Commuting out of London
DonDaddyD
Posts: 12,689
OK, I'm moving to Middle Earth, to be a Man of Kent.
Now then, I've ridden my bike outside the M25, but I've never commuted outside the M25. There are key tips and pointers for being safe and fast in London (that are unique to riding in a city). Are there any rules, etiquette I need to know to do the same outside London?
Thanks in advance.
Now then, I've ridden my bike outside the M25, but I've never commuted outside the M25. There are key tips and pointers for being safe and fast in London (that are unique to riding in a city). Are there any rules, etiquette I need to know to do the same outside London?
Thanks in advance.
Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
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You'll need DragonGuard, and a giant sword.
(lights on all the time, and expect to be given even less space than in London)Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.0 -
Get used to NOT being spooked by people overtaking CLOSE and with a BIG speed difference.
Cars definitely less aware of bikes (simply far fewer on road) and so less used to dealing with them.My bikes
MTB - 1997 Kona Kula
Hybrid - Kona Dew Deluxe
Road - 2011 Ribble Gran Fondo, Omega Matrix Ultegra0 -
People drive quickly. its mostly A and B roads that are national speed.
Beware the Judderman."If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
Where you moving to? Hoping to move to Sussex next summer.
- 2023 Vielo V+1
- 2022 Canyon Aeroad CFR
- 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
- Strava
- On the Strand
- Crown Stables
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Horse / Cow sh*t is lethal in the wet.
Tractors are just slow enough to annoy you.
You can ride for more than 1/4 mile without having to stop for lights / people / vehicles / junctions. You may have to improve your stamina.
It gets noticeably colder the moment you leave your town / village and strike out into the countryside. Dress accordingly.
Black ice
Lights to SEE by are now essential
The vertical green things are called trees
The flat things with odd coloured spiky things in them are called fields
The squat vertical things are called hedges
The sparkly things in the sky at night are called stars. You can navigate by them
Punctures are a much bigger issue now. Carry two spare tubes and patches
The massive WHUMP as a lorry / bus goes past at near 60 mph (none of them do 40.. oddly, lots of cars do) will keep scaring the cr*p out of you
Life saver, life saver, life saver
Junction preparation happens much sooner. You should start POINTEDLY shoulder checking when turning right. Good drivers notice and slow. Big arm movements - arm straight out.
Wind
Hills
Act like traffic, acknowledge courteous drivers. There are far fewer of them and things get noticed now
If you reach a narrow section of road, check behind and see if there is a queue of cars waiting, if it's more than 5, consider pulling over. Again this really gets noticed.
Get a bell. You'd be surprised how often you need one.Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
People smile and say good morning to you when you cycle past them in the street. Do not scream in shock, they are not trying to kill you.Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
On a long, dark country road after a long day in the office, beware of sleep-riding. :shock:0
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t5nel wrote:Get used to NOT being spooked by people overtaking CLOSE and with a BIG speed difference.
Cars definitely less aware of bikes (simply far fewer on road) and so less used to dealing with them.
Really? Sure, you get the odd eejit wherever you are but the vast majority of the time the people that pass me are courteous and sensible. (Whether this is because they are courteous and sensible or they're bemused / confused by three rear lights which make me appear taller and wider than a 'normal' bike is open to debate...)0 -
When a car comes round the corner with its lights on main beam, don't look at it. Otherwise you'll find yourself riding into the ditch.0
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Bobbygloss wrote:When a car comes round the corner with its lights on main beam, don't look at it. Otherwise you'll find yourself riding into the ditch.
Definitely this.0 -
Kieran_Burns wrote:Tractors are just slow enough to annoy you.
MTFU and overtake. Wuss.Kieran_Burns wrote:It gets noticeably colder the moment you leave your town / village and strike out into the countryside. Dress accordingly.
Black ice
+1. Twice. I once fell off five consecutive times on sheet ice in the absolute middle of nowhere due to this very reason.Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.0 -
Kieran_Burns wrote:Horse / Cow sh*t is lethal in the wet.
The vertical green things are called trees
The flat things with odd coloured spiky things in them are called fields
I thought these were called hedgehogs?0 -
Pollys Bott wrote:t5nel wrote:Get used to NOT being spooked by people overtaking CLOSE and with a BIG speed difference.
Cars definitely less aware of bikes (simply far fewer on road) and so less used to dealing with them.
Really? Sure, you get the odd eejit wherever you are but the vast majority of the time the people that pass me are courteous and sensible. (Whether this is because they are courteous and sensible or they're bemused / confused by three rear lights which make me appear taller and wider than a 'normal' bike is open to debate...)
