Did my first commute today
Discussion
Well in readiness for going north i thought now was a better time than any to get out there.
What did i learn?
Well...
What did i learn?
Well...
- Very few people wear refletive gear (saw 20 odd riders 4/5 had proper gear)
- Very few people had good lights. (what are people on, i have no sympathy for these people getting driven down if they cant be bothered to light up)
- Dont ride you Orange 5 in over a more apporiate bike.... well i got a bit enthusiastic wanting to show it off to people but nearing the end i thought bugger this im riding my road bike tommorow.
- Its not as cold as it seems? i live down south and tbh its fine atm to wear a top and a riding jacket not the thermal body warmer i had also put on
- 14 miles in 45 mins isnt bad on a full sus but now i want to do it faster!
- LASTLY BUGGER forecast shows HEAVY RAIN tonight!
Edited by CooperS on Tuesday 3rd March 09:23
Whilst I have proper lights and whatnot, it's a shame that the cycling infrastructure necessitates so much superfluous safety gear to do something so prosocial. We're reducing congestion and pollution, as well as reducing the burden on the NHS.
Dave Hembrow (worth reading for a UK perspective on Dutch cycling infrastructure:
Dave Hembrow (worth reading for a UK perspective on Dutch cycling infrastructure:
Dave Hembrow said:
How many cyclists do you see when you go out, and how many of them are dressed in a way that indicates that they feel they have to worry about their safety on the roads ?
Are your cyclists a small part of traffic, wearing helmets, dressed in fluorescent jackets and predominantly young and/or "sporty", or do you live in a location where cyclists are of all ages, both sexes, and generally ride in normal clothes with no worries about visibility ?
Cyclists are the pit-canaries of the roads. If they're numerous, dressed in ordinary clothing and wide-ranging in age you can tell that you are in a location where cycling is "normal" in society and where it is safe enough, and feels safe enough, that everyone cycles.
It goes further than this. Do you see women routinely cycling alone at night ? Do children cycle long distances alone, day and night ? Do most children go to school by bike ? Do parents consider it to be safe for their children to do this ? Do those parents who do let their children cycle make them wear helmets and fluorescent clothing ? These are indicators about the health of cycling in an area.
Make cycling a truly attractive thing to do and more people will do it. Here in Assen, children are regularly seen riding great distances with groups of friends. Some cycle over 20 km each way to get to school.
From http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2008/08/pit-canaries.h...Are your cyclists a small part of traffic, wearing helmets, dressed in fluorescent jackets and predominantly young and/or "sporty", or do you live in a location where cyclists are of all ages, both sexes, and generally ride in normal clothes with no worries about visibility ?
Cyclists are the pit-canaries of the roads. If they're numerous, dressed in ordinary clothing and wide-ranging in age you can tell that you are in a location where cycling is "normal" in society and where it is safe enough, and feels safe enough, that everyone cycles.
It goes further than this. Do you see women routinely cycling alone at night ? Do children cycle long distances alone, day and night ? Do most children go to school by bike ? Do parents consider it to be safe for their children to do this ? Do those parents who do let their children cycle make them wear helmets and fluorescent clothing ? These are indicators about the health of cycling in an area.
Make cycling a truly attractive thing to do and more people will do it. Here in Assen, children are regularly seen riding great distances with groups of friends. Some cycle over 20 km each way to get to school.
Mekon said:
Whilst I have proper lights and whatnot, it's a shame that the cycling infrastructure necessitates so much superfluous safety gear to do something so prosocial. We're reducing congestion and pollution, as well as reducing the burden on the NHS.
Dave Hembrow (worth reading for a UK perspective on Dutch cycling infrastructure:
Agreed, however in a city like Portsmouth infrastructure required can only be met witha comprimise, so people do need to understand that drivers have the capabilty to look straight through you on a cold dark morning.Dave Hembrow (worth reading for a UK perspective on Dutch cycling infrastructure:
Dave Hembrow said:
How many cyclists do you see when you go out, and how many of them are dressed in a way that indicates that they feel they have to worry about their safety on the roads ?
