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Not many windows at work, but had to nip outside... It appears that a nice mix of low temperature, rain and fog has set in...
Yay... At least it's only a few miles.
Quit your jibber jabber...
Could be worse, you could spend your journey home looking at this:
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or worse - that.
I can't wait for my commute home, yes I will get soaking, yes I will get blinded by Mr million lumens at the same spot I do everyday, but I love my rides in and out of work.
Just go to the nearest pub, drink until you fall over/last orders (whichever comes first) then sleep under your desk
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your rain cannot harm me............... 😀
Just go to the nearest pub, drink until you fall over/last orders (whichever comes first) then [s]sleep under your desk[/s] ride home
I have had several colleagues comment that i must be dreading the ride home because of the weather. I do not mind rain (its heavy wind which make me leave the bike at home).
Pik n Mix - I know what you mean about excessive lighting. I had 4 riders together on the trans pennine trail yesterday and had to stop as i could not see. 3 of them had 2 lights and 1 had 3 lights.
was so foggy on my way home the other night i had to slow right down going round the lake in case i just went straight into it 😀
As long as it's not biblical on the way in I don't mind the commute. Putting damp kit back on for the journey home makes my heart sink.
The folks at work think I am mad for cycling in in the cold and wet but it's not that bad really.
Anything is better than sitting in a car/bus/train during rush hour.
Proper roadie kit has been a revelation. Roubaix bibtights, windproof, neoprene gloves, overshoes and I'm quite happy.
The problem with the riders and their bright lights isn't the lumens, it's the fact they have them pointed straight out, parallel to the ground!.
I like my commute, just long enough (14k) to feel it makes a difference to my fitness, but not so long as to be a trudge. Nice crisp day today, not much wind, I'll be off in 10 minutes.
Although I do admit to struggling to motivate myself to go back out on MTB for a nightride after commuting back and forth that day, but I'm for out tonight.
As long as it's not biblical on the way in I don't mind the commute. Putting damp kit back on for the journey home makes my heart sink
Ditto, not a huge fan of commuting in the rain, more due to the lack of emergency braking traction and the drivers not being able to see as well but I tolerate riding home in the wet as you can then spend the evening warming up, getting soaked on the way in is miserable though.
Sometimes, on days like today, I'm very glad to be working from home, sat in a comfy chair in the office, gazing out at the mizzle collecting in the corners of the window and the encroaching gloaming enfolding the trees and fields in its dusky embrace.
Got ****in' soaked out with the dog earlier though.
dusky embrace
I've seen that film
Ride home, change, grab mountain bike, head to Marple.
The rain holds no sway over me 😀
😀dusky embraceI've seen that film
Looks alright in Glasgow, bit chilly though but thats fine. Bit of ice this morning though.
[i]The problem with the riders and their bright lights isn't the lumens, it's the fact they have them pointed straight out, parallel to the ground!.[/i]
Or people looking at them rather than just averting your eyes slightly.
I like to be able to see a good distance in front of me you know the way car drivers can
A bit of rain and dark isn't that bad really. The thought of it is much worse than actually riding in it.
Agree on wind though, that sucks!
When the weather is poor and its murky, Im more concerned about not being seen by the morons in their tin boxes.
There was a huge crash on the M1 last night between 21-22…about 30 mins after I'd gone through there as I do every other day 🙁
Another one here about to put on damp kit for the return home and I too wouldn't have it any other way.
I get the haters for bright lights too, if I'm ever in the car they're a menace. Antisocial and more importantly bloody hard to judge distance or perspective to them possibly making the owner more likely to be involved in an accident.
I chickened out today, first time in months.
Mainly because I had a late night & the bike has seemingly acquired a flat tyre at some point between getting home & this morning.
Back on it tomorrow. The round trip is quicker by bike over car 🙂
The most annoying thing is that I had to get the train in yesterday when it was glorious and was riding today, on my usual day off the bike, when it was piddling down.
Or people looking at them rather than just averting your eyes slightly.I like to be able to see a good distance in front of me you know the way car drivers can
Which is fine on roads, as I'm the full width of the road away from them, but on the cycle track going through Troon, It's about 4 feet wide, and can't really avert my eyes tbh!.
Nothing wrong with the train unless going in our out of London at peak time. Currently trundling along the south coast listening to alice in chains and posting on here. The route choices for a bike commute from home to work are very unappealing 17 miles of urban sprawl, endless traffic lights, minor junctions, schools, traffic punch points and exhaust fumes. Even on an empty road school holiday day its not an especially inviting option.
