Fair Weather Commuters

redddraggon
redddraggon Posts: 10,862
edited May 2008 in Commuting chat
Got in to work yesterday morning and "my" bike rack was clear as usual. Look out of my lab window a couple of hours and it's absolutely crammed with bikes.

I'm glad I get in early, or I would have been mightily annoyed that the fair weather commuters had stolen my space.

All the bikes had dodgy sofa like seats, and there was mine sitting in the middle of them with a Fizik Arione - I think they all need to get proper saddles.
I like bikes...

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  • SmellTheGlove
    SmellTheGlove Posts: 697
    No recurrence today I take it..?
    "Consider the grebe..."
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    SmellTheGlove wrote:
    No recurrence today I take it..?

    It's only 0830 yet, arrival times can be a bit slack, most people come in late but I get in early so I get home early. The wonders of flexitime.......
    I like bikes...

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  • Belv
    Belv Posts: 866
    You are not a commuter.
    Your bike is not fitted with a saddle, but an S&M accessory! :lol:
  • ChrisLS
    ChrisLS Posts: 2,749
    ...don't knock the fair weather commuters, I get a few on my on my ride, you never know, they may turn into all year rounders...
    ...all the way...'til the wheels fall off and burn...
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    ChrisLS wrote:
    ...don't knock the fair weather commuters, I get a few on my on my ride, you never know, they may turn into all year rounders...

    I agree. I am one of those. :D
    It takes a while to get enough kit to cope with consecutive days of rain...

    However, the victoria embankment peloton that has formed for the last couple of weeks was noticeable by its absence today ;)
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • lateralus
    lateralus Posts: 309
    I have a similar, but different, bike rack problem. Office is in a mixed use development, which is mainly residential. Most of the time the racks are jammed full of Halfords mtbs that don't move from one month to the next. Sometimes takes some ingenuity to squeeze my bike in.

    Oddly, when the hot weather hit a couple of weeks ago, the racks emptied out, and have stayed that way. What are people doing? Keeping the bikes in their apartments? Actually riding them? Can't figure it out, but I'm not complaining.

    I also found that the numbers out on the road were well down this morning :wink:
  • Belv
    Belv Posts: 866
    JonGinge wrote:
    It takes a while to get enough kit to cope with consecutive days of rain...
    It takes two things to deal with consecutive days of rain in summer, three in winter:
    1) a towel to dry yourself
    2) hangers to dry your clothes
    3) (winter) a radiator to ensure drying happens quickly enough for the ride home.

    Now you have been enlightened, you can ride year round.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Belv wrote:
    You are not a commuter.
    Your bike is not fitted with a saddle, but an S&M accessory! :lol:

    Nah the Fizik Arione is a proper Saddle, I can sit on it for over 6 hours on a ride - can those with uber cushioned sofa saddles say the same about theirs?
    I like bikes...

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  • Swannie
    Swannie Posts: 107
    I thought with this mornings rain there would be less bikes at work.

    Looks like that if I peer out the window.

    Did get to work peeved that my Lidl waterproof jacket is not so waterproof any more. Think it needs a wash and a reproof :-(
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Rain? Not a cloud in the sky in the "grey N. west"
    I like bikes...

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  • Belv
    Belv Posts: 866
    redddraggon wrote:
    I can sit on it for over 6 hours on a ride
    A tantric S&M accessory?!


    (Seriously, you are quite right. Once the seat bones are conditioned there is less comfort from a paded saddle)
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    redddraggon wrote:
    Rain? Not a cloud in the sky in the "grey N. west"

    Persisted down this morning in the Sunny South East

    And it's not the padding on the saddle that matters, it's the padding on your ar53

    Mine's somehow worn out during a 2 week non-cycling holiday...saddle sore returns!! Good excuse to buy some new, cycling specific gear, methinks...
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • Jamey
    Jamey Posts: 2,152
    Yeah, I've just had two weeks off (one week holiday, one week illness) and I'm also having to deal with saddle soreness. It sucks.
    My photography // My helmet cam videos // My bike
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    Belv wrote:
    JonGinge wrote:
    It takes a while to get enough kit to cope with consecutive days of rain...
    It takes two things to deal with consecutive days of rain in summer, three in winter:
    1) a towel to dry yourself
    2) hangers to dry your clothes
    3) (winter) a radiator to ensure drying happens quickly enough for the ride home.

    Now you have been enlightened, you can ride year round.

