This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Yeah, definitely get that. It's kinda of useful for me though to work late because it means I can do code deploys or make changes to live shit after hours. Previously I'd work a full day, ride home and then have to get into work mode again, whereas if I kinda of just do a bit of work, do a bit of dinner, do a bit of work, I dunno it does blur the work/home line but it feels nicer than getting fully into chill mode and then at 9pm remembering I have to do a release and then I'm up later after fucking around with that.

For heart rate increase I've also started doing more off road stuff. Lots of clench moments that don't involve bouncing off a car (maybe a tree though).

I might have posted this before but these edited highlights from Summer 2019 of my London-based commute pretty much sums up what I miss

Grown Man's Sport (Gandhi mix)

I wish I had the social skills to make friends in general let alone commuting cycling friends.

+1 for missing the daily commute. I did a loop of it today cause I miss it. Now I’m scared I breathed in someone’s covid air.

You didn’t. Not riding about on your bike. Get some air. It’s good for you.

Fatty Mcfatfat, today I was declared too fat for Flite and was almost pitchforked by my own saddle.

Went over minor pothole at quite a speed, massive crack sound, thought it was frame or wheel at first, then front alu rails snapped off completely and just fell into the road, and the saddle slid back off the rear prongs and into the road, amid shrieks from me of 'what the fucking fuck!'.

5 mile cycle ride home standing up, hella tiring not being able to sit down at all, but no better way to lose some Xmas ballast than the threat of being skewered if you sit down. I do love my bike but it telling me in January that I need to go on a diet still leaves a bit of a bitter aftertaste.

Ouch, glad you're OK. That could have been nasty.

Nope

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Wow came here to say ‘today is going to be a cold commute’ with our feels like temp of -8 then saw the post above! Off to find my sky mask and gloves

I don’t have the gear for this weather, decent glove recommendations appreciated

My BD fleece gloves aren’t up to this

I use roeckl duradero gloves, they were just fine this morning with -8 ° C

thanks, they don't seem to have that model available anywhere but I'll see what else the brand carries

Unusual sight

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You’ve got more than us up north. Not much snow but holy Christ was that a headwind this morning! Grinding uphill the whole way 18km in a straight line into the wind, coming home felt like riding behind a derny on a warm up gear... lovely leg loosener

So what's the unusual bit?

Snow next to the Thames

I'd be impressed when people are ice skating on it again.

Not sure if its the right place to ask, but does anyone know if the cycle lanes along the high street in Stratford and Mile end road are gritted / safe to ride on a bike?

Cycle lanes? Gritted?
Srsly? Not a chance.

Waltham Forest:

https://twitter.com/Labourstone/status/1358812460774535168?s=20

Really no fun at all cycling North the last couple of days, was absolutely crawling along the whole way.

Pretty fun going south in the morning though.

Yeh agreed! My commute is 18km straight north. Brutal this week! Knees are screaming

Back commuting after the ice of the previous weeks, been sweating like a pig in the mild weather this week. Long may it continue. CS7 remains fucking depressing though.

Not been able to commute by bike much recently but enjoyed yesterday’s ride in despite getting soaked through to the skin on the way in and then a puncture on the way home.

Rolled up to some lights about 5 miles from home and I could hear that signature psst-psst-psst of a wet puncture going round and round. A guy rolled up behind me and I told him to go past or I’d hold him up going slowly with the tyre going down. Then proceeded to sit behind him for about a mile while he held me up! By that time I was feeling like I was on borrowed time, so I caned it past him and joked about the tyre on the way past. Just needed to clear some distance now to minimise my inevitable walk. Got another mile or so rattled out and at the next set of lights the tyre was feeling decidedly squishy to the touch. Then managed to get about another 2 miles with the tyre rolling about all over the place. LONG wait at the the level crossing, but at that point it was only 500m to home. Thought I’d get some rim contact going over the level crossing, but amazingly I made it home without a single clunk. Just amazed at how slowly a 2.3” tyre goes down!

Parklife.

^ This. So I’ve been riding a sit-up-and-beg type of gaspipe clunker on CS7 recently for shits/giggles. I don’t think this bike is any more survivable when an Audi estate left hooks me turning into the Balham Waitrose car park, but at least I’ll leave a mark.

Also: cardio + weight training.

Now you need to get stickers made: 'I'M FASTER THAN A SLOW PUNCTURE.'

Brag for life. :)