New member to commuting general

adrian1888

Hiya folks!

I am new to this Bikeforums website. Had a quick look around and looks very impressive!

Briefly about myself.

I am 26 years old and based in Southampton.

Anyway, the main reason I have started this new thread in the commuting area is because I enjoy my commuting whether I am cycling for leisure purposes, shopping or to work or things like that.

I would love to hear fromk you guys on your ways of cycling such as how far you cycle and what purpose.

Also, whats the cycle network like where you live?

Kind regards

Adrian

Wallace1492

Welcome to hell....

I cycle Maryhill Road every day, it is a lovely leafy tree laden green artery into Glasgow. The locals cheerily wave and shout "hurrah" as they skip from the early moring bible meeting to getting thier elderly neighbors Country Living Gazette, and mint tea.

They shower rose petals on the cycle way as I pass by, and release white doves as I go back at night.......

Sailorchick

I cycle to work in Southampton every day. Not really sure what cycle network there is but am finding cars are nicer to me on bigger main roads (A27, A335) than they are on the supposedly quiet residential back streets. My commutes only 3.5 miles when I go the direct route but playing about with it a bit (and getting lost lots in the process) to extend it nicely for the way home.

Mr Sworld

adrian1888 wrote:

Also, what's the cycle network like where you live?

Either full of pedestrians or parked cars.....

Welcome to the forums though!

The Chingford Skinhead

Welcome to the forum Adrian

Me, I cycle therefore I am. For any given journey I start with the question "could I cycle that?". Be it the local shop, the supermarket shop, the gym, work or a day out. I just like being out on the bike.

I'm in Waltham Forest East London. Cycle facilities are a bit of a mix here. Some very good off-road provision to take me up the River Lea toward Ware or through Tottenham, Walthamstow and Hackney marshes. Some pretty good on-road provision but little enforcement of parking etc. I suppose it is pretty good compared to a lot of people but equally a look at "Crap Cycling and Walking in Waltham Forest" blog site shows many of the problems - esp lack of cycle parking (inc maintenance of what little there is).

bevans1986

Blimey there's loads of us from Southampton on here.

I commute from Burridge to Soton City Centre every day 7.5 miles, much quicker than public transport!

How do you find Southampton for riding? Having just bought my first road bike (Full sus MTB before) I've noticed what dreadful conditions the roads are in!

downfader

Long time Southampton commuter and rider here too. Dont forget to report those road surface issues over at www.southampton.gov.uk and http://fillthathole.org.uk/

The more voices the less of a crank I come across to them

hipshaker

Hammersmith to Soho Mon - Fr to commute to work
Part scary ride, part lovely ride through Hyde Park.

mikeyboy12345

Yay! Another one from Southampton. Welcome, Adrian!

I commute 6.5miles from Bursledon to the docks at Millbrook along the Portsmouth Road at about 0815-0830. My PB is 18mins, but without all the bl00dy lights and roadworks I reckon I COULD do it in 15. Easily as quick as a car! Sometimes the return journey will take me 35miles round Beaulieu and Lyndhurst. The Forest is wonderful in the evening - smooth empty tarmac - a great contrast to the city centre which is better suited to a full sus MTB!

My bike is now more oft-used than my car, and every week it's no trouble to ride to my parents' house in Fareham from Southampton docks, a distance which everyone else thinks is insane.

As for cycle lanes in Southampton, I rarely use them as they never seem to go anywhere useful, and a lot of the ones I have seen are shared use pavement jobs with pedestrians, smashed glass, etc. V dodgy: you're safer on the road with the cars IMHO!

Anyway, other than the odd idiot, I've found Southampton's motorists pretty accommodating for cyclists. Riding faster I think is what gets respect from the drivers - when they realise they won't actually be able to overtake anyway, they just back off and let you get on with it.

Never used the city centre for bike parking. Does anyone know what facilities exist (and where) for locking a bike and leaving it?

I see plenty of cyclists in Soton, but always going the other way, so not much SCR fun for me

bevans1986

There are loads of cyclists in Soton, but as you say always going the other way!

The only SCR I get is over the Itchen Bridge, always catch people going over there.

Jay dubbleU

Wallace1492 wrote:

Welcome to hell....

I cycle Maryhill Road every day, it is a lovely leafy tree laden green artery into Glasgow. The locals cheerily wave and shout "hurrah" as they skip from the early moring bible meeting to getting thier elderly neighbors Country Living Gazette, and mint tea.

They shower rose petals on the cycle way as I pass by, and release white doves as I go back at night.......

WTF :shock:

adrian1888

Heya Guys!

Thanks for sharing for views with regards to commuting cycling!.

Cycling from my place on New Road, Southampton to Totton and back is a good day out (done that a few times) even had to cycle through Millbrook's stench smell! lol. It's gone now thankfully.

Itchen Bridge can be a good cycle as well!

itboffin

Wallace1492 wrote:

Welcome to hell....

I cycle Maryhill Road every day, it is a lovely leafy tree laden green artery into Glasgow. The locals cheerily wave and shout "hurrah" as they skip from the early moring bible meeting to getting thier elderly neighbors Country Living Gazette, and mint tea.

They shower rose petals on the cycle way as I pass by, and release white doves as I go back at night.......

Have you been drinking white lightning again :P

AyrshireBacon

itboffin wrote:

Wallace1492 wrote:

Welcome to hell....

I cycle Maryhill Road every day, it is a lovely leafy tree laden green artery into Glasgow. The locals cheerily wave and shout "hurrah" as they skip from the early moring bible meeting to getting thier elderly neighbors Country Living Gazette, and mint tea.

They shower rose petals on the cycle way as I pass by, and release white doves as I go back at night.......

Have you been drinking white lightning again :P

White Lignting? None of that modern rubbish on Maryhill Road.

The locals tend to stick to the traditional drinks. Irn Bru for the under 7s and BuckFast is the choice of everyone else (after the mint tea of course)