The daily "I cycled to work" thread

[Liquid Knight]

This...



...has made quite a noticeable difference to my commute.

Only three people tried to kill me yesterday.

[ZiggyNiva]

Very cold this morning, especially as the first half of my commute is all down hill. Might even consider getting the long finger gloves out tomorrow, as not being able to feel the brakes is never a good thing.

[TwistingMyMelon]

bit nips this morning, back in the long sleeve top

Legs felt a bit tired, enjoyed the ride though

[S10GTA]

Every morning I cycle in and see the same cars sat in traffic. I think to myself "muppets"

I wonder if they think the same when they see me?

[AyBee]

S10GTA said:

Every morning I cycle in and see the same cars sat in traffic. I think to myself "muppets"

I wonder if they think the same when they see me?

Which is exactly what I think when someone is desperate to get past me and pulls some dodgy overtake only to hit traffic a few hundred meters ahead - a nice wave usually keeps them calm

[TheLemming]

Back on the bike today.

Taken up running which is just crucifying me. 100k club ride Sunday, 10k on foot Monday and I'm back into recovery mode Tuesday and Wednesday.

Offroad ride tonight, another ride in tomorrow. CX Race Saturday, then back to repeating the cycle...

[Justin Cyder]

First commute this week after a bout of cold symptoms. Felt leggy but the pace was actually ok. Looking forward to the ride home now the sun's come out.

[loudlashadjuster]

A new job means I'm able to commute by bike for the first time in over a decade. Shower at work too, which is a first. A reasonably traffic-free 13-14 miles into Uxbridge which I can manage when the Mrs is working from home which frees me from school-run duties.

Managing at least one day per week at the moment, but I'm not sure how resilient I'll be when the weather closes in, especially as the last 5 or so miles is along a towpath which I don't fancy when the temperature gets anywhere near freezing. The alternative is some quite busy roads to cross the M40 and/or M25 which I don't particularly want to do either.

Not too many punishment passes yet which surprises me. I know I've only done about 150 miles of this so far, but apart from a couple of the usual suspects (white vans, mums in X5s etc.) most drivers have been very courteous and patient when required.

Running into the 'dress for morning or evening' dilemma as mentioned above. I'm also very badly prepared and end up having to carry everything on my back instead of leaving it at work the day before etc.

8kg of bag, lunch, shoes, jeans, top, underwear, lock, tools, spare lights, tube etc. doesn't really help the segment times!

Any tips as the autumn really sets in?

I don't have anything like overshoes, are they a good idea?

What about soggy kit? Do you just dry it as best you can and put it back on for the ride home? (what I'm doing for now in this Indian summer)

Or be extravagant and leave a dry set at work?

[WinstonWolf]

There's no need to be *that* extravagant, as an emergency set of kit the Aldi/Lidl stuff will be fine if your primary kit isn't dry.

[MG511]

ukbabz said:

First ride in since swapping from knobblies to semi slicks.. It felt like someone has been messing with my gear ratio's as the resitance when pedalling has dropped significantly!

I went from 40mm semi knobbly to 28mm semi slick on the hybrid I commute on and it's like I'm on EPO, massive difference. Still not cold in the South West, 14 degrees at 7:00 when I left home.

[Vocal Minority]

Blydi cold this morning.

Just got the new bike back after it had to go back to the manufacturer. Struggling a little as feel like I cant generate the sort of power I used to on my old bike - will try moving the saddle a bit further forward and seeing if it helps.

[Rolls]

loudlashadjuster said:

Any tips as the autumn really sets in?

I don't have anything like overshoes, are they a good idea?

What about soggy kit? Do you just dry it as best you can and put it back on for the ride home? (what I'm doing for now in this Indian summer)

Or be extravagant and leave a dry set at work?

Mud guards, mudguards, and mudguards again!
they don't look pretty, but stop you getting covered in st that will otherwise get flicked up...
i don't mind getting wet from rain.. - its getting covered in ground water that annoys me!!

[loudlashadjuster]

Rolls said:

Mud guards, mudguards, and mudguards again!
they don't look pretty, but stop you getting covered in st that will otherwise get flicked up...
i don't mind getting wet from rain.. - its getting covered in ground water that annoys me!!

I have an old set of Crud Catchers lying around that I could fit. I'm used to riding XC without any though so a bit of road grime won't faze me.

I do like the look of Ass Savers though.

[v15ben]

S10GTA said:

Every morning I cycle in and see the same cars sat in traffic. I think to myself "muppets"

I wonder if they think the same when they see me?

I think the same, though I wonder why I never see a single nice/interesting car on my commute, ever.
I also see the same cycle commuters every day and I can tell how late/early I am by how far into the commute I see them!

[Steve vRS]

I'm thinking of leaving a spare pair of leggings and a PH jersey at work so I don't have to put wet stuff on at home time. Hopefully, the wet stuff would have dried in time for the next day.

Steve

[WinstonWolf]

Just been out for a night ride, it's a bit fresh in the dips! Gorgeous open countryside and starlight

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Rolls said:

loudlashadjuster said:

Any tips as the autumn really sets in?

I don't have anything like overshoes, are they a good idea?

What about soggy kit? Do you just dry it as best you can and put it back on for the ride home? (what I'm doing for now in this Indian summer)

Or be extravagant and leave a dry set at work?

Mud guards, mudguards, and mudguards again!
they don't look pretty, but stop you getting covered in st that will otherwise get flicked up...
i don't mind getting wet from rain.. - its getting covered in ground water that annoys me!!

Why people ride without them I have no idea.

[shogun001]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Why people ride without them I have no idea.

Maybe........because they don't fit my bike?

Seen the sks race blades however unsure how much seat tube-wheel clearance is needed.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

shogun001 said:

Maybe........because they don't fit my bike?

Seen the sks race blades however unsure how much seat tube-wheel clearance is needed.

Race blades don't go over the wheel so clearance is irrelevant.

Road Racers will fit almost all bikes - except those with razor thin seat tube/wheel clearances.

Or buy a winter bike.

Job jobbed.

[lukeyman]

v15ben said:

I think the same, though I wonder why I never see a single nice/interesting car on my commute, ever.
I also see the same cycle commuters every day and I can tell how late/early I am by how far into the commute I see them!

I see an R8 most mornings parked outside a hair salon... and I got over taken by a Ferrari FF (I think!) this morning. Number plate ending 'EXO' - anyone?

And this is near Tamworth!