The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
E65Ross said:
Kermit power said:
Thanks to having to sack our useless childminder yesterday, I couldn't commute into the office today, as I've got to pick the kids up from school, so I decided to go for a blat on the mountain bike before starting work as a circular commute.
Epsom & Ashtead Commons are, to say the least, rather muddy. There was one mile in the middle where I averaged about 4.5mph with an average heart rate of around 155 bpm!
I was so chuffed to make it through without putting a foot down. Best "commute" in ages! 
Epsom & Ashtead Commons are, to say the least, rather muddy. There was one mile in the middle where I averaged about 4.5mph with an average heart rate of around 155 bpm!
I was so chuffed to make it through without putting a foot down. Best "commute" in ages! those strong headwinds can be utterly soul destroying! I remember riding into work once and my average speed was around 12mph, whereas on a day without much wind it'd be around 17mph (20 miles). Character building....or something like that!
WinstonWolf said:
E65Ross said:
Kermit power said:
Thanks to having to sack our useless childminder yesterday, I couldn't commute into the office today, as I've got to pick the kids up from school, so I decided to go for a blat on the mountain bike before starting work as a circular commute.
Epsom & Ashtead Commons are, to say the least, rather muddy. There was one mile in the middle where I averaged about 4.5mph with an average heart rate of around 155 bpm! I was so chuffed to make it through without putting a foot down. Best "commute" in ages!
Epsom & Ashtead Commons are, to say the least, rather muddy. There was one mile in the middle where I averaged about 4.5mph with an average heart rate of around 155 bpm!
I was so chuffed to make it through without putting a foot down. Best "commute" in ages! those strong headwinds can be utterly soul destroying! I remember riding into work once and my average speed was around 12mph, whereas on a day without much wind it'd be around 17mph (20 miles). Character building....or something like that!
There aren't windmills everywhere because they're pretty.
E65Ross said:
Kermit power said:
Thanks to having to sack our useless childminder yesterday, I couldn't commute into the office today, as I've got to pick the kids up from school, so I decided to go for a blat on the mountain bike before starting work as a circular commute.
Epsom & Ashtead Commons are, to say the least, rather muddy. There was one mile in the middle where I averaged about 4.5mph with an average heart rate of around 155 bpm! I was so chuffed to make it through without putting a foot down. Best "commute" in ages!
Epsom & Ashtead Commons are, to say the least, rather muddy. There was one mile in the middle where I averaged about 4.5mph with an average heart rate of around 155 bpm!
I was so chuffed to make it through without putting a foot down. Best "commute" in ages! those strong headwinds can be utterly soul destroying! I remember riding into work once and my average speed was around 12mph, whereas on a day without much wind it'd be around 17mph (20 miles). Character building....or something like that!
Hopefully rejoining this thread next week as I've found somewhere convenient 10 miles from work to park and cycle the rest of the way.
It'll be down a 50mph road in the dark, though. I did a recce a few nights back and saw a few cyclists, so people obviously do use it for the same purpose I intend to, but to be on the safe side I'd like to get some better lights. I currently have a pair of Lezyne Micro Drive which are awesome "be seen" lights, but what would you guys recommend as a good bright "see my way" front light - ideally USB rechargable? Are the fat 600 lumen Lezyne ones any good?
It'll be down a 50mph road in the dark, though. I did a recce a few nights back and saw a few cyclists, so people obviously do use it for the same purpose I intend to, but to be on the safe side I'd like to get some better lights. I currently have a pair of Lezyne Micro Drive which are awesome "be seen" lights, but what would you guys recommend as a good bright "see my way" front light - ideally USB rechargable? Are the fat 600 lumen Lezyne ones any good?
Usget said:
Hopefully rejoining this thread next week as I've found somewhere convenient 10 miles from work to park and cycle the rest of the way.
It'll be down a 50mph road in the dark, though. I did a recce a few nights back and saw a few cyclists, so people obviously do use it for the same purpose I intend to, but to be on the safe side I'd like to get some better lights. I currently have a pair of Lezyne Micro Drive which are awesome "be seen" lights, but what would you guys recommend as a good bright "see my way" front light - ideally USB rechargable? Are the fat 600 lumen Lezyne ones any good?
I use Moon lights, front and rear both rechargeable through USB and a good price. I got them for the same reason, unlit fast roads. etc. It'll be down a 50mph road in the dark, though. I did a recce a few nights back and saw a few cyclists, so people obviously do use it for the same purpose I intend to, but to be on the safe side I'd like to get some better lights. I currently have a pair of Lezyne Micro Drive which are awesome "be seen" lights, but what would you guys recommend as a good bright "see my way" front light - ideally USB rechargable? Are the fat 600 lumen Lezyne ones any good?
Front
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/accessories/light...
Rear
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/moon/lx70-rear...
I did a century last night, starting a about 2pm.
I use a Moon Comet (or the Aldi/Lidl version thereof) front and rear, blinking on the lowest setting. Lasted me 6+ hours, and USB rechargeable.
Main front light is a Bontrager Ion 700... http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/access...
...up to 700 lumens (claimed) and at that setting you get about 3 hours out of it. Last night, I toggled between bright (level 1) and less bright (level 3) and it lasted me until the end of my ride, so about 4.5 to 5 hours. It was blinking away (the LED in the switch) to warn me that it was on it's last legs, and had dimmed to 'limp home' mode by the very end, but it was good enough to keep me on track on completely unlit dark rural roads.
