Drooper

Ideally? Neither. If at all possible, organise to have all the kit you require for the week at work, ready for you when you arrive. I organise all the work clothing I need and drop it off at the beginning of the week or even at the weekend (my office is open with a skeleton staff over the weekend). I appreciate that this isn't always an option, but if you don't commute every day, you could always drop the stuff off on the day that you have the car or take the bus etc. I have a couple of pairs of trousers in the office. Likewise shoes. That way, I'm only dropping off shirts and underwear. When I do occasionally have to take a bag on my back, I'll put enough working kit for 2 or 3 days in it so I have to use the bag less often. It's worth the extra weight on one journey for the benefit of a bag free ride over the next few days. Panniers seem like a good idea, but I very seldom see anyone actually using them once fitted. A guy at work who occasionally commutes by bike fitted a rack to his bike but always uses a backpack in any event Buy a good cycle specific backpack (mine is a Vaude Splash Air 20+5) and it should be fine for occasional use, with supportive straps, good weight distribution, and reasonable venting.

I can't access the photos just now, but if in any doubt, get the shop to check it out.

I had a look in Aldi, too, but didn't see anything worth buying. I'd already bought a couple of their L/S compression baselayers a few weeks back (not cycling-specific, but I can hardly see that this would make any difference). I have to say that they are pretty damn effective. Warm, pretty good at whicking sweat, and a good tight fit. The 'winter' gloves are pretty good if you make sure they fit while in the shop, but aren't so effective when the temperatures really plummet. I bought a decent L/S jersey last year, and it has lasted well, and does a job on the commute. I've already got good quality arm, knee, and leg-warmers, so didn't bother with these. I can't recommend these bits of kit enough. They allow you to use your S/S tops and shorts all year round, and allow for temperature regulation in autumn and spring. I wore my new dbh roubaix bib tights this morning for the first time. Very pleased with the fit and quality - difficult to fault for the £40 I paid for them.

I've never been convinced by this argument. Safer roads and more cycling specific amenities would encourage many, many more people to take up the activity than compulsory helmet wearing would discourage, IMO. I've heard of, and read, far too many stories of a helmet saving a cyclist from very serious injury or even death, to suggest anything other than there being an extremely sound argument for making helmets compulsory. Aside from the fact that I always wear a lid because I think it is the right thing to do, I also reckon I owe it to my wife, kids, and wider circle of family and friends to do everything I can to mitigate against coming a cropper when out on the bike. Seems like a no-brainer (no pun intended) to me.

I despise the gym. Perspiring middle-aged men clad in lycra? ....oh, wait a minute I commute by bike, but had the car this morning as I was attending a meeting in Livingston. Every time I take the car, I wish I was on the bike - even in less than clement weather. As I've said before on here, my mood improves when using the bike regularly, regardless of the weather. There's a bit of me relishes the challenge of taking on the elements. I genuinely cannot take to the gym at all. All that effort yet going nowhere seems a bit soul-destroying. I used to run in shite weather, and would still rather do this than go to the gym even though my knees aren't really up to it any longer.

Aye, I've got my fleecy bib tights on standby, and a couple of cosy L/S base layers, so I'm ready for anything

Presumably where you fucking lost it!

Nah - my usual posting, mate....100% bullshit

It was me, mate. I'll PM you my address for the reward (although taking your girlfriend's number from it, and meeting her tonight was reward enough in itself )

Just ordered a new pair of slick tyres for the MTB to replace the semi-slicks currently on it. My initial plan was to buy a set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, but at £50+ per pair, I've decided to opt for a cheaper alternative in Schwalbe City Jets. £18.75 for the pair with free postage from Rutland Cycling (who I've used a fair bit recently as they offer some cracking deals from time to time). The City Jets won't be on a par with the bomb-proof Marathons, but I'll only be using the bike for commuting so I'll take my chances. I've decided that I won't be using the road bike after the first lot of salt is spread on the roads. Talking about salt, I was in Homebase yesterday (aye, I like living on the wild side at the weekends....), and they were selling bags of salt for the driveway/paths. Pretty small bags, BTW, but they were eight and a half quid, FFS! I've taken the coming week off work to do a bit of decorating, but I'm hoping for at least one decent day to get out on the road bike for a few hours. Fingers crossed....

