The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
New record on the way in (19m 41s for 9.43km in the usual awful London traffic). Side trip to South London to pick up my new (to me) MTB - Pinnacle Evo 1, cheap as chips with surprisingly good kit (SLX 9x3, Shimano hydraulics, RockShox, unexpected bonus decent SPDs). Very slow ride back to the office on great fat knobblies - ever so comfortable though. Brakes need bleeding, so it's a good thing I wasn't breaking any speed records. Then back on the commuter for the climb home. No rain, not too many drunken Halloween idiots, and a decent grind back.
I now officially have s-1 bikes. So I'll have to buy upgrades, which she won't notice. Perhaps I should ride my new roadie at least once before I start, though...
I now officially have s-1 bikes. So I'll have to buy upgrades, which she won't notice. Perhaps I should ride my new roadie at least once before I start, though...
So glad to be back on the bike for the commute. Moved house a couple of weeks ago so took some time off to 'sort stuff'. Then got a dose of man flu and decided to test the new route to work with a drive one day and the bus the next. Unfortunately they have closed a through road a mile away which has resulted in loads more traffic on my new route. Door to door it took 45 mins in the car and 1hr 10mins on the bus. My cycle today took just less than 20 mins, flying past miles of stationary traffic. Lovely!
Unfortunately the new routine has meant I forgot my work shirt, breakfast and lunch.
Unfortunately the new routine has meant I forgot my work shirt, breakfast and lunch.
It was bloody cold this morning but soon warmed up.
I've just got a road bike and just can't go faster than what I did on my MTB with slicks. The gearing ( SRAM Apex ) doesn't seem to suit me.
12.5 mile one way in 33 minutes on my MTB, best so far is 35 minutes on my road bike.
My road bike is faster there and back though.
I hate traffic so much, especially in the dark.
I've just got a road bike and just can't go faster than what I did on my MTB with slicks. The gearing ( SRAM Apex ) doesn't seem to suit me.
12.5 mile one way in 33 minutes on my MTB, best so far is 35 minutes on my road bike.
My road bike is faster there and back though.
I hate traffic so much, especially in the dark.
Certainly was fresh this morning 
but it made the ride enjoyable as the low fog, mist and sunrise set the day off nicely
However, I had my 1st near miss of the week on the way home tonight - I had front and rear lights on, was wearing a reflective and bright yellow jacket and had a luminous rucksack cover on [as in I was quite visible to both those behind and in front of me!] turning right [3rd exit] at a roundabout and White Van Man coming on to the roundabout from the 2nd exit didn't see me til very late, and nearly took me off my MTB [as in it was centimetre-close]. He then went fully round the roundabout and followed me down a turning and wound down his window when driving next to me, to what I can only assume was to apologize to me but my Primate-language-meter wasn't working so I couldn't understand a word he was saying [he did loko hot though as his face was red]. He then very courteously parked up further down the road and {i think] waved at me as I went past, again I assume in full apology-mode
Apology accepted, you acted like an ape and understood as such
Keep calm and carry on
but it made the ride enjoyable as the low fog, mist and sunrise set the day off nicely However, I had my 1st near miss of the week on the way home tonight - I had front and rear lights on, was wearing a reflective and bright yellow jacket and had a luminous rucksack cover on [as in I was quite visible to both those behind and in front of me!] turning right [3rd exit] at a roundabout and White Van Man coming on to the roundabout from the 2nd exit didn't see me til very late, and nearly took me off my MTB [as in it was centimetre-close]. He then went fully round the roundabout and followed me down a turning and wound down his window when driving next to me, to what I can only assume was to apologize to me but my Primate-language-meter wasn't working so I couldn't understand a word he was saying [he did loko hot though as his face was red]. He then very courteously parked up further down the road and {i think] waved at me as I went past, again I assume in full apology-mode
Apology accepted, you acted like an ape and understood as such
Keep calm and carry on
Ideal riding temperature thus morning from Surrey to London.
Cool enough to not get too sweaty, but not yet cold enough to require ear coverage.
Ear coverage always causes me a problem, as I've got a big head. I invariably need the largest size of helmet my LBS stocks, and there's certainly no room for a hat underneath it, so I end up stuck with a limited and invariably gay selection of thinsulate headbands to choose from : irked:
Cool enough to not get too sweaty, but not yet cold enough to require ear coverage.
