Stupid New Years Resolution!
Discussion
Gave myself an hour and a half to get to work. For the first four miles sections of road were flooded, branches and wheelie bins blown over everywhere, on exposed areas the wind was so strong my tyre would lose grip, my face has been mediablasted with rain; then got to this...
..and thought sod it, reported the road hazard to the Police non-emergency number, blocked the road further back with some stray cones, went home had a shower and got to work in dads car. It took me thirty-eight minutes to get there and eleven to get back.
As I said before I wasn't expecting this kind of weather until April and thought I'd be back on form enough to deal with it then. Now though I'm nowhere near as fit as I should be. I failed today but I'll be back on the saddle tomorrow.
I think I can edit my resolution a bit to include dangerous weather in general instead of just fog.
..and thought sod it, reported the road hazard to the Police non-emergency number, blocked the road further back with some stray cones, went home had a shower and got to work in dads car. It took me thirty-eight minutes to get there and eleven to get back.
As I said before I wasn't expecting this kind of weather until April and thought I'd be back on form enough to deal with it then. Now though I'm nowhere near as fit as I should be. I failed today but I'll be back on the saddle tomorrow.
I think I can edit my resolution a bit to include dangerous weather in general instead of just fog.
I don't mind the cold or ice (Canadian former Ice Hockey player so I'm more used to it I guess) but fog is litterally a killer.
To make up for my driving to work I used to run betweem three and twelve miles before or after work. In fog you may as well be invisible.
I've only had to ride my bike a few times in fog when I worked nights. Three lights on the back, hi-viz and reflective trousers, jacket and bag with hi-viz reflective tape over my helmet and I would still get cars braking heavilly to avoid me. "S.M.I.D.S.Y due to fog mate; you shouldn't be on the road".
It wasn't so bad as my old job had paths and cycle lanes when the weather was rough I could pretty well get out of the way but it's all either country lanes or "A" road to where I work now. Not worth the risk.
To make up for my driving to work I used to run betweem three and twelve miles before or after work. In fog you may as well be invisible.
I've only had to ride my bike a few times in fog when I worked nights. Three lights on the back, hi-viz and reflective trousers, jacket and bag with hi-viz reflective tape over my helmet and I would still get cars braking heavilly to avoid me. "S.M.I.D.S.Y due to fog mate; you shouldn't be on the road".
It wasn't so bad as my old job had paths and cycle lanes when the weather was rough I could pretty well get out of the way but it's all either country lanes or "A" road to where I work now. Not worth the risk.
Good to hear. The back in the sadle bit not the public nudity. I haven't done that for a while. Funny story but not for a family orientated forum.
Weird ride home, it felt damp, warm but there was still ice on the untreated roads. I don't know what the deal is with the Curio tyres but I could feel the bike moving about with enough time to have a cup of tea before I needed to do anything about it. With nobblies on ice as soon as you feel the bike start to move it's too late.
Weird ride home, it felt damp, warm but there was still ice on the untreated roads. I don't know what the deal is with the Curio tyres but I could feel the bike moving about with enough time to have a cup of tea before I needed to do anything about it. With nobblies on ice as soon as you feel the bike start to move it's too late.
Showing signs of chaffing. The middle bits are fine, a shower and alovera solves that; the bit between the top of my thigh and bum is the problem area I need a solution for. Probably just some fine seat adjustment is required. I'm not the lycra type (and it's been between -1 and -5 this week) and I'm certainly not a POB. I think I'm a DOB Driver on Bike, I do have some very sexy high-viz waterproof trousers to go with my jacket when the weather turns tomorrow and Thursday.
I kept my ears warm with my Joker mask today as well.
I kept my ears warm with my Joker mask today as well.
Following Thursdays flat I now have some leeches and my pump in my bag.
Over the past three weeks I have made some casual observations. There are five types of drivers at half five in the morning.
1/ The "I should have gone to bed two hours earlier" type who drive six feet at a time because the can't concentrate enough to see any further up the road. These will SMIDSY you.
