This morning's commute and other commuting stories

want to post the plates, or will that jeopardise pending police investigations?

It could be the battery, rechargeable home AA batteries just die when it's under 0 degrees. I found out the hard way, yes :)

"proper" cycle lights have so far been fine.

STILL no snow in Belfast, come on...

Lazy megacold wind that goes right through you/10 though

Great fun !

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What tyres are they?

I took main roads thinking "they'll be fine" but Graham Road was like a back street and Lauriston Road was really sketchy (with hindsight, not that much of a main road).

Had to get off and push around there because my back wheel started sliding out. Cleared up south of the park though.

Im working from home so went for a cycle round vicky park going to go back out at lunch!

Schwalbe Winter spike 30c = what a tyre! Was barreling along Q1 in near pristine snow first thing

Tungsten Carbide/10

Slow and fun, I found the snow getting between mudguard and tyre acted as an extra brake, didn't mind that as I was taking it easy. Fingers were painful though, even with double gloves.

Stupidly offered to collect my girlfriend from the local station last night as she'd had a late night survey, got about 2 minutes down the road then had full power shut down. Too slippy/flat to bump start so with the help of a passer by managed to get it onto the side of the road and had to leave it. Lying in bed not being able to sleep i realised what i'd done wrong so i jumped on the mountain bike and headed off into the snow. Made it back to the car and turned everything electrical off (lights/radio/heaters...) and managed to fire it up, threw the bike in the back and proceeded to drive back home. I won't go into the driving details but i made it home without seeing a soul, and felt like an absolute winner/scumbag.

Ride in this morning was glorious.

WTB trailblazers, 2.8 I think

slushy ride in even on the main roads I take.
Fucking hate slush.
Did get a snowy ride through the park adjacent to my work, which was fun.
Witnessed the aftermath of three car accidents this morning, some drivers don't seem to get how to drive in adverse conditions.
Apart from that majority of drivers were very accommodating, especially as I was riding much wider than usual, to avoid the slush collection/not quite slush border, that was lining the kerb...

Let the pressures down and commuted all the way to my favourite coffee shop. Happy birthday to me :)

A bit slushy and generally shit this morning. It's funny though the changing rooms are empty at work and people here look at you as though you are some sort of loon when you tell them you cycled in. "Of course, how else would I get to work?"

I had to use one of the towels that are 'for your body only' to clean my bike otherwise it would have bene ruined by the time I go to cycle home.

Been for a look around.
Escape the estate to main road and all is well, until about 7pm tonight.
Side roads, bit shit.
Now on a late shift so will take a bag of salt with us in works vehicle, had to dig out yesterday as we go off gritted roads.

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Apart from that majority of drivers were very accommodating, especially as I was riding much wider than usual, to avoid the slush collection/not quite slush border, that was lining the kerb...

Yeah, this was an interesting effect of the conditions.

Drivers were going a) much more slowly than usual and b) could immediately understand why you were riding in what they would usually perceive as an intolerably wide position, because they could see you were much safer riding in the tyre channels.

Wish it was like this all the time...

could immediately understand why you were riding in what they would usually perceive as an intolerably wide position

Most could. Unfortunately not the knob in a lorry who tailgated me down Mare Street.

Cunts gonna cunt

Skiders gunna skid...

9am, Bond St.

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'ackney innit

b) could immediately understand why you were riding in what they would usually perceive as an intolerably wide position, because they could see you were much safer riding in the tyre channels.

Didn't work for me sadly - three or four ludicrously dangerous close passes on dalston lane and queensbridge road. I'd have sped up and remonstrated if I thought I wouldn't have just skidded and fallen off.

Rode past so many cars today. Got a laugh from another cyclist which I realised when I got into work was because my beard had frozen.

-5C/10.

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Was mostly fun! Slow as fuck and why oh why did I sell my fixed CX? But the commuter made it with no falls. Cycle lanes are as sketchy as it’s possible to be but yeah drivers are quite reasonable when forced to chill out! Outfit on point. Dreading all that slush icing over before heading home.

Very sadly had to stop and talk a guy off the road and call the cops in Whitechapel as he was distressed and walking into traffic. Pretty abstract and traumatic part of an otherwise exciting journey to work.

Snow 10/10

The state of mental health provision 0/10

Police being patient and picking up the pieces 10/10.

Drive train absolutely bricked up with sludge? Absolutely!

Will I make it home 9 Miles to Leyton tonight..? Who knows!

Very sadly had to stop and talk a guy off the road and call the cops in Whitechapel as he was distressed and walking into traffic. Pretty abstract and traumatic part of an otherwise exciting journey to work.

Well done to you. Great work.

Human response. Sad how many people just drove / rode around him. I guess people are nervous of someone turning violent or something but it wasn’t what you’d call an inconvenience to stop and talk to him. The police were rapid and super sympathetic.