The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
Picked up my new steed last night [essentially the same as the old one but newer and shinier 
] but it looked so clean and new and shiny in the garage and the commute looked like it was going to be so dull, wet and grimy I decided to hitch a lift with Mrs hurstg01 instead.
Rule #5 was ignored
] but it looked so clean and new and shiny in the garage and the commute looked like it was going to be so dull, wet and grimy I decided to hitch a lift with Mrs hurstg01 instead. Rule #5 was ignored
Rode my new bike in today - need to adjust the seat as I was slowly moving forwards on it through the commute in. I now leave the bike in the [swipe card accessed] office for more security since having my old one stolen last week however 'old dears' in the office have moaned that "it's an office, not a bike park" which resulted in me asking if they wanted to pay my excess if the bike got stolen again....
Have now moved the bike to a less discrete part of the office [behind my desk] and will try to sneak in the odd wheelie down the office throughout the day to entertain the troops
Have now moved the bike to a less discrete part of the office [behind my desk] and will try to sneak in the odd wheelie down the office throughout the day to entertain the troops
Nice ride in this morning - couple of things that got my goat though -
Pillock in a Vectra didnt see me in my luminous yellow cycling top and bright lights and thought he had right of way coming on to a roundabout and I was coming from his right - he would have pole-axed me were I not having to skid and he nearly stacking his car into the kerb
People who pass you in their car, see a traffic jam ahead, then pull in to the kerb and stop in th eline of traffic - they've obviously just overtaken you, know that there's a bike on their inside, but still feel the need to squeeze tight to the kerb so as not to leave enough gap for the cyclist they have just passed to get through....
Still, the traffic jam held them up enough for me to finish my journey before they passed me again, so alls well that ends well
Pillock in a Vectra didnt see me in my luminous yellow cycling top and bright lights and thought he had right of way coming on to a roundabout and I was coming from his right - he would have pole-axed me were I not having to skid and he nearly stacking his car into the kerb
People who pass you in their car, see a traffic jam ahead, then pull in to the kerb and stop in th eline of traffic - they've obviously just overtaken you, know that there's a bike on their inside, but still feel the need to squeeze tight to the kerb so as not to leave enough gap for the cyclist they have just passed to get through....
Still, the traffic jam held them up enough for me to finish my journey before they passed me again, so alls well that ends well
I'm amazed at the difference my new purchase has made to commute comfort; overshoes.
It's rained both yesterday and today, but both times my feet/shoes have remained nice and warm and (more importantly) bone dry.
I've got the Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal ones, so they are a little warm - it's odd weather here, not very cold but crap weather - but highly recommended to get some overshoes. What a difference
It's rained both yesterday and today, but both times my feet/shoes have remained nice and warm and (more importantly) bone dry.
I've got the Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal ones, so they are a little warm - it's odd weather here, not very cold but crap weather - but highly recommended to get some overshoes. What a difference
Racked up my first ride into work this morning
It's almost a 20 mile commute so got up a little early and set off at 7am - was outside the office for 8.10am.
Feel pretty knackered as I also played 5 aside footy last night for just over an hour (finishing at 10.15pm)
Unfortunately the Edge 500 died on me half way through the ride so can't even track the date (pretty annoyed about that)
But overall, feel good to have done it - nice way to 'properly' wake up.
I did post many months ago that our office only had a shower for the MD, but I convinced our HR department and got the nod to use it.
Will I want to make it a regular journey? No (40 miles each day is too much, especially as I play football too)
Would I do it on odd occasions? Yes
It's almost a 20 mile commute so got up a little early and set off at 7am - was outside the office for 8.10am.
Feel pretty knackered as I also played 5 aside footy last night for just over an hour (finishing at 10.15pm)
Unfortunately the Edge 500 died on me half way through the ride so can't even track the date (pretty annoyed about that)
But overall, feel good to have done it - nice way to 'properly' wake up.
I did post many months ago that our office only had a shower for the MD, but I convinced our HR department and got the nod to use it.
