ACS
Legendary Member
- Location
- Just below the snow line
'Larger older man' the witch.
But observationally correct. She could have said fat bar steward
Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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But observationally correct. She could have said fat bar steward
Simontm
Veteran
Lovely ride home tonight. Later than usual due to work so slightly different rhythms to the school mums, wvms and early commuters tho the lot coming off the A3 to south road looked like they were all going to ignore priority, one didn't as I arrived.
Alas @ianrauk and @MickeyBlueEyes I regret to tell you that there was one numpty...me!
The turning from Windsor Avenue to Green Lane is a sharp blind 90deg left handed and I was so busy making sure there weren't any cyclists coming up the other way, I failed to notice the one going into Green Lane behind me and having to brake as I wasn't going that fast
Apologised profusely then later on chatted and paced with him down to Long Ditton Rec ground where we parted.
Alas @ianrauk and @MickeyBlueEyes I regret to tell you that there was one numpty...me!
The turning from Windsor Avenue to Green Lane is a sharp blind 90deg left handed and I was so busy making sure there weren't any cyclists coming up the other way, I failed to notice the one going into Green Lane behind me and having to brake as I wasn't going that fast
Apologised profusely then later on chatted and paced with him down to Long Ditton Rec ground where we parted.
HarryTheDog
Guru
- Location
- Basildon Essex
On the way home coming out of Canning Town I had 4 roadies up ahead, within a mile I had gone past the lot. then I managed to look a right idiot as my rear light bounced off, The lead guy kindly pointed this out to me. I had to go back for it. Meanwhile they all overtook me. I quickly re-overtook 3 but the other guy was a bit harder to catch. I went past and realised I had gone too hard but I had commited so kept the pace up. The fastest of them followed me at a distance and then overtook me coming out of Barking going straight down the A13,
I followed and we got the usual couple of close passes, I was going to take a turn but the pace was just that little too high to overtake and a bit risky with cars passing at 50mph. Once off the A13 I thanked him for the tow and he said no problem. I took the lead back and after a couple of lights he disapeared, I assumed turned off. Now here is the sting in the tail. Today was my half drive half cycle day. I got to Rainham put the bike in the car and then driving past Harold Hill station who came cycling past?. Then I past him later a few miles from my house so I will keep a eye out for him. Middle aged ish White and red Giant wearing a white and red top
I followed and we got the usual couple of close passes, I was going to take a turn but the pace was just that little too high to overtake and a bit risky with cars passing at 50mph. Once off the A13 I thanked him for the tow and he said no problem. I took the lead back and after a couple of lights he disapeared, I assumed turned off. Now here is the sting in the tail. Today was my half drive half cycle day. I got to Rainham put the bike in the car and then driving past Harold Hill station who came cycling past?. Then I past him later a few miles from my house so I will keep a eye out for him. Middle aged ish White and red Giant wearing a white and red top
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
Decided to use the road bike today for a change. Glorious weather and no crashes, only thing that spoiled a perfect day was the need to go into work
Tomtrumps
Active Member
- Location
- South East London
Record time in this morning which was very nice. Helped that three very pro looking guys gave me something to keep up with.
The way home was hot. Very hot. And pretty fast compared to usual. The only downside was the face full of flies, and desperately trying to stop opening my mouth to breath for fear of flies. Bad night to put in the extra effort then!
The way home was hot. Very hot. And pretty fast compared to usual. The only downside was the face full of flies, and desperately trying to stop opening my mouth to breath for fear of flies. Bad night to put in the extra effort then!
Berk on a Bike
Veteran
- Location
- Yorkshire
I extended my homeward commute (1.30pm finisher that I am) and shunned my 12-mile direct route for a 25-mile wander which took me through the rhubarb triangle (which is like the Bermuda triangle but with fruit and you don't go missing). It was a lovely warm afternoon, if a little "close". Tomorrow looks like the breeze is picking up and a bit showery. Hey ho. British summer, eh? That was it, hope you enjoyed it, etc etc...
Simontm
Veteran
Forget to say I heard a glorious exchange on Church lane heading into Beddington Park as I passed just behind another cyclist:
Woman with a 4x4 pushchair: "Another one of those bleeding cyclists (me)"
Man with baby in arms, on the pedestrian side of path: "That's because you are in the bloody cycle lane you stoopid cow."
Woman with a 4x4 pushchair: "Another one of those bleeding cyclists (me)"
Man with baby in arms, on the pedestrian side of path: "That's because you are in the bloody cycle lane you stoopid cow."
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Forget to say I heard a glorious exchange on Church lane heading into Beddington Park as I passed just behind another cyclist:
Woman with a 4x4 pushchair: "Another one of those bleeding cyclists (me)"
Man with baby in arms, on the pedestrian side of path: "That's because you are in the bloody cycle lane you stoopid cow."
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Windy ... and ended up on a quiet road with a cyclist head down heading straight for me.... (he apologised when he looked up) but I've done that sort of drift off when you think it's a quiet moment before myself.
HarryTheDog
Guru
- Location
- Basildon Essex
Horrible headwind/crosswind all the way in so hoping for a glorious tailwind on the way home. No cyclists for 13 miles but then I hit Dagenham and they started to come out of the woodwork, have not seen so many since last summer. I was tired from the previous 13 miles and lack of miles lately but got past everyone anyway. Only 1 other serious contender who when I went past chased after me, he managed to follow me for 6 miles or so then I lost him.
There was a fresh wind but I was dripping in sweat by the time I got to work, when I took my helmet off there was quite a little pool backed up behind the forehead pad and it poured out when I took it off making another cyclist in the garage give me a startled look..
There was a fresh wind but I was dripping in sweat by the time I got to work, when I took my helmet off there was quite a little pool backed up behind the forehead pad and it poured out when I took it off making another cyclist in the garage give me a startled look..