I commuted when I was banned from driving - thus I had no choice - as soon as I was driving again I have never once bothered - I hated it.. It was a 20 miles each way and I did it single speed .. The worst days were full on hurricanes and torrential rain and two punctures on one journey - blocks of ice for fingers - God knows how the puncture repair kit managed to glue in the rain . Horse throat too from all the swearing into the wind and rain ... But God damn hot showers feel good when you get home !
Just been for a quick 10 miler after work, it's drizzley, foggy but not cold (5 degrees) & I have a bad back, graceful on the bike but shuffling like an OAP off it. Just MTFU & ride
Rule #9
Which is fine on roads, as I'm the full width of the road away from them, but on the cycle track going through Troon, It's about 4 feet wide, and can't really avert my eyes tbh!.
What he said, there really isn't a need for 1200 lumens of bunny toaster pointing straight ahead on a single lane cycle path (or on the road IMO).
It was actually a pretty pleasant ride home apart from the little scrote in lemmington trying to steel the anti-motorbike bollards
You are joking right? It's only about 10 pedal revolutions to your house 😉 MTFU princess 😛
10 mile commute home and enjoyed every second of it 🙂 Even got a cheers from some dude who was drafting me (God knows why as I wasn't rushing lol) also had courteous car drivers when it came to the cycle path crossing a busy dual carriage way. It was a good ride 😀
Loved my commute home, cold, but in a fresh way, light rain that was refreshing and traffic was stationary on the road sections so I managed to breeze through that at the start
Home warmed up and smiling with a small whiskey here
Even a puncture didn't upset my ride this evening. 40 miles into work and 25 home again as you have to take advantage of no wind days. Rain and cold are easily defeated with decent clothing. Wind is just rubbish
At 32 and riding all my life, I bounced off a car for the first time today.
My commute is less than 10 minutes, due to the mix of rain/darkness/general miserableness I did the first couple of minutes on the cycle path and then onto the road to avoid a cold five minutes at a level crossing.
I'm using road legal lights plus helmet with an oldish (i.e. not a million lumens but still bright) AyUp light, and a long sleeved hi vis (the proper highways one)
I had a car stop and look directly at me and then pull out. Didn't have time to brake, all I could do was stick my leg out, bounced off the wing with a satisfyingly loud bang, and then somehow stayed on whilst I wobbled into the next lane and then slewed round into my lane facing the wrong way. Luckily I was slap bang in the middle of the lane as otherwise I'd have had even less chance to react.
Stayed on and not a bruise to show for it, but sobering that the expected and relatively predictable sprawl over the the bonnet actually turned into a swerve into the next lane without knowing what might have been trying to pass me...
She tried to apologise whilst holding back the tears so I told her I was OK and buggered off, but perhaps I should have 'exchanged details' seeing as I potentially left a foot sized reminder in her front wing?!
As long as you're ok then her car is her problem.
Bike, train bike for me as usual.
was the usual squashfest
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7530/15263745594_7d2592edc4.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7530/15263745594_7d2592edc4.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pfNFMu ]26th November 2014[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/25986000@N00/ ]-Cheesyfeet-[/url], on Flickr
Liverpool Street?
yep
After a tough day, I really hate commuting home on a nice bike, only to then cross paths with some smug envious youngster who blurts out "Eer mate, 'ow much did that thing costya then?"
Answer too low a price, you will be branded a cheapskate!
Answer too high a price, you will be branded an upperty bike snob!
Fail to answer at all, you might be branded 'rude'!
The joys of cycling home from a hard days work earning a modest wage...
Tusk! :o)
GBR.
I often cycle commute, using trains (in South West England).
As a cyclist who has used trains in every european nation except three in eastern europe, I'm sorry to say that our British trains are almost THE worst for cyclists in europe!! I think the UK government has a real nerve to suggest that it is backing the needs of british commuting cyclists, who often need to take bikes on trains. And it would be so easy for most trains to provide one whole bike coach to carry say 30 or 40 bikes, like they used to in the old days before privatisation. There's plenty of old disused rolling stock still in good condition up to the job! Sorry to moan here, but I know ALOT of local people who would all commute with bikes on trains, encouraging more everyday cycling, if only facilities were much much better with more space.
British commuting cyclists deserve better!!
(this has been a non-political broadcast for the sick-of-suffering-like-sardines-commuting-cyclists-of-bristol-party!!)
Mudguards, fresh socks and plastic bags if your shoes are soaked and you can't get them dry, spare pair of aldi gloves for the home journey, cycling cap can go under the helmet to keep the dazzle away and keeps rain out of your eyes. Waterproof gilet can go in rear pocket really useful things
GBR +1
The guards around here are quite tolerant of overloading with bikes but I see were probably one torn stocking from a hard line approach from the train operators
Well due to work moving I now have a the joy of either driving into sheffield each day or walking to the train station and getting in the train. Prior to this I was commuting by bike 3 days a week. I'm REALLY missing the cycling and am turning into a grumpy old sod 🙁
jeffl, there are some nice routes into Sheffield. Where are you departing from, and where in Sheff do you work?
