Back on the saddle...
Discussion
Yesterday was not looking good. Strong breeze gusting up to 40mph head wind and driving heavy rain showers all day.
Then as I was getting ready the rain stopped and the wind dropped. I was quite optimistic as I ventured out. As I the picture perfect Norfolk sunset painted the sky in hues of whatever colours I was too busy avoiding pish poor drivers the temperature dropped and the wind picked back up to where it was.
Forty four minutes to get to work but...
34.15
...home this morning. That's a new record by four seconds!!!
Then as I was getting ready the rain stopped and the wind dropped. I was quite optimistic as I ventured out. As I the picture perfect Norfolk sunset painted the sky in hues of whatever colours I was too busy avoiding pish poor drivers the temperature dropped and the wind picked back up to where it was.
Forty four minutes to get to work but...
34.15
...home this morning. That's a new record by four seconds!!!
Liquid Knight said:
Doesn't sound like much more but today (tonight) is a recovery day. 
Then I got bored and did a thirty nine minute run in. I felt weird all night, I wasn't hungry, thirsty, bored compared to normal or tired. My shift was basically painting by numbers.
I made a video called "Pretty Sunset" where the light was sublime but I was too distracted at the time avoiding poor drivers.
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
I don't know if I'll YouTube it as it's a little pretentious.
Spotted my Barn Owl from last year on the way home and rescued a field mouse from a cat.
17'C, thunder and lightning, headwind and spike formations overhead. I didn't oversleep and wake up in May? It is still October right?
It's going to b an interesting commute.
I've received a little negative feedback from my Penis Experiment...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBi9m4nNPYQ
...let me expand a little on the topic.
When overtaking any vehicle or obstacle in the road you need to be a safe distance from it. The more vulnerable the road user the more space. Taking T.E.D (time exposed to danger or T.E.R time exposed to risk) into account having to slow to the speed of the vehicle you want to pass and wait for a big enough gap is beyond some people. So to reduce the risk of a head on collision some people reduce the amount of distance between themselves and the vehicle they are trying to get past.
Okay this may reduce the probability of a head on collision initially but you are putting the more vulnerable road user at significantly undue risk. Unlike other YouTube contributors that simply put the number plate in the description with the tag line "Dangerous Overtake" "Left Hook" or any variation of the dangerous driving theme I've used a little humor to make the same point.
P.S While writing that little soapbox speech about two inches of hale, rain and snow fell. I'll do a few risk assessments before deciding to ride or drive. To be honest I really can't be arsed.
It's going to b an interesting commute.
I've received a little negative feedback from my Penis Experiment...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBi9m4nNPYQ
...let me expand a little on the topic.
When overtaking any vehicle or obstacle in the road you need to be a safe distance from it. The more vulnerable the road user the more space. Taking T.E.D (time exposed to danger or T.E.R time exposed to risk) into account having to slow to the speed of the vehicle you want to pass and wait for a big enough gap is beyond some people. So to reduce the risk of a head on collision some people reduce the amount of distance between themselves and the vehicle they are trying to get past.
Okay this may reduce the probability of a head on collision initially but you are putting the more vulnerable road user at significantly undue risk. Unlike other YouTube contributors that simply put the number plate in the description with the tag line "Dangerous Overtake" "Left Hook" or any variation of the dangerous driving theme I've used a little humor to make the same point.
P.S While writing that little soapbox speech about two inches of hale, rain and snow fell. I'll do a few risk assessments before deciding to ride or drive. To be honest I really can't be arsed.
Thirty eight minute run into work last night. The roads were slippery and my back tyre lost traction going up what I call "the hills" (flyover hump back bridges over the A47 dual carriageway).
The mud guards are performing well with a little high velocity spatter on the bottom of my trousers and boots being the only issue.
This morning was a different matter.
FOG
Waited until quarter to seven and it was lighter before I set off, took my time, had all my lights constant instead of one constant and the others flashing, all three front lights and I went a longer less exposed route. The extra caution paid off as there was a head on collision between a bus and a van on my usual route.