2/ The "I've overslept and now I have twenty minutes to drive a forty minute journey". After three cans of Redbull and four Pro-Plus these guys will take back roads to avoid the authorities but don't use them offen enough to know the road well. Slowing to 20mph for bends and driving up to 100+mph between corners.
3/ The ones who get out of thier boring bed leaving their boring wife (who's probably looking forward to the window cleaner because at least with him the sex isn't as boring), eating a boring breakfast while listening to tiresome FM (Radio 2), only to put on their boring clothes get into their boring car and drive the same boring route every day for the rest of their lives to their boring jobs. All to pay for the children that have been raised so nonchalantly they can hardly be arsed to get up for school let alone have the will or have been encouraged to get a paper round. I call these drivers "Autopilots". They have driven the same route so many times they know if a leaf has moved on the tree outside that house on the corner near the hedge that looks like like a cow. Every bump in the road, every braking point at every corner. They will also SMIDSY you because they're used to you being ten feet further up the road.
4/ The Vigulantees. These drivers get up extra early so they can critcise other drivers. The would have joined the I.A.M if it was free. Would have joined the Police if they didn't have that caution for shoplifting Kylies greatest hits from HMV. They're more than happy to shout at cyclist for holding the world up just before hitting a cue traffic.
5/ Carefull and considerate drivers. Who take the time to overtake safely and actually see cyclist in the first place.
Over the past three weeks I have made some casual observations. There are five types of drivers at half five in the morning.
1/ The "I should have gone to bed two hours earlier" type who drive six feet at a time because the can't concentrate enough to see any further up the road. These will SMIDSY you.
2/ The "I've overslept and now I have twenty minutes to drive a forty minute journey". After three cans of Redbull and four Pro-Plus these guys will take back roads to avoid the authorities but don't use them offen enough to know the road well. Slowing to 20mph for bends and driving up to 100+mph between corners.
3/ The ones who get out of thier boring bed leaving their boring wife (who's probably looking forward to the window cleaner because at least with him the sex isn't as boring), eating a boring breakfast while listening to tiresome FM (Radio 2), only to put on their boring clothes get into their boring car and drive the same boring route every day for the rest of their lives to their boring jobs. All to pay for the children that have been raised so nonchalantly they can hardly be arsed to get up for school let alone have the will or have been encouraged to get a paper round. I call these drivers "Autopilots". They have driven the same route so many times they know if a leaf has moved on the tree outside that house on the corner near the hedge that looks like like a cow. Every bump in the road, every braking point at every corner. They will also SMIDSY you because they're used to you being ten feet further up the road.
4/ The Vigulantees. These drivers get up extra early so they can critcise other drivers. The would have joined the I.A.M if it was free. Would have joined the Police if they didn't have that caution for shoplifting Kylies greatest hits from HMV. They're more than happy to shout at cyclist for holding the world up just before hitting a cue traffic.
5/ Carefull and considerate drivers. Who take the time to overtake safely and actually see cyclist in the first place.
Fun ride home again. I was doing 25ish accordin gto the speedometre in a 30 zone. It was a bit twist and I had a car behind me so I got my head down instead of holding the guy up. When the group of four cyclists (lycra wearing bone shaker riders) were sat on a corner having a breather. One of them shouted "Bloody Hell that's a mountain bike" after I said good evening. 
A nice steady 16-18mph for the rest of the way home; until that is I got about half a mile away. Final sprint mode and had just selected top gear when a gritter passed me filling my eyes with crap I couldn't open my eyes or see properly for about five minutes. The forecast is for rain tomorrow so that's another £10,000 load of grit wasted.
A nice steady 16-18mph for the rest of the way home; until that is I got about half a mile away. Final sprint mode and had just selected top gear when a gritter passed me filling my eyes with crap I couldn't open my eyes or see properly for about five minutes. The forecast is for rain tomorrow so that's another £10,000 load of grit wasted.
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