That photo makes me think of this;
http://blog.godreports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/van-gogh-the-starry-night-1889.jpg
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Confessions of a Cycle Commuter
(1669 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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Something ripped through the tyre wall going down Annan Street and BANG! there went the inner tube. On inspection I decided no realistic way to safely boot it, so ended up doing the walk of shame to Waverley, locking the bike then getting a train to Edinburgh park resplendant in close-fitting cycling leggings and jacket. Made sure my pannier and h****** was obvious to onlookers in case they thought I was just some lycra fetishist rather than having a proper justification for my non-standard attire as I walked down to work.
Posted 9 years ago # -
On Monday the fact that it doesn't get dark at 4:30 any more (woohoo) confused me as to the time and I ended up leaving work half an hour late and failing to get the train I'd hoped to make in spite of a mad sprint to the station.
I did get this year's QOM for the Strava segment that is on the way to the station, so things are not all bad ;-) (though it is very possible that I'm the only woman who has Strava'd that segment this year...)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Probably would have been better if I'd locked my bike to more than just the air on top of the rack yesterday.
In my defence (and I suppose that of any passing thieves, because bike is still safely mine) it did look very locked.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've been commuting for the last two weeks without any form of tools, tubes, or pump. For Reasons (including, but not limited to, said items being on the other bikes).
So far, all is well.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Have been having pm conversation with condor2378 regarding handover over spare trailgator. When I went to read condor2378's latest message I managed to remove myself from the conversation.
Posted 9 years ago # -
After falling off my bike on wet cobbles yesterday and getting a bruised bottom I'm now wearing padded cycle shorts under my work clothes. No-ones noticed so far...
Posted 9 years ago # -
After yesterday's tyre malfunction, I ended up walking the bike home from Waverley, wearing my office trousers. Of course, I forgot to re-pack the trousers in my pannier this morning and turned up at work to find I had none.
It's a good excuse for getting out of a call that I didn't really want to take at least; "can't join your meeting, I amn't wearing any trousers".
Paid the £25 emergency trouser tax at M&S. At least I have an extra backup pair now.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@kappers "emergency trouser tax"
Thanks - I've now spilt tea on my keyboard from laughing :)
Posted 9 years ago # -
My local M&S charges a shirt tax instead of a trouser tax. thankfully I only seem to be charged it at about the same rate that old shirts wear out.
Posted 9 years ago # -
There's no such thing as shirt tax, and there hasn't been since 1937, that's your VED (Vestments Expired Duty).
Posted 9 years ago # -
Am I the only person who keeps not only a spare shirt and trousers in their locker (in addition to the normal weeksworth-clothes) but also a spare spare shirt and trousers in a bag on a hook on a hat stand near their desk, for use in lack-of-locker-key emergencies?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Being lockerless I can't comment. I do howeve ensure my next set of clothes are ready folded in my draw before I will dare take the worn ones home.
Although as said above sometimes this fails and I have to pay Kapitnik's government income booster of the day.
Posted 9 years ago # -
In this evening's brain fug I got on the train to Markinch instead of the train to Edinburgh. Made a hasty exit at Dalmeny and shivered in a hut for twenty minutes before my mercy train arrived. In nicer weather or with better kit (layers, waterproofs) I could have taken the bike the rest of the way under leg power. But confessions of a cycle commuter rarely include "I had all the stuff I needed" and so it is today.
I'm home now, and I've got my slippers on.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The Brompton is poorly and is in the bike shop, so the big bike has been pressed into service as a utility bike. I have a bungee cord to keep the pannier in place. One end clips onto the bottom of the rack. As I was about to get off the train I realised I hadn't clipped it on, so I reached over the pannier and clipped. Wheeled the bike off the train; rattle; back wheel won't turn. Oops, the bungee cord must have got caught in it, how did that happen?
I'd clipped the cord to the spokes! Had to take the pannier off and turn the bike over to sort it.
Posted 9 years ago # -
argh. don't have the right shoes in the office for today's clothes/right clothes for today's shoes.
