This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I also probably wouldn't have adjusted my speed. Passing at a normal pace, probably just lifting a hand to say hi rather than smashing it past and verbally doing it. Possibly thought, as you say, that you were overtaking at speed and then slowing back down just to one up them (hence why they did it back, to prove a point: I can do that too asshole). I think minding my own business and waving is the best general policy

@pacef8 (‘s GF)
@RunRabbitRun
Mrs Chaley
TBH these are really the only opinions that matter in this instance.
I should probably just have upped my pace to overtake her from the start, but I didn’t think I’d get ahead of her enough to make that work at first. I just want to ride my bike and have others be able to ride their’s in a comfortable environment. If that means me having to think and adjust things slightly, I’m good with that. Women and many others have to do that in almost every aspect of their lives, me taking a moment to think? Well yeah.

First commute with rack and panniers today, on an Ebike.

I feel dirty

Or at least I would if the mudguards hadn't have kept the road grime off of me

2018 me is disgusted

I commute about 20km 4x a week. This last winter the commutes were very wet and grey and I notice that I can't be bothered much anymore to go for longer rides in the weekend because of this. Can anyone relate?

are you a member of a club or have friends you can ride with?
I commute around 40km 3 days a week.
I do lack motivation to ride at the weekends, especially if the weather is shit, but (nearly) always enjoy it when my pals drag me out.
I also found this year having an event to train towards (dirty reiver) was a big motivation as I knew I had to build my stamina up.

No, I find my commutes feel almost like a chore and weekend rides have a totally different feel. Even though the rides are chore like, I avoid driving if at all possible (even when pissing down) just because I prefer riding a bike.

This winter was savagely grey. It took me a long time to get my riding mojo back.

First legit just t-shirt morning ride of the year today. What a treat! Wild flowers looking lovely.

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More gorgeousness this morning.

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Looks like hell! ❤️

Whereabouts is that?

Some brilliant photogenic backgrounds round that way, aren't there?

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Just around Portsmouths coast to the office. It's a surprisingly nice, varied ride worth the detour on nice days.

Never get bored of it, always something going on. Looking forward to the coast path opening again down Eastern road, and can't believe works finally started on the Lido!

New job means new commute way. Around half of the 20km ride looks like different versions of this, what I don't mind at all!
The Omnium Mini is great, and it is neat with the extra loading space compared to my other bikes.

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https://jennytough.substack.com/p/you-dont-have-to-explain-yourself

I wish i had technical difficulties to blame. I would regularly get passed by both male and female cyclists on my former commute, on one occasion by a family, and i was always honest.
Despite the calls of "do you have a puncture?" "do you need a hand?" "are you ok?"

my reply is always and unerringly "I'm fine, just knackered huge gasp and horrifically unfit"

I no longer commute, still get passed though.

Of course..,

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Grosvenor rd closed (eastbound) for work for months (apparently)... and they've only gone and left it accessible to cyclists, an alsmost car free run from Chelsea bridge to Parliament, can use the road for those ride london feels.

I retired in June 2023 and the only thing I miss about not working any more is the cycle-commute. So when my main riding buddy mentioned that he wanted to start commuting again I offered to join him to remind him of the route and ensure he made it in safely on day 1.

Not a lot more to report other than cycle-commuting is much more relaxed in the summer and when you don't have a deadline to get into the office. He didn't even want to leave particularly early and we didn't leave my place until 08:15 and took a leisuely ride along CS7 with the cycle commuters and cars deep into August-holiday low volumes.

A coffee in Canary Wharf with another riding buddy before taking the long route home made for a satisfying ride.

A few pics for illustrative purposes.

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Retirement stories on the commuting thread are just unfair.

Love this!

I took the SSMTB in today, so I went home the extra special way*. It was lovely.

• a little bit of light trespassing
  

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On my way home today I found a friend by the side of the trail, so I took him with me to show him the sights.

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This morning was foggy, it was very pretty.