This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Preparation is everything.

Commuting from Surrey to Leyton tomorrow at 6.15am.

I have all the clothes and all the gloves. Will I melt?

Weatherman says frost overnight...

Hello, page 1000.

Case in point, Streatham High Road was an absolute disaster area this evening. Southbound tailbacks almost all the way back to the bus depot and there was an ambulance desperately struggling through the melee.

Very strange, obviously, because people keep telling me it's good cycle infra that blocks the progress of emergency vehicles...

Looks like colder than this morning forecasted for tomorrow. All the clothes. And proper gloves:)
Plus @hippy cold shower beforehand to acclimatise...

I'd normally run half the way back and get the train.

Two years ago, across open fields for three miles, I had ice in my beard.

I felt like Scott of the Antarctic

Early days so far this year. Think four below plus windchill was my worst early this Spring(!) so bring it on...

We've just agreed to move into a house with no central heating. Mmm.

it had skittered up and into the wood

Bloody hit-and-run, erm, runners. Report it.

Glad you're OK.

Cold showers are the worst!

HTFU.

#obviouscommentisobvious

It's 2deg out there, do not want.

Off to the gloves thread you go

It was colder than yesterday but it wasn't too bad. Fingers probably more painful after I arrived than during the ride. #denywinter

Still trying to find a physio willing to rub my coccyx back to health... anyone? Bueller? ;)

Oh and the water was back on this morning. I know you were dying to know.

We had no heating in our house for the first two years, assuming the heating was old and broken. Turns out it was Southern Electric fuckwits just cutting the wires at the meter and leaving them hanging. We didn't have hot water for a while too when the boiler thingie died (saving grace was the functional electric shower).

I still had one.

beefcake BEEFCAKE!

Not as cold as advertised. Knees toastie.

Aero helmet = warm

Took gloves off.

I had cold fingers for a bit, then I got into the woods and had to ride up hills

lovely ride up national route 21, I think it was around 12 miles before I saw a car

Oh dear, girlfriend was in tears last night after a horrible ride home. She's as calm and capable as they come but one too many close passes, motorbikes reving behind her and general cuntery broke her spirit.

One thing that came out of the post ride conversation is she had noticed since switching to winter gear people's behaviour had gotten worse. She wears lycra and has a bright pink Rapha jacket which definitely puts her in the high vis cycling club. I hate the idea of her not being able to wear something that is designed to keep her safe and comfortable but based on my own experiences of wearing obvious cycle clothing i suggested she try wearing something a little move casual and see how she gets on. FWIW other than helmet/sidi's/gloves i've now abandoned most bike clothing for commuting and feel a lot better for it.

Oh dear, girlfriend was in tears last night after a horrible ride home. She's as calm and capable as they come but one too many close passes, motorbikes reving behind her and general cuntery broke her spirit.

Sounds like my commute yesterday morning, except the effect on me was that I desperately wanted to bash someone's skull into the road by the end of it.

Interesting re bike clothing, since my commute went up by 50% I am now in full cycling gear every day, but haven't really noticed a big difference in attitudes myself.

She's seen me blow up too many times to know anything good will come of it.

Maybe it's just me but riding in jeans and t-shirt (or hooded jacket now) just seems to put me in a better place in my head. I also like to know that if shit does hit the fan i'll look a little more human in a confrontation. Recent switch to wide bars has also been a bit of a revelation.

Fair enough, it's a very different approach. I have recently become more of a bike-warrior than before... and I like my narrow bars for filtering.

https://road.cc/content/news/99660-high-vis-clothing-doesnt-make-cars-pass-you-more-safely-says-new-study

That's why I only commute in black robes!

... I'm joking. To be honest, I try to just be visible so no one can reasonably claim not to have seen me, but I don't expect it to do much, so I've seen no reason to actively look for super fluorescent bike gear so far.