Silly Commuter Excuses

andy9964

So, just why aren't you on the bike today?
Illness, no bike or some other pathetic excuse?
Why don't you have a nice big mug of MTFU, and get back in the saddle

Me?..........erm, I have man-flu........it may be terminal

pete_s

I've got a bit of swarth stuck in the crease of me arse. Luckily I've got the next two days off so no need to ride the bike. Maybe it'll make it's own way out :?

chilling

Swarth? I'm guessing that's a euphemism for a body part?

pete_s

Google says that swarth is a third studio album by Australian technical blackened death metal band Portal. I reckon I'd definitely know about it if that was in there.

I meant swarf, which is smaller but still hurts a bit.

sketchley

Dog eat my tyres....

Roastie

Bristol to Essex is too far to ride. Shameful, I know.

MrSweary

Being treated to dinner at Dockmasters in the Wharf... a delicious, expensive excuse.

the_fuggler

The missus won't let me cycle from one room to another...

CiB

Hit the long-standing target of 5000+ miles in a year last year. There's nothing left to prove.

CBA to get up at 6:40 on a cold dark winter's morning to ride 20+ miles to work these days.

The rice-paper tyres that were included with the wheels I bought back in December puncture every time I venture out in the dark or wet.

Battery & connectivity gremlins with the Di2 have left me with no firm belief that I'll have working gears if it rains when I'm out.

Getting up early to ride to work in the near certain knowledge that I'll have a puncture and be miles from home without gears has taken the gloss off it - I have no faith in it any longer.

It's actually quite pleasant wafting to work in the car.

rubertoe

CiB wrote:

Hit the long-standing target of 5000+ miles in a year last year. There's nothing left to prove.

CBA to get up at 6:40 on a cold dark winter's morning to ride 20+ miles to work these days.

The rice-paper tyres that were included with the wheels I bought back in December puncture every time I venture out in the dark or wet.

Battery & connectivity gremlins with the Di2 have left me with no firm belief that I'll have working gears if it rains when I'm out.

Getting up early to ride to work in the near certain knowledge that I'll have a puncture and be miles from home without gears has taken the gloss off it - I have no faith in it any longer.

It's actually quite pleasant wafting to work in the car.

Burn Him.

veronese68

Knee playing up after too long off the bike due to my accident. So I'm gradually building up my cycling to get my strength and fitness back. Currently riding two days a week and get a lift off a neighbour the other three.

CiB

rubertoe wrote:

Burn Him.

Burn the f****ing bike if you like. I've had enough.

gtvlusso

Roastie wrote:

Bristol to Essex is too far to ride. Shameful, I know.

Shame on you....

fooking hell thats a commute, even in the car!!

Kieran_Burns

CiB wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

Burn Him.

Burn the f****ing bike if you like. I've had enough.

I'll swap you for my Tricross.

Oh no, wait... it's dead reliable. I'll pass.

wgwarburton

CiB wrote:

...Battery & connectivity gremlins with the Di2 have left me with no firm belief that I'll have working gears if it rains when I'm out. ...

Anyone else had this? I have to admit that it was my first thought when I heard that electric shifting was being introduced. Given that I still get occasional drivetrain issues during the winter on a fixed my gut-feel is that the idea is flawed (as well as being pricey)!

Cheers,
W.

CiB

WGWarburton wrote:

CiB wrote:

...Battery & connectivity gremlins with the Di2 have left me with no firm belief that I'll have working gears if it rains when I'm out. ...

Anyone else had this? I have to admit that it was my first thought when I heard that electric shifting was being introduced. Given that I still get occasional drivetrain issues during the winter on a fixed my gut-feel is that the idea is flawed (as well as being pricey)!

Cheers,
W.

Suppliers (LBS) are adamant that they've never seen this and that of the decent number that they've sold no-one else has had problems. Maybe no-one else uses the bike in all weathers and did 3 & half thousand miles in 7 months before it went dodgy. I doubt it though.

Shimano claim them to be watertight and they are - it's been in some downpours in its time with no issues. The plug & socket arrangements that connect the system are a close fit where the plugs lock into place against a soft rubber base at the bottom of the socket. If the locking action fails the connection isn't watertight. That's what I deduce from my set-up and its failings. It's a shame because when they work they work brilliantly, and The Next Bike will have Di2 but built in with internal not external cabling. It might be that the replacement part has resolved my problem with it, but like I said, cold dark mornings, Continental Ultra Sports that puncture at the sight of a thorn 20 paces away... No thanks. I'm for the easy life at the minute. Planning to ride in tomorrow though; it'll be interesting.