Lovely ride home last night, a few foggy patches on the moor but nothing major.
And another nice ride in this morning.
[i]What he said, there really isn't a need for 1200 lumens of bunny toaster pointing straight ahead on a single lane cycle path[/i]
There is if the cycle path is pitch dark, but its easy enough to put your hand over a bright light if someone's approaching.
People with flashing lights on a segregated cycle path is more annoying.
my commutes are pretty uneventful which is how i like them
2 lighta on the back of the bike and an extra one on the camelbak in addition to some reflective bands hanging off it
one flashing light on the helmet and a 1200 lumen light on the bars i also have spoke reflectors to avoid SMIDSYism
if i get soaked on the way in i can dry the stuff out on the radiators in the office and the shower room so its not too bad
its the same for me though that some of my colleagues think i'm mad for tackling the manchester city centre traffic in the dark
they always ask me why dont you just drive in? erm cos my wife needs the car for the school run
then why dont you get on a bus? erm cos it takes over an hour to get in and to go home
7 mile journey coming in with the car takes 45 minutes and up to an hour on the return trip
on the bus it takes 70 minutes coming in and longer going home
on the bike it takes 25 minutes coming in and 30 minutes going back
i wouldnt have it any other way....even when its lashing it down and the wind is hurricanesque...
the cold doesnt bother me that much either...i just peddle a bit harder to warm myself up
though if it does eventually snow this winter....it should be interesting!!
I'm very lucky with my commute. 13 miles along rural back-roads , or 15 if I fancy the coast road (and avoiding the one deeply unpleasant climb on a loaded bike). Thing is it's relaxing to drive, too, so when the weather is a bit iffy there's less incentive to ride.
Last night was lovely round here. About 5c and really starry. The alarm at work malfunctioned when I tried to set it, which meant that I spent an extra hour at work waiting for the engineer to dial in and sort it out.
I was a bit grumpy after a long day, but it meant that there was practically no traffic by the time I left and I was bouncing round like an endorphin-fueled Tigger when I got home!
This is why I don't mind the low pay and lack of shops and transport links round here!
"There is if the cycle path is pitch dark"
and your touting for some of wembleys business
I don't understand how people can ride with a single high power front light on flash mode on dark country lanes. I can see that having one to supplement a normal light is advantageous as they do get you noticed. But I think the flashing in front of me for anymore than a few seconds would drive my eyes bonkers.
I have a friend who does his commute the opposite way to me, we see each other once or twice a week. He has a dim light on his head on flash mode for 12 miles across the moor, either that or no light at all on the front or back. He's mental.
"There is if the cycle path is pitch dark"
Nope still don't get it. I ride on pitch black cycle paths every day at the moment and turn down my 300 lumen torch because it seems antisocially bright - that's also a much more focused beam than most mtb lights.
I'm sorry to say that our British trains are almost THE worst for cyclists in europe!!
Tried taking your bike on the TGV?
There is if the cycle path is pitch dark, but its easy enough to put your hand over a bright light if someone's approaching.
The cycle path I use is pitch dark. There is no need for a light that bright, or anything like it. A "proper" B&M road light is perfectly adequate to see by, and doesn't dazzle everyone coming the other way.
[i]Nope still don't get it.[/i]
That's fine, I'm not bothered.
[i]There is no need for a light that bright,[/i]
Did I say how bright my light is? Its quite possible some people are jumping to conclusions.
That's fine, I'm not bothered.
I'm not that bothered by driving round with my full beams on to be honest, this dipping malarkey seems pointless when they could just look somewhere else.
Back on it today. Cold & Dry. Lovely!
[i]I'm not that bothered by driving round with my full beams on to be honest, this dipping malarkey seems pointless when they could just look somewhere else. [/i]
Yeh because that's exactly the same thing isn't it 🙄
Yeh because that's exactly the same thing isn't it
Yeah, pretty much.
Why don't you compare the amount of lumens and beam position from a car headlamp with the lumens and beam position from the light on my bars.
Oh hold on you can't because the only facts you have are that I like to be able to see. Crack on with your assumptions if it makes you happy though.
Wimped out last night cos it was horrible but gonna have to get a grip and do it tonight even though so far its not much better. Wish I'd fetched MTB though cos roads look horrible. solastorm front light, Flashing LED x2 on helmet. 2 x Flashing LED on back of bike 2 x white flashing LED on end of drops facing outwards. Takes me 5 minutes to power down when I get home!!!
