Cycling to work
Discussion
will_ said:
It doesn't actually rain that much, I probably only get drenched a handful of times a year - and surely you'd change when you got to work anyway? For over £3k a year in your pocked that's not too bad.....
Dunno about that, I had a few weeks when I couldn't drive recently, so walked in to the office or got the bus. I got wet considerably more times than I didn't. Personally I find getting changed pretty useless if you're already sweaty or wet through. The worst bit though is the fact the road I come in on is bad enough in a car, almost four lanes wide but not quite as the highly intelligent local council decided to narrow it just a bit, with a road surface akin to a green-laners wet dream. I've seen many a cyclist and driver come a cropper and know of at least one killed by a lorry.Davi said:
will_ said:
It doesn't actually rain that much, I probably only get drenched a handful of times a year - and surely you'd change when you got to work anyway? For over £3k a year in your pocked that's not too bad.....
Dunno about that, I had a few weeks when I couldn't drive recently, so walked in to the office or got the bus. I got wet considerably more times than I didn't. Personally I find getting changed pretty useless if you're already sweaty or wet through. The worst bit though is the fact the road I come in on is bad enough in a car, almost four lanes wide but not quite as the highly intelligent local council decided to narrow it just a bit, with a road surface akin to a green-laners wet dream. I've seen many a cyclist and driver come a cropper and know of at least one killed by a lorry.The road is a different issue though - is there an alternative route which is a better road but would still be quicker than walking etc?
I used to cycle to work.
I was run over at a crossing, thrown ten feet in the air and landed on my back. I am lucky to be alive. I still have a bad back because of the incident. It hurt like a b
d for weeks.
So I found a route that meant I stayed off the roads - just cycle paths.
Then they build a fking housing estate right over the top of the goddamn path. I should go look-see if they've finished yet. Might take it up again.
But I won't be going back to the road route. That was monumentally, excruciatingly painful and I relive it just passing where it happened in the car.
I was run over at a crossing, thrown ten feet in the air and landed on my back. I am lucky to be alive. I still have a bad back because of the incident. It hurt like a b
d for weeks.So I found a route that meant I stayed off the roads - just cycle paths.
Then they build a f
king housing estate right over the top of the goddamn path. I should go look-see if they've finished yet. Might take it up again.But I won't be going back to the road route. That was monumentally, excruciatingly painful and I relive it just passing where it happened in the car.
I cycle a tad under 10 miles to work on average 4 times a week. I wouldnt have it any other way.
I work in Central London and the thought of getting a train and tube with quite possibly the rudest, most self-centred ignorant poeople in the world* is enough for me to get on the bike. Add to this that its pretty flat (I cycle primarily along the side of the river), its as quick if not quicker, I get some excercise AND I get to have a shower when I get to work. On the trains/tube I get to work feeling a lot dirtier.
It can be dangerous and lots of motorists have no concept of spatial awareness and some people narrowminded and are downright spitefull towards cyclists but if you keep your whits about you and ride sensibly, its not too bad.
The clincher for me is cycling the route I cycle you get to see some cracking metal - I've seen allsorts on my way in to the city from common 911's and Aston's through to the occasional Lamborghini or Ferrari and even the occasional Zonda!
* thats not to say cyclist are angels, there's some selfish planks on bikes too
I work in Central London and the thought of getting a train and tube with quite possibly the rudest, most self-centred ignorant poeople in the world* is enough for me to get on the bike. Add to this that its pretty flat (I cycle primarily along the side of the river), its as quick if not quicker, I get some excercise AND I get to have a shower when I get to work. On the trains/tube I get to work feeling a lot dirtier.
It can be dangerous and lots of motorists have no concept of spatial awareness and some people narrowminded and are downright spitefull towards cyclists but if you keep your whits about you and ride sensibly, its not too bad.
The clincher for me is cycling the route I cycle you get to see some cracking metal - I've seen allsorts on my way in to the city from common 911's and Aston's through to the occasional Lamborghini or Ferrari and even the occasional Zonda!