Spotted a few Deer and the biggest Marsh Hare I have ever seen.
The rain, hale and snow was still laying on the ground and the temperature went from 17'C just before I left to 3'C in the morning so that would explain the fog. As I explained in my other blog the only weather I don't like cycling in is fog as you are a SMIDSY waiting to happen on a clear day.
Anyway Saturday for me so I'll give my legs a little time to recover ready for next week.
The mud guards are performing well with a little high velocity spatter on the bottom of my trousers and boots being the only issue.
This morning was a different matter.
FOG
Waited until quarter to seven and it was lighter before I set off, took my time, had all my lights constant instead of one constant and the others flashing, all three front lights and I went a longer less exposed route. The extra caution paid off as there was a head on collision between a bus and a van on my usual route.
Spotted a few Deer and the biggest Marsh Hare I have ever seen.
The rain, hale and snow was still laying on the ground and the temperature went from 17'C just before I left to 3'C in the morning so that would explain the fog. As I explained in my other blog the only weather I don't like cycling in is fog as you are a SMIDSY waiting to happen on a clear day.
Anyway Saturday for me so I'll give my legs a little time to recover ready for next week.
This morning was odd. It felt like I was flying along almost record pace but when I got to work it was a thirty nine flat run. 
I had to stick around after my shift as the new guy needed training. This extra half hour was fortuitous as the traffic was greatly reduced and the people on the road we a lot more considerate than usual. Clean forty minute run home with a short stop so probably on pace.
My Punto is sold and the new owner wants to collect her from work so I;ll be stuffing my bike in the back, driving in and cycling home.
I think a bit of a thrash might be in order.
I had to stick around after my shift as the new guy needed training. This extra half hour was fortuitous as the traffic was greatly reduced and the people on the road we a lot more considerate than usual. Clean forty minute run home with a short stop so probably on pace.
My Punto is sold and the new owner wants to collect her from work so I;ll be stuffing my bike in the back, driving in and cycling home.
I think a bit of a thrash might be in order.
A couple of days ago I received critique from a really rather impudent driver for cycling too wide.
I was avoiding puddles.
We all know that rain isn't water. It contains Sulfuric Acid, dust, pollen and other various airborne pollutants before it hits the ground. Then as a puddle it has dust, muck, deciduous leaf matter, food waste, road kill, faeces from approximately a hundred different animals per mile, urine from the same group of animals, long chain Carbon molecules from vehicles spilling fluids (oil, diesel, petrol), ground up rubber from tyres, asbestos from brake dust, road materials as well as litter, cigarette ash, over a million different types of bacteria and various other poisons and harmful chemicals.
To the left is a sample tub filled with tap water as a control, the middle is a sample of puddle water taken from a town centre and to the right is a mile from the centre of the same town. I made sure not to collect any mud or solids with these samples so the results are only what was in the puddle.
After a day the town centre sample has black bits that have sunk to the bottom and oily stuff floating on top.
The suburban sample is growing already.
This is just a day after the samples were taken. I was going to graduate it three and five miles from the town centre so you get more dead animals and stuff in there and leave the samples for a week but decided against it as I could potentially be in possession of a biological weapon after a couple of days.
So next time someone says "It's only water" offer them a glass of it to drink.
I was avoiding puddles.
Darwin award winner said:
It's only 
water!
I didn't have time to argue as... water!Mark Twain said:
Don't argue with an idiot they will drag you down to their level and win by default.
...so I thought I'd do a little experiment. We all know that rain isn't water. It contains Sulfuric Acid, dust, pollen and other various airborne pollutants before it hits the ground. Then as a puddle it has dust, muck, deciduous leaf matter, food waste, road kill, faeces from approximately a hundred different animals per mile, urine from the same group of animals, long chain Carbon molecules from vehicles spilling fluids (oil, diesel, petrol), ground up rubber from tyres, asbestos from brake dust, road materials as well as litter, cigarette ash, over a million different types of bacteria and various other poisons and harmful chemicals.
