The daily "I cycled to work" thread (Vol 2)
Discussion
Just to preface this a bit. So I have been neglecting my blog as it was mostly me moaning about stuff that in the grand scheme of things was of little or no importance or productive. There is more than enough negativity in the world without my adding to it. My bike has just crossed the 11,000 mile mark and I'm still doing consistent sub-thirty two minute runs to work. 
So by way of contradiction as I was cycling home from work this morning. It was raining, overcast, grey and pretty miserable so I took a different route instead of the national sped limit sequence of blind bends and humpback bridge. This is a single lane track that goes through a conservation area where there is always plenty of wildlife.
In the fields to my left I noticed a few deer running along the edge so I looked a head for the gap in the ditch and hedge row, pulled into the middle of the track and slowed so they could cross ahead of me.
A few hundred yards later a six month BMW MINI (fricking MAXI more like) bounded up behind me, slammed the brakes on (I was wearing full hi-viz and had three rear lights on so he obviously couldn't see me) and the operator ("driver" would be too complimentary) leaned on the horn for a few seconds. It was roughly quarter to seven so just as well there were no neighbors eh?
Just as the horn was released all three deer crossed the road ahead roughly where he would have been if he was still driving at full pelt. I pulled over to the left and waved him by. He opened the window to spout abuse. I asked if he noticed the deer he would have hit if I hadn't slowed him down.
"They're only animals I don't give a
".
So I asked if he knew how much a replacement bonnet for his BMW MAXI was. I just saved him from about £3,000 worth of damage. Closely followed by my usual indignant.
"You're Welcome!"
More abuse and he tried to wheel spin off but the crappy cement mixer engine didn't have the guts.
So I casually looked at the number plate. Not bothered about the reg' but the...
"lease-line"
...scrawled across the bottom said it all.
I think hire companies should introduce mandatory IQ and attitude tests before allowing people to take their vehicles.
So by way of contradiction as I was cycling home from work this morning. It was raining, overcast, grey and pretty miserable so I took a different route instead of the national sped limit sequence of blind bends and humpback bridge. This is a single lane track that goes through a conservation area where there is always plenty of wildlife.
In the fields to my left I noticed a few deer running along the edge so I looked a head for the gap in the ditch and hedge row, pulled into the middle of the track and slowed so they could cross ahead of me.
A few hundred yards later a six month BMW MINI (fricking MAXI more like) bounded up behind me, slammed the brakes on (I was wearing full hi-viz and had three rear lights on so he obviously couldn't see me) and the operator ("driver" would be too complimentary) leaned on the horn for a few seconds. It was roughly quarter to seven so just as well there were no neighbors eh?
Just as the horn was released all three deer crossed the road ahead roughly where he would have been if he was still driving at full pelt. I pulled over to the left and waved him by. He opened the window to spout abuse. I asked if he noticed the deer he would have hit if I hadn't slowed him down.
"They're only animals I don't give a
". So I asked if he knew how much a replacement bonnet for his BMW MAXI was. I just saved him from about £3,000 worth of damage. Closely followed by my usual indignant.
"You're Welcome!"
More abuse and he tried to wheel spin off but the crappy cement mixer engine didn't have the guts.
So I casually looked at the number plate. Not bothered about the reg' but the...
"lease-line"
...scrawled across the bottom said it all.
I think hire companies should introduce mandatory IQ and attitude tests before allowing people to take their vehicles.
Hell27 said:
Oi!
I'm about to get a new lease car!
That's an opportunity for you to be the exception to the...I'm about to get a new lease car!
"Not my car not my problem".
...attitude.
Completely soaked this morning. But the thing is after the fist mile you're as wet as you're going to get.
Also the forecast yesterday said the rain that hit bank on six o'clock wasn't going to until eight. Bit of a surprise but It's Friday for me and nice now so making hay.
Cycled to work every day last week which was the first time since I had a paper round over 40 years ago. Did a couple of evening rides and a longer one at the weekend which added up to just over 100 miles. No ill effects except knee pain when I ride my road bike. Perfectly ok on a mountain bike and never used to get any trouble with it on either. Any suggestion what might be causing it? It's the MCL which is painful.
Another week and the ten days or so a year I can cycle to wok without a mask are over. Winter due to the muck and stuff on the road, Summer due to dust, pollen but mostly bugs.
On my way home from wok this morning I was hit again. Orange and reflective back pack, orange shoes, hi-viz yellow shorts, hi-viz yellow t'shirt, hi-viz yellow helmet with rear light on, hi-viz orange and white gloves and a 200 lumen rear light flashing.
So what was the reason the vehicle operator didn't see me?
Her VW Golf was full of Vape smoke/steam and she failed to see me stopped at a junction waiting for a gap.
Minor bumper and mirror scuff, no harm or damage to me or my bike but as she got out to apologise it was like King Willy's limousine from Predator 2 but stank of burned popcorn and magic tree.
The next person she crashes into might not be as lucky.
On my way home from wok this morning I was hit again. Orange and reflective back pack, orange shoes, hi-viz yellow shorts, hi-viz yellow t'shirt, hi-viz yellow helmet with rear light on, hi-viz orange and white gloves and a 200 lumen rear light flashing.
So what was the reason the vehicle operator didn't see me?
Her VW Golf was full of Vape smoke/steam and she failed to see me stopped at a junction waiting for a gap.
Minor bumper and mirror scuff, no harm or damage to me or my bike but as she got out to apologise it was like King Willy's limousine from Predator 2 but stank of burned popcorn and magic tree.
The next person she crashes into might not be as lucky.
Another few weeks without incident. Apart from a Scrub drink driver in a Taxi who had a go at the wrong cyclist.