We all get days like this. The main thing is not to let it scunner you. I had a near miss with a motorist this morning. The clown pulled left out of a junction almost directly in front of me despite the fact that I was travelling along the road at 28mph and didn't accelerate away with the consequence that I actually had to pull into a bus stop bay in order to avoid running into the back of him (it was too dangerous for me to come to a halt on the road as there were cars close behind). He would never have attempted this manoeuvre if I had been a motor vehicle yet it was as if I wasn't there - I had my hi-viz jacket on, it was in broad daylight and he'd obviously seen me as I could tell that he was thinking about it before pulling out. I caught him at the next set of lights and, aherm...gave him a piece of my mind

I'm not a fan either, mate, but needs must. I use the bike to commute, and while I'll use the MTB in the worst weather, the mudguards give me (and the bike) a bit of protection. The raceguards provide good protection for the front mech and chaiset, as well as my backside. They'll do me a turn, and are light as a feather.

Stealth mudguards!

I think so, aye. It's pretty impressive, and uses google earth mapping so is very detailed. It has numerous functions, and distinguishes between moving time and stationary time so you get an average moving speed etc. A very clever wee bit of software that costs hee-haw. My Tracks is quite demanding on the battery, too. I've used it for a 70 mile run and the battery still had a wee bit left in it, but if I was using it for a long sportive etc. I'd buy a spare 'phone battery as a back-up.

I use My Tracks on my HTC - sounds similar but I'll check this one out.

Ah, but these are no ordinary mudguards. These are the type of mudguards that Batman would fit to the Batbike

Fitted my Crud Raceguards to the road bike today. It was a bit of a faff and took me the best part of an hour and a half but they actually look the mutt's astonishingly enough. Stealth mudguards Yet to test them in the rain, but they seem to fit well and don't rub or rattle (and weigh next to hee-haw). I had thought of changing to my Conti Gatorskins 25mm tyres for the winter, but there is no way I'd get them on with the guards fitted. The front has enough clearance but we're talking baw-hair width on the rear. I reckon this is why they look pretty good, as you'd hardly know they were on the bike - not least as my Cube is mostly black in colour, as are the guards. I'm also swapping the ridiculously impractical white bar tape for some black stuff. Anyone else pimping their ride for the autumn/winter?

It was pissing down through here in Dunbartonshire

I'd steer clear of anything with seat pads. I got a LS top and it has been fine. They sell hi-viz armbands with LEDs, and they've been good too. They are doing waterproof over trousers at a tenner and I might check them out to have a spare pair to keep at work. Their winter gloves are pretty good but not for the coldest days.

Thursday is Aldi bike gear day. You can pick up some pretty decent kit for much cheapness if you're not brand-obssessed.

You're a student, FFS! Everyone expects you to be a smelly bastard! Central Station used to have showers, and I think Queen St might have (had) too? The latter would be handier for you. Worth calling to check. They are kept in good order nowadays.

I have to say that when I can't use the bike for even a few days now, I actually think I get a bit depressed. In all seriousness. I've noticed this pattern emerging over the course of 18 months or so, and it cannot be based on coincidence. I'm a strong believer in the theory that being (and staying) physically fit enhances your mental health - I can't see past this, in fact.

A hybrid sems like thte best compromise right enough. I lock out the shocks on my hardtail MTB and stick mudguards on it, but it is a brute compared to the road bike. I'll fit some Schwalbe Marathons and opt for the shortest route, so it will have to do.

Aye, the flashing LED armbands are good. I've got 4 of them - cheap as chips from Aldi. I've already fitted my 'safety' lights to the Cube, and have a ridiculously bright Magicshine front light when I'll need it to see where I'm going. If I'm being honest, I would proabably find it hard to motivate myself to get out during the winter if I wasn't commuting. This might well be where membership in a club comes into its own.

It's been hell of a quiet on here recently. A sure sign that autumn has arrived? I've been looking at various alternative commute routes for when the nights fully draw in, and the weather becomes even shittier. Comfort and safety become the priorities over the autumn and winter seasons. The challange is to get on the bike in all but the very worst weather, and, as we've given up one of the cars and my wife has just secured a job out the area so will require the one we have left for her commute, I'd better get used to riding in all conditions. The alternative is the loser cruiser, and I'd prefer to keep my use of this transport option to a minimum. I was pretty consistent last year in all but the most hellish frozen tundra conditions we were subjected to. So, who else regularly commutes to work/uni/college/school etc., and do you plan to keep using the bike over the autumn/winter, or will you be reverting back to the car or public transport options? I'm pretty well prepared for the crap weather, have ordered a set of Crud Roadracers for the road bike, and fitted new disc brake pads on the MTB at the weekend (though a bit of tweaking is required there....). Hi-viz waterproofs; overshoes (a must!); waterproof trousers; roubaix bib-tights; several pairs of gloves; buffs for neck and face etc....etc.... I've been augmenting my stock of winter kit for a few weeks, now, so hopefully I'm just about prepared for the worst (well....perhaps not the very worst) that a Scottish winter can throw at me. How about the rest of you?