And today's commuting highlight is...

And today's commuting highlight is...

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Discussion

Biker 1

7,690 posts

118 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Tall_Paul said:
this winter has been fking horrible, last winter wasn't anywhere near as bad as this.
No kidding!!
Still, dry & ice free this morning although fking cold; rain now looks likely for weekend, which hopefully will cleanse the roads....

Bailey93

524 posts

105 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Really felt the cold on my chest today, not helped by my commuter being a naked rolleyes - got to the office to find the windchill was around -10 at my average speed of 60mph. Oxford grips still keeping my hand nice and toasty in summer gloves.

CAPP0

Original Poster:

19,530 posts

202 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Well it's lowlights, and irritations, for me today.

I'm not enjoying my new commute at all (office move, not a new job). Every which way I go, it's stop-start, constantly picking your way in & out, and yes, the cyclists are really difficult to share the road with. I know this is a divisive subject, but they seem in the main to take a "don't care for any rules of the road, and I'm certainly not going to check what's coming/what's behind me or around me before I move/get in the way, because I have the moral high ground" approach.

New route = new riders to "admire", of course. Today's included Mr Hornet, with an ear-bleedingly noisy can which he wanted to everyone to sample approximately every 100 yards, meaning clutch in and pin it. His riding technique seemed to be, ride as fast as fk in every gap, but don't plan ahead, then get stuck, whilst the more observant bikes pass you (again). Rinse & repeat.

Then there was the guy on the Harley (48/Sportster sort of thing) who, twice, followed other riders, and where there was an obvious route/gap, he just gassed it hard past them as they went for the gap, then stood it on it's nose (such as you can on a tractor) causing the other biker to have to take evasive action. Not big, not clever, we're all trying to survive the commute, matey.

I need to wfh more.

supercommuter

2,169 posts

101 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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CAPP0 said:
Then there was the guy on the Harley (48/Sportster sort of thing) who, twice, followed other riders, and where there was an obvious route/gap, he just gassed it hard past them as they went for the gap, then stood it on it's nose (such as you can on a tractor) causing the other biker to have to take evasive action. Not big, not clever, we're all trying to survive the commute, matey.

I need to wfh more.
I had this morning, a bloke on a dragstar, gunning it with his slashcut pipes to out pace my 48bhp wheezy twin only to sit blocking huge gaps for other bikers. Luckily I found another gap and left him.

sjtscott

4,215 posts

230 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Despite same very cold temps still there was no ice in east london where I live this morning quite bizarre really. Last few days its been heavy frost and ice on my car and bike cover.
Main issue is the continuing mess of damp wet dirt and salt on the roads.. they'd given it a fresh overcovering of the pink rock salt this morning and it was collecting on parts of the roads they'd put so much down.
Main issue visor being finely splattered with salt/dirt mess.. simply cannot wipe it at all if you want to be able to use the visor.
My bike needs a serious clean.. looks like its rain all weekend but worse on Sunday. Temps are looking a bit higher so maybe I chance it Sat clean the worst of it off in the hope the temps stay up and don't ice the bike up.
Still with the heated gloves its very comfortable for riding.
Having needed to take the tube into work Tuesday due to a social event in the evening. Urghh I to wait for 3 tubes at 8:15am at Canary Wharf heading West into central london before being able to get on and then having it seriously rammed with zero space is not my idea of fun.
I'm reminded yet again for me how much better/comfortable/less hassle the bike is despite the downsides.

Edited by sjtscott on Thursday 26th January 11:01

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Not in the office again today, ill monday, went in tuesday and was sent to work from home owing to the continuation of manflu/colleagues fearing they'll get it....still working from home now and quite enjoying it!

Besides getting far more done I can get out of bed and be at my desk (reclining sofa) 30 seconds later!

Beats the 5:45-6am commute to town! - may take the bike for a blat at lunch if the weather looks ok though smile

CAPP0

Original Poster:

19,530 posts

202 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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supercommuter said:
CAPP0 said:
Then there was the guy on the Harley (48/Sportster sort of thing) who, twice, followed other riders, and where there was an obvious route/gap, he just gassed it hard past them as they went for the gap, then stood it on it's nose (such as you can on a tractor) causing the other biker to have to take evasive action. Not big, not clever, we're all trying to survive the commute, matey.