Will I want to make it a regular journey? No (40 miles each day is too much, especially as I play football too)
Would I do it on odd occasions? Yes
Piss wet through and my rear cantilever brakes lost a screw meaning they became unbalanced and one brake pad wouldn't come off the rim. It was so wet I wasn't stopping though - last 3 miles was like the mightiest of headwinds.
f
king stupid bding cantilever brakes. I know they work well but I'll be fked if I understand them 
Any helps? Looks like the car for me tomorrow unless I can find a work around.
(one assumes my local bike shop should stock a replacement?)
f
king stupid bding cantilever brakes. I know they work well but I'll be fked if I understand them Any helps? Looks like the car for me tomorrow unless I can find a work around.
(one assumes my local bike shop should stock a replacement?)
miln0039 said:
Piss wet through and my rear cantilever brakes lost a screw meaning they became unbalanced and one brake pad wouldn't come off the rim. It was so wet I wasn't stopping though - last 3 miles was like the mightiest of headwinds.
fking stupid bding cantilever brakes. I know they work well but I'll be fked if I understand them
Any helps? Looks like the car for me tomorrow unless I can find a work around.
(one assumes my local bike shop should stock a replacement?)
The adjustment screw that you lost means that the side it came off has lost any extra tension that the screw afforded it.f
king stupid bding cantilever brakes. I know they work well but I'll be fked if I understand them Any helps? Looks like the car for me tomorrow unless I can find a work around.
(one assumes my local bike shop should stock a replacement?)
If you unscrew the screw on the opposite side, fully out, then it will also have zero extra tension.
With any luck, the two sides might balance. This is a long shot, as the adjustment screws are there because these brakes rarely balance without some micro tweeking.
If it doesn't work, then I'm afraid you need to find a replacement for the screw you lost, and adjust until both sides spring back equally from the wheel rim.
Hope that makes sense!
Get Karter said:
The adjustment screw that you lost means that the side it came off has lost any extra tension that the screw afforded it.
If you unscrew the screw on the opposite side, fully out, then it will also have zero extra tension.
With any luck, the two sides might balance. This is a long shot, as the adjustment screws are there because these brakes rarely balance without some micro tweeking.
If it doesn't work, then I'm afraid you need to find a replacement for the screw you lost, and adjust until both sides spring back equally from the wheel rim.
Hope that makes sense!
Thanks and it does. I had a look and I've lost one from the front too. I took the one from there and popped it on the back and they balance okay now (I did adjust the cable that goes across too). The fronts seemed to balance up nicely anyway, but I again adjusted the cross cable and they're balanced now. If you unscrew the screw on the opposite side, fully out, then it will also have zero extra tension.
With any luck, the two sides might balance. This is a long shot, as the adjustment screws are there because these brakes rarely balance without some micro tweeking.
If it doesn't work, then I'm afraid you need to find a replacement for the screw you lost, and adjust until both sides spring back equally from the wheel rim.
Hope that makes sense!
They seem to be a bit of a dark art to me.
Thanks again for the reply
shouldbworking said:
Wet.
I conceed. despite my extreme reluctance to spend money, some overshoes would seem to be in order. taped vents is not doing the job.
Anybody found any that actually work? I have a set which keep the water out for a while, but it's not long enough to get to work so now I don't bother and just put up with wet feet. Fortunately the drying facilities at work are very good.I conceed. despite my extreme reluctance to spend money, some overshoes would seem to be in order. taped vents is not doing the job.
AyBee said:
Anybody found any that actually work? I have a set which keep the water out for a while, but it's not long enough to get to work so now I don't bother and just put up with wet feet. Fortunately the drying facilities at work are very good.
I have the Pearl Izumi Elite Thermal Barrier ones ( http://www.probikekit.com/uk/clothing/cycling-clot... ) - not only do they keep my feet dry, they also keep them very warm! Highly recommended. The only negative I can say is that I have size 48 shoes and so it means, with the covers on, my feet are MASSIVE 
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