    LOL. I was enlightened a few years back but I got over it.
    Radiators are at a premium in our office but i've got used to wet shoes/overshoes at hometime now
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • graham_g
    graham_g Posts: 652
    That's funny - raining this morning and my usual spot was taken! Although it's pretty anarchic in our car park as you just have to find a free bit of railing to lock to, plus it's Bristol so if you don't have a car parking space provided, there really is no practical alternative to cycling.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    It's quite a bit quieter today.....

    dsc00746gx5.jpg

    dsc00745uw4.jpg

    My bike looks really small compared to everyone elses.....hmm wierd.
    I like bikes...

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  • andrewc3142
    andrewc3142 Posts: 906
    If people ride in, great. If all year, even better. Fair weather commuter or not, it's good they are on 2 wheels.

    There's a definitional issue here as well. I have to admit that from time to time in winter looking out at rain, ice, pitch black, etc at 5.30 for the nth day running I change my mind, have a coffee, chat with the wife and wake up the kids. If I only had a short hop of 15 miles or so for sure I'd ride in - what's the issue? And more often than not I'll just go for it anyway. Does that make me a fair weather commuter? Probably yes, but please don't judge.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    andrewc3142 wrote:
    . If I only had a short hop of 15 miles or so for sure I'd ride in - what's the issue? And more often than not I'll just go for it anyway. Does that make me a fair weather commuter? Probably yes, but please don't judge.

    There is no issue, I was just commenting that they'd all come out of the woodwork. However if I had come in at 1030 and there had been no free space I might have been a bit annoyed (as I park my bike up there everyday, rain or shine), but as I rarely get in after 0730 my bike was the first there and there wasn't an issue.
    I like bikes...

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  • Flycatcher
    Flycatcher Posts: 185
    What's all this rain. It was another glorious day in Manchester today. Bit chilly this morning but oh so hot on the way home I extended my ride!
    http://i1.tinypic.com/4kn8emv.gif
  • cpt_spalding
    cpt_spalding Posts: 14
    Belv wrote:
    redddraggon wrote:
    I can sit on it for over 6 hours on a ride
    A tantric S&M accessory?!


    (Seriously, you are quite right. Once the seat bones are conditioned there is less comfort from a paded saddle)

    Very funny...

    Took my daughter on a cycling excursion on hired MTB's last weekend & that saddle was a pain (yep, right there) after only a few minutes cycling.
    Giant SCR 4.0 with boring mudguards & pannier rack for daily (short) commute.
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    cpt_spalding wrote:
    Belv wrote:
    redddraggon wrote:
    I can sit on it for over 6 hours on a ride
    A tantric S&M accessory?!


    (Seriously, you are quite right. Once the seat bones are conditioned there is less comfort from a paded saddle)

    Very funny...

    Took my daughter on a cycling excursion on hired MTB's last weekend & that saddle was a pain (yep, right there) after only a few minutes cycling.

    Choosing a saddle is a bit like Goldilocks and the 3 bears:
    Too narrow=pressure on soft tissue. nasty
    Too wide=chafing
    Just right=miles and miles of comfortable riding
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • snooks
    snooks Posts: 1,521
    JonGinge wrote:
    Choosing a saddle is a bit like Goldilocks and the 3 bears:
    Too narrow=pressure on soft tissue. nasty
    Too wide=chafing
    Just right=miles and miles of comfortable riding

    Soooo tempted to use your comparison of saddles to something (or someone) else!!!!

    Anyway, I'm a fair weather commuter and happy, just glad when I commute once a week to be honest...by fair weather I mean no rain and not too much wind up to a F4...but I managed to commute around once a week through the winter. Mine is a round trip of 26 miles and I'm only in the office a couple of days a week...I've yet to have a really hot summery commute as I started in October last year. But yes, our cycle room at work is filling up more every time I make it in...But we have a limited number of bays, so in theory it should only ever fill up...Theory eh? :)

    I don't like the idea of commuting in the rain, and choose an umbrella and a train instead. :)
    A few weeks ago I was on the train, I saw a cyclist mashing slowly past the MI5 building in headwind and torrential rain when I looked up from my book...Kinda made me think I'd made the right decision
    FCN:5, 8 & 9
    If I'm not riding I'm shooting http://grahamsnook.com
    THE Game
    Watch out for HGVs
  • GEPC
    GEPC Posts: 123
    ChrisLS wrote:
    ...don't knock the fair weather commuters, I get a few on my on my ride, you never know, they may turn into all year rounders...

