My Rubbish Life pt. 1: Nightmare Commute

Well today went from bad to worse! Firstly there was nothing wrong with me or the bike; I just had to get out and get on with it. Newcastle to Stocksfield. Down the hill and up Tynedale.

A fresh blanket of snow covered Newcastle. Gawd, it’s awful. Tricky riding avoiding the ruts and ice, so tiring, not rewarding at all. And then down the hill to the river. I used the back cyclepath over the A1 and I wasn’t even the first bike down there. How depressing.

More snow coming down while approaching Newburn. The fresh white flakes did nothing to dampen my spirit though! Curse those soft white umps of ice crystals!

The road along to Blaney Row was tricky. But at least I kept moving and didn’t have to avoid any crazy drivers. Starting to brighten up. I hate the daylight as much as the night some times.

The cyclepath along to Wylam was terrible. Dunno why I went along there really. Should have been in a nice warm car. This bit really sucked.

Wylam in the snow, war memorial and moon peaking through. This part really sucked donkey balls. I had a good laugh at the wylam drivers in their Volvos and BMWs struggling to move off, wheel spinning. I then stoically crusade on. It was awful.

The Tyne, approaching Ovingham. Ponies galloping through fresh white fields, clear skies and snow flurries? I mean really.

The hill of death awaits around the corner to carry my carcass off the icy road and into the river below. Cleaned it. Bite my shiny metal hubs gears!

Almost at work. I really hate the North East sometimes. Today especially.

At least I only get to look at this view three times a day. Any more and I’d jump off it. Such a depressing view, so pointless.

My stupid bike. Stupid tyres, stupid mudguards and stupid pannier. Especially stupid hub gears. Really really awful.

looks fun 🙂

git

good effort man that used to be my commute just in the other direction.
its a rubbish plight of a life.

What a shit post

I agree, what a pile of poo.

😉

What are your handlebars smug boy?

Could be worse, you could be a mackem.

What are your handlebars smug boy?

I do believe they’re WTB Dirt Drops, sir.

OH NO! Why did you post a picture of that rubbish bike! I’d HATE to have a steel-hub-geared-700ccwheeled-discbraked-commuter-with-drops 🙁

No snow round these parts, your day looks crap though!

Nice one. I thought for a minute you were being serious and was about to give you a hard time.

I had a good laugh at the wylam drivers in their Volvos and BMWs struggling to move off, wheel spinning.

I’ll have you know it’s a Ford Focus 😳

whoo! looks ace!

Brrr!

I would have phoned in sick 😉

That looks a good ride ,nice pics as well.

That looks dreadful. I salute your stoicism and your determination to carry on in the face of such overwhelming adversity. A little something in the New Year Honours List should be your reward for putting up with so much in order to earn a crust. 😉

Looks shit. I’ll keep suburbia thanks…

Nice indeed.

I’m massively jealous that I no longer live in the North East.

Git.

And to top it all off the stone work doesn’t need repointing, the door is in good nick and we can’t see if the valves line up with the logos. Could have swept the pavement I suppose.

I especially hate the second pic!

The pic of the monument – was that taken from within an armoured vehicle or tank turret?

Phew – I’m heading out in a minute and the roads are all black round here, so I won’t have to put up with the awful torment that the OP went through this morning. How lucky am I…

Is it worth it tho to have to put up with the ridiculous accents 😉

What tyres are you running btw

12%, that’s not a “hill of death”, that’s a “slight incline” 😉

Dibbs – slick surface, loose gravel, off camber, blind corner on singletrack lane. Plus snow and ice. Excuse the hyperbole!

firestarter – They’re Schwalbe Marathon XR 35mm. I think.

WCA – Quick and cheeky panorama. Photos off my phone, panorama software at home. Valves do line up with logos 🙂

WCA – Quick and cheeky panorama. Photos off my phone, panorama software at home.

Don’t know if you’re an iPhone user or not Jon, but if you are then “Pano” is quite good for shooting panoramas in-phone.