1806.21 HOW DO YOU CARRY YOURS?

Most people who commute by bike have to carry some sort of luggage with them. Be it a change of clothes, a uniform, sandwiches or even tools and equipment there's always 'stuff' that needs to come with you.

I believe (from observation) that the rucksack is the UK's preferred method of carrying said stuff to and from the workplace. I don't live/ride in London which I think maybe is 50/50 between the rucksack and the messenger bag. On the continent I'm lead to believe that the pannier is the preferred method of carriage, and this is becoming more popular over here too.

Messenger bags are great if you aren't travelling far and just need the basics. I don't think I'd like a bag loose around my person though, besides, where I live it's very hilly so I don't think it would be practical (you rarely see them around here). I used to ride with a rucksack for many years. If I'm honest I was ignorant to the alternative. They are fine if you don't overload them but can be sweaty and uncomfortable. The main benefit to a body worn bag is that when you reach your destination you can just take the bag straight with you.

A few years ago I broke my collarbone on the bike (I wrote a blogpost about it) which later meant I started to suffer discomfort when I carried too much weight on my back. I put up with it for a while because my bike at that time didn't support a rack but now I'm a convert. I'm lucky in that I have secure and dry storage for my bike at work so I can simply put a bag inside the pannier and take it out at my destination. This really comes into its own when I have to go to training or work from a  different site. I can carry a maximum of over 2 large rucksacks with ease.

My bike is able to carry loads of cargo

If you've ever considered commuting by bike but been put off by not being able to carry what you need then think again. There's always a way, at the end of the day it's about personal choice. As I've said before the commute is a wonderful way of using up time you would probably be wasting by using the time for valuable exercise. And if you have stuff to move then don't discount the bike as a means of carriage.

See this bike locally all the time,
now that's a bike made for cargo!

1806.15 LEAVER

I left school 31 years ago. I remember it well. There was no fanfare, no prom (we didn't have such things back then) no gathering or inspirational speeches - I just finished my last exam and walked out the door never to return.

1806.05 THE WEIGHT

Time is a commodity I don't have loads of at the moment. When I do get a precious moment I am so tired I don't feel like doing anything.

1805.15 WORK IS WORKING

A few of years ago my position at work was put 'at risk'. Then came the dismantling of my department and the merging with another. We were at risk for about a year and the ensuing turmoil saw my place of work closed and everyone 'shoehorned' into another location.

1805.09 WEBCOMIC: CHUNKS!

Been a bit out of sorts recently so drawing has been pretty much down my list. Hope you enjoy my little comeback.

1805.07 ANOTHER YEAR CLOSER TO DEATH

So my birthday has come around again. As I get older they seem to get closer together. It's been fortunate that my birthday has fallen on the May Day bank holiday weekend this year. So what have I been up to?

1804.25 STRESS HEAD

Sometimes everything just gets on top of me. My world detaches from my mind and I lose my way. Why? I wish I knew. I don't have a reason, it comes and goes at random with no cause or catalyst.

1804.22 WEBCOMIC: WORK-WEAR

I've been really busy with work and other things so this has been waiting in limbo for a while.

1802.16 TALKING TO IDIOTS

I watch local news a lot. I like to be informed about what's happening around me. But local news has an annoying habit.

1804.14 THE NATIONAL

It's that time of year when the average person who never watches horse racing watches horse racing. It's the Grand National!

1804.08 WEBCOMIC: ROBBED!

A little bit of politics! We've all been robbed by the current government.

1804.05 NO TIME TO BE ILL

At the weekend I picked up an 'irritation' on my chest which meant I was coughing a little. Today, after just a few days I'm in the grip of a full blown cold. 

1804.02 IT'S EASTER!

It's that time of year when we celebrate the rebirth, when colour returns to the land and new life starts to appear everywhere. When we crawl out of our holes to embrace the great outdoors - it's Easter.

1803.20 WEBCOMIC: NOT A RUNNER

OK, here's something new. I've decided to star in my own webcomic adventure. And why not? Here's a question I'm often asked...