    I started riding with the full intention of being a fair weather commuter (why would I want to ride to work in pouring rain). I didn't realise then that once you get hooked a bit of rain becomes much more prefereble to getting back on the tube and missing out on your ride. So I agee - don't knock today's hybrid riding fair weather commuters as lots will become tomorrows roadbike owning all weather (and weekend) riders.

    In my case I ended up the the Ti framed cyclocross bike but you get the picture.
  • GEPC
    GEPC Posts: 123
    ChrisLS wrote:
    ...don't knock the fair weather commuters, I get a few on my on my ride, you never know, they may turn into all year rounders...

    I started riding with the full intention of being a fair weather commuter (why would I want to ride to work in pouring rain). I didn't realise then that once you get hooked a bit of rain becomes much more prefereble to getting back on the tube and missing out on your ride. So I agee - don't knock today's hybrid riding fair weather commuters as lots will become tomorrows roadbike owning all weather (and weekend) riders.

    In my case I ended up the the Ti framed cyclocross bike but you get the picture.
  • GEPC
    GEPC Posts: 123
    ChrisLS wrote:
    ...don't knock the fair weather commuters, I get a few on my on my ride, you never know, they may turn into all year rounders...

    I started riding with the full intention of being a fair weather commuter (why would I want to ride to work in pouring rain). I didn't realise then that once you get hooked a bit of rain becomes much more prefereble to getting back on the tube and missing out on your ride. So I agee - don't knock today's hybrid riding fair weather commuters as lots will become tomorrows roadbike owning all weather (and weekend) riders.

    In my case I ended up the the Ti framed cyclocross bike but you get the picture.
  • GEPC
    GEPC Posts: 123
    ChrisLS wrote:
    ...don't knock the fair weather commuters, I get a few on my on my ride, you never know, they may turn into all year rounders...

    I started riding with the full intention of being a fair weather commuter (why would I want to ride to work in pouring rain). I didn't realise then that once you get hooked a bit of rain becomes much more prefereble to getting back on the tube and missing out on your ride. So I agee - don't knock today's hybrid riding fair weather commuters as lots will become tomorrows roadbike owning all weather (and weekend) riders.

    In my case I ended up the the Ti framed cyclocross bike but you get the picture.
  • GEPC
    GEPC Posts: 123
    ChrisLS wrote:
    ...don't knock the fair weather commuters, I get a few on my on my ride, you never know, they may turn into all year rounders...

    I started riding with the full intention of being a fair weather commuter (why would I want to ride to work in pouring rain). I didn't realise then that once you get hooked a bit of rain becomes much more prefereble to getting back on the tube and missing out on your ride. So I agee - don't knock today's hybrid riding fair weather commuters as lots will become tomorrows roadbike owning all weather (and weekend) riders.

    In my case I ended up the the Ti framed cyclocross bike but you get the picture.
  • GEPC
    GEPC Posts: 123
    GEPC wrote:
    ChrisLS wrote:
    ...don't knock the fair weather commuters, I get a few on my on my ride, you never know, they may turn into all year rounders...

    I started riding with the full intention of being a fair weather commuter (why would I want to ride to work in pouring rain). I didn't realise then that once you get hooked a bit of rain becomes much more prefereble to getting back on the tube and missing out on your ride. So I agee - don't knock today's hybrid riding fair weather commuters as lots will become tomorrows roadbike owning all weather (and weekend) riders.

    In my case I ended up the the Ti framed cyclocross bike but you get the picture.

    Lesson number 2 - don't keep pressing the button, just be patient. The post will submit when its ready!
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    GEPC wrote:
    I didn't realise then that once you get hooked a bit of rain becomes much more prefereble to getting back on the tube and missing out on your ride. .

    sign me up to that.

    I got the bus on monday and tuesday as was feeling really under the weather, miserable so it was!

    The bus was crowded (when there was eventually a bus with room to fit more people on), smelly, i finally got a seat 4 stops before getting off AND it made me late!

    Glad i'm back on the bike now :lol:
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • prj45
    prj45 Posts: 2,208
    redddraggon wrote:
    Got in to work yesterday morning and "my" bike rack was clear as usual. Look out of my lab

    I've got a worse problem than you, f*****g early bird fair weather commuters.

    If I get in now at about 08:00 what was my bike rack over winter (I shared it with a couple of others) is practically full and I have to use the upright bike rack which is a right pain, and far to close to the back door for my liking.
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