Commuting & Winter Riding Thread

Training
1325

I went full-Zwift for the ride home and headed down via Sloane Square and the east on the cycle lane to Lambeth Bridge. I didn’t then go down the tunnel to Box Hill :roll_eyes:.

It wasn’t the most direct route, but it wasn’t too busy and felt pretty safe.

It was much busier riding in this morning with a lot more cyclists. Obviously all the TWTs who aren’t in the office on Monday and Friday. The cycle lane up Birdcage Walk and Constitution Hill was busier but not crazy.

The bit right at the end via Wellington Arch was the worst bit. There’s a lot of cyclists heading in both directions on the main east-west cycle superhighway and they get held up at the crossings on and off the big roundabout at Hyde Park Corner with the arch in the middle. It’s like some crazy game of British bulldog on bikes, with cyclists lining up shoulder to shoulder, 20 abreast on each side of the crossing and then when the lights change they all head towards each other :flushed:

7 Likes
1326

Ooh one of those commutes where you just wonder why you bother.
Every light on red, even the ped light I swear changed before they pressed the button to catch me.
Morning started with a nice squeeze from a lorry…

Tho less annoying than this pr1ck on a bike…who actually forced me to stop I was so convinced he was going to hit me.
If only I was wearing bright clothing and had flashing lights on my bike; if only he had other bikes to follow. Still least he wasnt wearing noise cancelling headphones too :hear_no_evil:

6 Likes
1327

Crashed bike on a wet wooden ramp. Leg painful, had another hour riding to get home. Bike okay.

8 Likes
1328

Commute run.

I’ve left the laptop at work, to save the neck rash from the backpack.

Now I need something to carry my keys, pass, phone and gel in.

I have an armband phone thing, but I get chafing from that too…

Ideas?

1 Like
1329

Running/ultra pack.

Loads of brands out there. And handy to have for longer runs if you need to carry water/nutrition etc. :+1:

1330

You mean like a water carrying thing?
Hydration vest?

Seems a bit much for phone pass and keys. Maybe I just need shorts with a pocket? :face_with_raised_eyebrow::laughing:

1331

You can get the waistband things that do a similar job but just hold less

2 Likes
1332

Yeah, but then you have options for the future. With no bottles in, they’re surprisingly discreet as they’re so fitted to your body.

Personally I can’t get on with the waist ones. Never can get a tight enough fit, so it’s always flapping about.

1 Like
1333

I see a lot of people running with chest harnesses for carrying their phones. There seems to be a few options on the market.

I don’t know how restrictive they are or if they chafe?

1 Like
1334

I’ve got a waistband one which I find fine in winter. But really warm in summer.
I’m summer when I just want phone and gels I’ve got one of these…
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/2-position-running-bag-0-5-l/_/R-p-334246

1 Like
1335

I wonder if I can get away without a phone if I get a credit card that works with my FR265….

1336

I also did that. Opened a Santander acct just for Garmin.

Mega handy.

1 Like
1337

I use my Starling account with my Garmin. Works well.

1 Like
1338

I bought a waist hydration system for OtillO, it worked ok. Things have moved on somewhat since then for ultra running but sounds like they are more than you require.

If you don’t need to carry anything heavy a slim camelback might be best.

1 Like
1339

I get that for a circular run where you might want an emergency payment method, but for a point to point commute are you not going to want your phone at the other end? :man_shrugging:

1 Like
1340

Need it to get into the pool, sadly. But not for work.

1 Like
1341

Yeah, in heat, I’d carry that in my hand - phone in one - id card in the case (along with a bank card that is always in there), keys and gel in the other.

In anything marginal it’d be hydration vest - not necessarily with a bladder, but with a lightweight jacket.

Although I always run commute with a laptop, so I can’t say for sure.

2 Likes
1342

I already have camelbacks which would be suitable but probably have too much kit storage for your needs.

For run commuting, I would want the option of a litre of water and just enough pocket space for phone and card, something like this?

1 Like
1343

These are the chest harnesses that seem to be popular

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NXT-LEVEL-Reflective-Lightweight-Multifunctional/dp/B0935KJPSX/ref=asc_df_B0935KJPSX/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=517097087880&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1012714453388999070&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045889&hvtargid=pla-1273973395321&psc=1

1344

I suppose I should be taking on water as the full distance is 2-2.5hrs, but I’d rather run easy and buy a drink on the way if I need it. Maybe I need to review that :slight_smile: