The daily "I cycled to work" thread (Vol 2)
Discussion
idiotgap said:
Recently, while it's not been cold I've been going with less is more for waterproofing. So bibs and Jersey as usual + a gilet if it's really pouring. The full length mudguards have made a big difference and having more than one pair of shoes.
So as not to get soft in the summer months, I just ride in bibs and short sleeve jersey whatever the weather. I do pop the mudguards on when it looks wet though as there's nothing more annoying than getting soaked due to spray, even when it's not actually raining!Was so wet last night! I really lose confidence in the rain, average speed was down about 6 km/h and my confidence in the brakes is even worse. Upgraded to Ultegras a couple of weeks back but they have no bite until you really lever on. I guess I'll get used to it, but I can certainly see why some people prefer disc brakes!
glasgow mega snake said:
ultra close pass (3-4 inches) on a piece of dual carriageway today. looked back with incredulity to the bus driver behind and he motioned to say i should be closer to the kerb. i hate cycling.
It's not the cycling that is the problem. It's the humans. (or sub humane scum)Misses was watching Hollyoaks last night so stuck some new bits on the commuter
Had some old free SPD pedals, swapped out the eggbeaters which I was slowly starting to hate. Got some SPD cleats for £3 from PlanetX. FIrst impressions are that I much much much prefer the SPDs to eggbeaters. I usually run SPD-SLs but they are crap for commuting , pedals are a bit worn down but least I know I like them
Also got a Planet X Fizik copy saddle, wow feels spot on, never tried that design before , I know I want a long wide saddle and this one seems spot on, it was really comfortable but didnt sacrifice any performance, really impressed .
Managed to fly up the first hill, not a bad feat considering the bike weighs nearly 30 pounds with semi slicks on
Been doing a lot of strength work off the bike and put on half a stone, but feel a lot stronger for it on the bike
Had some old free SPD pedals, swapped out the eggbeaters which I was slowly starting to hate. Got some SPD cleats for £3 from PlanetX. FIrst impressions are that I much much much prefer the SPDs to eggbeaters. I usually run SPD-SLs but they are crap for commuting , pedals are a bit worn down but least I know I like them
Also got a Planet X Fizik copy saddle, wow feels spot on, never tried that design before , I know I want a long wide saddle and this one seems spot on, it was really comfortable but didnt sacrifice any performance, really impressed .
Managed to fly up the first hill, not a bad feat considering the bike weighs nearly 30 pounds with semi slicks on
Been doing a lot of strength work off the bike and put on half a stone, but feel a lot stronger for it on the bike
Haven't ridden to work all week. My student son is working where I work for the summer, and I have managed to get him to ride in with me once a week a few times. Trouble is, he's 19, so by the time he is out of bed and ready to ride, the 15-20 minute safety margin I allow myself has gone, and then he rides so slowly we only ever arrive just as the buzzer goes. It's too stressful! I also notice the s
tty driving behaviour of other road users when he's with me; I can sometimes ride for an hour on the Sussex lanes and have no incident I feel is worth shouting at a driver about, but when he is along, they all seem to bleeding close.
tty driving behaviour of other road users when he's with me; I can sometimes ride for an hour on the Sussex lanes and have no incident I feel is worth shouting at a driver about, but when he is along, they all seem to bleeding close.I recently moved house. I'm now 15 miles from work. So I decided to do the ride on Monday, while the sun was out. It was a really nice ride actually, due mostly to the fact its across the New Forest (Ringwood to Lymington). Although I now think I need to either get a proper bike fitting and make some tweaks to my bikes geometry, or get a whole new bicycle. My left knee was in agony by the time I got home...
HugoFastmann said:
I recently moved house. I'm now 15 miles from work. So I decided to do the ride on Monday, while the sun was out. It was a really nice ride actually, due mostly to the fact its across the New Forest (Ringwood to Lymington). Although I now think I need to either get a proper bike fitting and make some tweaks to my bikes geometry, or get a whole new bicycle. My left knee was in agony by the time I got home...
Sorry to hear about your pain. I've bolded the answer for you.I dug out the winter boots this morning, so at least I had warm and wet feet.
louiebaby said:
Sorry to hear about your pain. I've bolded the answer for you.
I dug out the winter boots this morning, so at least I had warm and wet feet.
I'm not entirely sure the bike is the issue though. I do have a foot injury at the moment, and apparently I'm using my left quad a lot more than I should for simple foot movements, compared to my right leg. Which could explain it. Or it could be the bicycle...I dug out the winter boots this morning, so at least I had warm and wet feet.
HugoFastmann said:
louiebaby said:
Sorry to hear about your pain. I've bolded the answer for you.
I dug out the winter boots this morning, so at least I had warm and wet feet.
I'm not entirely sure the bike is the issue though. - yeeeees it isI dug out the winter boots this morning, so at least I had warm and wet feet.
I do have a foot injury at the moment a (shiny) new bike will heal that and apparently I'm using my left quad a lot more than I should for simple foot movements, compared to my right leg. Which could explain it. Or it could be the bicycle...
Just built up a winter/commuter 4 season bike 10days ago and coming the end of the build I said to my wife, not sure I'll bother fitting the guards on yet. No, do it she said. So a couple of hours later after fettling and fine tuning I finished.
Since then I've covered 500kms and it's rained on pretty much every ride. This morning i set out with overshoes and goretex jacket as it was that wet !
As it the Netherlands as well it also comes with at least a beaufort 4-6 every day .... isn't it supposed to be August?
Since then I've covered 500kms and it's rained on pretty much every ride. This morning i set out with overshoes and goretex jacket as it was that wet !
As it the Netherlands as well it also comes with at least a beaufort 4-6 every day .... isn't it supposed to be August?
Got a puncture this morning.
Felt the tyre and there seemed to be air.. so pumped it up and hoped for the best. Yeah like that was going to work.
So pulled over again and changed the tyre. I checked everything and put a new tube in, pulled the embedded glass out of the tyre (Conti 4 seasons) and checked underside of the tyre and rim for good measure.
Had gloves which made the job a whole lot easier. Very satisfying undertaking my first roadside puncture. I have been lucky that previous punctures have happened just as I go into work. This is where I perfected my craft.
Felt the tyre and there seemed to be air.. so pumped it up and hoped for the best. Yeah like that was going to work.
So pulled over again and changed the tyre. I checked everything and put a new tube in, pulled the embedded glass out of the tyre (Conti 4 seasons) and checked underside of the tyre and rim for good measure.
Had gloves which made the job a whole lot easier. Very satisfying undertaking my first roadside puncture. I have been lucky that previous punctures have happened just as I go into work. This is where I perfected my craft.
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