First cycle commute of the week into my office in Nottingham.
Tuesday it took me 3.5 hours to drive 55 miles into the Birmingham office. 12 miles in the drizzle and dark this morning, dodging impatient drivers and suicidal bunnies was absolute bliss!
Why don't you compare the amount of lumens and beam position from a car headlamp with the lumens and beam position from the light on my bars.
Because, from lots of experience, super bright MTB lights are more dazzling than car lights...? So the numbers are not relevant?
You're missing the point. As lemonysam doesn't know what kind of lights I have, he's just jumping to conclusions.
Why don't you compare the amount of lumens and beam position from a car headlamp with the lumens and beam position from the light on my bars.
1. Bike lights (with very few exceptions) are not dipped.
2. You do not need 1200 lumens to see your way down an unlit cycle path.
Next!
[i]You do not need 1200 lumens to see your way down an unlit cycle path.[/i]
But its nice to have that as an option. Its also nice to ride at proper daylight speeds all year round rather than slowing down because you can't see far enough into the distance.
But its nice to have that as an option. Its also nice to ride at proper daylight speeds all year round rather than slowing down because you can't see far enough into the distance.
It's not "nice" - it's completely unnecessary, and in any case most of your lumens are completely wasted unless you use a proper road light. I have no trouble riding at speed at night (though on the road - doing so on cyclepaths is often a bit dumb), and I've done plenty of overnight centuries, so might just know a thing or two about it.
I can't cycle for the moment on Dr's orders, I seriously can't wait to even start commuting, even in this weather.
I've just begrudgingly had to buy a second family car and I'm fed up of the traffic already (2 months now), the traffic getting out of town is mental! The first 3-4 miles of my 7mile commute takes twice as long as on my bike most days if I leave anywhere near 5, thankfully I'm on reduced hours at the moment.
You'll never hear me whine about the cold wind of rain. MTFU 😉
You do not need 1200 lumens to see your way down an unlit cycle path.
No I may not, that's why I have my light on low and physically dip it when someone is cycling towards me.
It was dark, damp and misty on the way home last night, visibility was all of 50m at times, so then the light was useful, I still kept it on low though, I hope that's ok with you. It's a traffic free cycle path by the way, I just occasionally fall out with bus drivers on the busway who insist on driving along with full beams on despite being in a gulley with the steering done for them.
[i]It's not "nice" - it's completely unnecessary, and in any case most of your lumens are completely wasted unless you use a proper road light. I have no trouble riding at speed at night (though on the road - doing so on cyclepaths is often a bit dumb), and I've done plenty of overnight centuries, so might just know a thing or two about it. [/i]
You don't know the cycle path I ride on so saying riding at speed is 'often a bit dumb' is pretty pointless, 12 miles of segregated path where I may see 1 other cyclist in winter, no one walking and few cars on the road. Well done on your centuries but I've ridden a 20 miles each way commute year round for the past 8 years so like you I also know a thing or two about it - I know what works and what doesn't and have the right kit for my situation.
Well done on your centuries but I've ridden a 20 miles each way commute year round for the past 8 years so like you I also know a thing or two about it - I know what works and what doesn't and have the right kit for my situation
No, you have over specified kit which presents an unnecessary hazard to other users of the path.
No I may not, that's why I have my light on low and physically dip it when someone is cycling towards me
If you have it on low then it's not 1200 lumens, is it? I do the same thing when riding back from the trail...
[i]No, you have over specified kit which presents an unnecessary hazard to other users of the path.[/i]
Really, what am I using then? And do you mean the one other user who I see once or twice a week?
[i]I do the same thing when riding back from the trail... [/i]
So you use an MTB light on the road? pot/kettle
Looking forward to my journey home from work tonight, how about you trail_rat?
Really, what am I using then?
1. You said there is a need for a 1200 lumen lamp if riding on an unlit path
2. You said you ride on unlit paths.
3. You said you have the right kit for your situation.
I conclude you use a light of at least 1200 lumens. Are there any bike lights that a) run at 1200 lumens and b) have a properly shaped road beam pattern?
So you use an MTB light on the road? pot/kettle
Set to 100 lumens. Please explain how that is "pot/ kettle".
[i]Set to 100 lumens. Please explain how that is "pot/ kettle". [/i]
With all that light washing all over the road?
[i]I conclude you use a light of at least 1200 lumens.[/i]
I do, but I didn't say I ran it at 1200 lumens.
[i]Are there any bike lights that a) run at 1200 lumens and b) have a properly shaped road beam pattern?[/i]
Dunno, but I'm not on the road.
My emergency backup light is 1200 lumens.
My main is far more 😀
Working from home............miss the extra miles. 😥