The Tyne and Wear Commuter Thread

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  • tuktuk
    tuktuk Posts: 179
    New bike delivered today

    20130814_194353_zps5433a1bf.jpg

    20130814_194417_zpsf54e2c80.jpg
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  • Captain Slackbladder
    Captain Slackbladder Posts: 175
    Lovely bike that mate... :)

    Hows everyones commuting coming along? cant really complain as the Summer draws to a close....few more weeks of decent weather please, its been a cracking last 3 months.
  • andy9964
    andy9964 Posts: 930
    I got soaked and dried out about three times in half an hour last night :(
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Captain Slackbladder wrote:
    Lovely bike that mate... :)

    Hows everyones commuting coming along? cant really complain as the Summer draws to a close....few more weeks of decent weather please, its been a cracking last 3 months.

    The weather has been much nicer than last year and I've got a lot of cycling done (I don't commute however). But at the same time I still feel like I've never properly got going like I was hoping to. There always seems to lots of reasons not to go out :(
  • jongooligan
    jongooligan Posts: 223
    Haven't seen this anywhere else so thought I'd put it in here.

    One of the Sunderland Clarion lads (Matty D - don't know him) was brought of his bike by a cable stretched across the road on Lamesley bank. Those of you who know it will also know that it's dead easy to hit 40+ mph down there so he is in a bit of a mess plus his bike and kit are write offs. At least he's still alive and I'm sure we all wish him a speedy recovery.

    This second hand off a lass who's in the same club. I'm sure there'll be a proper report of it soon.

    Very worrying, particularly as there's a recent post of this happening on the quayside.
  • anthdci
    anthdci Posts: 543
    As part of the clarion i have read about this too. Matty has had a successful operation on his jaw and should make a full recovery. The police are investigating whether this has been done delibrately or is a fallen line, they currently have his bike as evidence.
  • tuktuk
    tuktuk Posts: 179
    Seen that was mentioned on the news lastnight, they said they were looking into a fallen line.

    Hope he recovers well!
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  • anthdci
    anthdci Posts: 543
    can you remember which news it was on, i'd like to see if i can find anything on their website to pass on to the clarion

    edit found these
    http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/78000/cyclist-seriously-injured-in-gateshead-electric-cable-accident

    http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northdurham/tyneandwear/10621677.Cyclist_injured_after_hitting_loose_overhead_cable/

    http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/north-east/cyclist-injured-by-electric-cable-1-5969542
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Wow, I ride up there most days, and yes 40-50 is feasible on the way down.

    So what's the beef, was it an accident or are the residents sick of cyclists tearing through the village at break jaw speeds?

    Hope he heals up OK and has insurance to cover the bike and kit.
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • jongooligan
    jongooligan Posts: 223
    As you can see from the police reports, they think a cable was brought down by a large vehicle. Matty has posted on the Clarion forum that he thinks it was a length of yellow and green insulating cable tied off at both ends.
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    jongooligan wrote:
    As you can see from the police reports, they think a cable was brought down by a large vehicle. Matty has posted on the Clarion forum that he thinks it was a length of yellow and green insulating cable tied off at both ends.

    that's what I found tied across the NCN72 route at Walker - yellow and green insulating cable. It didn't have a core so was easy enough to snap and remove but it's strange that it's the same stuff. Too far apart to be the same person surely?
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Which one is Lamesley Bank?

    edit: I see it was actually Kibblesworth Bank.
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Any one else try out for the Velocity Tyne Tunnel race today?
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • tuktuk
    tuktuk Posts: 179
    Never heard of that. Was it any good?

    Been a while since i have had a good drenching! Wind was awful too :(
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  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    It's taking place next Friday, they've closed the Tyne Tunnel for the evening!

    https://www.facebook.com/VelocityStreetRacing?fref=ts

    Qualifying was on a pair of bikes on rollers at the Metrocentre last weekend. I was about a quarter second to slow to qualify on my second attempt but they'll be sending out invites to fill slots from qualifiers that have dropped out tomorrow so fingers and toes still crossed and still doing single geared sprints just in case.
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • jongooligan
    jongooligan Posts: 223
    Reasons not to wear a helmet No 532.
    Got a bloody wasp in mine this morning. Little bugger got me twice before i managed to smear it all over my head. I'm allergic to wasp stings and i'm a slaphead so now i've got two bright red comedy bumps glowing on my nut. If i'd had my cap on as usual it wo :cry: uld have just bounced off.
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Get in, got a place for Friday in the Tunnel.

    Will probably give myself a heart attack but it should be a good night out.
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • Long_Time_Lurker
    Long_Time_Lurker Posts: 1,068
    Good luck...