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
The annual cycle to work 'big event' today so tagged on one of the groups. Got a couple of freebies but breakfast wasn't ready so grabbed a coffee and headed back to the office. Had about 10 in our group then merged with another so a good 15 sized group.
Origamist
Legendary Member
Was 15C when I left this morning and I was sweaty before I had even got on the bike...
A tailwind was helping, but it could not mask the fact that I was feeling tired. I was actually not too peeved when I punctured in Tatton Park as I could take a 10 min breather whilst faffing with the wheel.
Traffic was pretty heavy, but good driving across the board.
Oh, last night I came across a fit older chap riding a Reynolds 931 Croix de Fer, he was behind me for a few miles coming out of Manchester, but I took a dog leg route at Hale to avoid a traffic light and caught up with him half a mile later. I let him lead it out through Hale up to Ashley, but when I passed and offered my wheel he didn't take it up as he was heading towards Tatton Park. A shame, as he was in better shape than me and I was hoping we could have worked together!
A tailwind was helping, but it could not mask the fact that I was feeling tired. I was actually not too peeved when I punctured in Tatton Park as I could take a 10 min breather whilst faffing with the wheel.
Traffic was pretty heavy, but good driving across the board.
Oh, last night I came across a fit older chap riding a Reynolds 931 Croix de Fer, he was behind me for a few miles coming out of Manchester, but I took a dog leg route at Hale to avoid a traffic light and caught up with him half a mile later. I let him lead it out through Hale up to Ashley, but when I passed and offered my wheel he didn't take it up as he was heading towards Tatton Park. A shame, as he was in better shape than me and I was hoping we could have worked together!
KneesUp
Guru
Weather and bike both fine. Spots of rain and a bit of creaking - nothing out of the ordinary there.
However - do you find some things irrationally annoy you on some days?
One very short bit of my commute is a shared use path up a hill - the road is one way so the shared use path means as a cyclist I can skip two sets of traffic lights and a few hundred yards. All good, except that, as with all shared use paths, pedestrians tend not to realise it's shared use, or at least they don't behave like they realise it is, so you have to go slowly and occasionally go around people who are having a chat in the middle of it (as a function of the time of day I use it, this often involves toddlers wandering about and prams parked at jaunty angles). It also has a car park to one side, which has an entrance/exit hidden by bushes. I know from coming out of there in the car that you can't easily see all of the shared use path because of the shrubbery. For this reason I tend to cycle right over to the far side as I know that's the bit the drivers can see more easily, and also it gives me more time to see them even if they don't see me, although the council have thoughtfully placed several lamp posts there to make it more exciting.
Right, so that's the situation. Today, there was a bus parked with half of it on the road (double yellow lines) and half parked on the shared use path while the driver had a break. For some reason this really, really annoyed me. I had a word with the driver ("you can get past", "cyclists go through red lights" etc) but to me this missed the point - you can't park there legally, and doing so makes it more dangerous for everyone else. It certainly meant I had to cycle on the 'wrong' side and couldn't see who was coming down the hill very well. (Oh, and he also said he drives the route often and that he didn't know there was a cycle lane there - good observation bus dude!)
I probably shouldn't have bothered, but sometimes little things really get to you. Or is that just me?
However - do you find some things irrationally annoy you on some days?
One very short bit of my commute is a shared use path up a hill - the road is one way so the shared use path means as a cyclist I can skip two sets of traffic lights and a few hundred yards. All good, except that, as with all shared use paths, pedestrians tend not to realise it's shared use, or at least they don't behave like they realise it is, so you have to go slowly and occasionally go around people who are having a chat in the middle of it (as a function of the time of day I use it, this often involves toddlers wandering about and prams parked at jaunty angles). It also has a car park to one side, which has an entrance/exit hidden by bushes. I know from coming out of there in the car that you can't easily see all of the shared use path because of the shrubbery. For this reason I tend to cycle right over to the far side as I know that's the bit the drivers can see more easily, and also it gives me more time to see them even if they don't see me, although the council have thoughtfully placed several lamp posts there to make it more exciting.
Right, so that's the situation. Today, there was a bus parked with half of it on the road (double yellow lines) and half parked on the shared use path while the driver had a break. For some reason this really, really annoyed me. I had a word with the driver ("you can get past", "cyclists go through red lights" etc) but to me this missed the point - you can't park there legally, and doing so makes it more dangerous for everyone else. It certainly meant I had to cycle on the 'wrong' side and couldn't see who was coming down the hill very well. (Oh, and he also said he drives the route often and that he didn't know there was a cycle lane there - good observation bus dude!)
I probably shouldn't have bothered, but sometimes little things really get to you. Or is that just me?
Late update from yesterday, dropped the commuter off at the LBS for some fettling so I used the carbon jobbie with a ruck sack. Left at 12.30 and made great time getting in although my back was particularly sweaty from the ruck sack but no numpties.
One of the girls is leaving us so it was a last supper of kebabs, which wasn't ideal for the return leg and I'm sure the extra weight was responsible for a slow ride home at 1100pm! ( I had a large chicken kebab which is really a chicken sandwich?!!)
Due in at 3 today but it's currently lashing it down so well see if it's car or bike as I've read on another forum that my carbon bike will dissolve in front of my eyes if it comes into contact with rain!
One of the girls is leaving us so it was a last supper of kebabs, which wasn't ideal for the return leg and I'm sure the extra weight was responsible for a slow ride home at 1100pm! ( I had a large chicken kebab which is really a chicken sandwich?!!)
Due in at 3 today but it's currently lashing it down so well see if it's car or bike as I've read on another forum that my carbon bike will dissolve in front of my eyes if it comes into contact with rain!
