The "Excuses" Thread

[jasonc]

Fell off yesterday, due to my own stupidity (3 offs since 1993, all in traffic, all my fault). Injuries minor - just grazes and bruising.

But this is not an excuse. My experience is that I HAVE TO get back on the horse - so I did, and rode in again today.

seem to be more "offs" occuring in the second half of the year. maybe we are all getting lazy/tired/complacent. I wonder what the reason is...
heal well rogan

[CommuRider]

Lost my babysitter this week so indoor trainer for me! (I hate Parramatta Rd, I hate Parramatta Rd, I hate Parramatta Rd.)

[janus77]

My tyres were getting soft, and i was in too much of a rush to pump them up to ride.. i always get flats when i ride with soft tyres, so opted for a taxi instead.

[David_G]

I couldn't make up my mind whether to wear short finger gloves or long, so I went back to bed.

Lost my babysitter this week so indoor trainer for me! (I hate Parramatta Rd, I hate Parramatta Rd, I hate Parramatta Rd.)

I'll swap you your Parramatta Rd for my Nepean Hwy between Carrum and Frankston.

[CommuRider]

No probs, I'm sure you'd want Nepean Hwy back after 4 hours on Parra Rd

[janus77]

Anyone want Anzac Pde in Sydney around 2 in the afternoon on a Saturday?

[goneriding]

Anyone want Anzac Pde in Sydney around 2 in the afternoon on a Saturday?

...4 hours on Parra Rd

Only if I had a death wish. I had to ride about 400m along Parra Rd this morning because of the accident. Scared the carp out of me!

[David_G]

OK. I'll fold. Parramatta Rd wins.
I lived in Sydney ages ago and remember it as a concrete dual carriageway that rattled your car to bits.
Used car yards from go to whoa.
Has it changed much?

[goneriding]

OK. I'll fold. Parramatta Rd wins.
I lived in Sydney ages ago and remember it as a concrete dual carriageway that rattled your car to bits.
Used car yards from go to whoa.
Has it changed much?

Yes, it has! There are fewer car yards which are being replaced with apartment blocks. The road surface has got worse and the M4 motorway empties out onto it. So rather than being a road it's more in the nature of an oversized car park! The shops have pretty much all closed along parts of it.

[David_G]

Does it have bike lanes or anything to help cyclists?

[CommuRider]

Does it have bike lanes or anything to help cyclists?

Nope, a few have tried using the bus lanes but given the suicidal nature of the road, they've turned parts of the footpath into PSPs at Burwood.

GR, I think I caught the tail end of that accident...was it near Underwood Road? I did a massive U-ey from Homebush Bay Drive into Concord Rd. Also, Parra Rd after Ashfield is usually more pleasant...

[goneriding]

was it near Underwood Road?

Indeed it was

[Comedian]

Lost my babysitter this week so indoor trainer for me! (I hate Parramatta Rd, I hate Parramatta Rd, I hate Parramatta Rd.)

Have you checked behind the couch?

[blossy84]

Pulled a muscle in my back on my ride to work last Thursday. Haven't been on the bike since. Hopefully next day or two.

[Max]

That's no good, Erin

I was going to ride to work today. But the missus got called in to work at midnight, so I need to stay home until a reasonable hour to keep the dogs quiet and feed them etc. No riding for me

Max

[CommuRider]

Lost my babysitter this week so indoor trainer for me! (I hate Parramatta Rd, I hate Parramatta Rd, I hate Parramatta Rd.)

Have you checked behind the couch?

Babysitter will return next week from the Land of Holidays

[dynamictiger]

Well I would ride to work today, except my bike is too new and I am not sure I am sufficently familiar with how it works just yet.

[AndrewBurns]

It's going to rain this afternoon and I couldn't possibly get wet so I drove.

[Comedian]

It's going to rain this afternoon and I couldn't possibly get wet so I drove.

What are you made of... flower?

[CommuRider]

Flowers love rain!! Especially mine!

Need some cement and htfu

[AndrewBurns]

Quick Off-topic: How waterproof are bike shoes? I didn't mind riding through the rain last time I did it but my sneakers got completely soaked which definitely wasn't good for them and I'm thinking of going to clipless pedals sometime soon anyway...

[Max]

Quick Off-topic: How waterproof are bike shoes? I didn't mind riding through the rain last time I did it but my sneakers got completely soaked which definitely wasn't good for them and I'm thinking of going to clipless pedals sometime soon anyway...

Most are so-so. They dry pretty quickly if you stuff them with newspaper. If you're planning on riding though rain, I recommend shoe covers aka booties. I use Sugoi Resistor booties and they're great. Wool socks also help as they keep your feet dry even when they're wet.

There are bike shoes designed for extreme weather, but I wouldn't bother with them unless you plan on cycling through the arctic.

Max

[jasonc]

Quick Off-topic: How waterproof are bike shoes? I didn't mind riding through the rain last time I did it but my sneakers got completely soaked which definitely wasn't good for them and I'm thinking of going to clipless pedals sometime soon anyway...

Most are so-so. They dry pretty quickly if you stuff them with newspaper. If you're planning on riding though rain, I recommend shoe covers aka booties. I use Sugoi Resistor booties and they're great. Wool socks also help as they keep your feet dry even when they're wet.

There are bike shoes designed for extreme weather, but I wouldn't bother with them unless you plan on cycling through the arctic.

Max

my brother gave me a pair of booties and I've never used them. The newspaper trick works really well - I've had to do it a few times
I have a spare pair of socks at work, so worst case scenario, I know the shoes will dry, I've got dry socks to boot. (no pun intended)

[Comedian]

Sandals are good if you're riding in the rain a lot. Keen even make SPD ones.

[bosvit]

I'm working 10hrs a day 7 days a week painting a pub (450km from home)........ mmmm beer

Fat and happy but very few km's

Oh and I need an op on my knee to clean up the torn cartlidge from my bke V car incident, does that count?