London Commuters Where Were You Today?

spen666
spen666 Posts: 17,709
edited September 2008 in Commuting chat
surely a little bit of wind & rain never put you lot off
Want to know the Spen666 behind the posts?
Then read MY BLOG @ http://www.pebennett.com

Twittering @spen_666
«1

Comments

  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    I was out and about, no scalp-worthy people, nobody travelling quickly... rubbish!

    I actually quite like riding in the rain...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • ChrisLS
    ChrisLS Posts: 2,749
    ...well this bumpkin was out there today...so as Spen asks, where were you lot then? :o
    ...all the way...'til the wheels fall off and burn...
  • the_hundredth_idiot
    the_hundredth_idiot Posts: 813
    You probably just couldn't see us all through the rain mist.
    Never be tempted to race against a Barclays Cycle Hire bike. If you do, there are only two outcomes. Of these, by far the better is that you now have the scalp of a Boris Bike.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    I was out and about too. Realised I need better brake pads on the Pearson, my braking was severely compromised! Not so many cyclists out today, pussies!
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    jashburnham wrote:
    I was out and about too. Realised I need better brake pads on the Pearson, my braking was severely compromised! Not so many cyclists out today, pussies!

    Yep - know what you mean! Ordered a set on Sunday when I saw this week's weather forecast. Shoudl arrive today. Got some new Gator Skins too.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Yeah, I need to fit those new pads to the Bowery...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    I was out it full waterproofs... it was hammering it down when I left

    it seems to have damn near stopped now...typical.

    Still I was pretty damned dry once i got all the extra kit off, this is why I bought the SS, it's just a kick in the balls it's in the damn shop :x
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • _Brun_
    _Brun_ Posts: 1,740
    I was out there. Was tipping it down when I woke, but having spent an extra ten minutes getting ready locating (been away for a few weeks) and donning the wet weather gear I was disappointed to find it had eased somewhat by the time I got out the door.

    At the risk of starting the h****t debate again, does anyone else ditch the crash hat for something more capable of keeping the water off their head and out of their eyes? I tend to go for a cap when it's pouring down, following the startlingly obvious logic that I'm less likely to crash if I can see properly.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    I always wear a cap in heavy rain, but then I never wear a h****t...

    I reckon you could wear a cap under a helmet, but have no evidence to support this claim!
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    My a4rse and socks are still wet from my cycle into work.

    I loved every moment of it, shouting out "HARDCORE" as I powered along Streatham High street.

    The other cyclists I saw were proper roadies or proper single speeds and not the summertime cyclists with their shinny Charge Plug's, hybrid or whatever bike's are vogue during the months of May to August.

    I do need full winter wear though, starting with either mudguards or race blades and water proofs....
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    I always wear a cap in heavy rain, but then I never wear a h****t...

    I reckon you could wear a cap under a helmet, but have no evidence to support this claim!

    That's what I do.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • helz
    helz Posts: 406
    I got the bus in this morning... but only because I went out drinking last night and left my bike at work. Nothing to do with the rain. I like cycling in the rain, it's good fun! Beats sitting on a steamed-up bus in a traffic jam listening to tinny mobile phone music coming from the kids at the back any day.
    *´¨)
    `.·´ .·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
    (¸.·´ (¸.·´
    Power to the pedal
  • squired
    squired Posts: 1,153
    Got the train today. No-where to store my wet gear at work and I cycle primarily for the enjoyment, so strive to make sure I keep my rides enjoyable. I think there are too many dangers riding in rain in London, although having said that I'm fine about riding when there is a chance of rain going home, so the real issue is having no-where to dry my gear during the day.
  • georgee
    georgee Posts: 537
    It was great, barely a single bomb dodger on the road, the brakes on the single speed were less than useless so I best clean the rims tonight.

    Drivers we're a nightmare, on cutting into my lane to skip traffic almost hit me then some goon in a van pulled into park while over taking me.
  • Darrel
    Darrel Posts: 1
    I was out in this morning. Soaked when got into work. However the highlight of the daily commute from Deptford to Euston was the sight of two London bus drivers obviously in a very heated argument, getting out of their buses, and settling things Kung Fu Hustle style on Tooley St, outside London Bridge station at 8am. Full on punches and karate kicks. I kid you not. Shame I don't have a helmet cam to record the action. Was late for work.
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    spen666 wrote:
    surely a little bit of wind & rain never put you lot off

    Nope, I was there as usual, probably disappearing past in a cloud of spray :twisted:
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    I was overtaking someone today on a knobbly tyred bike, and got a faceful of puddle flung at me...

