Silly commuting racing

hopkinb

smokey_bacon said:

Took one look at the forecast for this evening and left the bike and got the train.

^^^

asprilla

hopkinb said:

smokey_bacon said:

Took one look at the forecast for this evening and left the bike and got the train.

^^^

Me too, but in my running gear......

asprilla

hopkinb said:

itboffin said:

...leaves kit at work, no panniers and or messenger bag.

that just not cricket

It's freedom. If I could physically lug 2 weeks worth of shirts, socks and pants in at a time, I would. I currently do a weeks worth, but I reckon 7 or 8 days is doable. Luckily I don't have to bring a laptop home, as I can deal with 99% of out of hours stuff on an iPhone. I'm also lucky enough to have a free gym at work which provides fresh towels, so I don't have the mildewy towel problem.

Most days I've got a little Ortlieb accessory pack on my bars. 3.5l is plenty to hold a shirt, underwear, wallet and the 10" tablet I use as a laptop these days. Phone and keys go in the back of the jersey.

Jeans and shoes stay at work and are replaced intermittently, with a bigger handlebar bag. When using the bigger bag the accessory pack clips to the front of it for more storage.

It's the best combination I've found, and I no-longer feel weird on weekend club runs because I'm not used to riding without a rucksack.

kingstonian

Yesterday's headwind was a joke, doubled up by a squishy back tyre which needed a CO2 canister top-up halfway home.

Had to trainw@nker it today as I have a work event this eve, judging by the weather forecast it is a good day to be doing it

kingstongraham

PT for me as well so far this week - wind and ice are the two things that will get me off the bike. Hate it. Traffic meant it took me 80 minutes yesterday morning. Should have run in.

cjcp

You guys look at the weather forecast before you leave home?

I may need to start doing this.

smokey_bacon

cjcp said:

You guys look at the weather forecast before you leave home?

I may need to start doing this.

Yeah part of the morning ritual alongside coffee.

kingstongraham

cjcp said:

You guys look at the weather forecast before you leave home?

I may need to start doing this.

I also get a heads up from being asked "you're not riding today are you?"

asprilla

kingstongraham said:

cjcp said:

You guys look at the weather forecast before you leave home?

I may need to start doing this.

I also get a heads up from being asked "you're not riding today are you?"

Since I leave before anyone else in the house wakes up, the first I usually know about 80mph winds is when the Mrs says 'I'm surprised you cycled today, are you planning on leaving early?'

asprilla

kingstongraham said:

cjcp said:

You guys look at the weather forecast before you leave home?

I may need to start doing this.

I also get a heads up from being asked "you're not riding today are you?"

Since I leave before anyone else in the house wakes up, the first I usually know about 80mph winds is when the Mrs says 'I'm surprised you cycled today, are you planning on leaving early?'

wolfsbane2k

asprilla said:

kingstongraham said:

cjcp said:

You guys look at the weather forecast before you leave home?

I may need to start doing this.

I also get a heads up from being asked "you're not riding today are you?"

Since I leave before anyone else in the house wakes up, the first I usually know about 80mph winds is when the Mrs says 'I'm surprised you cycled today, are you planning on leaving early?'

Hahaha!

I used to stutter something about "morning" to the voice assistant and typically get the wrong weather forecast (or at least weather forecast for 4 hours from now, not in the next hour), so I look out the window and go with that instead.

itboffin

why even bother looking out of the window, surely you can hear the wind & rain lashing against the house?

i'm so over the UK weather i'm giving serious consideration to a middle east posting for a bit

mtb-idle

itboffin said:

why even bother looking out of the window, surely you can hear the wind & rain lashing against the house?

i'm so over the UK weather i'm giving serious consideration to a middle east posting for a bit

....looking at the first two rules in your signature...oh the ironing

london-red

Wasn’t too bad. Bit of wind, bit of rain. Welcome to January 😉

itboffin

mtb-idle said:

itboffin said:

why even bother looking out of the window, surely you can hear the wind & rain lashing against the house?

i'm so over the UK weather i'm giving serious consideration to a middle east posting for a bit

....looking at the first two rules in your signature...oh the ironing

80 mph winds yesterday and 50 today, sometimes even i see sense, besides wouldn't you prefer the problem of having to get up early to miss the heat rather than the never knowing how cold, wet & windy it'll be or all three at any day & month of the year.

cjcp

Got a bit spicy with the cross-winds at times, and the block headwind outside Millbank Tower stopped one guy in his tracks, but my average speed tonight was higher than last night.

asprilla

I copped out and did double run day instead.