Posted 9 years ago # -
yay. found the shoes!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Hooray!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Confession: I haven't actually commuted by bike more than a week this year :(
Seemingly the weather gods and the scheduling gods are not keen to align working in the office with decent weather!
And I'm just not bloody minded enough yet to go out when it's icy, pouring it down, or windy. Things looking better for tomorrow though.
It's that bad that my suit I keep hung in the office for when I cycle in is under threat of being donated to the charity shop for having not been moved in months...
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Confession: I haven't actually commuted by bike more than a week this year :("
'Obviously' this forum is the hang-out of the hard cyclists.
But far better to only cycle (commute) on warm sunny days than never.
There are more people riding bikes in Edinburgh than ever.
More people cycling (some days at least) 12 months each year.
Habits change, people adapt, buy waterproofs, lights - snow tyres even!
But it's not all or nothing.
Some people seem to think they have to drive (or take the bus) OR cycle every day.
Which obviously isn't true and (perhaps) accounts for why some people try 'cycling to work' and give up.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I also haven't been on the bike much recently, for a variety of reasons! But will be dropping relatives car for MOT tomorrow then Bromptoning in to work :-) on the confessions front, hopefully tomorrow I will remember my office keys and phone charger... Unlike today! :-o
So +1 to Chdot's post, almost no-one is scoring our efforts but ourselves :-)Posted 9 years ago # -
I arrived at work to discover two large white stains down the front of both thighs on my trousers. I don't need to iron them and therefore hadn't noticed until I went to put them on.
Upon closer inspection it turned out to be concentrated washing liquid that hadn't rinsed out properly. Ended up getting a clothes brush at the dry cleaners and making myself passable.
The major achievement was doing so before anyone in my team noticed and lowered the tone of the converstaion...
Posted 9 years ago # -
"people adapt, buy waterproofs"
See also -
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14316&page=2#post-181726
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Some people seem to think they have to drive (or take the bus) OR cycle every day.
"An interesting project involving a US actress Stana Katic.
She started it after moving to LA and realising that nearly everyone drove everywhere. The project encourages everyone to have at least one car-free day per week. (Similar to the McCartney's Meat-Free Mondays).
There's an eye-opening TV interview where she is openly mocked for saying she rides a bike.
Posted 9 years ago # -
It's taken me about five years to accumulate the kit (and the will) to cycle through all weathers, and I don't have to turn up anywhere looking remotely professional. It helps that I get a bit antsy now if I don't get out on the bike at least a couple of times a week, but that definitely comes with time
Posted 9 years ago # -
Yesterday morning, I finally looked at extenduing my commute, adding about 12km and a few hills to combine commute and some training for events later in the year.
Arrived at work quite pleased with my efforts and very sweaty to discover I had forgotten to pack a towel.
After the shower (not showering was not an option) had to dry myself with a small rag that I carry to wipe oil/sweat/snot. Not very pleasant.
A clean towel was placed in my pack before I greeted my wife and kids last night.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Gathered up all my bits in my office and headed downstairs to the shower. just about to step in and i realised trousers still in my office!
Posted 9 years ago # -
I can't be bothered to change from the trainers that I cycled in this morning into my work heels, despite the fact they're my squatting/deadlifting trainers so are in tattered ruins and probably smell cheesier than a mouse's fart. Far too comfy.
Posted 9 years ago # -
For the first 5 minutes of this morning's ride, I had that weird sense of something not being quite right and that I'd forgotten to bring something really important.
It was only when my fingers started getting nippy that I realised I'd forgotten to put my gloves on...
(Thankfully it wasn't too cold this morning and my hands didn't feel like they'd drop off. Stung a bit under the hot shower when I got to work, though)
Posted 9 years ago # -
The day was saved yesterday by Schwalbe Marathon Plus at Tollcross. Heard a tapping from the front wheel each rotation and could see something embedded in the tyre but it was still inflated so dismounted myself, took the 3 yr old Boy off the bike seat and got out all the kit to fix it, pulled out offending piece of flint (or similar) and .....nothing happened, no rush of air. Nothing. Thanked the internal wire bead, packed up kit including The Boy and was off again, all in the space of about 3 minutes. Thank you Schwalbe!
Posted 9 years ago #
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