The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
Had my first near miss on commute home yesterday. Bus overtook me and and decided he was going to suddenly pull left and stop at the bus stop that was rapidly approaching. Slammed on brakes and just managed to pull behind the bus before got completely wiped out.
Bus driver thought it was funny when I stopped and explained he could have knocked me off, that didn't go down well and after 1 minute of arguing he said he was going to call the police as I was preventing a council vehicle from moving!!!
He wouldn't even accept that he had done anything wrong.
It certainly got the adrenaline going seeing my road disappear and not having an escape.
Bus driver thought it was funny when I stopped and explained he could have knocked me off, that didn't go down well and after 1 minute of arguing he said he was going to call the police as I was preventing a council vehicle from moving!!!
He wouldn't even accept that he had done anything wrong.
It certainly got the adrenaline going seeing my road disappear and not having an escape.
Audicab said:
Had my first near miss on commute home yesterday. Bus overtook me and and decided he was going to suddenly pull left and stop at the bus stop that was rapidly approaching. Slammed on brakes and just managed to pull behind the bus before got completely wiped out.
Bus driver thought it was funny when I stopped and explained he could have knocked me off, that didn't go down well and after 1 minute of arguing he said he was going to call the police as I was preventing a council vehicle from moving!!!
He wouldn't even accept that he had done anything wrong.
It certainly got the adrenaline going seeing my road disappear and not having an escape.
"Fine. Call the Police. Let's see how CD10 on your license will effect your career as a professional driver shall we?"Bus driver thought it was funny when I stopped and explained he could have knocked me off, that didn't go down well and after 1 minute of arguing he said he was going to call the police as I was preventing a council vehicle from moving!!!
He wouldn't even accept that he had done anything wrong.
It certainly got the adrenaline going seeing my road disappear and not having an escape.
...or words to that effect.
Well after 8 months of living only 5.7 miles from work, yesterday I decided to cycle in on my trust Giant hybrid. On one of the hottest days of the year. Go me. Fortunately however, it was easier than I expected and I quite enjoyed it. I carried my work clothes in a backpack and after cooling down under the air conditioning for about 5 minutes and then getting changed, I felt fresh.
So I rode in again today! And I think it could become a regular thing. At least when the weather isn't miserable.
One thing I do want to get away from is using the backpack, since it leads to sweaty back syndrome. Can anyone recommend a bag that can mount on top of a rear pannier rack which will hold rolled up trousers and shirt, shoes, medium-sized lunchbox, with a bit of room left over for other little odds and sods? There's a couple on Amazon that I've got my eye on but it's hard to tell whether they're big enough. I also want to spend as little as I can get away with.
So I rode in again today! And I think it could become a regular thing. At least when the weather isn't miserable.
One thing I do want to get away from is using the backpack, since it leads to sweaty back syndrome. Can anyone recommend a bag that can mount on top of a rear pannier rack which will hold rolled up trousers and shirt, shoes, medium-sized lunchbox, with a bit of room left over for other little odds and sods? There's a couple on Amazon that I've got my eye on but it's hard to tell whether they're big enough. I also want to spend as little as I can get away with.
Howard- said:
Well after 8 months of living only 5.7 miles from work, yesterday I decided to cycle in on my trust Giant hybrid. On one of the hottest days of the year. Go me. Fortunately however, it was easier than I expected and I quite enjoyed it. I carried my work clothes in a backpack and after cooling down under the air conditioning for about 5 minutes and then getting changed, I felt fresh.
So I rode in again today! And I think it could become a regular thing. At least when the weather isn't miserable.
One thing I do want to get away from is using the backpack, since it leads to sweaty back syndrome. Can anyone recommend a bag that can mount on top of a rear pannier rack which will hold rolled up trousers and shirt, shoes, medium-sized lunchbox, with a bit of room left over for other little odds and sods? There's a couple on Amazon that I've got my eye on but it's hard to tell whether they're big enough. I also want to spend as little as I can get away with.
Can you take a spare pair of shoes, trousers and a week's worth of shirts in when you drive? That way you only need your lunch and phone etc. It might make your choice easier.So I rode in again today! And I think it could become a regular thing. At least when the weather isn't miserable.
One thing I do want to get away from is using the backpack, since it leads to sweaty back syndrome. Can anyone recommend a bag that can mount on top of a rear pannier rack which will hold rolled up trousers and shirt, shoes, medium-sized lunchbox, with a bit of room left over for other little odds and sods? There's a couple on Amazon that I've got my eye on but it's hard to tell whether they're big enough. I also want to spend as little as I can get away with.
williredale said:
Can you take a spare pair of shoes, trousers and a week's worth of shirts in when you drive? That way you only need your lunch and phone etc. It might make your choice easier.