* thats not to say cyclist are angels, there's some selfish planks on bikes too
will_ said:
S3_Graham said:
im tempted.. have done it a few times, but at 6miles it takes about 45 mins... and can be a pain to get into work after nearly and hour of cycling... but yes.. i should do.. and it would save me so much in petrol as its a half hour drive or 45min ride.... hmmm!
If it's six miles and takes half an hour to drive, that's a 12mph driving average. My average over 100 miles on the bike last week was 17.5mph. I doubt a six mile ride would take much more than 30 minutes unless you have some serious hills!However, if you've got some ancient heavy mountain bike it could take longer.
SS7
I sold my daily driver at the end of may and have cycled for my commute and the school run since then 
I have considered getting my mini back on the road but cant see the point
as I save 45-60 mins a day on the commute and school runs 
although my commute is only 2.5 miles each way with lots of hills and moron school run drivers to commute with
but luckily my mum lives round the corner from work so no storage issues
I love my commute by bike eventhough I dont like the rain so I brought some waterproofs and am haveing loads of fun and hopefully getting a bit fitter whilst annoying car drivers by passing them as often as possible 
I am a bad case for cycle rage 
and can often be seen waving my D lock at car drivers windscreens if they get too close for comfort 
and a couple of mirrors have been the victim of my handlebars 
naughty me Lol but I ride very defensivly and dont take no **** from drivers to be honest I drive defensivly too but thats what driving small cars all the time does I guess
I have considered getting my mini back on the road but cant see the point
as I save 45-60 mins a day on the commute and school runs although my commute is only 2.5 miles each way with lots of hills and moron school run drivers to commute with
but luckily my mum lives round the corner from work so no storage issues
I love my commute by bike eventhough I dont like the rain so I brought some waterproofs and am haveing loads of fun and hopefully getting a bit fitter whilst annoying car drivers by passing them as often as possible I am a bad case for cycle rage and can often be seen waving my D lock at car drivers windscreens if they get too close for comfort and a couple of mirrors have been the victim of my handlebars naughty me Lol but I ride very defensivly and dont take no **** from drivers to be honest I drive defensivly too but thats what driving small cars all the time does I guess
Davi said:
Dunno about that, I had a few weeks when I couldn't drive recently, so walked in to the office or got the bus. I got wet considerably more times than I didn't.
Apparently on a 20-min each way commute you'll get rained on about 16 times over the year. That was about right by my experience - it rains a lot but it's rare for it to actually happen when you're out. Proper mudguards keep off any water from the wet roads.
The cyclists' bane.Times have changed with employers at least giving tacit encouragement to staff cycling to work.
Many moons ago I rode into central London on the day of a rail strike. I (and bike) had to force my way past some jobsworth on the door who wanted me to leave it chained to railings. I put it my office. After cleaning up, I met the guvnor doing the rounds to see who had managed to get in. On hearing I'd ridden in all I got was, "More fool you".
I left very early to go home.
Many moons ago I rode into central London on the day of a rail strike. I (and bike) had to force my way past some jobsworth on the door who wanted me to leave it chained to railings. I put it my office. After cleaning up, I met the guvnor doing the rounds to see who had managed to get in. On hearing I'd ridden in all I got was, "More fool you".
I left very early to go home.
I commute around 7 miles each way. My office doesn't have any changing facilities so I joined a gym near the office. I cycle in, sometimes have a workout, then have a shower and take a gentle ride for the last half mile to work. So that's an option for those who don't have showers at the office.
The reason I started to do it was to get fit, I now do it because it's so much quicker. The journey takes over an hour by bus, around an hour by car, 45 minute by train or 30 minutes on the bike.
The reason I started to do it was to get fit, I now do it because it's so much quicker. The journey takes over an hour by bus, around an hour by car, 45 minute by train or 30 minutes on the bike.
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