To the left is a sample tub filled with tap water as a control, the middle is a sample of puddle water taken from a town centre and to the right is a mile from the centre of the same town. I made sure not to collect any mud or solids with these samples so the results are only what was in the puddle.
After a day the town centre sample has black bits that have sunk to the bottom and oily stuff floating on top.
The suburban sample is growing already.
This is just a day after the samples were taken. I was going to graduate it three and five miles from the town centre so you get more dead animals and stuff in there and leave the samples for a week but decided against it as I could potentially be in possession of a biological weapon after a couple of days.
So next time someone says "It's only water" offer them a glass of it to drink.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Saturday 18th October 16:06
The thing I like about having to work Saturday night is Sunday morning. Very little traffic no need to look over my shoulder every six seconds and I can use more than 5% of the road without worrying about SMIDSY's. I can either take it easy or try to wreck my tyres.
On my way to work is a different story. Every idiot who somehow managed to pass a driving test is out there. Add to that the head wind or three quarter head wind most of the route last night and I was pretty pleased with myself to get in another thirty nine minute run.
Twelve hours later and I had a favorable wind, a bit too warm but with the latest MissK8 podcast as a pace maker and a cup of Java coffee half an hour before the off...
33.03
...I even got the 30mph warning sign working.
Bring on Winter and proper temperatures. 16'C is far too much and I hit a wall two thirds of the way.
On my way to work is a different story. Every idiot who somehow managed to pass a driving test is out there. Add to that the head wind or three quarter head wind most of the route last night and I was pretty pleased with myself to get in another thirty nine minute run.
Twelve hours later and I had a favorable wind, a bit too warm but with the latest MissK8 podcast as a pace maker and a cup of Java coffee half an hour before the off...
33.03
...I even got the 30mph warning sign working.
Bring on Winter and proper temperatures. 16'C is far too much and I hit a wall two thirds of the way.
That was the most challenging forty six minutes I've had on a bike. Going up hill was easier due to the wind break effect of the hill itself. I found myself in forth gear going up but second going down. 
I got into work okay but around nine o'clock I got jelly legs, did a little yawn and had to sit down for a bit. My skull was thumping, my body didn't want to know, I had a banana and a sweet cup of tea. Ten minutes later I was fine again.
The wind dropped for the ride home so it was a clean thirty nine minute gauntlet run avoiding drivers who failed to clean the condensation from their cars. It's like driving with a pair of loo roll holders over your eyes I simply can not fathom how people can be so thick.
I was a little tired and probably hypersensitive to the idiocy. Also it didn't help that after my record run I couldn't get to sleep until gone nine and was woken at quarter to eleven. Got a good five hours today and the wind is forecast force five to six gusting force eight in these parts. Although there's no sign of that yet.
I got into work okay but around nine o'clock I got jelly legs, did a little yawn and had to sit down for a bit. My skull was thumping, my body didn't want to know, I had a banana and a sweet cup of tea. Ten minutes later I was fine again.
The wind dropped for the ride home so it was a clean thirty nine minute gauntlet run avoiding drivers who failed to clean the condensation from their cars. It's like driving with a pair of loo roll holders over your eyes I simply can not fathom how people can be so thick.
I was a little tired and probably hypersensitive to the idiocy. Also it didn't help that after my record run I couldn't get to sleep until gone nine and was woken at quarter to eleven. Got a good five hours today and the wind is forecast force five to six gusting force eight in these parts. Although there's no sign of that yet.
So the had wind picked up shortly after I left but because I left it a little late I had to get my head down and just deal with it.
Thirty nine minutes in a headwind is pretty impressive even if I do say so myself.
Had a bit of a giggle at some Lemmings. Six cars decided to overtake me even though the road ahead was blocked by a parked van. I had to brake to avoid the last three. All on video and I'm deciding whether to post it or not.