You can also go one step further and go with a weeks worth of lunches so you only need to carry your phone, wallet, keys and other small items. A lot of prep though!
RenOHH said:
You can also go one step further and go with a weeks worth of lunches so you only need to carry your phone, wallet, keys and other small items. A lot of prep though!
Or go lazier and use the canteen! From next week when my kids are back in school and I'll drive twice a week all I need is my phone and keys in a tiny bag behind the headset. A far cry from six months ago when I started back on the bike with a full rucksack of clothes and stuff.williredale said:
RenOHH said:
You can also go one step further and go with a weeks worth of lunches so you only need to carry your phone, wallet, keys and other small items. A lot of prep though!
Or go lazier and use the canteen! From next week when my kids are back in school and I'll drive twice a week all I need is my phone and keys in a tiny bag behind the headset. A far cry from six months ago when I started back on the bike with a full rucksack of clothes and stuff.I take fruit in a jersey pocket each morning, and bring the socks and pants back each evening to help spread out the washing.
I change over the trousers, shoes and backpacking towel periodically, and sometimes manage to squeeze lunch into a pocket. Luckily, a colleague goes to Sainsburys at lunch now and then, so I fill my work drawer with supplies then too.
I'm really lucky to have a covered bike park, gym to stretch in, showers, personal locker and drying room. I'm probably the most consistent user doing more than 2 miles each way. (Almost 9 miles on the shortest possible route.)
On the rare event I drive or the wife is coming past the office in the car, I try to make sure I drop off or pick up a load of stuff too. Commuting without a backpack or pannier is lovely, and worth the effort.
I often dont bother with a bag , just stuff tools, tube and keys in jersey pockets, don't even have a saddle bag on the bike, I dont have a canteen or even shop near my office as are surrounded by fields
Clothes: I just bulk pack when I drive (got my own store room) or take a rucksack one day with 5 shirts etc
Food: JUst buy packets of wraps and tins of tuna once week and use that
Don't bother with my wallet, just bring a note and bank card with my tools
Amazing how little you need once you get in a routine, I am lucky having loads of space at work to store stuff, Sod carting a heavy rucksack everyday like I used to!
Definitely down to routine, the more you do it the easier comuteing by bike gets.
If I have a week or two off from comuteing its hard work getting out, I also for some reason get nervous!
I am tempted to get one of those cavernous saddle bags Gruffy had, as with the winter coming I tend to use a bag as the wet/mud/darkness necessitates a bag
Clothes: I just bulk pack when I drive (got my own store room) or take a rucksack one day with 5 shirts etc
Food: JUst buy packets of wraps and tins of tuna once week and use that
Don't bother with my wallet, just bring a note and bank card with my tools
Amazing how little you need once you get in a routine, I am lucky having loads of space at work to store stuff, Sod carting a heavy rucksack everyday like I used to!
Definitely down to routine, the more you do it the easier comuteing by bike gets.
If I have a week or two off from comuteing its hard work getting out, I also for some reason get nervous!
I am tempted to get one of those cavernous saddle bags Gruffy had, as with the winter coming I tend to use a bag as the wet/mud/darkness necessitates a bag
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Friday 26th August 11:26
First commute in for ages as I've just spent two weeks bobbing around in the Aegean.
After that, cycling 10 miles across London was a bit of an eye opener.
Special mention to the Brompton rider cycling the wrong way across a three lane junction and appearing from round the back of a bus as I approached in full attack mode.
Missed her by millimetres.
What exactly goes through these peoples heads?
(not much I presume.....)
After that, cycling 10 miles across London was a bit of an eye opener.
Special mention to the Brompton rider cycling the wrong way across a three lane junction and appearing from round the back of a bus as I approached in full attack mode.
Missed her by millimetres.
What exactly goes through these peoples heads?
(not much I presume.....)
AC43 said:
First commute in for ages as I've just spent two weeks bobbing around in the Aegean.
After that, cycling 10 miles across London was a bit of an eye opener.
Special mention to the Brompton rider cycling the wrong way across a three lane junction and appearing from round the back of a bus as I approached in full attack mode.
Missed her by millimetres.
What exactly goes through these peoples heads?
(not much I presume.....)
Their arse if they get hit by a car After that, cycling 10 miles across London was a bit of an eye opener.
