The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
Theres a group of old women with dogs who I always seem to bump into on my way to work. None of them can control their dogs, yet they are never on a lead, last year I was bitten and this morning I had a small terrier yapping at my pedals for about 500m, in the end I had to stop and wait for the owner to come and grab it.
Held up a businessman for about 2 secs at the lights.No idea why as there was loads of space to get by but he couldnt help himself by shouting something at me as he went past.I caught him up a little further on where he was stuck in traffic and took great delight in pointing at him and laughing.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Nice ride in today, finally sorted the fit on my bikes, taken me bloody months, realised I need the saddle just a few slight degrees upwards pointing to maximise pedal stroke and eliminate knee pain.
Im just starting down that road was getting some knee pain at the back of my left knee but moving the cleats seems to have fixed it.Now though I did a 30 odd mile circuit last weekend and near the end my neck and shoulders were killing me.I do about 16 to 18mls a day commuting to work and dont normally have a problem ? I have just got myself a new job in London based in the West end and one thing I am excited about is that now my commute is longer than half a mile, I can now ride to work, which will be about 15 miles each way.
I don't fancy doing it in a mtb and I have just got my boardman just the way I want it and don't fancy putting it through a daily London ride, so that leaves a 1986 14 speed racer. Does anyone commute on something similar? Is it practical?
I don't fancy doing it in a mtb and I have just got my boardman just the way I want it and don't fancy putting it through a daily London ride, so that leaves a 1986 14 speed racer. Does anyone commute on something similar? Is it practical?
I did my Commute again today, it seemed to be a head wind all the way there and back, still another 50miles in the bag 
Annoyingly I had a guy tail me for about 8-10 miles, I thought it was just plain rude, the couple of junctions I had to stop at he just stayed far enough behind so I couldn't really say anything! It would have been a great help to me if he had taken the lead for a bit - despite me slowing at times, lets say on purpose, he never passed - I was carrying my Rucksack full of Work Clothes, Jacket, Towel, Laptop etc, so wasn't finding it easy!
Annoyingly I had a guy tail me for about 8-10 miles, I thought it was just plain rude, the couple of junctions I had to stop at he just stayed far enough behind so I couldn't really say anything! It would have been a great help to me if he had taken the lead for a bit - despite me slowing at times, lets say on purpose, he never passed - I was carrying my Rucksack full of Work Clothes, Jacket, Towel, Laptop etc, so wasn't finding it easy!
tjdixon911 said:
I did my Commute again today, it seemed to be a head wind all the way there and back, still another 50miles in the bag
Annoyingly I had a guy tail me for about 8-10 miles, I thought it was just plain rude, the couple of junctions I had to stop at he just stayed far enough behind so I couldn't really say anything! It would have been a great help to me if he had taken the lead for a bit - despite me slowing at times, lets say on purpose, he never passed - I was carrying my Rucksack full of Work Clothes, Jacket, Towel, Laptop etc, so wasn't finding it easy!
Ah yes drafting not really experienced this as normally I get passed Annoyingly I had a guy tail me for about 8-10 miles, I thought it was just plain rude, the couple of junctions I had to stop at he just stayed far enough behind so I couldn't really say anything! It would have been a great help to me if he had taken the lead for a bit - despite me slowing at times, lets say on purpose, he never passed - I was carrying my Rucksack full of Work Clothes, Jacket, Towel, Laptop etc, so wasn't finding it easy!
but I was reading a newspaper article where the writer was suggesting we should help each other out but an encounter with another cyclist at traffic lights having followed him was that maybe we should not bother.He was about to offer to ride in front but the angry look he got back made him ask why this was.The rider hissed "look we`re individuals we`re not in this together we`re cycling alone, dont you get that ?" I normally ride alone - and come up against others doing the same. The catch up to the one in front is either because the other one is slow - or because I have been pushing hard to catch. If the other one is slow I will happily push on, but if I'm just off a hard push I will always draft for a while just until I have my breath back and I can happily push on without fear of being overtaken again. I guess this is my mentality for never having ridden a chain gang. However - that mentality does kick in when I get overtaken by someone faster - the urge to try and keep up.
Really didn't enjoy it this morning, my commute takes me through some quite heavy traffic/junctions by two senior schools. I can only imagine some of the 6th formers have passed their driving tests during the summer and are allowed to drive to school now, twice I was almost taken out by dozy youngsters just not looking.
Anyone else finding the fumes playing havoc with their chests now the temperatures are starting to drop too? Properly wheezing today, felt like an old man!
Anyone else finding the fumes playing havoc with their chests now the temperatures are starting to drop too? Properly wheezing today, felt like an old man!
Mr Scruff said:
Really didn't enjoy it this morning, my commute takes me through some quite heavy traffic/junctions by two senior schools. I can only imagine some of the 6th formers have passed their driving tests during the summer and are allowed to drive to school now, twice I was almost taken out by dozy youngsters just not looking.
Anyone else finding the fumes playing havoc with their chests now the temperatures are starting to drop too? Properly wheezing today, felt like an old man!
I feel your pain, a school kid saw me and walked out straight in front of me didn't really give a sAnyone else finding the fumes playing havoc with their chests now the temperatures are starting to drop too? Properly wheezing today, felt like an old man!
t, I think he would have come off worse, he was lucky I was on my best bike, if I was on my usual commuter I would have just into him! (joke) 
It was noticeably cooler this morning. 8degC with a breeze and with mist hovering over the fields.
I was taking it easy (I am running at lunchtime) so wore my soft shell jacket for the first time since spring.
I was using panniers again after re-fitting the rack to my 'cross bike - Far more comfortable to haul laptop, clothes and running kit than in a heavy messenger bag.
I was almost taken out by a Range Rover this morning, who slowed and turned left in front of me. No harm done, thankfully.
I was taking it easy (I am running at lunchtime) so wore my soft shell jacket for the first time since spring.
I was using panniers again after re-fitting the rack to my 'cross bike - Far more comfortable to haul laptop, clothes and running kit than in a heavy messenger bag.
I was almost taken out by a Range Rover this morning, who slowed and turned left in front of me. No harm done, thankfully.
thiscocks said:
Steve vRS said:
Cold this morning on the old legs.
I think that shorts season is over.
I wouldnt have thought so. October is usually ok but I have given up much hope based on how sI think that shorts season is over.
t this years summer has been.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff