The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
Vocal Minority said:
2 x 35 mile commutes this week, with another tomorrow.
Friday will depend on time and how I am feeling - will have 200 miles under my belt for the week (as in last 7 days, not since Monday) so may decide that I can't be bothered with wind and rain.
2-3 50k+ Round-trip commutes per week for me, throwing in various sprints, interval sessions and recovery rides. Mostly on my slow, fat-tyred, full panniered cross bike which adds resistance training.Friday will depend on time and how I am feeling - will have 200 miles under my belt for the week (as in last 7 days, not since Monday) so may decide that I can't be bothered with wind and rain.
Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 11th March 19:16
The Fiesta is in the garage with incontinence issues (clutch slave cylinder) so I've been riding to work again this week. 1st time since I got a car a few years ago. How on earth did I used to do 60 miles minimum a week? I think I'm a bit cuddlier now and my behind is not broken into the saddle. Ow.
MC Bodge said:
2-3 50k+ Round-trip commutes per week for me, throwing in various sprints, interval sessions and recovery rides. Mostly on my slow, fat-tyred, full panniered cross bike which adds resistance training.
Show off Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 11th March 19:16
I only put in the 200 mile figure out of surprise, it is outstanding for my tubby self as my usual figure is 80-90 or so.
Really top conditions this morning for getting a grip on where you are form wise (for someone who only ever rides solo and doesn't do anything scientific like heart rates or power) - not warm but not cold, perfectly still etc.
Finally starting to get near a bunch of PR's on strava that I set last October with a monstrous tailwind. So I think I am broadly 'up' after winter.
Edited by Vocal Minority on Thursday 12th March 09:24
CoinSl0t said:
Same here pretty much, rode at least 4 days a week around 12 miles per day, didn't stop in the cold weather.
Best winter investments, a balaclava and leg warmers
Also had a full body scan and I've put on 4kg's of muscle onto my legs since I started cycling last year
Christ, if anything I have probably lost muscle mass on my legs since I have started cyclingBest winter investments, a balaclava and leg warmers
Also had a full body scan and I've put on 4kg's of muscle onto my legs since I started cycling last year
Vocal Minority said:
Show off
I only put in the 200 mile figure out of surprise, it is outstanding for my tubby self as my usual figure is 80-90 or so.
Really top conditions this morning for getting a grip on where you are form wise (for someone who only ever rides solo and doesn't do anything scientific like heart rates or power) - not warm but not cold, perfectly still etc.
Finally starting to get near a bunch of PR's on strava that I set last October with a monstrous tailwind. So I think I am broadly 'up' after winter.
Good effort. It is satisfying to cycle to work and to see an improvement. I've only begun being more structured in my rides in the past 6 months or so. I only put in the 200 mile figure out of surprise, it is outstanding for my tubby self as my usual figure is 80-90 or so.
Really top conditions this morning for getting a grip on where you are form wise (for someone who only ever rides solo and doesn't do anything scientific like heart rates or power) - not warm but not cold, perfectly still etc.
Finally starting to get near a bunch of PR's on strava that I set last October with a monstrous tailwind. So I think I am broadly 'up' after winter.
Edited by Vocal Minority on Thursday 12th March 09:24
I was genuinely surprised by how much quicker my road bike was on the commute when I used it this week.
I have to admit I'm not cycling to work at the moment. It's that time of the year where I ride into the sunrise and sunset. Superb views and a blissful journeys until it's not dark enough for drivers to have full lights on but too dark to drive without and I'm a sitting duck.
As usual I'll have all my lights on, high-viz clothing, hi-viz bag, hi-viz helmet and my mask but will be completely invisible to drivers. Even those who consider the operation of their vehicle more than ninth on their list of things to do.
Diving in is just as bad. Some have no lights at all, some have main beams up but it isn't dark enough for them to notice and other with have the classic side lights and front fog lights.
I have also noticed more and more blue LED sidelights, poorly fitted HID's in pre-millennium cars and several people not wearing seatbelts.
If you're on your bikes for the next few days and commute the same sort of times as me you are braver than I. Take care out there.