Clever Pun

Legs hurt, nose is still a bit blocked after operation, heinous headwinds and gusts... never a tailwind

I'm still cycling.. you nancy's

BelgianBeerGeek

Had a cold last week - still commuted on the bike. Went away for long weekend, so back to work yesterday. Bike has flat. Have to run some errands, go shopping etc after work so took car. Must mend tyre and MTFU, but I don't feel too guilty as I am off work next week and planning some countryside pootling and pub stops.

byke68

Would have today but need to go home (10 miles) first, pick up sprog and missus then back down to N Shields all within 1 hour.
Maybe tomorrow..................

mtb-idle

It's my rest day

il_principe

CiB wrote:

The Next Bike will have Di2 .

Mebbe you should try EPS?

mroli

My workmate has told me that if I work late (and qualify for a cab under the firm's policy) that if I tell the cab company when ordering my cab, they'll let me put my bike in the cab. I've done that a couple of times now (sad face)....

rolf_f

No excuses. Not ever

tc345

Someone is sticking a needle into my knee every time i put pressure on the pedal. It's off-putting so i'm getting the train for a few days and smashing back the ibuprofen...

Blonde Cyclist

I'm in Geneva for a couple of days...

pastryboy

Less chance of dying.

CiB

Yesterday CiB wrote:

The rice-paper tyres that were included with the wheels I bought back in December puncture every time I venture out in the dark or wet.

and then wrote:

...but like I said, cold dark mornings, Continental Ultra Sports that puncture at the sight of a thorn 20 paces away... No thanks. I'm for the easy life at the minute. Planning to ride in tomorrow though; it'll be interesting.

I give up. Up at 6:40, everything ready to go so shower etc, set out for the first proper commute this year (two aborted so far due to punctures) and WTF? 3 & half miles before the comedy tyres give up this time. It is cold though, and a bit damp, so not a surprise running tyres made of bog paper. What did I expect? Double-digit miles between flats? Tat. Utter sodding tat. This is on a busy main road, not some decrepit back lane used by a tractor and two Land Rovers every other weekend.

Continental Ultra Sports have to be the worst tyre known to man. I did 5000+ miles last year on Mich Pro 3s, had a couple of flats at most probably - I don't remember any TBH but no-one gets through a year without a flat so I'll claim two. I buy some nice new wheels with these Continentals included in the price in December and it's genuinely a flat every time it rains. No wonder they give them away - no-one with any working brain cells would buy a second pair, and mine certainly aren't going to wear out - they're in the f****ing bin as soon as I get home tonight.

Thanks Continental for making the most useless chuffing tyres on the planet. That's three times I've set out and three times I've had to walk back or disrupt the morning routine back home by having to make the phone call. Your tyres are crap.

rubertoe

That is very annoying CiB, I really do feel your pain.

get some new rubber and get back at it.

pangolin

Why on earth haven't you replaced them if they are so rubbish?!

Rubino Pro's!

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/vittoria-rubino-pro-3-folding-tyre/vitttyrf610

Do not buy Continental GP4000s' if punctures are annoying you

CiB

pangolin wrote:

Why on earth haven't you replaced them if they are so rubbish?!

First time - everyone has a flat occasionally.
Second time - oh that's a nuisance
Third time = bin. Which is where we are, as of 7:22 this morning.

I'm off to blow £60 on tyres in a while. At least the gears worked nicely for the whole 00:14:38 duration of the ride, so not all bad.

rubertoe

CiB wrote:

pangolin wrote:

Why on earth haven't you replaced them if they are so rubbish?!

First time - everyone has a flat occasionally.
Second time - oh that's a nuisance
Third time = bin. Which is where we are, as of 7:22 this morning.

I'm off to blow £60 on tyres in a while. At least the gears worked nicely for the whole 00:14:38 duration of the ride, so not all bad.

Every Cloud...

Have a a look at the rubino's £36 a pair and get good reviews. When the roads stop being so crap, tis what I plan on getting to replace the marathon plus.