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

[idiotgap]

louiebaby said:

idiotgap said:

I was in shorts this morning and ice formed on the hairs on my legs in the freezing fog of Streatham. Maybe I'll move to bib tights but I wasn't that cold. I am enjoying my Northwave boots the last couple of days and I'm in long finger gloves now.

I have made bold the source of your problem.

Here is the solution:

I named that ride on strava: "Freezing fog in Streatham, iced leg hairs. Is that why some shave? Tights soon."
I don't think shaving them is for me though, I bravely flout rule #33.

[bigdom]

idiotgap said:

I was in shorts this morning and ice formed on the hairs on my legs in the freezing fog of Streatham. Maybe I'll move to bib tights but I wasn't that cold. I am enjoying my Northwave boots the last couple of days and I'm in long finger gloves now.

What about leg/knee warmers instead for this time of year, the winter bibs can come out for when it gets properly cold.

[TwistingMyMelon]

love my knee warmers, proper versatile bits of kit, got some cheap ones from £15 from wiggle to test them and worn them loads

I dont feel the cold per se, but my knee joints don't like the temp under 10degrees, so knee warmers are great this time of year to keep the cold out the joints

Also when the temp goes around 0 I can wear them under leg warmers so my knees get a double layer on them

Long football/rugby socks are also good to keep the calves toasty in conjunction with KWs

[travel is dangerous]

TwistingMyMelon said:

love my knee warmers, proper versatile bits of kit, got some cheap ones from £15 from wiggle to test them and worn them loads

I dont feel the cold per se, but my knee joints don't like the temp under 10degrees, so knee warmers are great this time of year to keep the cold out the joints

Also when the temp goes around 0 I can wear them under leg warmers so my knees get a double layer on them

Long football/rugby socks are also good to keep the calves toasty in conjunction with KWs

What else are you warming with them?!

[idiotgap]

bigdom said:

What about leg/knee warmers instead for this time of year, the winter bibs can come out for when it gets properly cold.

Yeah I have some aldi ones somewhere, might dig them out at the weekend. Right now though, I feel warm enough, just comedy ice on the hairs this morning because of the fog. Melonman has me thinking though, maybe I should keep my knees warmer.

[AC43]

Reading these last few posts reminds that I spent my first couple of decades cycling in Scotland.

It feels tropical down here to me. My legs never get cold enough to need anything more than shorts.

[1ians]

Matt_N said:

I've been using these the last few chilly mornings and haven't suffered any coldness, no padding through which takes some getting used to, fine on the commute (9 miles) but get a bit tiring on longer rides.

http://galibier.cc/product/roubaix-vision-iii-glov...

Ditto. Carried my mitts today too for the ride home but opted for the gloves and they were comfortable at the warmer temps too.

On a side note, checked your profile to get an idea of the temps where your were and noticed that you’re in Bristol with a 9 mile commute too so

[1ians]

louiebaby said:

I've made the change this morning.

Up until now I'd been adding thicker base layers, arm warmers, leg warmers etc to the bibs and jersey combo.

This morning I broke out the 3/4 length bibs, and the long sleeve jumper with gillet over the top combo.

It does make getting ready a chunk quicker!

Another me too, changed from my decathlon lightweight gilet to my Fawesome too. I prefer my knee warmers to 3/4 lengths but struggle to keep them up and they end up as ankle warmers.

[MrsMiggins]

MrsMiggins said:

I don't know if it's this story in the news today or my new Knog Blinder rear light but today's commute appeared to feature significantly greater passing distances from all the drivers who passed me on the road. Long may it continue!

I am now officially calling this "The Blinder Effect". One week commuting and on the single occasion i didn't have the rear light turned on I had a close pass from a driver.

Scientific? No. But it seems to be having an effect.

[idiotgap]

I had a blinder, but the rubber strap failed so I returned it to planetx for a refund under warranty. It had a heartbeat style bedum, bedum, kind of flash which I thought might humanise me in the mind of other road users. I might see if there's one with a different mount.

[warp9]

Anyone enjoy cycling home in the dark? I decided to take the tow path home and avoid the roads. Was exhilarating and scary in equal measures. Surprised how busy it was too.

[idiotgap]

I actually don't mind it, but I stick to street-lit routes and drive the countryside bit because I'm frightened to do back lanes. I see a surprising number of people cycling without lights.

[MrsMiggins]

idiotgap said:

I had a blinder, but the rubber strap failed so I returned it to planetx for a refund under warranty. It had a heartbeat style bedum, bedum, kind of flash which I thought might humanise me in the mind of other road users. I might see if there's one with a different mount.

I saw a couple of reviews saying the strap broke but I decided to risk it since I only take the light off to charge it. Fingers crossed.

[SmilerFTM]

I cycle to work, just done it today and as I start early and finish late it's pitch black both directions. I have a mix of streets, back lanes and pathways. Much prefer the back lanes and pathways as you rarely see cars and there are a lot of fking aholes drive cars and give cyclists no room at all when overtaking

[louiebaby]

Ice cream headaches are back! Cold, but absolutely beautiful morning. Once I got warmed through, I was a very happy (if not particularly fast) boy.

[idiotgap]

Definitely was a tights day today, even broke the buff out to keep the ears intact. Lovely ride.

[AC43]

Jeez what a difference a week makes.

From a spring-like 15 degrees last Wednesday with a warm SW breeze to 8 degrees with an Acrtic NE chill.

Started off with three layers and blue fingers.

Eventually warmed up at about 4 miles, bit sweaty at the end of the 8.5 as I couldn't be arsed to stop and peel off my shell.

[Rich_W]

Cold feet today! Otherwise not too bad. Gore Waterproof light-ish jacket and Castelli bib tights. Bit sweaty when I got to work, but not too serious

Might need my Castelli booties in future though!

[AC43]

Had the normal litany of near misses yesterday but one really took the biscuit.

Fellah in a black Cayenne parked up on the left suddenly lurched out three feet to the right just as I was passing him, very nearly knocking me and another cyclist under the wheels of a bunch of cars approaching fast from behind.

No warning, no indication, nothing. We both stopped there and then but he pretended nothing had happened. Whilst continuing the call he was making. On the phone he was holding in his right hand.

Arrogant knob.

The rest of the ride was fine and I set a handful of PB's on Strava.

Edited by AC43 on Thursday 9th November 11:43

[Daveyraveygravey]

idiotgap said:

I actually don't mind it, but I stick to street-lit routes and drive the countryside bit because I'm frightened to do back lanes. I see a surprising number of people cycling without lights.

You should try it - there's something special about being out on a dark country road on your own. I find drivers tend to behave better too; they are less sure where the edge of the road is so aren't in such a rush to get past you. I can only do it for 90 minutes or so though; you get tunnel vision staring into the one part of your lighting you can see, and I miss the sights of a daylight ride too.