The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
E65Ross said:
Devil2575 said:
I've been caught out in heavy rain before and even my water proof jacket couldn't keep it out.
20 miles from home at the time and soaked to the skin.
Well it's not a waterproof jacket is it 20 miles from home at the time and soaked to the skin.
Mind you, my top wasn't anything like as wet as my socks or my boxers...
uncinquesei said:
I bought one of these. Best sixteen quid I've spent, the scenario now:
>weaving cyclist / jogger / dog walker with headphones<
Me using bell: ding ding
>no response<
Me: DING DING!
>no response<
Me (a lot closer now): HONK HONK
>defecation / heart failure / panic / leaping into bushes<
Me (stifling a laugh): thanks.
Air Zounds on Amazon
>weaving cyclist / jogger / dog walker with headphones<
Me using bell: ding ding
>no response<
Me: DING DING!
>no response<
Me (a lot closer now): HONK HONK
>defecation / heart failure / panic / leaping into bushes<
Me (stifling a laugh): thanks.
Air Zounds on Amazon
m444ttb said:
I dont think i've ever got quite as wet on the bike as i did yesterday. I was just in summer gear but with a long sleeve Under Armour baselayer underneath. So much water running down my face at one point i was struggling to see (glasses were pointless). Perhaps a cap under the helmet might have helped a little.
Yeah I was about as wet as it is possible to get by the time I got to work yesterday morning. I don't mind that, in fact it's quite good fun, but it is a bit minging putting on still-fairly-damp kit to go home again! I've always had a mtb-style peak on my helmet and that works really well at ensuring visibility in even the heaviest downpour.In stark contrast today is bone dry, I had a bit of a tailwind on the way in, and it looks like I'll have one on the way home too!
Got a KOM yesterday and was really chuffed.
Then I remembered that it's a private segment and I'm the only one competing.
However, it's the fastest time I've done this year and it was on my Brompton. Which proves that it can be at least as fast, if not faster, than my full-size folder.
Then I remembered that it's a private segment and I'm the only one competing.
However, it's the fastest time I've done this year and it was on my Brompton. Which proves that it can be at least as fast, if not faster, than my full-size folder.
Picked up a small, sharp, tooth-like stone on the way to work this morning (although I only realise as I walked out the door to come home...) 
What do the more experienced riders think? Is this a write off or would you run it for the time being? My plan is/was to run the stock tyres (Bontrager R1s) through the winter on a turbo trainer then replace them in the spring with a pair of Conti GP4000SIIs...
My heart wants to say that it'll be ok for the last 3 or 4 hundred kms I might get in before the autumn/winter sets in, plus a winters turbo work. My head says 'don't risk it', that 3.5mm/4mm tear could 'develop' quite quickly on a run leaving me stranded with a potentially damaged bike, or worse?!
I do like to treat my rides like training sessions and ride as hard as I can etc.
Another Puncture by Ben Magee, on Flickr
Another Puncture by Ben Magee, on Flickr
What do the more experienced riders think? Is this a write off or would you run it for the time being? My plan is/was to run the stock tyres (Bontrager R1s) through the winter on a turbo trainer then replace them in the spring with a pair of Conti GP4000SIIs...
My heart wants to say that it'll be ok for the last 3 or 4 hundred kms I might get in before the autumn/winter sets in, plus a winters turbo work. My head says 'don't risk it', that 3.5mm/4mm tear could 'develop' quite quickly on a run leaving me stranded with a potentially damaged bike, or worse?!
I do like to treat my rides like training sessions and ride as hard as I can etc.
Another Puncture by Ben Magee, on FlickrAnother Puncture by Ben Magee, on Flickr 
S10GTA said:
I'd ride that until it went again at least
I've decided to agree with you... Using the logic of 'Man Maths', rather than buy a new tyre for the Trek I'm actually going to be better off risking it for a biscuit and upgrading the brakes on the Dawes in order to try cyclocross as part of my winter training. Thus, I'll be moving my Continentals from the Dawes to the Trek to make way for CX tyres and in doing so, I'm practically saving me money on tyres overall!Bonus!
Almost T-boned at a mini roundabout this morning. Thought I had caught the drivers eye and he was slowing down but no... Heard the ABS kick in and thought I could feel the heat from the radiator on my leg.... I think he may have slowed down on the approach and then decided it was clear. It was at the top of a hill from my side so I wasn't exactly shooting out in front of him.
Have spent the last hour thinking about what could I have done differently. I've eventually reached the conclusion that the safest thing to do in future is to add a minute to my journey and cross the road using the traffic island instead.
Have spent the last hour thinking about what could I have done differently. I've eventually reached the conclusion that the safest thing to do in future is to add a minute to my journey and cross the road using the traffic island instead.
1ians said:
Almost T-boned at a mini roundabout this morning. Thought I had caught the drivers eye and he was slowing down but no... Heard the ABS kick in and thought I could feel the heat from the radiator on my leg.... I think he may have slowed down on the approach and then decided it was clear. It was at the top of a hill from my side so I wasn't exactly shooting out in front of him.
Have spent the last hour thinking about what could I have done differently. I've eventually reached the conclusion that the safest thing to do in future is to add a minute to my journey and cross the road using the traffic island instead.
Got hit by a van from behind leading off from the lights last Thursday (both sat at the lights for a while beforehand) - sometimes there is nothing you can do to avoid muppets who can't drive.Have spent the last hour thinking about what could I have done differently. I've eventually reached the conclusion that the safest thing to do in future is to add a minute to my journey and cross the road using the traffic island instead.
s
t ride in, dragged the Kona Dew hybrid/MTB out of the garage in preparation for winter and hoped the jumping chain would have fixed itself!!..........It hadn't, anytime I put any power or cadence into the pedals, the chain jumped!! Was a crap 10 miles in, particularly up the hills! The bike is so dirty now the dirt is ingrained in the paint!! Still cant complain 18 months (2.5k miles) of horrendous weather gravel/road commuting for £120 outlay isn't bad.
Tempted to just buy another on Ebay for £120, instead of putting a whole new drivetrain on my existing one along with other jobs, when I can see barely ridden similar bikes for 100-150£
A CX bike would be ace, but they are holding value really well at moment (obvs time of year) tempted to get another Dew then convert it to drop bar
t ride in, dragged the Kona Dew hybrid/MTB out of the garage in preparation for winter and hoped the jumping chain would have fixed itself!!..........It hadn't, anytime I put any power or cadence into the pedals, the chain jumped!! Was a crap 10 miles in, particularly up the hills! The bike is so dirty now the dirt is ingrained in the paint!! Still cant complain 18 months (2.5k miles) of horrendous weather gravel/road commuting for £120 outlay isn't bad.Tempted to just buy another on Ebay for £120, instead of putting a whole new drivetrain on my existing one along with other jobs, when I can see barely ridden similar bikes for 100-150£
A CX bike would be ace, but they are holding value really well at moment (obvs time of year) tempted to get another Dew then convert it to drop bar
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