Are your cyclists a small part of traffic, wearing helmets, dressed in fluorescent jackets and predominantly young and/or "sporty", or do you live in a location where cyclists are of all ages, both sexes, and generally ride in normal clothes with no worries about visibility ?
Cyclists are the pit-canaries of the roads. If they're numerous, dressed in ordinary clothing and wide-ranging in age you can tell that you are in a location where cycling is "normal" in society and where it is safe enough, and feels safe enough, that everyone cycles.
It goes further than this. Do you see women routinely cycling alone at night ? Do children cycle long distances alone, day and night ? Do most children go to school by bike ? Do parents consider it to be safe for their children to do this ? Do those parents who do let their children cycle make them wear helmets and fluorescent clothing ? These are indicators about the health of cycling in an area.
Make cycling a truly attractive thing to do and more people will do it. Here in Assen, children are regularly seen riding great distances with groups of friends. Some cycle over 20 km each way to get to school.
From http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2008/08/pit-canaries.h...Are your cyclists a small part of traffic, wearing helmets, dressed in fluorescent jackets and predominantly young and/or "sporty", or do you live in a location where cyclists are of all ages, both sexes, and generally ride in normal clothes with no worries about visibility ?
Cyclists are the pit-canaries of the roads. If they're numerous, dressed in ordinary clothing and wide-ranging in age you can tell that you are in a location where cycling is "normal" in society and where it is safe enough, and feels safe enough, that everyone cycles.
It goes further than this. Do you see women routinely cycling alone at night ? Do children cycle long distances alone, day and night ? Do most children go to school by bike ? Do parents consider it to be safe for their children to do this ? Do those parents who do let their children cycle make them wear helmets and fluorescent clothing ? These are indicators about the health of cycling in an area.
Make cycling a truly attractive thing to do and more people will do it. Here in Assen, children are regularly seen riding great distances with groups of friends. Some cycle over 20 km each way to get to school.
Good stuff. The last week or so has just been light enough that I've commuted without needing my lights on most of the time - but I still have them attached to the bike (in rain, even in daylight, I use a rear LED on flashy mode). Brilliant!
But I notice the same about folk just not wearing reflective/bright kit. My jacket's a very vivid bright blue but it's covered by my rucsac with a lumi yellow cover and scotchlite bits. 2 rear LEDs, reflectors, reflective stuff on my rims (great idea), one front LED plus my Ay-Up LEDs (320 lumens
) - gives no excuse for drivers not to see me although some still don't...
But I notice the same about folk just not wearing reflective/bright kit. My jacket's a very vivid bright blue but it's covered by my rucsac with a lumi yellow cover and scotchlite bits. 2 rear LEDs, reflectors, reflective stuff on my rims (great idea), one front LED plus my Ay-Up LEDs (320 lumens
) - gives no excuse for drivers not to see me although some still don't...I went to work on my bike on Friday. Reaslised that my new decent jacket was just for the MTB as it was black! Used a couple of lights on rucksack & bike to compensate.
Due to a diversion it took 2 hours rather than the 1.45 I was hoping for and the roads were even worse than my normal route (A49)........... but loved it and vowed to try and do it once a week.
Due to a diversion it took 2 hours rather than the 1.45 I was hoping for and the roads were even worse than my normal route (A49)........... but loved it and vowed to try and do it once a week.
I only do 12 miles a day on my commute but it is sometimes hell due to motorists being just total planks ! I have Niterider duel front lamps on high strobe plus rear Cateye and for good measure front and rear LEDs on my helmet.The Niterider will light up the street but still i have the odd numpty still not seeing me !....remember these lights hurt if stared into !!!!
Roads suck,where does all the road fund money go to now ? On the odd occasion i drive to work (very,very rare due to traffic jams) i even dodge the potholes in the car never mind the Hybrid !
As for weather,ive just got used to it and have bought the right clothes for it now....my favorite buy over Christmas was a pair of Lizardskinz waterproof socks.Rode all winter through snow,rain,wind and even sunshine and did not get cold once.....just need to get rid of certain idiots behind the steering wheel now and the fun would be brilliant.Don't get me wrong,some motorists are very good and accomadate us two wheelers very well,but some are just total dicks and would benefit a few commute rides themselves to see what it's like to do battle !