1803.17 THE GREATEST MIND

This week we lost one of the greatest minds of our generation and perhaps ever. Professor Stephen Hawking passed away.

1803.13 GET WELL SOON NAN

Yesterday I went to visit my Nan in the hospital. She'd had a fall at the weekend and fractured her arm and hip. She's in her 80s and a little frail these days. I was worried what I would find when I visited her.

1803.06 WEBCOMIC: ROLLO #41 - HOLE

Rollo #41; It's been a couple of weeks since I did the last cartoon, here's my latest offering and now the snow has cleared we can all get back out into our gardens...

1803.04 THE BEAST FROM THE EAST

The great Siberian freeze and follow up storm came. The snow was followed by a mighty freeze with a 'feels like' temperature reaching a bone chilling -12°C! The landscape became white and services ground to a halt. The storm became know as "The Beast from the East"

1802.25 ZERO - WILL I EVER BE WARM AGAIN?

Winter is my least favourite season, especially as I get older. All it does is stop me from doing stuff I like to do. If I had my way I think I'd like to hibernate until the spring.

1802.20 WEBCOMIC: ROLLO #40 - SKATE

Rollo #40; I can't believe I've done 40 Rollo cartoons, this one is in honour of this year's Winter Olympics.

1802.17 THE ENTERPRISE HAS ARRIVED

Star Trek Discovery season 1 came to a close last Monday (in the UK). I've had a week to digest the whole thing, so what did I think? 

1802.07 WEBCOMIC: CYCLING JOE #1 - POST-RIDE

Cycling Joe #1; I'm trying something new this week. I'm keen to develop new characters and this guy is a chance to merge two of my interests (cartoons and cycling).

1802.04 DISCOVERING NEW TV

When I was a kid we had 3 television channels and the only reason people had kids were to get up and change the channel for them.

Television, some say, is having a bit of a renaissance at the moment. Some of the best screen entertainment can be found on the little glowing box in the corner of the room (Ok, I accept that there's not much about modern TVs that are little or boxlike these days, the corner isn't the most common place for them either).

1801.28 WEBCOMIC: ETaDO #6 - SHOP

Evil Takes a Day Off #6; Well that's potentially embarrassing! Evil goes shopping.

1801.25 ALWAYS WANTED - NEVER GOT

Sometimes we look back and remember the things that we really wanted when we were younger but never got.

1801.22 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Last year I was asked to write a couple of guest blog posts, one of them was for my blog friend, Susan, who's a freelance writer from America. So hear it is in all it's glory... 

1801.20 WEBCOMIC: ROLLO #39 - COCK

Rollo #39; I was a little dubious about doing this one but then I looked  at what I find funny. British humour is built on double entendres so in the great British tradition I present my latest offering...

1801.14 CATCHING UP WITH EVERYONE ELSE

I have a confession.

I love cartoons (that's not the confession). The actual confession is that I've never before watched the animation of Seth MacFarlane! Why? I always thought he was trying to knock off The Simpsons so never watched.

1801.12 WEBCOMIC: ETaDO #5 - FISH

Evil Takes a Day Off #5; I started out doing webcomics last year with the idea of seeing what supervillians do on their days off. I only did 4 before I ran out of ideas. I think I've come a long way in 12 months so I'm pleased to revive the title today with this strip.

Enjoy...

1801.06 BACK HOME ON MY OWN

Some couples are inseparable, others keep their distance. I like to think that we strike a healthily balance. We love to spend our time together but are free to pursue our separate interests.

1801.04 WEBCOMIC: ROLLO #38 - COAT

Rollo #38; For the first webcomic of the New Year I'm trying something different. Rollo is starring in his first multi-framed cartoon and I've also been playing with monochrome.

Hope you like it.

1801.01 HAPPY NEW YEAR ANYONE?

So here we are. 2018. Still no flying cars but robots are coming closer to a reality (apparently). Living in the 21st century isn't entirely as it was sold to us.