Special mention to the Brompton rider cycling the wrong way across a three lane junction and appearing from round the back of a bus as I approached in full attack mode.
Missed her by millimetres.
What exactly goes through these peoples heads?
(not much I presume.....)
Well, I usually drive into work on a Monday, cycle home, cycle in Tuesday and then drive home - but due to bank holiday I wasn't working. Ended up driving into work anyway, taking in my lunch for tomorrow etc etc and left car there and cycled home. Was a nice day but there was a net headwind. Was my first day of feeling relatively OK after I became a "Knight of Sufferlandria" last Sunday
http://tpks.ws/f6X4f
so did this
https://www.strava.com/activities/693067196
Was just about my highest average power for that loop back but not the fastest (about 1mph down) due to the headwind.
Sufferfest Knighthood was really rather tough. Felt pretty good until I properly hit the wall/bonked after just after 8 hours.....I've never properly hit the wall before but it was rather incredible. I went from being "relatively" OK and able to put in around 80-90% FTP efforts and whilst it was tough it wasn't horrendous....and literally a few mins later I was actually struggling to put in 30-40% FTP!!
http://tpks.ws/f6X4f
so did this
https://www.strava.com/activities/693067196
Was just about my highest average power for that loop back but not the fastest (about 1mph down) due to the headwind.
Sufferfest Knighthood was really rather tough. Felt pretty good until I properly hit the wall/bonked after just after 8 hours.....I've never properly hit the wall before but it was rather incredible. I went from being "relatively" OK and able to put in around 80-90% FTP efforts and whilst it was tough it wasn't horrendous....and literally a few mins later I was actually struggling to put in 30-40% FTP!!
Pretty bloody chilly this morning. Wore a SS jersey with arm warmers, shorts, and short-fingered gloves....hands were very cold at points, and my core was a bit chilly every time I went above 25mph or so.
Definitely autumnal out there
Porridge with strawberry SIS advanced isolate+ protein for brekkie
Definitely autumnal out there
Porridge with strawberry SIS advanced isolate+ protein for brekkie
Misty this morning, so wore a base layer, and it worked out just right. I also had a full rucksack of clothing for the next week, so that might have helped.
I also had by winter MTB commuter this morning for the first time in a couple of months. A friend has serviced the rear wheel, I've cleaned the rest of the bike and lubed ready for the winter, and fitted slime tubes with Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB tyres, for the full puncture resistance-ness. It certainly felt heavier that my road bike, but my time was only a couple of mins slower.
Sort of looking forward to the winter training on it, it should make me stronger for next year. The road bike now needs a good clean ready for the nice autumnal days, before it goes on turbo duty when the weather gets pants.
I also had by winter MTB commuter this morning for the first time in a couple of months. A friend has serviced the rear wheel, I've cleaned the rest of the bike and lubed ready for the winter, and fitted slime tubes with Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB tyres, for the full puncture resistance-ness. It certainly felt heavier that my road bike, but my time was only a couple of mins slower.
Sort of looking forward to the winter training on it, it should make me stronger for next year. The road bike now needs a good clean ready for the nice autumnal days, before it goes on turbo duty when the weather gets pants.
3/3 this morning.
Put some pressure in the tyres and had a following breeze so came in a fair bit quicker than normal. BUT I also set off 30 mins later so was caught in full cycling rush hour.
The combo was unnerving - so many wobblers jumping lights, swerving unpredictably, etc etc etc. Some of them have a real death wish, veering all over the place, NEVER checking over their shoulders before performing some radical/crazy manoeuvre.
I try to maintain a zen-like calm but it pisses me off when they lurch wildly to the right just as I've committed myself to pass them and I'm nearly launched under the wheels of a the truck over my RH shoulder.
I presume most of the worst offenders don't a have driving licences and therefore have no awareness of what they are actually doing.
Going to get up earlier tomorrow......
Put some pressure in the tyres and had a following breeze so came in a fair bit quicker than normal. BUT I also set off 30 mins later so was caught in full cycling rush hour.
The combo was unnerving - so many wobblers jumping lights, swerving unpredictably, etc etc etc. Some of them have a real death wish, veering all over the place, NEVER checking over their shoulders before performing some radical/crazy manoeuvre.
I try to maintain a zen-like calm but it pisses me off when they lurch wildly to the right just as I've committed myself to pass them and I'm nearly launched under the wheels of a the truck over my RH shoulder.
I presume most of the worst offenders don't a have driving licences and therefore have no awareness of what they are actually doing.
Going to get up earlier tomorrow......
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