This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Yeah, that's it, because I haven't yet worked out how to stop a bike in all my days cycling.

Who is Caleb, of the Fareham Wheelers?

Is that someone else I need to add to my database of cunts? No, not you PornHub, not you, down boy!

Is that someone else I need to add to my database of cunts?

Incidentally yes.

Starting work at 6AM this week, sweet ride in this morning. 4:30 alarm FTW

Thin socks + thick socks + shoes + overshoes = feet still cold. Not as cold as my face though. Still, crunched through some good frozen puddles. \o/

After years of messing about with overshoes and sock combo I've invested in some Sidi Gore Tex boots, lovely and warm this morning with just a pair of merino socks.

Thin ankle socks + normal shoes. Didn't notice.

I think the trick is to make sure your face is really cold and your ears are about to fall off, then you don't need to worry about your feet ;)

I threw a gym session in the middle of my commute which helped too.

Apart from the ice on the left hand side of the road as the gradient spikes up Wells Park Road and the cunty BMW driver behind me going down College Road, today's commute was a solid 7/12.

ive found layering up the legs usually helps with the feet - dont "crush" your feet and ankles with tons of layers as that will restrict blood flow - your trying to get the cold blood out and replace with warm blood - the blood has to go down your legs first...

I was banging my way to a job with no time to stop and take a photo, so annoying as I had my full kit on me!

Someone happened to have a drone at the ready:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/eerie-drone-footage-shows-piccadilly-circus-plunged-into-darkness-by-powercut-a3405666.html

My gloves are crap - but I knew that right?! Pleasant ride in, how people are riding in with 3/4 bibs or shorts is beyond me. Warm feet though (OS and shoes not done up tight) -- any recommendation for road shoe winter boots?

Hands were cold for the first half, feet cold for the second.

Still, sunny and frosty in Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common. A wonderful morning to be alive.

There's a winter shoes thread.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/129415/

I use Shimano. Because midfoot.

I threw a gym session in the middle of my commute which helped too.

[dean gaffney retching noise]

I don't know who Dean Gaffney is. I was not retching.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a211922/dean-gaffney-pukes-on-the-door/

EastEnders? That's why I have no idea who he is.

thanks

Second Brompton commute today - rode half a mile from car to station this morning at about 7 and couldn't feel my fingers by the time I got to the station. Got off the train at Tottenham Hale and was pleased to find London slightly warmer. Almost immediately bumped into a chap who I'd chatted to on the commute when I lived in Walthamstow, so rode from TH to the bottom of Regent's Park with him, which was nice.

He mentioned a couple of guys he regularly sees doing RP laps on their Bromptons and we happened to spot them in RP doing just that. Overtook lots of roadies and various other commuters and was pretty much constantly beaming all the way to work. Bromptons are great.

Allow me to enrich/diminish your life.

I was retching at the idea of wrapping exercise in more exercise. I'm getting fat for winter.

Cold/10, but some half decent gloves helped.

you planning to do the Brompton 5 days till spring/summer?

Ah, but my commute is shorter these days and I'm not really do much else so all I've really done is swapped pedaling for lifting stuff.

I see those lapping Bromptons every morning. Both guys look like they're having a great time.

Yeah, probably. Depends on the weather really. And whether I can be bothered to get up at 7 and ride for 2 hours, then do a day's work and ride home, getting back at 7.30/8ish. As it gets colder and darker, for some reason it gets less appealing... You still doing 5 days a week?

Anyway, I'll still get in about 100 miles a week on the Brompton, so I shouldn't get too fat over winter.

Might have to try to track them down on tomorrow's commute... I honestly thought a Brompton would be a hellish ride and would suck all the fun out of commuting, but it's awesome. Proper fun. Trackstanding is harder though.