The Tyne and Wear Commuter Thread

byke68

Up & Down Rosehill Bank [/quote]

I know, looks nasty. Only done it once, heading towards Howdon. Keep meaning to tackle it but I always end up going through Wallsend and heading north.

Twostage

BurnziesBike wrote:

Totally addicted, can't believe I've waited until my 54th year to start !

Never too late, I'm not far behind you age wise but I've been doing it for two or three years.
Now you've got your time down to 38 minutes its obvious your bike is holding you back and you need an upgrade

BurnziesBike

Hi Twostroke,

Bikes ok (scott sub20)

I fear it could be the 17 stone of relaxed muscle sitting on it that may be holding me back !

Tony Mc

Hi fellas I must pass see most of you along Scotwood Road mornings and evenings

Live in Dunston and Work in Jesmond but prefer to add a few miles on than sit at the computer hence using the riverside route on both sides of the Tyne

Riding a White Focus Cylocross bike with road tyres as its Summer :?

Twostage

Tony Mc wrote:

Hi fellas I must pass see most of you along Scotwood Road mornings and evenings

Live in Dunston and Work in Jesmond but prefer to add a few miles on than sit at the computer hence using the riverside route on both sides of the Tyne

Riding a White Focus Cylocross bike with road tyres as its Summer :?

Which model Focus ? I was looking at them last year. I think I quite fancied the Ax2.

Tony Mc

Got the Focus Mare 2010 model for commuting its very versitile, in the summer have some road tyres on and in the winter change to some wider touring tyres but it handles road and bridle paths no problems

tuktuk

Picked up a puncture from somewhere today, only noticed just as i left work so got myself back to the ofice to sort it out. It showed me how pathetic my mini hand pump is. Does anyone here use the co2 cartridges ? Im thinking of buying another track pump for home and keep my current one at work.

Twostage

tuktuk wrote:

Picked up a puncture from somewhere today, only noticed just as i left work so got myself back to the ofice to sort it out. It showed me how pathetic my mini hand pump is. Does anyone here use the co2 cartridges ? Im thinking of buying another track pump for home and keep my current one at work.

I was talking to someone last week who swears by them. Flat to fully inflated in three seconds they reckon.
I've got a variety of tools and spares (inner tubes, batteries, lights) at work. Must have used the hex wrenches dozens of times to adjust things. Deffo worth having.

king_jeffers

tuktuk wrote:

Picked up a puncture from somewhere today, only noticed just as i left work so got myself back to the ofice to sort it out. It showed me how pathetic my mini hand pump is. Does anyone here use the co2 cartridges ? Im thinking of buying another track pump for home and keep my current one at work.

I just picked up the cartridges + dispenser from wiggle a month ago. Tested it out and seems really good, probably say 3 seconds is about right, it really is that quick! + I can now leave the pump at home and just fit everything I need in a small saddle bag.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/genuine-innovat ... -inflator/

Might be able to get cheaper elsewhere, but its a great bit of kit.

spen666

tuktuk wrote:

Picked up a puncture from somewhere today, only noticed just as i left work so got myself back to the ofice to sort it out. It showed me how pathetic my mini hand pump is. Does anyone here use the co2 cartridges ? Im thinking of buying another track pump for home and keep my current one at work.

Get a topeak road morph pump- fits to bike frme and is good at getting tyres up to 120psi. It is a mini track pump.

no need to use CO2 cannisters, never get caught out by having insufficient cannisters etc. Once purchased, no more costs in buying cannisters etc

RAK1963

Blimus it's wet.

Think I'll be better off kayaking down Scotswood Road in an hour. At least the Wylam Waggonway should be free of dog walkers!

jomoj

Every single piece of clothing was drenched and still wet when I had to put it back on to come home. Lovely.
for the info of anyone who uses the Quayside, its completely blocked off after the millennium bridge due to the Olympic torch thing

Initialised

Was a wet one both ways, I need better overshoes.

tuktuk

I go drenched thismorning but it was also the first tailwind i have experianced, felt like i was flying along

I left for home at about 1 whilst it was dry but it might aswell have been chucking it down as my clothes were still soaked from the ride in!

jomoj

Memo to self: if you're going to bust a lung and go out of your way to attack some new strava segments on the way home, make sure you've switched on the bloody gps.

