The daily "I cycled to work" thread (Vol 2)

[HugoFastmann]

Finally attempted the 25 mile cycle to work this morning. Was lovely. Only saw 3 cars and 5 horses in the first 45 minutes! Coming into Southampton was a bit of a mission though.
Not looking forward to having to cycle home though...

[louiebaby]

Cycled in with a friend today, his first time. I hope he starts doing it a bit more regularly.

(He'll be the third conversion to sporadic cycle commuting I've made.)

Just right for arm warmers today.

[Matt_N]

Been so mild this week, 16c when I set off at 06.30 this morning!

Been keeping up with my 3 days a week for a good while now, feeling pretty good.

[GSE]

In the past I used to commute to London from Stansted using the M11 - which I grew to hate.
In the recent past I used to commute to Newmarket using the M11 - which wasn't quite so bad, but rarely enjoyed it.
Now I find myself working at Hatfield Broad Oak about 9 miles away by car.

I've had a mountain bike for years which I used to use fairy often for short trips to the shops, or for the occasional day trip.
Looking a map I found that it was possible to commute to Hatfield Broad Oak avoiding the roads and using paths and trails for about 3/4 of the distance, with the added bonus that part of the trip is through Hatfield Forest.

I've been doing this 2 to 3 days for about 2 months now and really enjoy it. If the weather forecast is good there has never been a better reason to get up early and enjoy the commute in. Basically I am loving it! I still ache a bit the day after, but my recovery time seems to be shortening.
I'm going to buy some better clothing soon and intend to keep going over the winter weather permitting.

I think its time to buy a new bike to replace the Giant aluminium framed MB with front suspension that I bought back in 2000 which makes it a 'W' reg in car terms.I like technology and want my next MB to have hydraulic disc brakes and a carbon frame, but I am on a budget. Can anybody recommend a bike for my commute?

Edited by GSE on Sunday 15th October 10:19

[idiotgap]

I'll try and distil out the requirement

GSE said:

9 miles
avoiding the roads and using paths and trails for about 3/4 of the distance
part of the trip is through Hatfield Forest.
I think its time to buy a new bike to replace the Giant aluminium framed MB with front suspension that I bought back in 2000 want my next MB to have hydraulic disc brakes and a carbon frame
I am on a budget

Can anybody recommend a bike for my commute?

Are you after a new carbon hydraulic disc mountain bike to commute on, or is the commuter a separate bike?
Are you committed to a mountain bike or would you consider and cyclo-cross or gravel bike which might do fine on the commute trails but also be good on the road part?

[GSE]

idiotgap said:

Are you after a new carbon hydraulic disc mountain bike to commute on or is the commuter a separate bike?

Yes, new carbon/hydraulic to commute on. Will be leaving my current Giant at work for the occasional lunch time trip out, for days when I drive in to work.

idiotgap said:

Are you committed to a mountain bike or would you consider and cyclo-cross or gravel bike which might do fine on the commute trails but also be good on the road part?

Leaning towards staying with a MB as most of my trip is off road. Parts of the trip through Hatfield forest are quite bumpy.

[idiotgap]

I know nothing about modern mountain bikes I'm afraid, bought mine new in 1991!

[MiltonBaines]

Warm enough to commute in just a tshirt this morning. 12yr old specialized hardrock is managing fine. Though if i commute 3 days a week over the winter I'll justify a new bike next year. Riding has changed my days so much. I wake looking forward to the commute and now really look forward to the ride home.

[louiebaby]

GSE said:

I like technology and want my next MB to have hydraulic disc brakes and a carbon frame, but I am on a budget. Can anybody recommend a bike for my commute?

I'm no expert on MTBs, although I do use a 29er through the winter for my commute. I have no off-road bits though. It is a bit of a slog, but this is great baseline winter training for me.

You don't mention your budget, but most here will (probably) think that a carbon MTB for commuting is a bit over kill. It's not my place to tell you what to do, but please consider where you will leave it whilst at work, and how happy you will feel about how trashed it might get by being used for commuting.

Hydraulic discs though, yes. You want those.

In your situation, I would be looking at something like a the Canyon Fitness bike, designed for trail use. With guards and the right tyres, it might be a reasonable shout:

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/fitness/pathlite/path...

If you are thinking about a proper MTB, I would have thought you would want to avoid going down the "full bounce" route. Would something like this carbon offering be of interest?

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/mtb/exceed/exceed-cf-...

[GSE]

Thanks Louiebaby. I'd thought of a carbon framed bike because I thought it offered big weight savings, but after having a look in Halfords it seems that that there are aluminium framed bikes that weigh the same if not less in some cases. The Boardmans looked good, one of them weighed in at 9.8kg noticeably lighter than the Giant I have at the moment. To clarify I intend to leave my existing 17 year old Giant at work, and commute 2 or 3 days using whatever new bike I get. The two you mention look great.

