Enjoyable Commuting (a new commuters journal)

"Lee"

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I just hope I can survive the winter - if I can then ill be a

fully

Quoted message said:

fledged cycle commuter!

Well done. Yes, the test comes in wintertime, but it's mostly a mental thing though. Last winter I
had to get out of bed at 0515, look out of the window to see it snowing and blowing a gale, get all
togged up in warm gear and ride past a nice cosy car in the drive for an hour's ride in the winter
blackness.

I must admit, it took some doing not opting for the car on days like that, but once you've made that
mental leap, then you'll never go back :-)

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Lee"

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I just hope I can survive the winter - if I can then ill be a

fully

Quoted message said:

fledged cycle commuter!

Well done. Yes, the test comes in wintertime, but it's mostly a mental
thing though. Last winter I had to get out of bed at 0515, look out of the
window to see it snowing and blowing a gale, get all togged up in warm

gear

Quoted message said:

and ride past a nice cosy car in the drive for an hour's ride in the

winter

Quoted message said:

blackness.

I must admit, it took some doing not opting for the car on days like that, but once you've made
that mental leap, then you'll never go back :-)

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

Well my "ultimate" goal is to sell the car (as I really dont need it). Until that time, putting
it in storage (a relatives garage) would remove the temptation - im looking forward to the
challenge tho!

Lee

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Last winter I had to get out of bed at 0515, look out of the window to see it snowing and blowing
a gale, get all togged up in warm

gear

Quoted message said:

and ride past a nice cosy car in the drive for an hour's ride in the

winter

Quoted message said:

blackness.

The secret is not to look ;-)

--
Guy
===

WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.comOpen ↗

"Lee"

Quoted message said:

Well my "ultimate" goal is to sell the car (as I really dont need it). Until that time, putting it
in storage (a relatives garage) would remove

the

Quoted message said:

temptation - im looking forward to the challenge tho!

I've cut down on car supermarket trips as well by using Sainsburys, Iceland and Tesco home
delivery. I order all the stuff at work on nights in work's time and it gets delivered to my door
whenever I want. Downside is, I don't get to use enough petrol to take advantage of the 4p a litre
off coupon! Simon

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Lee"

Quoted message said:

Well my "ultimate" goal is to sell the car (as I really dont need it). Until that time, putting
it in storage (a relatives garage) would remove

the

Quoted message said:

temptation - im looking forward to the challenge tho!

I've cut down on car supermarket trips as well by using Sainsburys,

Iceland

Quoted message said:

and Tesco home delivery. I order all the stuff at work on nights in work's time and it gets
delivered to my door whenever I want. Downside is, I

don't

Quoted message said:

get to use enough petrol to take advantage of the 4p a litre off coupon! Simon

Well my fiancee has a car which we use for shopping etc. - good idea with the home delivery tho -
used to like to do that! Not done it for a while!

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Lee"

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I just hope I can survive the winter - if I can then ill be a

fully

Quoted message said:

fledged cycle commuter!

Well done. Yes, the test comes in wintertime, but it's mostly a mental
thing though. Last winter I had to get out of bed at 0515, look out of the
window to see it snowing and blowing a gale, get all togged up in warm

gear

Quoted message said:

and ride past a nice cosy car in the drive for an hour's ride in the

winter

Quoted message said:

blackness.

I must admit, it took some doing not opting for the car on days like that, but once you've made
that mental leap, then you'll never go back :-)

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

Well my "ultimate" goal is to sell the car (as I really dont need it). Until that time, putting
it in storage (a relatives garage) would remove the temptation - im looking forward to the
challenge tho!

Lee

Sell the car now and remove the temptation and in the process make more money before it devalues any
more. And with the money get a new bike. I justify the money I spend on the bike with the fact that
I am saving so much money on bus fares, road tax, servicing, petrol, car parking etc. etc.

I started off by selling my car and riding my mountain bike to work but in March decided to get a
road bike. Now, at the very least, I like to do 20 miles trip to work. My wife takes the only car we
have to work so there is no temptation there. My 2 options are ride the bike or catch the bus. There
really is no competition, i'll take the bike any day and in any weather rather than have to face a
miserable bus driver every day. I look at it like this, a straight run to work is 6 miles. If it's
teaming down with rain i'll get the mountain bike out and ride that. So instead of leaving the front
door and walk to the bus stop, I can already be halfway down the road.

Dene

"Dene Wilby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Sell the car now and remove the temptation and in the process make more money before it devalues
any more. And with the money get a new bike. I justify the money I spend on the bike with the fact
that I am saving so much money on bus fares, road tax, servicing, petrol, car parking etc. etc.

