The Tyne and Wear Commuter Thread

Initialised

anthdci wrote:

I knew this snow was due so got the metro in. Really need to get some Marathon Winters for the spikes. Don't know whether to get some for the road bike and get a spare set of wheels or some mountain bike versions and fit them to the GT Avalanche.

Today didn't really warrant studded tyres but I've kept them on since the last batch of snow. Best way is to keep them on a spare set of wheels, it makes swapping them out simple.

Captain Slackbladder

chrishumes wrote:

captain, i also went out for a 28 miler, from chapel park, along the river to the tunnel and back the other side....yip, bike in the garage as my feet were like blocks of ice!

agree with the light mornings etc.....

I set off from Hadrian Park down to Willington Quay and joined the cycle route there, was a bit nippy but fine when you warmed up a bit.

y33stu

Cycled in again on the road bike slicks, had no problems on the main roads, getting out of my estate was a bit dicey though!

anthdci

Brave / crazy man. I'm itching to get back on the bike but there was no way it was coming out this morning.

Initialised

anthdci wrote:

Brave / crazy man. I'm itching to get back on the bike but there was no way it was coming out this morning.

I bagged 7th on Redheugh South Strava this morning thanks to launching into the draft of a double decker. Brave? More stupid and crazy.

y33stu

That is crazy! I hit 25mph on Strava this morning apparantley. But my average was 11mph. I'm surprised it was that fast to be honest. No KOM's for me!

Initialised

Strava's dangerous, and all but it left me wondering how much faster I could have done it on slicks or a faster bike...

tuktuk

Anyone brave it today ?

The roads dont look too bad tbh but im playing it safe and staying off the bike for now.

anthdci

nope, after seeing the weather forecast with more heavy snow and freezing temperatures forecast i decided to get a weeks metro pass.

y33stu

Yep, I rode in again. On slicks. Was fine tbh. My estate was dicey, but once I was on the main roads it was fine. -6.5 degrees in the Mrs' Car apparentley.

Captain Slackbladder

No chance for me this week.

Gym instead, funny thing is i cant stand using the gym excercise bikes, much prefer the rowing machine.

vigomag

Not sure if this is the righ place but worth a go...
I commute (well when the weather fine !) from Birtley to the Team Valley on a Hybrid the route is all road, but I use the bike for the local cycle paths too..ie to Wylam, the Keelmans,Bowes Railway,NC7 NC14 etc. but have found that I use roads maybe 50% of the time now

I have my eye on a road bike but could not justify the cost (my guilt I think) just for the commute and would feel better if could use on the local paths....so the question is does nanyone else use a road bike on the local paths routes etc or any advice at all

Thanks

chrishumes

ive been on all the trails you say on a road bike, probably not the best for the bike, but not bad.

how about a cyclocross one?

tuktuk

Thats the last straw for me.

Took the bike in friday, fine getting to work, left a little late coming home and got snowed under about 3 mile from home. Walking slightly uphill on snow in cleats for that had me wrecked.

Stupidly i have the bike with me today too, sliding all over in the slush which is dangerous enough but then the wind chips in aswell just to give you that last push you need to hit the deck. I didnt thankfully but i came close a few times. PT for me now till its gone

anthdci

You've done we'll to stick at it for as long as you have! I've been using the metro for what seams like forever

Long_Time_Lurker

Cycled in today too. Got sprayed with grey slush from the cars, so now my kit is a dirty grey colour.
Conditions went from wet and slippy on the coast to fluffy snow near the airport.
My next concern is the headwind on the way back.

tuktuk

Going to be a nightmare isnt it!

Are you going anywhere near the coast rd cycle path LTL ? I cant imagine its very rideable atm. Im sticking to the roads but getting sprayed off the cars soon wears thin.

Long_Time_Lurker

tuktuk wrote:

Going to be a nightmare isnt it!

Are you going anywhere near the coast rd cycle path LTL ? I cant imagine its very rideable atm. Im sticking to the roads but getting sprayed off the cars soon wears thin.

Yep - on the coastroad from the old Wills Factory to Billy Mill. I just have to take it easy - it's quite slippy in places, but I have my fat tyres on my MTB now. My only concession is that I get off and push across the roads near the Silverlink at the moment.

Initialised

Headwind on the way in, solved by drafting lorries, pretty much had to ride primary most of the time any way so might as well use the the traffic as a mobile wind break, speed boost when available.

Mayhemwmb

Does Ellington to Blyth warrant inclusion in the Tyne & Wear Commuter thread????

Had a Planet X Kaffenback and hated it - feckin thing was a nightmare - the only bike I've fallen off in traffic (happened three times) :oops: :shock: I've bought a Merida Cyclocross 4 disc from start cycles on c2w. Now that I've shaken the plague I'm itching to start cycling to work again - now it's too bloomin icey.......

Are most people using cycle paths or dicing with the traffic????

Long_Time_Lurker

Mayhemwmb wrote:

Does Ellington to Blyth warrant inclusion in the Tyne & Wear Commuter thread????

Certainly does - welcome to the thread.

Are most people using cycle paths or dicing with the traffic????

A little bit of both - I have to use the cycle path along the Coast Road, it's too dangerous on the road itself. I'm lucky that a lot of my route is rarely used, so there is no ice (although the snow is getting a lot deeper).

anthdci

urg I wish this snow would piss off, I wanted to get the mountain bike out and try that in the morning since it looked like it had started melting, but there is a blizzard in Newcastle. Not happy.

y33stu

Today's the first day I've abandoned the bike and got the bus. 3 cars stuck on my road saw me think better of riding on my road bike! Bike usually takes me 20-25 mins. Bus took me 1 hour 10 minutes. And I had to pay £3.30 for the privilege. Will be on the bike again tomorrow. Without fail.

anthdci

I'm tempted to get the mountain bike out anyway. Need to pop into start cycles in town to buy some cheap mudguards for it though. Sick of spending £5 a day on the metro!

anthdci

well cheap mudguards turned out to be £20! so thought sod that and took the Tricross this morning and it was absolutely fine. I was well wrapped up so didn't feel the cold at all.

andy9964

South Shields to Nissan plant. Around 7 miles each way
Usually ride along the cycle path from Boldon Lane which goes almost all the way to Boldon, then along past Asda and the BMW dealership, and along the gravel track that runs parallel with the A19 and takes me to the last half mile leg on Washington Road to the factory gate
Snow has forced me off the tracks and onto the road, had to risk bit of the A19 this morning , might try Downhill lane tomorrow

anthdci

I dunno if it's any help but I went along north Hilton road this morning and it was clear. I normally go over the foot bridge and past the aircraft museum, but the lath to the bridge was covered in snow/ slush but the actual bridge was clear. so I followed the road round and over the road junction and towards follingsby lane which was fine.

andy9964

I've been meaning to check where the path comes out from the aircraft museum - footbridge, that road out the plant can be a bit dodgy in heavy traffic. Downhill lane and the gravel track come out just up the road, beside the main road bridge
Cheers

y33stu

Had a nice bit of commuter racing along Great North Road this morning. 4 other cyclists along the same stretch of road. In over 1 year of doing the same route, I've yet to pass more than 1 other on that stretch - as they're mostly on the cycle path. Great fun!!

anthdci

looks like its going to be a wet ride home! i managed to rip my waterproof pants over the weekend so my lets are going to get wet tonight!