As usual I'll have all my lights on, high-viz clothing, hi-viz bag, hi-viz helmet and my mask but will be completely invisible to drivers. Even those who consider the operation of their vehicle more than ninth on their list of things to do.
Diving in is just as bad. Some have no lights at all, some have main beams up but it isn't dark enough for them to notice and other with have the classic side lights and front fog lights.
I have also noticed more and more blue LED sidelights, poorly fitted HID's in pre-millennium cars and several people not wearing seatbelts.
If you're on your bikes for the next few days and commute the same sort of times as me you are braver than I. Take care out there.
I'd rather cycle in dark lanes than sunrise/sunset. I am leaving the house about 5.15am and using unlit lanes. I have two bike lights front and a MTB head lamp. Two on the rear all high viz'd up. Oncoming cars assume you are a vehicle if they see lights coming around the corner and you can hear them coming from a mile off. I feel safer in lanes in the early hours than any other time. Coming home you have to be much more on your guard.
Only doing 13k each way though.
Only doing 13k each way though.
Silvs said:
I'd rather cycle in dark lanes than sunrise/sunset. I am leaving the house about 5.15am and using unlit lanes. I have two bike lights front and a MTB head lamp. Two on the rear all high viz'd up. Oncoming cars assume you are a vehicle if they see lights coming around the corner and you can hear them coming from a mile off. I feel safer in lanes in the early hours than any other time. Coming home you have to be much more on your guard.
Only doing 13k each way though.
I used to ride a lot at night in the wilds of rural Essex/Suffolk, and I always felt safer when it was properly dark than I did riding in the daytime or at dawn/dusk. The utter blackness of the countryside at night makes the bike lights stand out so much more, and because there's no distracting street lighting, or those stupid security lights that point in drivers eyes from private houses, you stand a far better chance of catching the eye of drivers. Also, drivers are more self-aware in darkness, and seem less likely to text/tweet/eat/drink/read when out at night as inattention can leave you upside down in a field with no-one to help for hours, and the possibility of misjudging a bend or hitting an errant deer means most drivers will adjust their 'normal' speed down a few clicks too. The big bonus of riding in complete darkness is that it feels so much faster, too, even if your average speed is actually down on your daytime pace Only doing 13k each way though.
Steve vRS said:
Wetter than an otters pocket.
It was certainly damp out my way this morning and a head wind just to make it properly unpleasant.Worst but was a steep descent on my route on a narrow single back road with a blind bend a the bottom. At it's steepest it's 20% and it gets quite slippery when wet...
yellowjack said:
Silvs said:
I'd rather cycle in dark lanes than sunrise/sunset. I am leaving the house about 5.15am and using unlit lanes. I have two bike lights front and a MTB head lamp. Two on the rear all high viz'd up. Oncoming cars assume you are a vehicle if they see lights coming around the corner and you can hear them coming from a mile off. I feel safer in lanes in the early hours than any other time. Coming home you have to be much more on your guard.
Only doing 13k each way though.
I used to ride a lot at night in the wilds of rural Essex/Suffolk, and I always felt safer when it was properly dark than I did riding in the daytime or at dawn/dusk. The utter blackness of the countryside at night makes the bike lights stand out so much more, and because there's no distracting street lighting, or those stupid security lights that point in drivers eyes from private houses, you stand a far better chance of catching the eye of drivers. Also, drivers are more self-aware in darkness, and seem less likely to text/tweet/eat/drink/read when out at night as inattention can leave you upside down in a field with no-one to help for hours, and the possibility of misjudging a bend or hitting an errant deer means most drivers will adjust their 'normal' speed down a few clicks too. The big bonus of riding in complete darkness is that it feels so much faster, too, even if your average speed is actually down on your daytime pace Only doing 13k each way though.
loudlashadjuster said:
Ducked it this morning on account of the forecasted rain. When I woke up and realised it was dry it was too late for me to cycle.
Feeling grumpy now as it's lovely out there
I know how you feel. A few days recently I've woken to see a hard frost and decided against cycling, only for it to have melted by the time I leave in the car...Feeling grumpy now as it's lovely out there
Not cycling makes me very grumpy!
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