First Commute This Morning :)

Mike400

Bit of background - been back into cycling for a couple of months now after a five year break - put on four stone in that time....

So I built up a new bike around an aluminium raleigh MTB frame I had, nothing fancy really*

Have been doing 20mile circuits every other evening since I got it built, incorporating the 9miles to work as part of that circuit.

Anyway my pannier rack finally arrived at the weekend, and I decided today was the day.

BLOODY BRILLIANT!!!!! is all I can say - ive done the route a fair few times now but this morning was so different - everything from different shadows on the ground, a whole new attitude of driver cycling through the city centre, and an enormous sense of smugness...lol

Best bit - its a good 10mins quicker than the train or car. And I only averaged 13mph as I didnt want to push myself on my first commute..

Cant wait for the ride home now!

Have to say I feel far far fresher and more alert sitting here at my desk compared to a usual morning.

The panniers seem to shave a bit of speed off, or maybe it was just a touch windy this morning.

And it is the most amazing feeling nipping through all the stationary traffic in the city centre!


*the bike if interested - raleigh aluminium MTB frame, suntour front shocks, deore cable discs, trans-x riser bars, shimano v-brake levers with built in shifters, deore front and rear mech, shimano HG 7 speed rear cassette, shimano triple chainrings (no idea on model but cheapo) Selle italia octavia seat, Vuelta Airline 1 rims on quad disc hubs with Q/R front and back, Schwalbe City Jet tyres, Disc fitment pannier rack (wider legs), raleigh triple pannier bags (cheap but work!) Tesco own brand cycle computer (again cheap but works!)

Cant think of anything else - it didnt cost too much to put together and itll do the job until I outgrow it.

londonbairn

Lovely job mate, it does make a difference to your working day, I feel sharper as a result. What city?

I also find myself annihilating fruit, I have at least 15 pieces of fruit a day now! Special K bars are also a good little energy booster.

Mike400

londonbairn wrote:

Lovely job mate, it does make a difference to your working day, I feel sharper as a result. What city?

I also find myself annihilating fruit, I have at least 15 pieces of fruit a day now! Special K bars are also a good little energy booster.

Belfast - I live just outside the city (9miles) and 5 miles of the route is along the coast, so its fairly pleasant

I have already ate the2 bananas / 2 apples I brought in as part of my lunch, and im eying up my sandwiches lol

how long have you been coming in by bike?

londonbairn

Mike400 wrote:

londonbairn wrote:

Lovely job mate, it does make a difference to your working day, I feel sharper as a result. What city?

I also find myself annihilating fruit, I have at least 15 pieces of fruit a day now! Special K bars are also a good little energy booster.

Belfast - I live just outside the city (9miles) and 5 miles of the route is along the coast, so its fairly pleasant

I have already ate the2 bananas / 2 apples I brought in as part of my lunch, and im eying up my sandwiches lol

how long have you been coming in by bike?

Haha, you should fill your bag with fruit, that's what I tend to do!

Sounds like a miles better pleasant route than going through Central London!

6 months now, I started the first day back in January on a MTB (!) which was hell. Since then I've felt the following "advantages";

- I constantly have energy
- I don't have hangovers
- Birds like my legs and bum 8)
- I literally sleep a few hours a night

Really enjoy it, every morning I wake up raring to go and I can't say that about the London Underground. Also save >£100 a month not paying for a season ticket.

richara3

Wow a Falkirk fan on the net :shock:

Just kidding mate.


Andy

R_T_A

Mike400 wrote:

Cant wait for the ride home now!

Have to say I feel far far fresher and more alert sitting here at my desk compared to a usual morning.

Welcome to the enjoyment of commuting

It's a slippery slope now - you'll be adding bits of kit until you think about a new bike, and next thing you'll have 4-5 bikes in your garage

Cafewanda

Well done Mike400. You are now doomed

Mike400

cheers guys!

Work are about to enter the C2W scheme and I already have my eye on a Specialized Allez for evening / weekend fitness rides and maybe a couple of sportives....

So one day of commuting and a couple of months of cycling and already I want another bike, this can only go one way!!

My monthly train ticket was £66 but I reckon I wont actually save that if I start buying more bike stuff lol

londonbairn

richara3 wrote:

Wow a Falkirk fan on the net :shock:

Just kidding mate.


Andy

Hahaha, are you a fellow Bairn?

richara3

Nah mate ! I dont really follow the kick baw at aw.

You did come close to glory though...! There are folk at work still in tears over it.


Ah well next year.

Andy

The Rookie

Well done, my bike was built on a similar premis to yours only my frame is Giant and I think I spent less! My lunch box goes on the rack (which has a deck to act as a mudguard) and the rest goes on my back for my very hilly (countryside) 7.5 mile commute.

Simon