The ride home was supposed to be a gale force tail wind but it swung during the night. Three quarter head winds apart from two sections. One forty zone I noticed a single red light ahead and decided to try and catch whoever it was thinking the long lost Lyraists had put in an appearance. Alas it was a car with a twonk behind the wheel. I gave up the chase as soon as I knew it wasn't a fellow lunatic.
The other section was a thirty zone (the one where I was stopped for speeding last year). Head down top gear almost two pedal revolutions per second until I caught another car and had to slow down to match his speed. I'm guessing he was doing a little over thirty as the flashing sign at the end of the road lit up for us both.
Thirty nine minutes in a headwind is pretty impressive even if I do say so myself.
Had a bit of a giggle at some Lemmings. Six cars decided to overtake me even though the road ahead was blocked by a parked van. I had to brake to avoid the last three. All on video and I'm deciding whether to post it or not.
The ride home was supposed to be a gale force tail wind but it swung during the night. Three quarter head winds apart from two sections. One forty zone I noticed a single red light ahead and decided to try and catch whoever it was thinking the long lost Lyraists had put in an appearance. Alas it was a car with a twonk behind the wheel. I gave up the chase as soon as I knew it wasn't a fellow lunatic.
The other section was a thirty zone (the one where I was stopped for speeding last year). Head down top gear almost two pedal revolutions per second until I caught another car and had to slow down to match his speed. I'm guessing he was doing a little over thirty as the flashing sign at the end of the road lit up for us both.
Slightly overslept this morning. Won't be an issue tomorrow I guess.
On the way home as I was crossing the second flyover bridge over the A47 and noticed a Land Rover Freelander broken down just short of the bottom of the slip road.
Plan a/ Help push the truck to the end of the slip where it would be a lot safer than the duel carriageway.
Plan b/ Help fix it if I can.
Plan c/ Park my bike further back to warn oncoming drivers.
Turns out the back box had fallen off (sounded all the better for it) and my front light was all that was needed to the car to be back on its way.
On the way home as I was crossing the second flyover bridge over the A47 and noticed a Land Rover Freelander broken down just short of the bottom of the slip road.
Plan a/ Help push the truck to the end of the slip where it would be a lot safer than the duel carriageway.
Plan b/ Help fix it if I can.
Plan c/ Park my bike further back to warn oncoming drivers.
Turns out the back box had fallen off (sounded all the better for it) and my front light was all that was needed to the car to be back on its way.
Watchman said:
I would heartily recommend the prismatic lenses for the CREE lights. They spread the light left-right so you can either overlay both lights for a super-bright umbra or you can light up the sides of the roads really well. They were a fiver each last time I looked.
Agreed, I have one on mine and it's brilliant. Stops me dazzling drivers too much as well.Not on a high horse or anything here but...
...here's the back and front of my bike compared to a couple of fellow commuters.
What a difference 60p worth of reflective tape makes.
I've been considering the virtues of a rack and saddlebags for my bike as it's still tropical I have a lot of sweat build up on my back. So much so I've taken to washing my t'shirt and jacket in a sink at work, hanging them out so hopefully they dry in time for the ride home.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M-Wave-Double-Pannier-Ba...
It would need to be big enough for my laptop, waterproof and stable.
I have considered various trailers in the past but that's another tyre or two to worry about and cars have a hard enough time overtaking me as it is let alone if I were twice as long.
...here's the back and front of my bike compared to a couple of fellow commuters.
What a difference 60p worth of reflective tape makes.
I've been considering the virtues of a rack and saddlebags for my bike as it's still tropical I have a lot of sweat build up on my back. So much so I've taken to washing my t'shirt and jacket in a sink at work, hanging them out so hopefully they dry in time for the ride home.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M-Wave-Double-Pannier-Ba...
It would need to be big enough for my laptop, waterproof and stable.
I have considered various trailers in the past but that's another tyre or two to worry about and cars have a hard enough time overtaking me as it is let alone if I were twice as long.
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