I need to wfh more.
I had this morning, a bloke on a dragstar, gunning it with his slashcut pipes to out pace my 48bhp wheezy twin only to sit blocking huge gaps for other bikers. Luckily I found another gap and left him.
Thing is, this twonk wasn't so much outgunning, as diving around people who were already committed to a gap. Saw him do it twice. Not good.

fergus

6,430 posts

274 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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CAPP0 said:
Thing is, this twonk wasn't so much outgunning, as diving around people who were already committed to a gap. Saw him do it twice. Not good.
First rule of commuting club: never go for a gap when someone riding like a tw@ is highly likely to do the same thing

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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First time on the bike for me this week as it was actually possible to get out onto the main road for a change...

Not too bad on the roads on the way in, apart from a bit of a twitch while almost upright on a slippery roundabout. Happy not to be sitting in traffic anyway.

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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I had a bit of a wheelspinning sidestep on the way in. Luckily I shut off straight away and it came back into line...silly old duffer doing 15mph through the village wound me up enough to want to go round him so I cracked it open and broke traction. Road looked dry, too.

I other news my Vee Wipe arrived this morning and is much better at swiping the cack off than the finger of my glove!

SteelerSE

1,885 posts

155 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Thank the gods (well, Honda) for ABS.

Traffic queuing on Northumberland Avenue and some kind soul in a van let a Mercedes through a gap. Thankfully I wasn't going too fast and the road wasn't slippy. Not quite a stoppy but it's the first time I've braked that hard on this bike and I was impressed. I had maybe an inch to spare.

Not a major or rare occurrence I'm sure but it's been a while since that's happened to me and been quite so close.

CAPP0

Original Poster:

19,530 posts

202 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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fergus said:
CAPP0 said:
Thing is, this twonk wasn't so much outgunning, as diving around people who were already committed to a gap. Saw him do it twice. Not good.
First rule of commuting club: never go for a gap when someone riding like a tw@ is highly likely to do the same thing
I hear you. But he was coming from behind when people were already nose-in for the gap and just forcing his way in. Needs a firm elbow.

sjtscott

4,215 posts

230 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Pothole said:
I had a bit of a wheelspinning sidestep on the way in. Luckily I shut off straight away and it came back into line...silly old duffer doing 15mph through the village wound me up enough to want to go round him so I cracked it open and broke traction. Road looked dry, too.

I other news my Vee Wipe arrived this morning and is much better at swiping the cack off than the finger of my glove!
I had mega wheel spin off the line at one point on my speed triple this evening, seems there was a load of crap on the road at the lights where i was sat to the left of a scooter, took me by surprise as it wasn't that visible but instinctively throttled off as i got a nice sideways step with the rev rise, brought it back in line and still beat everything else of the lights lol

In other news i found the spare large vee wipe tonight with my bike docs and spare keys and have fitted it to my gerbing heated winter gloves, wish I'd had this on the gloves much earlier this week given the fog. Been using the smaller one on my summer goretex gloves for years.

obscene

5,174 posts

184 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Got some wheelspin going from lane 2 to 3 at about 65. 5p 50p. eek It's fecking cold out there.

full_chat

285 posts

275 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Didn't see a single other bike on today's 30 mile Herts to Bucks commute, normally spot 10+.

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Good to be back on the bike, still trying to find the best route in from my new flat though - went though catford to Lewisham in in via the OKR this morning (Beckenham - Moorgate), may try similar on the way home.

Have learnt that the bike doesn't run 100% when cold though (2003 CBR600F), likely due a service so will try and get that done as a priority in the next weekend or 2

Biker 1

7,690 posts

118 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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No ice today!!! clap

supercommuter

2,169 posts

101 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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kiethton said:
Good to be back on the bike, still trying to find the best route in from my new flat though - went though catford to Lewisham in in via the OKR this morning (Beckenham - Moorgate), may try similar on the way home.

Have learnt that the bike doesn't run 100% when cold though (2003 CBR600F), likely due a service so will try and get that done as a priority in the next weekend or 2
Is it carbed or injection?

Lovely ride in this morning, minimal traffic and minimal bellends makes for a plesent ride.

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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supercommuter said:
kiethton said:
Good to be back on the bike, still trying to find the best route in from my new flat though - went though catford to Lewisham in in via the OKR this morning (Beckenham - Moorgate), may try similar on the way home.

Have learnt that the bike doesn't run 100% when cold though (2003 CBR600F), likely due a service so will try and get that done as a priority in the next weekend or 2
Is it carbed or injection?

Lovely ride in this morning, minimal traffic and minimal bellends makes for a plesent ride.
It's an '03 so injection?

Bailey93

524 posts

105 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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My carb'd bike is lumpy in the cold until warm. Trying leaving the choke slightly open for the first few miles