The daily "I cycled to work" thread (Vol 2)
Discussion
It's starting to be nice and light in the mornings.
Only about 6 weeks until the clocks go to Summer Time too.
New commute is a smidge shorter, more down narrow country lanes, so muckier, and the facilities aren't quite as good as the previous place. But much happier in the work, and we have a £5k limit on Cycle Scheme, which has caused some debate with the missus.
Only about 6 weeks until the clocks go to Summer Time too.
New commute is a smidge shorter, more down narrow country lanes, so muckier, and the facilities aren't quite as good as the previous place. But much happier in the work, and we have a £5k limit on Cycle Scheme, which has caused some debate with the missus.
After more than 3yrs in Birmingham, I was finally knocked off my bike by a driver this morning. I was in a row of moving traffic and he was coming toward us, trying to turn across the road into a side road he wasn't supposed to go into (No right turn except cyclists, ironically enough). He thought I was a hi-vis-clad flashy-lighted gap between 2 cars. So he turned in and clipped me.
Luckily I only have a few bumps, traffic was a bit slow, but the front derailleur of my bike is bent and the crank arm might be, I didn't have time to check it properly. He agreed to pay for damage and I got his details and a picture of his car. He seemed to be upset that I didn't immediately forgive him once he said he hadn't seen me.
I walked the 1.5km home, got on my second bike and got in fine the second time! I'll bring it to the LBS later. Bloody fun start to the week...
Luckily I only have a few bumps, traffic was a bit slow, but the front derailleur of my bike is bent and the crank arm might be, I didn't have time to check it properly. He agreed to pay for damage and I got his details and a picture of his car. He seemed to be upset that I didn't immediately forgive him once he said he hadn't seen me.
I walked the 1.5km home, got on my second bike and got in fine the second time! I'll bring it to the LBS later. Bloody fun start to the week...
Thanks, I'm more or less uninjured, some scrapes and a swollen elbow. I've had a poke at the bike and it looks like the big chainring took the only hit, it's a bit warped so is throwing the chain. The front derailleur is working fine but will need readjusting. Looks like he got lucky, it'll be less than £100 to order a new ring and get the gears re-indexed.
I moved jobs 3 years ago and have not had a puncture while commuting in that time, roughly 150 to 200 miles a month and that's all year round when I'm not broken lol. Anyway yesterday I had my first puncture, I thought it was about time so I wasn't too miffed (this should pass swear filter 
) stood in the rain fixing it, today I managed to get another about 500m down the road from yesterday, now I'm miffed! Yesterdays was a sharp stone as it sliced the tyre and today looks like a thorn. I'm sure its down to the road has been closed for months due to road works so the drop in traffic isn't clearing the crap off the road. Other that that it was a pleasant ride in.
) stood in the rain fixing it, today I managed to get another about 500m down the road from yesterday, now I'm miffed! Yesterdays was a sharp stone as it sliced the tyre and today looks like a thorn. I'm sure its down to the road has been closed for months due to road works so the drop in traffic isn't clearing the crap off the road. Other that that it was a pleasant ride in.Get well soon Paraicj and good luck getting the bike sorted.
The warmer weather and the end of half-term seems to have brought out lots of less experienced cycle commuters, great news in lots of ways! There is a bit of bimbling and bumbling about though, I guess the first few weeks will knock off a lot of the edges.
The warmer weather and the end of half-term seems to have brought out lots of less experienced cycle commuters, great news in lots of ways! There is a bit of bimbling and bumbling about though, I guess the first few weeks will knock off a lot of the edges.
idiotgap said:
Get well soon Paraicj and good luck getting the bike sorted.
The warmer weather and the end of half-term seems to have brought out lots of less experienced cycle commuters, great news in lots of ways! There is a bit of bimbling and bumbling about though, I guess the first few weeks will knock off a lot of the edges.
I see one other commuter in the mornings at the mo, very quiet here in the country lol.The warmer weather and the end of half-term seems to have brought out lots of less experienced cycle commuters, great news in lots of ways! There is a bit of bimbling and bumbling about though, I guess the first few weeks will knock off a lot of the edges.
Was overtaken on my knackered MTB on the way home last night, just after I started and by a roadie, to not concerned.
As I got warmed up I realised he wasn't getting away any further, and there was a long steady climb starting. I paced myself well to catch him just before the top, thanked him for the pacing partner, and promptly fell off the back to rocket out the remnants of my sinus infection.
Felt good to have a proper go, a training partner / target makes a real difference. I thought I'd lost quite a lot of fitness over the winter, but maybe it's not quite as bad as I thought.
