Things I've learnt from commuting

[CobusV]

I used to do the running thing to/from work, before my wife decided she need so run/train as well. When we stayed in Johannesburg I took the Gautrain to Centurion station and ran the 7km to work. Afternoons in reverse of course.

 

Then we moved to Centurion, about 11km from work. Ran to work about 3 out of the 5 working days (no training/running over weekends). On Mondays 11km and back. On Tuesdays 23km in morning and in the evening 8km hard time-trial at Irene (where my wife picked me up). And Thurdays 11km and back again. Made me fit enough do run marathons at a decent pace...

 

If I take in my car for a service I run to and from work as well. I keep an old but still decent pair of shoes and pants at work. I use this pack to carry the essentials: http://www.duesouth.co.za/pdp/adidas-terrex-speed-backpack-blue/_/A-194615AAAA6

[coppi]

And yeah - I used to do it all the time. Ride to school, that is.

We all did dude.........

[ChrisF]

We all did dude.........

 

sadly not so common any more ....

 

hardly 50 bikes at a high school with a few thousand kids now ....

[Andrew_Smith]

sadly not so common any more ....

 

hardly 50 bikes at a high school with a few thousand kids now ....

 

Can support this. From my high school (about 2000 students) and only twelve ride our bikes to school, with me included.

Edited May 8, 2017 by Andrew_Smith

[Lurch the stalker]

Can support this. From my high school (about 2000 students) and only twelve ride our bikes to school, with me included.

Back in my day you had to be at school early to get a space in the bike shed...

 

But then, I am so old that I can remember when photos had other people in them and weren't just selfies...

[ChrisF]

Back in my day you had to be at school early to get a space in the bike shed...

 

But then, I am so old that I can remember when photos had other people in them and weren't just selfies...

 

many high schools now have a car-park for the kid's cars, with more cars than bikes in the bike-shed .... 

[Guest dirkieuys]

Spotted a Owl this morning, Was cool

[NotSoBigBen]

On the one hand we are saying that we need to stop the carnage on the roads but on the other hand moaning that less and less kids are cycling to school?

[Pure Savage]

Does anyone know where to get a bell that could go on a road bike? Like a Spur bell I think its called. Getting gatvol of people walking out in front of me all the time.

[Fat Boab]

Does anyone know where to get a bell that could go on a road bike? Like a Spur bell I think its called. Getting gatvol of people walking out in front of me all the time.

 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/246147-every-bike-needs-a-bell-spurcycle-bicycle-bell/

 

My finder's fee is.....refer to above!

[Hairy]

Does anyone know where to get a bell that could go on a road bike? Like a Spur bell I think its called. Getting gatvol of people walking out in front of me all the time.

Don't muck about, go to "lavender blue" or something like that .. opposite diskem at canal walk, they have these HUGE polished/chrome bells that just flipping work......clears a path through a crowd on the cycle lane like it is nobody's business!

 

And all for only 30 Z.A.R

[Fat26]

I commute with my Fatbike and generally find drivers very accommodating, especially the taxis. I do have to watch out for the busses as most of the drivers tend to thing they are driving a taxi and tend to side swipe you with the rear end. My biggest problem is other cyclists riding on the wrong side of the road!

[Jabez]

Does anyone know where to get a bell that could go on a road bike? Like a Spur bell I think its called. Getting gatvol of people walking out in front of me all the time.

 

Be careful out there. I hit a pedestrian last week on a dirt road. He did not see me and got a fright. Next thing he jumped in my way. Luckily he was not hurt. I went over the bars. Bruised shoulder, ribs, elbow and wrist. It could have been worse...

 

Needless to say I bought a bell over the weekend and it does work. Even if they do not clear they are not frightened anymore.

[Hairy]

Be careful out there. I hit a pedestrian last week on a dirt road. He did not see me and got a fright. Next thing he jumped in my way. Luckily he was not hurt. I went over the bars. Bruised shoulder, ribs, elbow and wrist. It could have been worse...

 

Needless to say I bought a bell over the weekend and it does work. Even if they do not clear they are not frightened anymore.

my worst falls have been thanks to pedestrians running out infront of me from behind cars or looking at you, not really seeing you, and then walk slap bang into you

[Lurch the stalker]

Be careful out there. I hit a pedestrian last week on a dirt road. He did not see me and got a fright. Next thing he jumped in my way. Luckily he was not hurt. I went over the bars. Bruised shoulder, ribs, elbow and wrist. It could have been worse...

 

Needless to say I bought a bell over the weekend and it does work. Even if they do not clear they are not frightened anymore.

Glad I'm not the only one who's hit a pedestrian offroad...had a woman step in front of me about 3 or 4 weeks back. She didn't even fall over. I, on the other hand, went flying over the bars and moered into a bush (that bush will never be the same again)

[ChrisF]

On the one hand we are saying that we need to stop the carnage on the roads but on the other hand moaning that less and less kids are cycling to school?

 

Would it not be nice to have a country where the car drivers have kids on bikes .... and thus (hopefully) more observant of bikers ...... imagine a world where more adults commute by bike, and their families are more aware of bikers ...

 

 

tragically we are heading into an era of driving to the gym, and fighting to park two bays closer to the entrance ... then getting aggrivated as there are toooo many people for the equipment .... breathing heavily on the recirculated chlorinated pool air .....

 

 

ek gaan ry sommer my bergfiets .....