I started off by selling my car and riding my mountain bike to work but in March decided to get a
road bike. Now, at the very least, I like to do 20 miles trip to work. My wife takes the only car
we have to work so there is no temptation there. My 2 options are ride the bike or catch the bus.
There really is no competition, i'll take the bike any day and in any weather rather than have to
face a miserable bus driver every day. I look at it like this, a straight run to work is 6 miles.
If it's teaming down with rain i'll get the mountain bike out and ride that. So instead of leaving
the front door and walk to the bus stop, I can already be halfway down the road.

Dene

I tell you, its VERY tempting. I dont think ill get much for my car tho - maybe £500 if im VERY
lucky! I take your point tho, if its not there what choice do I have.... I will have to give serious
consideration to all these points I think...

The only things I amn worried about are:

1. Rain, had a wet ride, didnt enjoy it much but was wearing shorts & t shirt - perhaps could be
better clothed!
2. Cold, came in with leggings this AM and found it better than shorts :-p - think a balaclava may
be useful when the wind starts biting - suggestions appreciated! What do you guys wear in Winter?
3. Snow - how do you guys handle this?

Lee

"Dene Wilby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sell the car now and remove the temptation and in the process make more money before it devalues
any more. And with the money get a new bike. I justify the money I spend on the bike with the fact
that I am saving so much money on bus fares, road tax, servicing, petrol, car parking etc. etc.

I sold my car 11 months ago, on the basis that if I need one, it's cheaper to hire one. I've driven
three times in that time, each time was to help out other people. I've not hired a car once.

Sell the car when you feel like the time is right, but make sure you have the right equipment to get
through the winter. I bought a Buff last winter. Despite making me a look like a terrorist, it is a
great bit of kit. Albeit expensive.

buff.esbuff.esOpen ↗ (noisy website though).

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dene Wilby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sell the car now and remove the temptation and in the process make more money before it
devalues any more. And with the money get a new bike. I justify the money I spend on the bike
with the fact that I am saving so much money on bus fares, road tax, servicing, petrol, car
parking etc. etc.

I sold my car 11 months ago, on the basis that if I need one, it's cheaper to hire one. I've
driven three times in that time, each time was to help

out

Quoted message said:

other people. I've not hired a car once.

Sell the car when you feel like the time is right, but make sure you have the right equipment to
get through the winter. I bought a Buff last

winter.

Quoted message said:

Despite making me a look like a terrorist, it is a great bit of kit.

Albeit

Quoted message said:

expensive.

buff.esbuff.esOpen ↗ (noisy website though).

May have to investigate the buff later - for the life of me I cant see where to buy them!? How
much are they?

"Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dene Wilby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sell the car now and remove the temptation and in the process make

more

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

money before it devalues any more. And with the money get a new bike.

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

justify the money I spend on the bike with the fact that I am saving

so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

much money on bus fares, road tax, servicing, petrol, car parking etc. etc.

I sold my car 11 months ago, on the basis that if I need one, it's

cheaper

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to hire one. I've driven three times in that time, each time was to help

out

Quoted message said:

other people. I've not hired a car once.

Sell the car when you feel like the time is right, but make sure you

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the right equipment to get through the winter. I bought a Buff last

winter.

Quoted message said:

Despite making me a look like a terrorist, it is a great bit of kit.

Albeit

Quoted message said:

expensive.

buff.esbuff.esOpen ↗ (noisy website though).

May have to investigate the buff later - for the life of me I cant see

where

Quoted message said:

to buy them!? How much are they?

I got mine at John Lewis ... too blooming expensive. Maybe an aged auntie may be able to knit
something up 🙂

I think it was twenty quid or so. They were highly recommended on here though, and I agree.

www.buyabuff.com do them for about a tenner. Never used them though.

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Lee"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dene Wilby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> Sell the car now and remove the temptation and in the process make

more

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> money before it devalues any more. And with the money get a new

bike.

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> justify the money I spend on the bike with the fact that I am saving

so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> much money on bus fares, road tax, servicing, petrol, car parking

etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> etc.
>

I sold my car 11 months ago, on the basis that if I need one, it's

cheaper

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to hire one. I've driven three times in that time, each time was to

help

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out

Quoted message said:

other people. I've not hired a car once.

Sell the car when you feel like the time is right, but make sure you

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the right equipment to get through the winter. I bought a Buff last

winter.

Quoted message said:

Despite making me a look like a terrorist, it is a great bit of kit.

Albeit

Quoted message said:

expensive.

buff.esbuff.esOpen ↗ (noisy website though).

May have to investigate the buff later - for the life of me I cant see

where

Quoted message said:

to buy them!? How much are they?