As I got warmed up I realised he wasn't getting away any further, and there was a long steady climb starting. I paced myself well to catch him just before the top, thanked him for the pacing partner, and promptly fell off the back to rocket out the remnants of my sinus infection.
Felt good to have a proper go, a training partner / target makes a real difference. I thought I'd lost quite a lot of fitness over the winter, but maybe it's not quite as bad as I thought.
aclivity said:
New toy:
Good colour scheme. They released a barbour edition recently and that was a similar green. That looked pretty good. However you do need to get it dirty. Mine is filthy all the time apart from the chain 
Not sure I refer to mine as a toy. However, as a functional tool to get me to work it is fantastic. British designed, assembled and still British owned.
Mine has paid for its self three times over since I bought it and that includes maintenance (chains, tyres, new front wheel) When mine hits 5000 miles, I'm treating it to carbon bars
I have no interest in their new Electric Brompton, but I do wish they would build something with discs. There are companies out there who have built Bromptons with a front disc brake. I would happily accept a bigger folded package if I could have brake discs.
I should have put a picture of my "old" toy ... 7 year old, many thousands of miles (10000?) Brompton.
I know it is not a toy but I enjoy riding to work, even more so today when it is clean!
I drove in yesterday as I had to get the new one back ... Didn't like that, hopefully be 7 years before I drive again (in the city, I mean)
I know it is not a toy but I enjoy riding to work, even more so today when it is clean!
I drove in yesterday as I had to get the new one back ... Didn't like that, hopefully be 7 years before I drive again (in the city, I mean)
Had to stop en route to the office this morning as the bike felt sluggish and there was a sight whining noise emanating from the rear wheel. Upon closer inspection, the rear mudguard had accumulated that much mud and debris that it was contacting the rear tyre! The wheel wouldn't even spin freely.
I've washed the bike once in 1000km so probably deserved!
I've washed the bike once in 1000km so probably deserved!
Next week is going to be fun. Temps unlikely to get above 0 most mornings. Possibly some snow. I have ordered some expensive merino socks and liner gloves!
Got another puncture on the way home. This is with slime tubes. I ride on the MK redways. To be fair to the council they do clean and sweep the paths regularly but there are clearly more idiots. Broken glass everywhere and its impossible to avoid at times. Thinking of looking at those solid tyres that can't puncture.
Got another puncture on the way home. This is with slime tubes. I ride on the MK redways. To be fair to the council they do clean and sweep the paths regularly but there are clearly more idiots. Broken glass everywhere and its impossible to avoid at times. Thinking of looking at those solid tyres that can't puncture.
I've waved the white flag for the foreseeable.
Despite my best efforts (two pairs of socks + winter overshoes, liners + skiing gloves), I can't maintain heat in my fingers and toes for my journey if its below 2 degrees.
Next week is a write off, shame as I was beginning to accumulate a decent amount of mileage.
Despite my best efforts (two pairs of socks + winter overshoes, liners + skiing gloves), I can't maintain heat in my fingers and toes for my journey if its below 2 degrees.
Next week is a write off, shame as I was beginning to accumulate a decent amount of mileage.
Dr Murdoch said:
I've waved the white flag for the foreseeable.
Despite my best efforts (two pairs of socks + winter overshoes, liners + skiing gloves), I can't maintain heat in my fingers and toes for my journey if its below 2 degrees.
Next week is a write off, shame as I was beginning to accumulate a decent amount of mileage.
I'm tempted. We had the stupid idea of selling my car and being a 1 car family so I have no choice! I looked into battery heated gloves and socks, but the options were Chinese made crap, or ones that cost £150 - £300. Ordered some decent think wool socks, and some silk liner gloves and socks..Despite my best efforts (two pairs of socks + winter overshoes, liners + skiing gloves), I can't maintain heat in my fingers and toes for my journey if its below 2 degrees.
Next week is a write off, shame as I was beginning to accumulate a decent amount of mileage.
Scabutz said:
I'm tempted. We had the stupid idea of selling my car and being a 1 car family so I have no choice! I looked into battery heated gloves and socks, but the options were Chinese made crap, or ones that cost £150 - £300. Ordered some decent think wool socks, and some silk liner gloves and socks..
1 car family here, also now not on a bus route that's particularly convenient. For my feet I have Northwave boots, (bought in June for huge discount, and nice woolly socks. For gloves I have a multitude of options, from thin fingerless to neoprene (almost diver spec) specials.I find my hands get cold at first, then warm up mid-ride, unless I've got it spectacularly wrong. The Vulpine Softshell gloves I got in the sale about a year ago are much better than you'd think, they work fine unless the frost on the cars is properly "fuzzy".
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