I hurt so much right now, and stairs are a nightmare.

itboffin

asprilla said:

I copped out and did double run day instead.

I hurt so much right now, and stairs are a nightmare.

see this is what happens ^^^^

hopkinb

Back on it today after shameless wind dodging yesterday. Confirmation this morning that resolutionists are soluble in water. Shoes stuffed with scrunched up pages from yesterday's Nikkei. I have severe doubts that my tights/pad will be dry by the time I head home. I really need to give the bike some tlc, it sounds like a bag of spanners being tumble-dried.

kingstonian

Wet one this morning

asprilla

Pedal came off the bike yesterday. Couldn't be bothered fix it last night so WFH. A fine choice I believe.

kingstongraham

Not too bad this morning, but first confirmation that Northwave GTX waterproof boots need a bit of help to keep the water out. It all seeps down your socks even with overshoes. Nice and warm though.

anonymousblackfg

All ok, just a slow commute last night. I angered some Clapham man this morning by asking for mud guards given he'd just come around to sit in front of me splattering me in crap.

silverstreak

hopkinb said:

Confirmation this morning that resolutionists are soluble in water

Second that - room to breathe on Putney Bridge and King’s Road has been the silver lining to Storm Brendan.

Found the long way home last night, via Richmond rather than RP, a good deal less knackering. This morning was a delight. Just rain.

mtb-idle

I've been weather dodging too but finally got back on it this morning.
No guards but I don't think I soaked anyone other than myself.
Miserable conditions made better by bumping into my first regular commuting buddy as far out as north Cheam and then we were joined by a second buddy who spotted me somewhere along the Clapham / Stockwell / Kennington section.
I left them to it as I turned right at Borough to head towards Tower Bridge and they carried on over London Bridge chatting away which was nice as they hadn't met each other before today #matchmaker

j_mcd

Didn't cycle in this morning as the rain sounded torrential when I was in the house. Wasn't actually that bad when I was heading to the train so perhaps I could have cycled but it would've been a wet one.

Suppose I'd better go for a run instead then. Canary Wharf is such an inspiring location for such pursuits...

rower63

kingstongraham said:

Not too bad this morning, but first confirmation that Northwave GTX waterproof boots need a bit of help to keep the water out. It all seeps down your socks even with overshoes. Nice and warm though.

I have the same boots. Overshoes aren't the answer, GripGrab gaiters are ( https://www.wiggle.co.uk/gripgrab-cyclingaiter/ ).
They go over the top of the boots, and the tights or longs go overv the top of them. My feet emerge dry after even the wettest rides. They are a revelation. Care needs to be taken getting them on, as the neoprene inner is soft - they need to be rolled on.

I've been missing all the wind, forced on to PT by a horrid cold...

kingstongraham

rower63 said:

kingstongraham said:

Not too bad this morning, but first confirmation that Northwave GTX waterproof boots need a bit of help to keep the water out. It all seeps down your socks even with overshoes. Nice and warm though.

I have the same boots. Overshoes aren't the answer, GripGrab gaiters are ( https://www.wiggle.co.uk/gripgrab-cyclingaiter/ ).
They go over the top of the boots, and the tights or longs go overv the top of them. My feet emerge dry after even the wettest rides. They are a revelation. Care needs to be taken getting them on, as the neoprene inner is soft - they need to be rolled on.

I've been missing all the wind, forced on to PT by a horrid cold...

Thanks - I have used the cheapskate version in the past. The wrist cut off Marigold gloves does the trick perfectly.

Does the soft collar part keep water out with the gaiters on? If so that would be great.

veronese68

asprilla said:

Pedal came off the bike yesterday. Couldn't be bothered fix it last night so WFH. A fine choice I believe.

I sense a BS excuse, didn't you run in yesterday?
It was a bit grim riding home last night, as above the lack of wind this morning was very welcome even though it was rather moist. Should be nice for the ride home if my kit is dry.
Weather will be lovely tomorrow as I have to drive in to get the old dear's car MOT'd.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Well after the storm that hit Southampton ~1400ish on Monday, the rain stopped around 1300 today and it was actually quite pleasant out there for a gentle spin around the block this afternoon.

Thankfully not too much debris to dodge for me (albeit I was on the Voodoo anyway), but I suspect some roads are littered, a few trees came down yesterday including one on the inside lane of Millbrook Road West!