The daily "I cycled to work" thread

[MC Bodge]

JustinF said:

took me a while to realise that carbon frames suck at activating traffic lights

My frame and wheels are aluminium alloy and often don't activate the lights.

[budgie smuggler]

Damn, second day back in the saddle after a month hiatus, and I go and bin it. Over the bars and break both of my shifters, lost my new light and skin my finger

Here's the offending piece of metalwork:



It was just one of the legs sticking out of the hedge, and I didn't see it until too late

Edited by budgie smuggler on Tuesday 11th August 09:21

[loudlashadjuster]

budgie smuggler said:

Damn, second day back in the saddle after a month hiatus, and I go and bin it. Over the bars and break both of my shifters, lost my new light and skin my finger

Here's the offending piece of metalwork:



It was just one of the legs sticking out of the hedge, and I didn't see it until too late

Ouch.

[TwistingMyMelon]

ooouuuchh hope it doesn't cost too much

Blimey bit nips this morning!

Yesterday and Sunday had 100% humidity, sweated loads going in then , this morning really cool

Even took the best bike as I realised I never use the bloody thing!

Bar the later sunset, anyone feel like August has been bypassed and we are now straight into Sept!

[yellowjack]

budgie smuggler said:

Damn, second day back in the saddle after a month hiatus, and I go and bin it. Over the bars and break both of my shifters, lost my new light and skin my finger

Here's the offending piece of metalwork:



It was just one of the legs sticking out of the hedge, and I didn't see it until too late

Whilst 'ouch!' and 'sorry to here that' are appropriate here, might I enquire as to whether that is a cyclepath or not? Because if it is, a report of the crash, and a request for the Local Authority to send a team to clear the path and push back the vegetation might be useful to get it cleared and stop it happening to some other poor sap. If it's not a cyclepath, or a 'shared use facility', then, as much as it saddens me to say it, after your off and all, but it wouldn't have happened if you were riding on the carriageway (aka: the proper place for a bicycle)

[cirian75]

boring bog stock ride to work, nothing happened.

[S10GTA]

Anyone else getting bored of riding to work? 99 times this year.

[Steve vRS]

Steady, slow uneventful ride today as I'm saving my legs for tomorrow nights TT. Basically saving diesel.

No breakfast!

Steve

[PorkRind]

Brought the hairdresser mobile to work yesterday, rode home 1.40 for 26 miles, Bristol>bath>Wilts... Cycled back in this morning, jesus Christ -totally different story, felt weak, tired, powerless and to top it off my glasses broke so rode along the cycle track blind .

Anyone else use the Bath>Bris cycle track?

What I cant get over is the amount I carry on sweating after ive had a shower !!

Edited by PorkRind on Tuesday 11th August 11:23

[budgie smuggler]

yellowjack said:

Whilst 'ouch!' and 'sorry to here that' are appropriate here, might I enquire as to whether that is a cyclepath or not? Because if it is, a report of the crash, and a request for the Local Authority to send a team to clear the path and push back the vegetation might be useful to get it cleared and stop it happening to some other poor sap. If it's not a cyclepath, or a 'shared use facility', then, as much as it saddens me to say it, after your off and all, but it wouldn't have happened if you were riding on the carriageway (aka: the proper place for a bicycle)

Thanks, yes it is a shared use path running alongside the A127 DC, I will be contacting the LA later. Normally I avoid these things like the plague, but when it's that or the 127, it really is the lesser of two evils.

[TwistingMyMelon]

S10GTA said:

Anyone else getting bored of riding to work? 99 times this year.

Not as bored as I'd get of driving!

[yellowjack]

budgie smuggler said:

yellowjack said:

Whilst 'ouch!' and 'sorry to here that' are appropriate here, might I enquire as to whether that is a cyclepath or not? Because if it is, a report of the crash, and a request for the Local Authority to send a team to clear the path and push back the vegetation might be useful to get it cleared and stop it happening to some other poor sap. If it's not a cyclepath, or a 'shared use facility', then, as much as it saddens me to say it, after your off and all, but it wouldn't have happened if you were riding on the carriageway (aka: the proper place for a bicycle)

Thanks, yes it is a shared use path running alongside the A127 DC, I will be contacting the LA later. Normally I avoid these things like the plague, but when it's that or the 127, it really is the lesser of two evils.