    In other news:
    Does anyone here use a mobile mechanic? Me and my group are looking for a bike mechanic who operates around the coast. Thanks.
    2007 Felt Q720 (the ratbike)
    2012 Cube Ltd SL (the hardtail XC 26er)
    2014 Lapierre Zesty TR 329 (the full-sus 29er)
  • spen666
    spen666 Posts: 17,709
    Long Time Lurker wrote:
    Good luck...

    In other news:
    Does anyone here use a mobile mechanic? Me and my group are looking for a bike mechanic who operates around the coast. Thanks.

    Cycle Repair Shed www.cyclerepairshed.co.uk
    Based in Gosforth
    Want to know the Spen666 behind the posts?
    Then read MY BLOG @ http://www.pebennett.com

    Twittering @spen_666
  • ruary
    ruary Posts: 6
    I'll second Cycle Repair Shed, really good service and know what he's doing!
    Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain
  • Long_Time_Lurker
    Long_Time_Lurker Posts: 1,068
    Thanks for the recommendation :)
    2007 Felt Q720 (the ratbike)
    2012 Cube Ltd SL (the hardtail XC 26er)
    2014 Lapierre Zesty TR 329 (the full-sus 29er)
  • Long_Time_Lurker
    Long_Time_Lurker Posts: 1,068
    Initialised - how did you get on in your tunnel race?
    2007 Felt Q720 (the ratbike)
    2012 Cube Ltd SL (the hardtail XC 26er)
    2014 Lapierre Zesty TR 329 (the full-sus 29er)
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    It was amazing.

    Well that was a pretty awesome race at the Tyne Tunnel with Velocity Street Racing we drafted an Aston Martin into the tunnel and back up the other side, regrouped headed back down the tunnel, jostling for position. Then as the pace built the Aston pulled away, the engine noise was the klaxon for the rolling start of the sprint.

    I'd gotten toward the front of the pack an maintained a decent pace crossing the line in the middle of the pack, a quick shoulder check confirmed that I hadn't been eliminated (bottom four). Back up we went, same again for another lap, I struggled a bit with the climb back out and made too much effort to get to the front of the pack before the second sprint started and my legs said no... make it stop... please...

    I climbed back up with the other eliminatees (bottom three) one of whom almost fainted and hit the wall literally! I think I over thought the tactics and the importance of being toward the front of the pack at the start of the sprint so wasted energy jostling for position that I should have conserved for the sprint. Also I was to far out, had I been more central or just behind the pack leaders I might have gotten better drafts and been more able to block passes.

    Thanks to Evans Gateshead for getting my wheel fixed in time (free hub broke on Monday's commute/sprint practice, took off from the lights and nothing happened) and thanks to Stephen for lending me a wheel in case they couldn't.
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • Long_Time_Lurker
    Long_Time_Lurker Posts: 1,068
    Well done.
    But definitely not for me - sounds like bloody hard work. I'm too old / unfit for that sort of thing.
    (I have done the Red Bull Hill Run in Bristol and that put me off 'urban racing' for good. I'll stick to pootling around on my MTB in the wind & rain).
    2007 Felt Q720 (the ratbike)
    2012 Cube Ltd SL (the hardtail XC 26er)
    2014 Lapierre Zesty TR 329 (the full-sus 29er)
  • jongooligan
    jongooligan Posts: 223
    Wow it's got dark all of a sudden. No lights on Friday. Lights almost all the way to work this morning.
  • anthdci
    anthdci Posts: 543
    snapped rear derailleur last wednesday on my way to drop it off for its first service, then car engine died on thursday!! So because i was away last weekend and at work all this week means i couldnt get the bike in for its service and repair until this weekend. Im sick of the metro after 3 days :-(
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Some git in Derwentside CC gear keeps humiliating me at SCR along Scotswood Road. PM me if it's you, the advertisement on your butt is working!
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • Tony Mc
    Tony Mc Posts: 180
    Any of you gents doing the Hexham Hell this sunday
    Getting there
  • Captain Slackbladder
    Captain Slackbladder Posts: 175
    jongooligan wrote:
    Wow it's got dark all of a sudden. No lights on Friday. Lights almost all the way to work this morning.

    Same for me since last week....very dark now at 06-40 when i'm heading out. Still a few goons about with no lights :roll:

    Roadies packed away and i'm back on the hybrid workhorse for winter commutes.
  • Captain Slackbladder
    Captain Slackbladder Posts: 175
    Tony Mc wrote:
    Any of you gents doing the Hexham Hell this sunday

    Gutted i'm missing it. Full on baby preperations now, my good ladies due in 10 or so weeks :D

    Hopefully the weathers kind, not like the Tour of the Borders sportive i did back in April.

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