Bike Hub 2019 Commuters Challenge

[Bateleur1]

damned weather apps.

 

I skipped my weekly saturday commute because all the weather apps indicated 90% chance of thunderstorms right at the time I would have been leaving to head home.

The storms only arrived 4 hours later. I was not happy.

 

In my commutes two years ago I used to plan my commutes around weather apps (predictions).  It turned out that I stood many times on the train station waiting for the train in perfect weather thinking ... "You bloody pansie, should have taken the bike".  So last year I went out on a mission that I am kitted out wrt rain covers for the backpack, rain coats and rain covers for the shoes.  So should I get caught by rain I can just stop and put it on and continue.  My MTB is also setup with mud guards and with the disk brakes better suited for wet conditions. The end result .... I increased my commuting miles by 50% to the year before.  Yes I got hit by rains storms on my way home.  But they were not too bad and as it happen we have a washing machine at home so all the kit just went straight in as I got home.  I just do not commute to work when it is raining (except light rain) in the morning as I have no place to hang my stuff to dry in the office.  The weather app is now more a guideline as to what bike to commute with.

[Bateleur1]

So my morning commute turned out slightly different to what i had planned.

 

Planned to practice a portion of the XCO course (for Saturday race), cycled there (with the backpack), did the A-line twice and fell on my chops twice on the same spot. Ironically i managed that piece on Saturday when practicing - go figure. Anyway, cycle down to continue to work, but it seems the full suspension has a buckled rear wheel. 

 

So need to pedal the 7/8/9/10km home to swop bikes with the hardtail. Ended up being an hour late for work and did 44km this morning.

 

And now all my wounds hurt.    but we continue.

 

Will try again on Friday the XCO line. But will continue to commute. 

 

You should rest my friend .... rest is good for injured bodies   

[Hairy]

a few weeks at least I would say!

 

You should rest my friend .... rest is good for injured bodies   

[Long Wheel Base]

So my morning commute turned out slightly different to what i had planned.

 

Planned to practice a portion of the XCO course (for Saturday race), cycled there (with the backpack), did the A-line twice and fell on my chops twice on the same spot. Ironically i managed that piece on Saturday when practicing - go figure. Anyway, cycle down to continue to work, but it seems the full suspension has a buckled rear wheel. 

 

So need to pedal the 7/8/9/10km home to swop bikes with the hardtail. Ended up being an hour late for work and did 44km this morning.

 

And now all my wounds hurt.    but we continue.

 

Will try again on Friday the XCO line. But will continue to commute. 

My boss would definitely NOT accept that as an excuse if was an hour late.

[samson99]

My boss would definitely NOT accept that as an excuse if was an hour late.

 

Well, my boss had to accept that as my car is at work and the only way to get to work is by bicycle. 

 

But I need to clarify, i was an hour late to when i am usually at work. So not technically late as i was still at work before 8:30. But late by my standards.

[samson99]

a few weeks at least I would say!

 

You would like that, wouldn't you?? 

[The Ouzo]

In my commutes two years ago I used to plan my commutes around weather apps (predictions).  It turned out that I stood many times on the train station waiting for the train in perfect weather thinking ... "You bloody pansie, should have taken the bike".  So last year I went out on a mission that I am kitted out wrt rain covers for the backpack, rain coats and rain covers for the shoes.  So should I get caught by rain I can just stop and put it on and continue.  My MTB is also setup with mud guards and with the disk brakes better suited for wet conditions. The end result .... I increased my commuting miles by 50% to the year before.  Yes I got hit by rains storms on my way home.  But they were not too bad and as it happen we have a washing machine at home so all the kit just went straight in as I got home.  I just do not commute to work when it is raining (except light rain) in the morning as I have no place to hang my stuff to dry in the office.  The weather app is now more a guideline as to what bike to commute with.

I was fully prepared to ride in the rain, was going to put a bag over the backpack to keep the contents dry, what I was more worried about was the lightening. We've had some massive lightening storms over the are the last few weeks, at the top of one of the climbs going home I'd probably be one of the higher objects around, plus there are a few streets that are lined with trees.

 

But I'm more inclined to ignore the weather app going forward.

Even trusty windguru has been letting me down lately.

[Bateleur1]

I was fully prepared to ride in the rain, was going to put a bag over the backpack to keep the contents dry, what I was more worried about was the lightening. We've had some massive lightening storms over the are the last few weeks, at the top of one of the climbs going home I'd probably be one of the higher objects around, plus there are a few streets that are lined with trees.

 

But I'm more inclined to ignore the weather app going forward.

Even trusty windguru has been letting me down lately.

 

Yes lightning is a problem.  I normally pull over in a biergarten or cafe and wait for the lighting to pass.  It normally does not take that long.  But have been caught out once or twice where there was not too much place to hide.  But you could get caught out even if there is no prior warning of thunder storms.

[Bateleur1]

So .... my commuting challenge was given a serious blow for this year.  Got retrenched yesterday.  So I suppose I need to get a job first.  Maybe get a job 50 km away. 

[Andrew64]

So .... my commuting challenge was given a serious blow for this year.  Got retrenched yesterday.  So I suppose I need to get a job first.  Maybe get a job 50 km away. 

Sorry to hear that Bat

[samson99]

So .... my commuting challenge was given a serious blow for this year.  Got retrenched yesterday.  So I suppose I need to get a job first.  Maybe get a job 50 km away. 

 

Eish. That sucks. Sorry to hear.

[Imploder]

So .... my commuting challenge was given a serious blow for this year.  Got retrenched yesterday.  So I suppose I need to get a job first.  Maybe get a job 50 km away. 

Eish Bats! Sorry to hear that man. Was it all of a sudden or did you see it coming?

[Bateleur1]

Eish Bats! Sorry to hear that man. Was it all of a sudden or did you see it coming?

 

We got notified a few weeks ago that our biggest client will be dropping us in the next 18 months.  I got a feeling then that it was not good.

[Zub]

So .... my commuting challenge was given a serious blow for this year.  Got retrenched yesterday.  So I suppose I need to get a job first.  Maybe get a job 50 km away. 

 

Damn. Commuting miles would probably be the last thing I'd be worried about. 

 

May you get an even better job right on your doorstep. 

Edited January 31, 2019 by Zub

[Imploder]

We got notified a few weeks ago that our biggest client will be dropping us in the next 18 months.  I got a feeling then that it was not good.

 When one door closes.... And all that, on the plus side there is not shortage of Dev Work out there! Just make sure your new employer throws in the that bike subsidy! 

[Long Wheel Base]

So .... my commuting challenge was given a serious blow for this year.  Got retrenched yesterday.  So I suppose I need to get a job first.  Maybe get a job 50 km away. 

Ai sorry to hear bud. So it's not just here that jobs are not secure. Hope you come right soon, we don't want to beat you in the challenge like this............