It isn't the vast majority of passes that matter though. Not really sure that drivers awareness of bikes and how to coexist with bikes has much to do with how courteous or sensible they are. The occasional problems I have had seem to stem from the fact that entirely courteous and sensible people are not so used to sharing the road with bikes. Make sense?My bikes
MTB - 1997 Kona Kula
Hybrid - Kona Dew Deluxe
Road - 2011 Ribble Gran Fondo, Omega Matrix Ultegra0 -
Arthur Scrimshaw wrote:Kieran_Burns wrote:Horse / Cow sh*t is lethal in the wet.
The vertical green things are called trees
The flat things with odd coloured spiky things in them are called fields
I thought these were called hedgehogs?
Nah, land mines.- 2023 Vielo V+1
- 2022 Canyon Aeroad CFR
- 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
- Strava
- On the Strand
- Crown Stables
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What are you talking about? No one commutes outside of London.0
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Oh yes forgot to add:
The repeated noises you hear around you as you cycle along is birdsong, not car horns. It may take some getting used to.Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
Hmm, I hear birdsong on my commute, see all sorts of birds, feathered and otherwise. Quite often see green woodpeckers, no end of parakeets and occasionally something like a kestrel. I think I saw a Kingfisher in Crane Park today. Along with no end of run of the mill stuff. Get to see loads of deer, rabbits, foxes and occasionally other mammals. A badger on at least one occasion. Often get other people saying good morning, or if we're riding in the same direction might even have a brief chat.
I always thought I lived in London but it would appear not.0 -
Kieran_Burns wrote:It gets noticeably colder the moment you leave your town / village and strike out into the countryside.
There are less enclosed part of my ride, no bushes etc at the sides, where I notice the sudden temperature drop for 100 yds or so.
Rural commutes are good in the summer, less so in the winter but still good. Make sure you tell the rescue wagon your route so that if you wuss out she knows which pub you're hiding in cause you're scared of the dark.I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.0 -
You do know we have lots of mice in the sticks?Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.0 -
Is this to attract the attention of milk maids and pretty girls on hay wains?Kieran_Burns wrote:Get a bell. You'd be surprised how often you need one.
I take it rod brakes and swept-back handlebars are still de rigeur?Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
You amount of times you hear a hey nonny nonny round my way...0
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What is a nonny nonny? I think you guys are exaggerating the temperature thing. It's not as cold as it used to be (say 20+ years ago) I remember being so cold I'd get chill blaze when trying to warm my hands by the calor gas heater at home. Nowadays its feasible to wear a t-shirt and coat in December. Sure, might be a little colder outside the M25, but we are talking "North of the Wall" temperatures.
ITB, I've already told the missus that if we have mice - can't see why we would - I'm getting a cat because I can't be going through that situation again. I found their nest once, baby mice almost translucent - I felt bad when I killed them.
Someone said foxes and badgers, I'd expect foxes (and other animals) to be more polite outside London. In London foxes are about as rude as Londoners; one fox chased me for my kebab, another fox couple did it on the green outside my parents right in front of my son and two other foxes, separate occasions, jumped in my brother's and my father's car and robbed their wallets, hats etc... - all true.
But guys, joking aside, thanks for the tips and pointers. Lights to see (and not just to be seen by) is something I wouldn't have considered, as is the conditions or the amount of space that's given.Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
TGOTB wrote:
Is this to attract the attention of milk maids and pretty girls on hay wains?Kieran_Burns wrote:Get a bell. You'd be surprised how often you need one.
I take it rod brakes and swept-back handlebars are still de rigeur?
Horse riders, peds walking on the road as there is no path, peds not hearing you and vehicles are rare enough that they don't think to look, other riders wobbling a bit on the road and you can warn them you're coming past, runners out on the morning constitutional, company... it can get very quiet on some Winter nights...
Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
There is no way I'd put a bell on any bike I own.Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:There is no way I'd put a bell on any bike I own.
I'll remind you of this in a year or so... Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
How about a comedy clown horn?DonDaddyD wrote:There is no way I'd put a bell on any bike I own.0 -
Ian.B wrote:DonDaddyD wrote:It's not as cold as it used to be (say 20+ years ago) I remember being so cold I'd get chill blaze when trying to warm my hands by the calor gas heater at home.
I love the concept of 'chill blaze'! So accurately descriptive!
Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:
Relax. have a "chill blaze"
I am tempted to get a bell for my K2, I thought it was a waste, but I hate shouting at peds on a daily basis."If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0