[snobetter]

GSE said:

Thanks Louiebaby. I'd thought of a carbon framed bike because I thought it offered big weight savings, but after having a look in Halfords it seems that that there are aluminium framed bikes that weigh the same if not less in some cases. The Boardmans looked good, one of them weighed in at 9.8kg noticeably lighter than the Giant I have at the moment. To clarify I intend to leave my existing 17 year old Giant at work, and commute 2 or 3 days using whatever new bike I get. The two you mention look great.

In a looking to spend other people's money way, you can get circa 30% off this years models at the moment, so if you were looking to buy at the start of next year might make sense to buy now...

[Paraicj]

After a day off the bike yesterday due to a combination of post-Great Birmingham Run legs and potential hurricane winds, this morning was a very pleasant ride in. Weather is still shorts-friendly, traffic is light enough. Wind has died down!

[freakybacon]

Pleasant ride in to Cleckheaton from Dewsbury this morning, fairly quick too, under 24 minutes for 6 miles. Returning home though.... the traffic! Filtering round Dewsbury ring road steadily and carefully like I’m made of egg shells... still quicker than the car though.

[Banana Boy]

Had my bike stolen at lunch time today!

Rode into Peterborough City Centre to collect a book from Waterstones... Lock was cut and bike stolen inside 10 minutes!!! They clearly hang around waiting for people to lock up bikes worth stealing! Not that she was worth 'that much' but she was to me...

It was locked right in front of a CCTV camera, the police are going to look at it but clearly the thief isn't that worried...

[WolfieBot]

Banana Boy said:

Had my bike stolen at lunch time today!

Rode into Peterborough City Centre to collect a book from Waterstones... Lock was cut and bike stolen inside 10 minutes!!! They clearly hang around waiting for people to lock up bikes worth stealing! Not that she was worth 'that much' but she was to me...

I've had an attempt on mine in Peterborough too in the past, fortunately my lock held up. I don't know how it compares to other cities but it does seem to be a big problem in Peterborough.

[Banana Boy]

WolfieBot said:

Banana Boy said:

Had my bike stolen at lunch time today!

Rode into Peterborough City Centre to collect a book from Waterstones... Lock was cut and bike stolen inside 10 minutes!!! They clearly hang around waiting for people to lock up bikes worth stealing! Not that she was worth 'that much' but she was to me...

I've had an attempt on mine in Peterborough too in the past, fortunately my lock held up. I don't know how it compares to other cities but it does seem to be a big problem in Peterborough.

It is in the centre of town! There was this floating around for a while, it's probably the same guy (man with black back pack casually stands by a bike locked near one of the trees in the middle distance, cuts bike lock and rides off like he owns it!)

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/crime/vide...

[glasgow mega snake]

car behind me at top of (steep) hill. bus lane appears on inside. I move into bus lane. Car moves alongside. Travelling 30 mph. approaching red lights at bottom of hill. Car guns it, pulls in front of me into bus lane (still going 30mph now) leaving about 3ft between my front wheel and her back bumper... and then jams on brakes to slow for lights (still before the end of the bus lane, which is about 100 metres away by this point).

totally lost it (shouting etc.) once we'd stopped at lights (which were red, obviously).

Any tips on how to stay calm with these retards much appreciated, they are making my cycle worse but they seem to have recruited me to help make my own cycle worse by getting so angry with them.

[louiebaby]

glasgow mega snake said:

Any tips on how to stay calm with these retards much appreciated, they are making my cycle worse but they seem to have recruited me to help make my own cycle worse by getting so angry with them.

Start by checking to see if they have kids in the back of the car. If yes, politely remind them to ride past cyclists as if they were passing their own kid on a bike.

If not, tear them a new one with excessive profanity.

[Daveyraveygravey]

glasgow mega snake said:

car behind me at top of (steep) hill. bus lane appears on inside. I move into bus lane. Car moves alongside. Travelling 30 mph. approaching red lights at bottom of hill. Car guns it, pulls in front of me into bus lane (still going 30mph now) leaving about 3ft between my front wheel and her back bumper... and then jams on brakes to slow for lights (still before the end of the bus lane, which is about 100 metres away by this point).

totally lost it (shouting etc.) once we'd stopped at lights (which were red, obviously).

Any tips on how to stay calm with these retards much appreciated, they are making my cycle worse but they seem to have recruited me to help make my own cycle worse by getting so angry with them.

Don't worry about losing it, I yell my head off (trying not to swear too much) so that eveyone in the area can see. I don't care if I am "giving cyclists a bad name" I am not putting up with lazy or dangerous or incompetent driving. There is no reason for people to drive like you describe.

[Jollyclub]

Banana Boy said:

Had my bike stolen at lunch time today!

Rode into Peterborough City Centre to collect a book from Waterstones... Lock was cut and bike stolen inside 10 minutes!!! They clearly hang around waiting for people to lock up bikes worth stealing! Not that she was worth 'that much' but she was to me...

It was locked right in front of a CCTV camera, the police are going to look at it but clearly the thief isn't that worried...

What kind of lock was it out of interest?