Got rained on a bit this evening and this morning was a sea breeze that crept up on me.
In an unrelated topic the Vape Golf was sat at the side of the road this evening with the front smashed in and drivers airbag deployed.
I hope nobody was hurt.
Got rained on a bit this evening and this morning was a sea breeze that crept up on me.
In an unrelated topic the Vape Golf was sat at the side of the road this evening with the front smashed in and drivers airbag deployed.
I hope nobody was hurt.
After a sneaky 34 miles and 3,000 vertical feet yesterday evening, my legs were a little heavy this morning. Loving the weather though, perfect blend of warm but not too warm, at least for the ride in!
Currently sat feeling hungry though, as I am attempting to use will power and reduced calorie intake to shift a little timber that I don't need to be carting up the hills.
Currently sat feeling hungry though, as I am attempting to use will power and reduced calorie intake to shift a little timber that I don't need to be carting up the hills.
After a six month lay off (due to a change of job & a three month sabbatical) plus five months and counting with an achilles problem I cycled into my new office today for the very first time.
What a glorious day to choose. Perfect conditions with a warm sun but a light cool breeze.
All the gym work and swimming I've been doing to offset the sudden cessation of running and cycling has paid off.
Five personal records, four second best and three third best sector times on Strava.
Happy days.
What a glorious day to choose. Perfect conditions with a warm sun but a light cool breeze.
All the gym work and swimming I've been doing to offset the sudden cessation of running and cycling has paid off.
Five personal records, four second best and three third best sector times on Strava.
Happy days.
louiebaby said:
After a sneaky 34 miles and 3,000 vertical feet yesterday evening, my legs were a little heavy this morning. Loving the weather though, perfect blend of warm but not too warm, at least for the ride in!
Currently sat feeling hungry though, as I am attempting to use will power and reduced calorie intake to shift a little timber that I don't need to be carting up the hills.
WTF???Currently sat feeling hungry though, as I am attempting to use will power and reduced calorie intake to shift a little timber that I don't need to be carting up the hills.
You sick, sick man. 3,000 feet in 34 miles?
I did 7,500 feet in 104 miles and thought that was lumpy. And I'm still paying for that three days later...
And yes, yes, I know, I live in shandy-swilling soft southern Hampshire and wouldn't know proper hills if they leapt up and bit me on the nose, etc, etc...
...but a sportive like the Jurassic Beast 'only' has 4,500 ft in 63 miles so 3k vertical in 34 miles sounds like a tough one from the saddle I'm perched on
After my hugely enthusiastic blast to work and back yesterday I am utterly cream crackered today. Came in on the tube.
Going to cycle again tomorrow - looking forward to the 24 degrees sun on the way home.
Trainer on Friday
Swim on Sunday.
Two months of this to lose a bit of timber for the hols.
Going to cycle again tomorrow - looking forward to the 24 degrees sun on the way home.
Trainer on Friday
Swim on Sunday.
Two months of this to lose a bit of timber for the hols.
Last night I was 2:03 off a KOM I was after. Turns out I probably can't get that one, unless there is a howling tailwind and I have the aerobars on.
This morning, I knew a colleague was cycling in, and suspected he was ahead of me, so did my own ITT to try and catch him. Which I did, in the work car park. So I'll count that as a win.
In other news, operation "lose a bit of weight" seems to be going well, until I realised it's probably down to having less waste in my bowels, rather than calories burned from fat. So I'll need to do it for more than 2 days. Which is a shame.
This morning, I knew a colleague was cycling in, and suspected he was ahead of me, so did my own ITT to try and catch him. Which I did, in the work car park. So I'll count that as a win.
In other news, operation "lose a bit of weight" seems to be going well, until I realised it's probably down to having less waste in my bowels, rather than calories burned from fat. So I'll need to do it for more than 2 days. Which is a shame.
Second time to new office; 11 personal bests - get in - and another 8 2nd's and 3rds.
All that gym work and swimming over the last six months has had a big effect.
Back in the gym 7am tomorrow.
Then doing a 1.1k swim on Sunday.
Cycling in again next Tuesday.
Probably do another 1K swim on Thursday as am having beers in the evening.
And a 7 minute high intensity fat burn session at home every day.
(still fat though.....LOL)
All that gym work and swimming over the last six months has had a big effect.
Back in the gym 7am tomorrow.
Then doing a 1.1k swim on Sunday.
Cycling in again next Tuesday.
Probably do another 1K swim on Thursday as am having beers in the evening.
And a 7 minute high intensity fat burn session at home every day.
(still fat though.....LOL)
AC43 said:
Second time to new office; 11 personal bests - get in - and another 8 2nd's and 3rds.
All that gym work and swimming over the last six months has had a big effect.
Good work!All that gym work and swimming over the last six months has had a big effect.
Felt a bit sluggish this morning after last night's spin out with a friend. (26.4 miles, 2,500 vertical feet, and a great GPS trace that looks a lot like a witch's face!)
Really enjoying the weather though.
louiebaby said:
Good work!
Thanks - I actually only started doing gym work (with a trainer) as I was getting too fat and my Mrs (who runs a lot and is in great shape) told me last August that I had better do something about it pronto.Six months in and I injured my achilles and that has led me (eventually) to a guy who fixes sports injuries and he diagnosed it as being down to a chronic lack of stretching by me over the last 25 years.
So I've learnt a lot about my body, learnt a lot about my diet and have learnt a lot about different fitness regimes. And stretching.
Put it all together and I'm way faster on the bike - yey!
And, more importantly, I'll burn off more fat more quickly and then keep it off.
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