I got mine at John Lewis ... too blooming expensive. Maybe an aged auntie may be able to knit
something up 🙂

I think it was twenty quid or so. They were highly recommended on here though, and I agree.

www.buyabuff.com do them for about a tenner. Never used them though.

In fact, the polar buff is £18.50 .. this is the one I use.

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Lee"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
>
> "Dene Wilby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> "]news:[email hidden]...
> > Sell the car now and remove the temptation and in the process make

more

Quoted message said:

> > money before it devalues any more. And with the money get a new

bike.

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

> > justify the money I spend on the bike with the fact that I am

saving

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

so

Quoted message said:

> > much money on bus fares, road tax, servicing, petrol, car parking

etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > etc.
> >
>
> I sold my car 11 months ago, on the basis that if I need one, it's

cheaper

Quoted message said:

> to hire one. I've driven three times in that time, each time was to

help

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out
> other people. I've not hired a car once.
>
> Sell the car when you feel like the time is right, but make sure you

have

Quoted message said:

> the right equipment to get through the winter. I bought a Buff last
winter.
> Despite making me a look like a terrorist, it is a great bit of kit.
Albeit
> expensive.
>
> buff.esbuff.esOpen ↗ (noisy website though).
>
>

May have to investigate the buff later - for the life of me I cant see

where

Quoted message said:

to buy them!? How much are they?

I got mine at John Lewis ... too blooming expensive. Maybe an aged

auntie

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

may be able to knit something up 🙂

I think it was twenty quid or so. They were highly recommended on here though, and I agree.

www.buyabuff.com do them for about a tenner. Never used them though.

In fact, the polar buff is £18.50 .. this is the one I use.

Any difference between polar buff and buff original?

"Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Any difference between polar buff and buff original?

Polar buff has a fleece portion which gives more warmth. (100% Polyester microfibre with Polar
100 Fleece )

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Lee"

<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Any difference between polar buff and buff original?

Polar buff has a fleece portion which gives more warmth. (100% Polyester microfibre with Polar 100
Fleece )

Im all for warmth! Polar it is ;-)

My hard hat for work requires replacing every 3 years to comply with H&S regulations because of its
exposure to UV radiation.

Should my cycling helmet be replaced periodically for similar reasons, there is no mention of a
maximum life on the stickers that I can see?

Lee said:

3. Snow - how do you guys handle this?

I love snow anyway, but a properly equiped snowy commute is the highlight of the year for me. Too
bad there have been so few lately. Very warm clothes and plenty of time to spare are essential, as
are knobbly tyres[1]. Then go out, have fun, and watch the world grind to a halt around you.

[1] - every year I put my knobblies on to my commuter around November. Imagine getting to April,
having fought against the extra resistance for 6 months and a thousand or so commuting miles,
NEVER TO HAVE NEEDED THEM ONCE!!! Global warming sucks. I'm off to Siberia.

Jason Wyatt Leeds UK

In message <[email hidden]>, Jason Wyatt <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Lee said:

3. Snow - how do you guys handle this?

I love snow anyway, but a properly equiped snowy commute is the highlight of the year for me. Too
bad there have been so few lately. Very warm clothes and plenty of time to spare are essential, as
are knobbly tyres[1]. Then go out, have fun, and watch the world grind to a halt around you.

Hub brakes are the business in snow, as rim brakes have a tendency to clog up and not work much.....

Reasonably fresh snow is ok, but the problem with snowy roads is when it gets compacted by cars
(esp. if it has then frozen over night as well) this can be very slippery.

Quoted message said:

[1] - every year I put my knobblies on to my commuter around November.

That's rather hopeful isn't given the amount of snow most of the UK gets?

Of course what you really need are studded tyres :-)
--
Chris French, Leeds

elyob said:

"Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Any difference between polar buff and buff original?

Polar buff has a fleece portion which gives more warmth. (100% Polyester microfibre with Polar 100
Fleece )

I use a buff original because its the only thing that will fit under my helmet. I find that a buff
in and a gortex helmet cover keeps me snug down to k2b freezing temps.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

Love this: Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes
home.in.tum.deoe quotefixOpen ↗

On Mon, 1 Sep 2003 14:00:04 +0100, "Lee"
<[email hidden]> wrote (more or less):

Quoted message said:

3. Snow - how do you guys handle this?

Be on guard for having to perform 2-wheel drifts. They're great fun if you get them right, mind you!

Cheers, Euan Gawnsoft: gawnsoft.co.srgawnsoft.co.srOpen ↗ Symbian/Epoc wiki: html.dnsalias.nethtml.dnsalias.netOpen ↗
Smalltalk links (harvested from comp.lang.smalltalk) html.dnsalias.netsmalltalkOpen ↗