And today's commuting highlight is...
Discussion
V8RX7 said:
Max5476 said:
My padlock seized last night, so after faffing around with WD-40 the grinder came out and it was swiftly removed. Disappointingly no one challenged me as I happily ground through the chain
In fairness I don't think many thieves use an extension lead
Imagine my surprise when I then find myself going for an impromptu flying lesson. My only thought as I crash land into the tarmac is which idiot drove into me, to find the answer glaring back at me in the form of the bright yellow disc lock still proudly attached to the front wheel...
Thankfully I work in refurbishments so a bloke with an angle grinder was mere minutes away. We cut the totally distorted lock off the bike around 10am in the middle of Berkeley Square and not one person batted an eyelid.
the cueball said:
Anyway... thankfully this morning I was reminded why I use the bike for the daily slog... on my usual A road and there was a large trailer with heavy plant equipment doing around 15/20 mph... 19 cars following, none tried to overtake... they'll probably still be trying to get to work!
Yesterday was the same with another M25 accident, this time resulting in a full closure, and and then a lorry wedging itself under a bridge, I was 10mins late in, others following a similar route were 45mins+ late.the cueball said:
Anyway... thankfully this morning I was reminded why I use the bike for the daily slog... on my usual A road and there was a large trailer with heavy plant equipment doing around 15/20 mph... 19 cars following, none tried to overtake... they'll probably still be trying to get to work!
Yesterday was the same with another M25 accident, this time resulting in a full closure, and and then a lorry wedging itself under a bridge, I was 10mins late in, others following a similar route were 1 hr+ late.HairyMaclary said:
Congratulations! I didn't know you were local. I'm just down Severn Mile Lane.
Ive not commuted in since March and I don't think I will anytime soon. Somehow still managed to do 4000 miles on the versys this year. Normally do about 11k.
A few of us doing a similar journey - I’m in Hildenborough and (pre-corona) commuted to Aldgate.Ive not commuted in since March and I don't think I will anytime soon. Somehow still managed to do 4000 miles on the versys this year. Normally do about 11k.
It wasn't quite so much a commute but I had to pop out to some shops at 5:30pm yesterday. The journey I made would normally only have taken 20 mins across West London but last night it took 1.5 hours! The traffic was mayhem even on the way back at 8:30pm.
I was on the hire bike from the insurance company which is a Suzuki VStrom 1000. It reminded me why I also have my Honda CBR300R i.e. because larger bikes such as the Suzuki just cannot cut it in terms of agility and ability to filter and manoeuvre through heavy traffic.
I was on the hire bike from the insurance company which is a Suzuki VStrom 1000. It reminded me why I also have my Honda CBR300R i.e. because larger bikes such as the Suzuki just cannot cut it in terms of agility and ability to filter and manoeuvre through heavy traffic.
Edited by Chicken_Satay on Thursday 5th November 10:29
Chicken_Satay said:
It wasn't quite so much a commute but I had to pop out to some shops at 5:30pm yesterday. The journey I made would normally only have taken 20 mins across West London but last night it took 1.5 hours! The traffic was mayhem even on the way back at 8:30pm.
I was on the hire bike from the insurance company which is a Suzuki VStrom 1000. It reminded me why I also have my Honda CBR300R i.e. because larger bikes such as the Suzuki just cannot cut it in terms of agility and ability to filter and manoeuvre through heavy traffic.
Took me just over an hour to do my normal 40 min commute. Doesn't sound too bad but there's a lot of overtaking opportunity on my commute so that does represent about 20 mins of being stationery, unable to filter. Largely caused by a number of bus lanes around Hammersmith not allowing bikes, so I had to sit and wait for other gaps. Definitely want a lighter, smaller bike (currently on an NC750X) and eyeing up a CB650R.I was on the hire bike from the insurance company which is a Suzuki VStrom 1000. It reminded me why I also have my Honda CBR300R i.e. because larger bikes such as the Suzuki just cannot cut it in terms of agility and ability to filter and manoeuvre through heavy traffic.
Edited by Chicken_Satay on Thursday 5th November 10:29
CAPP0 said:
How were the roads this morning, for anyone who travelled?