Ear coverage always causes me a problem, as I've got a big head. I invariably need the largest size of helmet my LBS stocks, and there's certainly no room for a hat underneath it, so I end up stuck with a limited and invariably gay selection of thinsulate headbands to choose from : irked:
as the weather has started to get colder (-2 this morning) i have noticed my average speed for my commute has gone down - and by quite a lot which has surprised me.
over 8.5 miles i am losing about 0.5 - 0.75 mph average and on some sections where i am riding upto 4mph slower - i just can't get the higher speed.more annoyingly, the psychological 500kcal barrier is not achieved - seems to be sub 490 as opposed to over 520...
on the plus side this morning the air was crisp, frost was amazing and the low cloud over the river valley was stunning (thames at marlow from the top of winter hill if anyone knows it!)
over 8.5 miles i am losing about 0.5 - 0.75 mph average and on some sections where i am riding upto 4mph slower - i just can't get the higher speed.more annoyingly, the psychological 500kcal barrier is not achieved - seems to be sub 490 as opposed to over 520...
on the plus side this morning the air was crisp, frost was amazing and the low cloud over the river valley was stunning (thames at marlow from the top of winter hill if anyone knows it!)
I don't look too much at average speeds on my commute, as there are so many sets of lights, it's kind of meaningless. However, it makes sense that if you're not getting to optimum body temperature, you won't get the optimum power. (Kind of like a car I guess.)
I'm getting tempted to break out the leggings now though. Although the winter over-boots are keeping my toes toasty!
I'm getting tempted to break out the leggings now though. Although the winter over-boots are keeping my toes toasty!
Kermit power said:
Ideal riding temperature thus morning from Surrey to London.
Cool enough to not get too sweaty, but not yet cold enough to require ear coverage.
Ear coverage always causes me a problem, as I've got a big head. I invariably need the largest size of helmet my LBS stocks, and there's certainly no room for a hat underneath it, so I end up stuck with a limited and invariably gay selection of thinsulate headbands to choose from : irked:
Ronhill do some really thin hats for running which might be worth a look. failing that "Buffs" are quite thin too? Cool enough to not get too sweaty, but not yet cold enough to require ear coverage.
Ear coverage always causes me a problem, as I've got a big head. I invariably need the largest size of helmet my LBS stocks, and there's certainly no room for a hat underneath it, so I end up stuck with a limited and invariably gay selection of thinsulate headbands to choose from : irked:
As a member of the balding community, well vented helmets in winter are no fun at all!
i've got a cheap ski oriented base layer zip top from m&s and an altura cropton windproof jacket which is also mildly rainproof. sealskinz gloves are fine, ski gloves if it's very cold or chucking. also got a cheap halfords waterproof top that waterproof trousers for wetter days
worked fine all through last winter, so should be fine this winter too!
also a skull cap - very important!
worked fine all through last winter, so should be fine this winter too!
also a skull cap - very important!
Kermit power said:
Ideal riding temperature thus morning from Surrey to London.
Cool enough to not get too sweaty, but not yet cold enough to require ear coverage.
Ear coverage always causes me a problem, as I've got a big head. I invariably need the largest size of helmet my LBS stocks, and there's certainly no room for a hat underneath it, so I end up stuck with a limited and invariably gay selection of thinsulate headbands to choose from : irked:
Wear a buff around your neck, pull it up over your ears and tuck the back under your helmet to hold it in place?Cool enough to not get too sweaty, but not yet cold enough to require ear coverage.
Ear coverage always causes me a problem, as I've got a big head. I invariably need the largest size of helmet my LBS stocks, and there's certainly no room for a hat underneath it, so I end up stuck with a limited and invariably gay selection of thinsulate headbands to choose from : irked:
Rob_T said:
as the weather has started to get colder (-2 this morning) i have noticed my average speed for my commute has gone down - and by quite a lot which has surprised me.
over 8.5 miles i am losing about 0.5 - 0.75 mph average and on some sections where i am riding upto 4mph slower - i just can't get the higher speed.more annoyingly, the psychological 500kcal barrier is not achieved - seems to be sub 490 as opposed to over 520...
on the plus side this morning the air was crisp, frost was amazing and the low cloud over the river valley was stunning (thames at marlow from the top of winter hill if anyone knows it!)
Engines run better on cooler airover 8.5 miles i am losing about 0.5 - 0.75 mph average and on some sections where i am riding upto 4mph slower - i just can't get the higher speed.more annoyingly, the psychological 500kcal barrier is not achieved - seems to be sub 490 as opposed to over 520...
on the plus side this morning the air was crisp, frost was amazing and the low cloud over the river valley was stunning (thames at marlow from the top of winter hill if anyone knows it!)
king hell my leg hurts...I went past a chap cycling along CS7 this morning on a singlespeed with a difference this morning.
I'd guess he had a 14 tooth cog on the rear, but what made it different was that he had the same size cog on the front! He was fastest off the lights by a country mile, right up to the point where he span out at about 13mph on the flat!
He used it to play bicycle polo (and indeed had a couple of mallets sticking out of his rucksack,and as he said, there's not much call for top speed on a basketball court!
I'd guess he had a 14 tooth cog on the rear, but what made it different was that he had the same size cog on the front! He was fastest off the lights by a country mile, right up to the point where he span out at about 13mph on the flat!
He used it to play bicycle polo (and indeed had a couple of mallets sticking out of his rucksack,and as he said, there's not much call for top speed on a basketball court!
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