CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Glorious successes of a cycle commuter

(42 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by Darkerside
  • Latest reply from Stickman

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  1. wingpig
    Member

    Not wanting to have to hacksaw an additional 2mm off the steerer and not having the opportunity to pop to a shop for an extra spacer, I fortuitously spotted the plastic wheel from a toy wooden pull-along duck sitting on the kitchen windowsill:


    ...with which, after eight weeks and one day, I have a proper bike again.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. Darkerside
    Member

    For any readers eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the urban waterproofing condundrum, a long waxed cotton coat similar to the Drizabones recommended by Gembo has come into my possession, and it's grand.

    Yesterday's return home provided the ideal weather for a full test and I remained almsot completely dry and relatively non-sweaty, despite a particularly unpleasant headwind.

    Ten points.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. gembo
    Member

    good result, does it have the little straps that go round your calves?

    here is my post from yesterday as I could not remember the word glorious

    Went from waverley court to royal edinburgh hospital today and once I turned up Guthrie street it was very enjoyable. Was about 3pm so traffic light, when I hit the bike lane to go round past napier's to MMW I skipped tons of traffic jammed and then there was total flow all way down MMW then across and up over the links to bruntsfield then not too bad round and underneath Napier uni, lot of bikes in the quad.

    So none of this new but just worked today when on other days I would have been stopped at lights etc.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. Darkerside
    Member

    It does, which work well. It also has poppers to expand at the back, so if I did decide to take a horse to work rather than the bike, I could keep my saddle dry...

    Apparently I look like "a big brown jobbie" (in the words of my beloved). Personally, I feel like I'm in one of the Fallout games. All I need is a shotgun.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. wee folding bike
    Member

    I arrived at an SQA Advanced Higher meeting today and the sign in desk asked where my bike was.

    It was folded and bagged at my side. It seems I had mentioned it on my SQA profile.

    requirements

    Posted 9 years ago #
  6. Darkerside
    Member

    Took the newly acquired Urban Arrow on a test run to work this morning to see if a nursery drop-off would be feasible over the 20km-each-way route.

    Much fun, only 5-15 minutes slower than the MetaBike, and I even managed to squeeze it into the cycle parking at work (ish...).

    See how it fares on the uphill return, but it looks like a goer.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  7. Excellent, that's a result.

    I was kind of in the mood for some commuter racing this morning, but only really as it fitted in with my 'training'. Working on the power side of riding for cross slogs through mud, which means slight inclines are attacked, but while still seated, and in too big a gear.

    Found myself catching a chap in front. We got to the top and I eased off a little, but still quick enough to go by, when he glanced over his shoulder, saw me, and put a very very obvious dig in to up the speed. So I sat ten yards behind as we cruised the flat. Slight rise again and this time my maintaining the pace from the flat takes me past him as he slows.

    Naturally there was pride before a (metaphorical) fall. Get to more flat and I'm taking in the sights at about 17mph in the bus lane, when a chap in full lycra and on tri-bars, but still with guards, rack and pannier, goes past me like I'm standing still. There wasn't even a thought of 'I'll see if I can keep up with him', there was no way whatsoever I was holding that pace. I could only laugh and observe out loud to myself, "There'll always be someone faster."

    The training continues.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  8. Darkerside
    Member

    I was similarly comprehensively overhauled this morning by someone with *deep* carbon rims, flat pedals, and wearing jeans. Seemed an odd combination, but certainly wasn't slow...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  9. chdot
    Admin

    "and wearing jeans"

    That's the point - disguises the LEGS.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  10. amir
    Member

    A rare trip from KB into the east end today to pick up something. Last time I did it by bus and walking, it took about 90 mins. This time 30 mins return. And I claimed on the mileage.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  11. Stickman
    Member

    City bound roadworks on Haymarket Terrace (which cyclists can skip round) and a fortuitous light sequence meant that there was no traffic on Haymarket Terrace, West Maitland Street, Torphichen Street and Morrison Street for me this morning. Just me and some other bikes. It was glorious.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  12. Stickman
    Member

    This evening colleagues who had left were phoning to warn others that it was taking 20 minutes just to get out of the office car park due to the general mess around Lothian Road. I cruised past the car park queue on my bike and felt quite smug about it.

    Posted 6 years ago #

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