I also add a 'Smart ½ Watt'... http://www.highonbikes.com/accessories-spares/ligh... ...rear light, on solid, because judging the distance of a blinking red light is, according to some, quite difficult. Spare (AAA) batteries for this last light in your pocket/rucksack will mean you'll never be left in complete darkness should you neglect to charge your USB lights
I use a Moon Comet (or the Aldi/Lidl version thereof) front and rear, blinking on the lowest setting. Lasted me 6+ hours, and USB rechargeable.
Main front light is a Bontrager Ion 700... http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/access...
...up to 700 lumens (claimed) and at that setting you get about 3 hours out of it. Last night, I toggled between bright (level 1) and less bright (level 3) and it lasted me until the end of my ride, so about 4.5 to 5 hours. It was blinking away (the LED in the switch) to warn me that it was on it's last legs, and had dimmed to 'limp home' mode by the very end, but it was good enough to keep me on track on completely unlit dark rural roads.
I also add a 'Smart ½ Watt'... http://www.highonbikes.com/accessories-spares/ligh... ...rear light, on solid, because judging the distance of a blinking red light is, according to some, quite difficult. Spare (AAA) batteries for this last light in your pocket/rucksack will mean you'll never be left in complete darkness should you neglect to charge your USB lights
Cycled in for the first time ages yesterday - came in at lunchtime and it was like a spring day.
Had to absolutely panel it back (OH was having car trouble) and thought I was going to pass out towards the end.
Mismatch between what the brain thinks is a sustainable pace and my ability to process oxygen.
Had to absolutely panel it back (OH was having car trouble) and thought I was going to pass out towards the end.
Mismatch between what the brain thinks is a sustainable pace and my ability to process oxygen.
Johno said:
Come to the Netherlands .... Soul destroying daily at the moment.
I nearly got blown right of my bike in Scheveningen the other day, just when you think it's died down a bit you pass a sideroad and realise you were in the lee of a building.Usget said:
I'd like to get some better lights. I currently have a pair of Lezyne Micro Drive which are awesome "be seen" lights, but what would you guys recommend as a good bright "see my way" front light - ideally USB rechargable? Are the fat 600 lumen Lezyne ones any good?
I bought a cateye volt 800 a while back for cycling down unlit cyclepaths. It's like daylight out to 10m or so and while it doesn't throw light a ridiculous distance it's plenty far enough ahead for the speeds I cycle, but might not be long enough range for a fast road rider.I do lots of commuting down pitch black lanes and main roads,
my setup:
2 x ebay cree lights on front of bike :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-Lm-CREE-XM-L-XML-T6...
1 x splitter
1 x 8.4 v battery in a waterbottle with a spare cateye light in there
1 x diffuser lense
2 x rear cateye lights : http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-el135-omni-5-light-...
That works pretty well for me and covers all issues, plus I can carry spare batteries in the waterbottle its lasted me several winter and 120 mile night ride withought too many issues.
I have diffuser lenses on one of the crees so the light is more useful, on quiet lanes I run then at full brightness, but they are too bright for oncoming cars, if there were no cars about (middle of the night) Ive hit 50mph in the pitch black
Take it steady if you are not used to riding at night, I love it, but its a dark art (pun...) and its easy to get complacent.
Always ride with 2 x front and 2 x rear, in case one fails...They will fail!
When I did the Dunwich Dynamo I had 2 x lights front and rear and 2 x spare in my bag in case.... I thought it was overkill! 1 mile in (out of 120 miles) in blazing sunshine in central london 1 x rear light fell off and broke. 3 miles in my spare rear light fell off and broke! Thank god I had a 3rd spare!
Oh yes doing bike repairs and punctures in the pitch black in the middle of the countryside is fun....
my setup:
2 x ebay cree lights on front of bike :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-Lm-CREE-XM-L-XML-T6...
1 x splitter
1 x 8.4 v battery in a waterbottle with a spare cateye light in there
1 x diffuser lense
2 x rear cateye lights : http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-el135-omni-5-light-...
That works pretty well for me and covers all issues, plus I can carry spare batteries in the waterbottle its lasted me several winter and 120 mile night ride withought too many issues.
I have diffuser lenses on one of the crees so the light is more useful, on quiet lanes I run then at full brightness, but they are too bright for oncoming cars, if there were no cars about (middle of the night) Ive hit 50mph in the pitch black
Take it steady if you are not used to riding at night, I love it, but its a dark art (pun...) and its easy to get complacent.
Always ride with 2 x front and 2 x rear, in case one fails...They will fail!
When I did the Dunwich Dynamo I had 2 x lights front and rear and 2 x spare in my bag in case.... I thought it was overkill! 1 mile in (out of 120 miles) in blazing sunshine in central london 1 x rear light fell off and broke. 3 miles in my spare rear light fell off and broke! Thank god I had a 3rd spare!
Oh yes doing bike repairs and punctures in the pitch black in the middle of the countryside is fun....
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Friday 5th February 15:58
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Friday 5th February 15:59
RizzoTheRat said:
Johno said:
Come to the Netherlands .... Soul destroying daily at the moment.
I nearly got blown right of my bike in Scheveningen the other day, just when you think it's died down a bit you pass a sideroad and realise you were in the lee of a building.Edited by Johno on Monday 8th February 12:32
Johno said:
Brutal sidewind this morning, which was then a tailwind for a while ... the ride home is not going to be fun in 6Bft winds.
OK, have had to admit defeat.When you're in a Dutch business and your colleagues in the office suggest you're a lunatic to think about it, then you go outside and watch large trees being bent over, you give up with the notion of battling home in these winds....
Annoyed.
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