Cycle commute!

Did a quick trial run to work yesterday, 43 mins for 12 1/2 miles, though it was between 28 and 32 degrees! Managed 32mph at one point down a hill. Could have done with a full spuspension bike it was that bumpy! Carbon forks aint the most forgiving things.
Cant fault the bike though, cabable of much more than i can do, when brother in law had it, he rode it up Alp D'Huez a couple of times with no problems.

You lot are way faster than me :(

But I cycled to work this morning :D 12.3 miles in about 55 minutes :( My excuses are some of it's hilly, it was windy, there was lots of traffic at the work end and my bike isn't totally suited ;) I'll improve with practise
 
You guys don't even know you are born...

I've just started commuting into work on the bike again, a whopping 7.5 miles, and being an extremely fat knacker, it's been taking me 44 mins to get in, and it could be considered 'flat', just a slight incline all the way in... the good news is, going home, it's a slight incline all the way back, and only takes 30 mins which is more like it...

So if you think 12.3 miles in 55 mins is bad, just feel sorry for the fat git being overtaken by every granny or her sturmey archer, iron framed, basket equipped mean machine..

I'd also love to say that I have some awesome full suspended carbon framed Trek Fuel EX9 or similar, but having a knackered back etc, I've had to go a bit more 'comfort', and so bought something cheap just for commuting..
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...0956_crumb_33980-33957_parentcategoryrn_60956
 
Had an off yesterday on the road at 30mph. :( Chain broke whilst I was in top gear standing on the pedals, never stood a chance of recovery. Didn't hit anything apart from the ground, bike is untouched since it landed on me.

Lots of roadrash and seeping but the wounds are drying out slowly. Bike's fixed and rode back in this morning. :)
 
You lot are way faster than me :(

But I cycled to work this morning :D 12.3 miles in about 55 minutes :( My excuses are some of it's hilly, it was windy, there was lots of traffic at the work end and my bike isn't totally suited ;) I'll improve with practise

It was horrible this morning. It seemed to be head winds all the way and I couldn't really get going. I only managed an average of 14.5mph where as I normally manage around 15.5mph to 16mph.


That's a nice little link, I'll see if I can get my route up.
Here it is
 
Had an off yesterday on the road at 30mph. :( Chain broke whilst I was in top gear standing on the pedals, never stood a chance of recovery. Didn't hit anything apart from the ground, bike is untouched since it landed on me.

Lots of roadrash and seeping but the wounds are drying out slowly. Bike's fixed and rode back in this morning. :)

Ouch!!

Hope you heal up quickly!! What chain did u have on there, did it just ping off a link, or actually break?
 
It was horrible this morning. It seemed to be head winds all the way and I couldn't really get going. I only managed an average of 14.5mph where as I normally manage around 15.5mph to 16mph.

Yeah, hopefully coming home will be easier ;)

I see you live fairly nearby, I was cycling into Teddington, through Shepperton, Sunbury (which has some really shoddy road surfaces :mad: ) etc
 
Dont get me started on road surfaces!!

I seem to kill my wrists when i am riding, i find myself having to move out a meter from the kerb in some places! It seems to me that the larger a road is, the worse the edge will be, hence why dual carriageways just seems to be like riding on cobblestones :(
 
mine

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carbon everything coz its horny! :)
 
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I find there is a sweet spot about a third of the way over from the kerb, where the left hand car tyres make a smooth line. I try and ride there if there are no vehicles behind, but in reality I need to get some road tyres stat.

Yeah, hopefully coming home will be easier ;)

I really hope so as my legs are feeling tired today. I may take a rest day tomorrow and catch the train.

What does everyone else do to make sure that they recover in time for the ride home / next morning?
 
Have to say I respect all you guys for cycling, I think about doing it occassionally but I saw yet another cyclist who'd been knocked off this morning, police and ambulance in attendence.

That really puts me off doing it to be honest, I mean I know it depends how sensible you are and all but I'm not a terribly good cyclist in all honesty and I see a couple of accidents a month on average just walking 10 minutes to work. Scares me off to be honest so good on all of you!
 
Have to say I respect all you guys for cycling, I think about doing it occassionally but I saw yet another cyclist who'd been knocked off this morning, police and ambulance in attendence.

I also saw a fellow cyclist knocked down the other day. He had gone over a roundabout I was waiting to join, when i finally got onto the road he was about 200 yards ahead of me, so I decided to try and close him down (as u do :p). When we got to another roundabout, I had lost sight of him just round a bend, and saw what looked to be a Black renault convertable crossing two lanes. I didnt think much of it till when I caught up, the renault has crossed two lanes on the roundabout from the BP garage (its an elongated one with shops/BP garage inside it) and seemingly nailed the cyclist who was passing the exit.

Lots of other people had stopped, and I think the cyclist was being walked away from the scene by witnesses and two other cyclists were off-bike and talking to the stunned looking lady driver. So I didnt think it was worth me stopping.
 
Ouch!!

Hope you heal up quickly!! What chain did u have on there, did it just ping off a link, or actually break?

Some Shimano jobbie, was a half decent chain anyway and it was only a couple of weeks old at the most. Looks like one link had expanded somehow. Probably the result of a chain slip at some point. Ah well. :)

Pic of the damage straight from A&E (linked incase anyones squeemish but it's not that bad since the roadrash is clean)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn27/ocukloweuk/Ow.jpg

Doesn't really show up that well, and the bruising obviously hadn't come out at that point. You get the idea though heh :)
 
What were you wearing when you crashed out of interest, your shoulder looks nicely cut up! Knee/legs and arm i would expect, but i kinda thought the shoulder would at least partially be protected by cycle clothing?

Maybe we should get some full leathers for ya :D

Cycling shorts / Gilet with a rucksack on. Put holes in both heh. :) Gloves are nicely holed up as well.
 
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