Commuting question, funnily enuff!

The Endorser · June 2007

Ok, I work in a town 13 miles from the village where i live. I've been confining my commutes to the weekend, when traffic is lighter, as 2/3 of the journey are on unlit B roads that get treated likeSanta Pod by drivers.

Bike is an old but much loved Raleigh max cromo MTB on 1.5' conti slicks and is rugged, reliable and quite swift.

I've ordered a trio of rear lights and a new front light. I've got all the necessary florries etc too. why? - cos i'm going to make it a daily commute, which will mix rush hour with 1am, such is the stoopid shift pattern I work.

Any tips/advice/ideas/encouragement/last wishes?

cheers, dudes.

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

Where is this village if you don't mind me asking?

Im just interested.

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

 Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc
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andrewc3142 · June 2007

Ride assertively and confidently but with respect for other road users.

Give a thumbs up to people who give you space.

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

with respect for other road users.

Give a thumbs up to people who give you space.

I do this.

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

 Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc
Ride to work part 2 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jfagu
Ride to work part 3 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jcldv 

Most Sickening Car Advert 2007 http://tinyurl.com/36nq2e

The Endorser · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Hackbike 6

Where is this village if you don't mind me asking?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">North Bucks - the bridleways are great for getting gnarly on the MTB (dude).

Eating baby elephants since 1969

vitesse169 · June 2007

Take the primary position, stay well lit & keep your eyes peeled for other (idiot) road users. Use plenty of reflective bits on ankles/arms etc...

The Endorser · June 2007

Primary position? Explain yourself, young man!

Eating baby elephants since 1969

BentMikey · June 2007

= the middle of the flow of traffic in that particular lane (it doesn't always correspond with lane markings).

My bikes
My skates

If I had a baby elephant, I'd teach it to skate.

delibury · June 2007

http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/
Will explain it all.

The Endorser · June 2007

Ah, i've instinctively always done that, though didn't know it was called that. Got my cycling course at work soon, so i'm hoping to pick up a few more tips.

Cheers for the link

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by The Endorser

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Hackbike 6

Where is this village if you don't mind me asking?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">North Bucks - the bridleways are great for getting gnarly on the MTB (dude).

Eating baby elephants since 1969
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Errr thanks.Don't really know too much about it.

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

 Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc
Ride to work part 2 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jfagu
Ride to work part 3 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jcldv 

Most Sickening Car Advert 2007 http://tinyurl.com/36nq2e

The Endorser · June 2007

Here it is...http://www.maplandia.com/united-kingdom ... /hanslope/

I live slightly to the North, in a a place called Long Street. Slightly to the north is Salcey Forest, hich is also good for a blat, albeit a little sanitised.

It's pretty good cycling country (we get a lot of roies too, though i don't hold that against them), though th B526 is like Silverstone during Grand Prix weekend and needs a bit of respect.

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Hackbike 6 · June 2007

Yeah it looks good.Lots of fields.

Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006Dawes Audax 2006 New 20/09/2006 

 Cycle Commuting since 1981 

Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977 (30 years ago)

 Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc
Ride to work part 2 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jfagu
Ride to work part 3 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/2jcldv 

Most Sickening Car Advert 2007 http://tinyurl.com/36nq2e

The Endorser · June 2007

Aye, it's good, but the roads can be a bit hairy.

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Buggi · June 2007

my route to work is an unlit B road too. fine in the summer but can't ride back in the winter coz i can't see the road! so i think you need some serious headlights so you don't ride into the kerb!

_____________________________________________

To infinity... and beyond!
my epic adventure: www.action.org.uk/~Antonia

Cunobelin · June 2007

If they are still around, the Smart 10/ 2.4 watt lights were available from a number of venues at about œ25

A little bulky and weighty, but good enough for this type of journey and at that price!

Here is an example

He that buys land buys many stones.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.
(Unattributed Trad.)

gaterz1981 · June 2007

i use MTB rechargable lights like the ones Cunobelin mention. Give you a couple hours of light as well.

I worried about the stretch of roads i use, but after a while you get the same people passing you day in day out. much like the truman show!!

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/ ... 81/MTB.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/ ... CN1063.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/ ... rFrame.jpg

The Endorser · June 2007

Went for one of these....

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 5360025758

1500 candlepower should give onciming drivers a suntan, and being LED should make it fugal on the batteries. Can't wait.

Eating baby elephants since 1969

The Endorser · June 2007

Oh,meant to ask. What do you felers reckon re mudguards? I currently have flingers, but could lay my hands on some conventional lightweight plastic guards for nowt if you think they'd be better.

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Tynancp · June 2007

unlit B roads? yikes!

but you're of course the best judge of what's safe

I use proper commuter/touring mudguards, I think they're best if you're going to cycle year round, they weigh about diddle

lights and reflectors are dead good these days, fill your boots

A - W · June 2007

I have full mudguards on my commuter bike. Well worth it and remarkably keep me so much drier then not having any on.

The Endorser · June 2007

Think i'm gonna go the full guard route then! More argumanets for than against.

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

Endorser, something to think about on the mudguard front -

How about getting one of those MX style ones that poke out over the front wheel as well as under the downtube? I find that my MTB's front wheel flicks water up in the air that I then ride into, for some reason this doesnt happen on my roadie.

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

The Endorser · June 2007

I've got those on my job bike. They look pretty mean too, but dunno where i'd buy them.

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/CategoryProducts.aspx?categoryName=Mudguards&cat=Cycle

Here you go old chap - 3 different types in the box there.

rgds

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

The Endorser · June 2007

Do you mean like the 'shcockblade' and shockboard'?

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Jacomus-rides-Gen · June 2007

Yep those are the ones.

_________________________
Quote: "25mph is pretty fast when you aren't wearing a car..."

The Endorser · June 2007

I've been rummaging through my box-O-poope in the shed and found a set of topeak blad type front mudguards which with a little persuasion (ie, taps from a hammer) fitted and look pretty good. The beauty is that the blades are romovable and just clip off if the weathers good.

Just waiing for my new tyres and front light to arrive now.

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Yellow Cliff · June 2007

Sounds great!

I'd recommend having a second front light too - just a small LED flasher or something, because I find that bike lights often fail and I don't want to be caught out. Lots of reflectives when it is dark too. Other than that, clothes for all weathers are important.

Enjoy it!

The Endorser · June 2007

That's norra bad idea.

Postie must've read my mind cos the tyres and lights are here and on! Only bummer is the presta valves which I don't hve a pump for...yet!

Eating baby elephants since 1969

Mithras · June 2007

Endorser....Unlit B roads, think you should where uniform and put a set of flashing blues on with a siren.....No one can argue they didn't notice you and you can always delcare it an "A" grade shout![}:)]

Mithras, God of the Midnight, here where the great bull dies,
Look on thy children in darkness. Oh take our sacrifice!
Many roads thou hast fashioned-all of them lead to the Light,
Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright!
Rudyard Kipling

Commuting question, funnily enuff!

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