My sympathies then. For a start,that path doesn't look suitably wide to be shared use, even without the overgrown hedge, etc. Then the lack of any maintenance for what appears to be a considerable time is hugely disappointing. Then the sign-frame. What can I say? It was almost certainly used to warn drivers of some temporary hazard or other. Therefore it should never have been placed on the shared use path in the first place. It ought to be on the carriageway, inconveniencing those who are going to be inconvenienced by that of which it warns.

Drivers want it all their own way. They want cyclists off 'their' carriageways onto cycle paths, yet they're more than happy to park in cycle lanes, and on shared use paths,and to obstruct those facilities with signs, road furniture, and all manner of crap that has no business being there. I've been abused by drivers twice recently for not riding "on the cycle path". Ironically, on both occasions, the paths were impassable at the time, one due to being overgrown from edge to edge, the other because there was a council cherry-picker doing some work on the street lighting. The fact that I avoid them like the plague anyway is neither here nor there.

Is it worth pressing the LA (whose negligent lack of maintenance contributed to/caused the accident) to pay for the replacement shifters? Plenty of drivers play that game to get pot-hole damage repaired on their cars, yet potholes can be reasonably expected on roads. Somebody either deliberately stashed that sign in a dangerous place, or was negligent when they failed to maintain or clear a work site. No need to "sue for compensation" or anything extreme, but it's certainly not unreasonable to expect the highway (for that is what it is) to be kept clear and free from obstructions by the responsible authority.

[ewenm]

PorkRind said:

Brought the hairdresser mobile to work yesterday, rode home 1.40 for 26 miles, Bristol>bath>Wilts... Cycled back in this morning, jesus Christ -totally different story, felt weak, tired, powerless and to top it off my glasses broke so rode along the cycle track blind .

Anyone else use the Bath>Bris cycle track?

What I cant get over is the amount I carry on sweating after ive had a shower !!

I'm often running on it from Temple Meads station out to Staple Hill and sometimes from Bath to Staple Hill (and then on to Filton in both cases).

[PorkRind]

ewenm said:

I'm often running on it from Temple Meads station out to Staple Hill and sometimes from Bath to Staple Hill (and then on to Filton in both cases).

Ah right, its not bad is it - a few bumpy bits but can rattle along at a decent pace ! Would be good if they had under / over passes for all the junctions though !

[ewenm]

PorkRind said:

ewenm said:

I'm often running on it from Temple Meads station out to Staple Hill and sometimes from Bath to Staple Hill (and then on to Filton in both cases).

Ah right, its not bad is it - a few bumpy bits but can rattle along at a decent pace ! Would be good if they had under / over passes for all the junctions though !

There are only a couple of road junctions aren't there? Oldland Common and Warmley. Apart from that it's straight (well, not that straight, quite a loop north) through from Bath to central Bristol.

[MC Bodge]

S10GTA said:

Anyone else getting bored of riding to work? 99 times this year.

No, I enjoy it. It is a mostly rural route(s) and I only do it 2-3 times a week, though.

[cirian75]

mine is boring as hell, 2 straight bits of road about 10 turns.....ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............

[MC Bodge]

cirian75 said:

mine is boring as hell, 2 straight bits of road about 10 turns.....ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............

Why not ride a different route?

[Vocal Minority]

S10GTA said:

Anyone else getting bored of riding to work? 99 times this year.

Yep - my current driver is 'should do' rather than 'want to'

[Rick101]

I'm sure it's been asked before but there may be new kit so I'll ask again.

Got a new job and planning on cycling. It's circa 3 miles each way, busy road or path alongside river, planning on taking the path.

Got a bike, just been serviced. Had full mudguards fitted. Bought myself new lights, a nice Cateye 700RC front.

Considering if I need a bike rack and pannier as I usually take a day bag with A4 file and more importantly a pack up.

Considering some (hivis? )outer/over wear so I don't get my clothes dirty. Have decent shoes so will change them on arrival at office.

Ta.