Feb 2013.
There have been days where I have questioned my sanity in the face of gale force winds, driving rain and hail, but it's saved me quite a bit of money and lost me 20kg...
There have been days where I have questioned my sanity in the face of gale force winds, driving rain and hail, but it's saved me quite a bit of money and lost me 20kg...
m444ttb said:
I know we generally had a mild, snow free (at least in Swindon!)winter last year but that's still very impressive. Particualrly if you have a car there to use. I'm aiming to average 4 days out of 5 next year and it feels quite daunting right now.
We don't get the snow/ice that you get in the UK, but we do have some pretty serious winds (140 km/hr is not unusual). It's only 7.5km each way too (albeit with a big hill to climb on the way home), so quite doable on a daily basis! Well, first day back in work after the break so I figured a good start to the year would be to take the bike.
Blimey. It's cold out!
Planning on using it for my commute much more than last year (managed about 40% of my working year), but it's going to take a good deal of will power to walk past the car and get the bike out in the morning!
Blimey. It's cold out!
Planning on using it for my commute much more than last year (managed about 40% of my working year), but it's going to take a good deal of will power to walk past the car and get the bike out in the morning!
Gizmoish said:
DeuxCentCinq said:
Spent ages truing my wheels at the weekend. Got it perfect, then after braking at the end of my road...yep, rubbing again. I swear the brakes are wonky, not the wheels!
Obvious suggestion is obvious, but check your QRs are REALLY tight. 
GuinnessMK said:
My boss and his boss both followed me on Strava today. Commuting just got competitive...
There's a guy in my office who has been to Elevenerife where cycling is concerned. He asks me about my rides just so he can say he's been on one which was harder, faster, and better. He's not on Strava though. I wonder why...
Usget said:
There's a guy in my office who has been to Elevenerife where cycling is concerned. He asks me about my rides just so he can say he's been on one which was harder, faster, and better.
He's not on Strava though. I wonder why...
He sounds like the type of guy who would do Strava in a car/on a motor/electric bike anyway if he did...He's not on Strava though. I wonder why...
Just set my bike up ready for a spot of winter commuting for the first time. My thinking if I can do it in the pissing wet and dark the summer will be a pleasure.
I will be doing 16 miles each way on mostly unlit roads. I have decent lights 2 x front and back. Anyone have good advice for not dying?
I will be doing 16 miles each way on mostly unlit roads. I have decent lights 2 x front and back. Anyone have good advice for not dying?
Don't let them sell you a hybrid if you don't want one. Either get a road bike if you're only using it on road or a hardtail mountain bike and put road tyres on it, then you always have the option of putting knobbly tyres on it and hitting the trails. Hybrids are like the worst bits of both worlds (slow, upright position but not strong enough for rough terrain) with few benefits.
If you do need a compromise/do it all bike, look at CX (cyclocross) bikes. Great for commuting as they often have better brakes than road bikes and fatter tyres, but are designed with off road in mind.
If you do need a compromise/do it all bike, look at CX (cyclocross) bikes. Great for commuting as they often have better brakes than road bikes and fatter tyres, but are designed with off road in mind.
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