London was foggy. Traffic wasn't as light as during the last lockdown, still plenty of trades and school run vehicles about but certainly a lot quieter than it has been in the last few months. I'd estimate 50% of the traffic levels compared to say the last month. That's from South London (near Croydon) into Zone 1.Yep foggy but not exactly dead as per the first "lockdown". I go in fairly early so don't suffer from school traffic as such. I would expect tomorrow to be quite as the t
t's (Tuesday, Wednesday's and Thursday's) won't be in which seemingly is where my firm ended up out of lockdown. I was saying to someone to a certain extent I miss the first lockdown, it was lovely driving into an empty city in the spring.
t's (Tuesday, Wednesday's and Thursday's) won't be in which seemingly is where my firm ended up out of lockdown. I was saying to someone to a certain extent I miss the first lockdown, it was lovely driving into an empty city in the spring.trip from cheshire to Liverpool then to Nottingham back via peaks - traffic less than a few days before on the motorways, but considerably busier than LD 1, nottingham was busy but not to pre-LD volumes
roads covered in mud, general rubbish and lots of running water through the peak district which rather spoilt things
roads covered in mud, general rubbish and lots of running water through the peak district which rather spoilt things
I've noticed how busy it is as well although only in the morning which I assume is down to school run.
Going home last night at 6pm it was much quieter. Saw hundreds of coppers with full riot gear on in an otherwise deserted Parliament Square. Thought it might be to do with Guy Fawkes night and an expected attack on House of Commons but turned out to be an anti lockdown protest later on.
Going home last night at 6pm it was much quieter. Saw hundreds of coppers with full riot gear on in an otherwise deserted Parliament Square. Thought it might be to do with Guy Fawkes night and an expected attack on House of Commons but turned out to be an anti lockdown protest later on.
Didn't have to commute further than the spare room today but I did take the versys for it's first MOT which it passed without issue.
Also I put my textiles on for the first time since the spring. Trousers which I could barely do up in March are hanging off me. Lost 2 stone since. Go me. Need some new kit.
Whilst I was at the garage I had a look at the Oxford professional kit. Textile jacket and trousers. Anyone use them? I know it's not going to be as good as gortex kit but it's much cheaper and I've got on well with the rain seal jacket.
Also I put my textiles on for the first time since the spring. Trousers which I could barely do up in March are hanging off me. Lost 2 stone since. Go me. Need some new kit.
Whilst I was at the garage I had a look at the Oxford professional kit. Textile jacket and trousers. Anyone use them? I know it's not going to be as good as gortex kit but it's much cheaper and I've got on well with the rain seal jacket.
Good effort on the weight loss - can’t comment on the kit, still using non-fit for purpose hand me downs...
In traffic this evening heading home from the city from 6:20-7:00pm was a little less busy than normal but not noticeably so, biggest flag is the 6am commute in, a lot quieter today (I was later yesterday). Walking around the city it was a proverbial ghost town!
In traffic this evening heading home from the city from 6:20-7:00pm was a little less busy than normal but not noticeably so, biggest flag is the 6am commute in, a lot quieter today (I was later yesterday). Walking around the city it was a proverbial ghost town!
Thanks Keith. Knocked the beer and wine on the head last December. Who knew there was a st tonne of calories in alcohol? 
Not eating out every day in central London and exercise has certainly helped.
May take a gamble on that oxford kit. I've been using hand me downs for year's too but fancy treating myself. Just not a 1500 quid treat!
t tonne of calories in alcohol? Not eating out every day in central London and exercise has certainly helped. May take a gamble on that oxford kit. I've been using hand me downs for year's too but fancy treating myself. Just not a 1500 quid treat!
Not my greatest day today!
Got the banger bike out of the garage, catching the stand on the underside of the splitter on the Lotus...wheeled it out only for the side stand to collapse and the bike to fall to the ground. Thankfully the crash bung took the majority of the damage, saving the bars etc. Stood it up, sorted my gear out and it started/rode fine and I was on my way...
On the way in I'm then on the OKR about 20 mins/7 miles into the journey and for the 4th time in 2 weeks the bike cuts out under acceleration dipping the clutch and it almost bump starts itself back into life instantaneously. There was also a "hot" smell for the rest of the ride in (although that could be all in my mind). The previous times have been while accelerating over speed humps, this wasn't making me question the issue. Any ideas what this could be caused by?
I'm off on Thursday so will likely give it the service that its now a few years overdue and hope that it goes through the MOT in January! I already know it needs fork seals (leaking) and a headstock baring (knocking).
Got the banger bike out of the garage, catching the stand on the underside of the splitter on the Lotus...wheeled it out only for the side stand to collapse and the bike to fall to the ground. Thankfully the crash bung took the majority of the damage, saving the bars etc. Stood it up, sorted my gear out and it started/rode fine and I was on my way...
On the way in I'm then on the OKR about 20 mins/7 miles into the journey and for the 4th time in 2 weeks the bike cuts out under acceleration dipping the clutch and it almost bump starts itself back into life instantaneously. There was also a "hot" smell for the rest of the ride in (although that could be all in my mind). The previous times have been while accelerating over speed humps, this wasn't making me question the issue. Any ideas what this could be caused by?
I'm off on Thursday so will likely give it the service that its now a few years overdue and hope that it goes through the MOT in January! I already know it needs fork seals (leaking) and a headstock baring (knocking).
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