    Nice.

    All the more reason why drafting is bad!
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    I always wear a cap in heavy rain, but then I never wear a h****t...

    I reckon you could wear a cap under a helmet, but have no evidence to support this claim!

    that's what I do.. the helmet has lighter colours on it so it increases my visability

    wont someone think of the FCN's!!!!
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • london_commuter
    london_commuter Posts: 13
    I was out there this morning. Absolutely tipping it down. I met only three other cyclists on The Old Kent Road. Soaked when I arrived at Waterloo. The rain had got in to my jacket via the zip, so I was sitting there on the train. Wet shoes, wet socks, wet top, wet shorts :-) The only problem I had was that my glasses steamed up so I had to cycle without them, which I don't really like to do. After all its good to see where you're going... My shoes are drying out in front of the fan at the back of my computer.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    My shoes are drying out in front of the fan at the back of my computer.

    Stuff them with newspaper or thick tissue or something. Helps them dry.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    My shoes are drying out in front of the fan at the back of my computer.

    Stuff them with newspaper or thick tissue or something. Helps them dry.

    my winter waterproof shoes are lovely and dry inside...yey
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • london_commuter
    london_commuter Posts: 13
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    My shoes are drying out in front of the fan at the back of my computer.

    Stuff them with newspaper or thick tissue or something. Helps them dry.

    Good idea. I'll try that
  • Aidanw
    Aidanw Posts: 449
    I only picked up my new Condor Agio yesterday, no way that is getting wet yet :)

    Though as ever it was less bad out than it looked from over my morning coffee.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    I was overtaking someone today on a knobbly tyred bike, and got a faceful of puddle flung at me...

    Nice.

    All the more reason why drafting is bad!

    heh one of the fun things about mud tires as compared to normal knobblies is that any mud splatters all over ones friends rather than one self,

    my big hybrids great in wet as the big tires don't get upset by manholes etc, and the proper mud guards keep the worse of the crud where it belongs, wind i hate, as with that position your like a sail so you can end up spinning in silly low gears at really low speeds yet still hard work.

    drops are a lot, lot easyer!
  • camvaile
    camvaile Posts: 14
    DonDaddyD wrote:

    The other cyclists I saw were proper roadies or proper single speeds and not the summertime cyclists with their shinny Charge Plug's, hybrid or whatever bike's are vogue during the months of May to August.

    quote]

    I was out on my shiny Charge Plug this morning, as I am everyday.....
    FCN 7 (according to calculator)

    Shiny Charge Plug Racer
  • saveswalking
    saveswalking Posts: 144
    London Commuters Where Were You Today?

    :roll:

    This one ended up walking with bike from Greenwich to Tooley St after 2 punctures and after 'fixing ' problem in flashy 'bike shop' ( £19 thank you :( ) punctured again 100 yards down the road . 2 hours late for work and soaked.

    A change of tyre is on order 8)

    sw
  • Tobiwan
    Tobiwan Posts: 28
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    My a4rse and socks are still wet from my cycle into work.
    The other cyclists I saw were proper roadies or proper single speeds and not the summertime cyclists with their shinny Charge Plug's, hybrid or whatever bike's are vogue during the months of May to August..

    I was out there on my hybrid... shorts, shoes and socks are soaked, but I did have a waterproof top on. Saw a few others out there too, but nothing like the normal numbers of late. Looking forward to a few more quieter days to be honest, it's quite nice, though it does mean fewer scalps to be had!

    Glad to hear I'm not the only loony that actually likes cycling in the rain, the only bad bit is the first few minutes as I warm up. That and when the back end twitched momentarily giving me a bit of a scare, but no harm done just went a bit more cautiously round corners after that!
  • guinea
    guinea Posts: 1,177
    There were quite a few cyclists on the Uxbridge road this morning. Probably fewer than normal, but still quite a lot.

    I, for some strange reason, sang at the top on my voice whilst listening the the ipod all the way to work.

    No idea why I told you that.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    *perks up ears*

    On the uxbridge road, you say? That's where I was... precious few it seemed...

    Play the game much??
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    Still in slightly ranty mood from yesterday...it annoys me slightly that many MTB riders have those daft attach to your seat post rear mudguards attached so high on their stem that the person behind still gets sprayed.

    Surely the only reason you have them set high is for off road on a suspension set up so the mudguard has ample clearance? No need for it on flats road in town?!

    And before anyone says, no I do not draft nobbly MTBers, I just get sprayed as I waft past them :lol:
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6

Categories