Alinshearah

RIDER NEARLY DOWN

This is just like those London Commuters

Crossing the road at the ped crossing at B&Q roundabout on Scotswood road from the Whitehouse side to where the Enterprise Rent a car place is. Lights go red, little man goes green, off I go. Two numpties coming from Denton Road hurtle round the corner and straight through the lights and nearly straight through me. Bar Stewards.

byke68

Alinshearah wrote:

RIDER NEARLY DOWN

This is just like those London Commuters

Crossing the road at the ped crossing at B&Q roundabout on Scotswood road from the Whitehouse side to where the Enterprise Rent a car place is. Lights go red, little man goes green, off I go. Two numpties coming from Denton Road hurtle round the corner and straight through the lights and nearly straight through me. Bar Stewards.

Next thing you'll be moaning about taxis and silly commuter rage!

tuktuk

Sweating in the heat yesterday, soaked in the rain today!

Pain in the arse our weather.

anthdci

tuktuk wrote:

Sweating in the heat yesterday, soaked in the rain today!

Pain in the ars* our weather.

yup, it was fine coming in, slight drizzle here and there, but it is been none stop since about 10 I am going to be soaked to the skin by the time I get home. I've got a waterproof jacket and waterproof overshoes with me at least :x

Twostage

anthdci wrote:

tuktuk wrote:

Sweating in the heat yesterday, soaked in the rain today!

Pain in the ars* our weather.

yup, it was fine coming in, slight drizzle here and there, but it is been none stop since about 10 I am going to be soaked to the skin by the time I get home. I've got a waterproof jacket and waterproof overshoes with me at least :x

One of those clothing dilemma commutes - warm and wet weather. Do you wear a rain-proof but be hot or just a jersey and get wet ? I got hot and eventually wet with sweat.

anthdci

Twostage wrote:

Do you wear a rain-proof but be hot or just a jersey and get wet ? I got hot and eventually wet with sweat.

I wore my rain cost and overshoes. It didn't rain at all on my way home so I melted instead. Cant win. It was supposed to be worse today so I planned on getting the metro. Woke up to glorious sunshine so the bike came out again. Hopefully the rain will keep off for the return journey.

woo 5 days cycling this week 8)

Tony Mc

Its a difficult choice, cycling in this morning dry but cool looking like rain for the return journey.

I tend to just have a gilet (great bit of kit) on with long sleeve top under if particulary chilly, or short sleeve top and arm warmers if its going to be warmer later

I find a water proof jacket usually mean you get wet from the inside

Long_Time_Lurker

Gore Alp-X SO
Showerproof, with removable sleeves.
It's my 3 season, 'go-to' top when I don't know what the weather is going to do.
But given the choice, i would rather just get wet on a commute. My clothes will dry before I have to wear them for the ride home.

tuktuk

I know a few have already mentioned it but is anyone doing the virgin cyclone event ?

Long_Time_Lurker

Yep - but just the 33 mile one. Acting as a support rider for my 'large' work colleague.

tuktuk

Im thinking of going on the friday to watch the leazes park races, its fully booked on the saturday now or i would have done the 33 mile one.

mkirby

Morpeth to newcastle business park. Cross the A1 at stanington then negotiate the holiday in roundabout and down through wideopen, gt north road and then cut across low friars and down to the office.

Any where from 30+ to 50 miles depending on if i avoid the stanington cycle path or not. I only do it when i feel the need otherwise its too far and too many nutty drivers.

Long_Time_Lurker

tuktuk wrote:

Im thinking of going on the friday to watch the leazes park races, its fully booked on the saturday now or i would have done the 33 mile one.

Your not missing anything - I did last year too. Well organised, but there are no closed roads and too many cyclists on the road trying to compete with the traffic.

tuktuk

Not to worry then haha. I need to plan a route up to boulmer and go amd stay at my grans house then come back the next day. Im as far as where the a19 meets the a189 lol. I think its about 50 mile each way from memory, should be a nice ride to get some more distance under me.

Picked up another puncture lastnight, about a mile after i left work. Changed the tube but my pump is really awful so i had to push it to the shell garage and met my girlfriend with the track pump. I couldnt believe the amount of people that flew past me whilst i was walking it without asking if i needed a hand etc, one person out of about 10! Every time i have seen someone pushing or stopped looking at their bike i have asked if they need a hand or any tools.

Anyways, in the rush to put a new tube on i think i have put the tyre on in the wrong direction haha. I think i should probably get some new tyres as these ones must be like a seive by now.

Long_Time_Lurker

tuktuk wrote:

I think i should probably get some new tyres as these ones must be like a seive by now.

I would recommend the Continental Travel Contacts. Fast rolling, puncture proofed, cheapish and you get a free innertube and 1 year guarantee.
Checking Halfords - I bought mine in a 'buy one, get one free' offer.