Roads suck,where does all the road fund money go to now ? On the odd occasion i drive to work (very,very rare due to traffic jams) i even dodge the potholes in the car never mind the Hybrid !
As for weather,ive just got used to it and have bought the right clothes for it now....my favorite buy over Christmas was a pair of Lizardskinz waterproof socks.Rode all winter through snow,rain,wind and even sunshine and did not get cold once.....just need to get rid of certain idiots behind the steering wheel now and the fun would be brilliant.Don't get me wrong,some motorists are very good and accomadate us two wheelers very well,but some are just total dicks and would benefit a few commute rides themselves to see what it's like to do battle !
ok the day after report.
Well first ride into work took 45 mins. Slight rain, nothing major. So felt good.
During the day was slightly more hungry than usual but tbh nothing to write home about.
HOWEVER on the way home..... the heavens opened up as i took on the only hill in Portsmouth and i was left soaked, drained and not in the mood you'd want to be in if you still had 5 miles to go in the rain. Net result an hour and 30 min ride home
Felt shattered last night but i dont ache to day just a bit drowsy at 07:00 this morning as i got into the office.
Anyway i've bought some time pedals and new bar tape for my road bike and will be using that next week see if thats any easier.
Well first ride into work took 45 mins. Slight rain, nothing major. So felt good.
During the day was slightly more hungry than usual but tbh nothing to write home about.
HOWEVER on the way home..... the heavens opened up as i took on the only hill in Portsmouth and i was left soaked, drained and not in the mood you'd want to be in if you still had 5 miles to go in the rain. Net result an hour and 30 min ride home
Felt shattered last night but i dont ache to day just a bit drowsy at 07:00 this morning as i got into the office.
Anyway i've bought some time pedals and new bar tape for my road bike and will be using that next week see if thats any easier.
Right since i last rode to work i haven't attempted it since
Anyway todays forcast was nice so i managed to bash out my 15 odd miles to work in 44 mins!!!
Was on my (heavy) road bike and wasnt held up by traffic really but still thought it wasnt a bad time.
I feel great and strangley looking forward to the ride home?
Question, i saw someone on a cross road bike, it was a spesh and had larger road tyres and chunkier front forks but still had drops and road gear.
Now this looked great, comfy and all the rest of it but it also had panniers on it?
So im dead confused was it a hybrid, or a cross racer, or something even more niche?
I'm up in bristol next week so will pop into the spesh shop to ask.
Anyway todays forcast was nice so i managed to bash out my 15 odd miles to work in 44 mins!!!
Was on my (heavy) road bike and wasnt held up by traffic really but still thought it wasnt a bad time.
I feel great and strangley looking forward to the ride home?
Question, i saw someone on a cross road bike, it was a spesh and had larger road tyres and chunkier front forks but still had drops and road gear.
Now this looked great, comfy and all the rest of it but it also had panniers on it?
So im dead confused was it a hybrid, or a cross racer, or something even more niche?
I'm up in bristol next week so will pop into the spesh shop to ask.
CooperS said:
M400 NBL said:
Have you got waterproof overshoes? I bought a pair from a motorbike accessories shop and don't leave home without them if I am commuting by bicycle.
No but have thought about carrying some over shoes socks as i find winter shoes/boots maybe a cost to far?
They don't have a complete sole, so you'd need to wear shoes with a fairly waterresistant sole.
Currently £14.99 from http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/shop/product_info.ph...
posterboy said:
Cooper S well done and keep it up!
14 miles , 45 minutes! That good.
I'm still doing 9 miles in 50 minutes through SE & SW London
Thanks for the support 14 miles , 45 minutes! That good.
I'm still doing 9 miles in 50 minutes through SE & SW London
The most difficult thing i find (other than my useless brakes) is the time spent preping your bike the night before.
However i presume like riding regular you find a pattern of habbits allowing you to go through the whole process feeling drained (if that makes sense), so that in the morning you just get up, pull the bike out, get on and ride.
I'll get there.
Also thanks for the link, those look spot on for my needs.
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