Tales from today's commute....

[Origamist]

Classic scenario: dog, dog owner and extendable lead last night - coming up to Ashley junction a dog runs into the road and owner has no idea how to use the lead. I slam on the brakes as does the car coming in the opposite direction as the dog was about 4 meters into the road...Owner apologized, but I was just glad the dog didn't pay the price for their ineptness.

Chilly this morning down to 5C. Opted for a gilet and it was the right call. Could probably have done with knee-warmers/longer gloves, but I coped!

Passed a guy on a beautiful black Rourke with Rourke tights on the way to Byley. He caught me a mile later and I towed him for the next mile and a half. Thanked me when I detoured on my new route.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Ride home last night was fine, livened up by another couple of roadies chasing me through Hornchurch for a mile or so. We all ended up at a set of lights blowing hard, dripping sweat over our bikes but grinning like school kids.
This morning was event free as well, saw a old guy probably in his sixties on a old steel bike with Tri bars going through Dagenham at a fair rate. I was impressed how dam flat his back was, he seemed to be laying on the top tube. He got the best of the lights and I gave up after he had sailed through 3 greens as I arrived at each on reds so he disapeared off. Near work I spied a work colleague who is fairly serious on his Cannondale Evo super six. I decided I would catch him. Once I got to his back wheel he turned, recognsed me, grinned and gave me a comedy thumping of his bars. His excuse being he never saw me coming.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

This morning: base layer, long-sleeved jersey, tights, full-fingered gloves.

Yippee.

 

[Sittingduck]

Traffic's sh*te again now

Saw a rider down at the junction of Putney Hill and the A205. 2 motorcyclists and another couple of passers-by in his attendance, so hope he is ok... seemed to be writhing around a fair bit.

Europcar boy on Embankment couldn't sit behind me at the lights and decided to hop up the kerb to position himself a cpl of yards ahead of the stop line. I didn't trust the van that was waiting there and decided not to sit on the inside of it, even though it's no left turn at those lights. Got the funny looks from Voeckler clone and him swinging wide right for me to come through the inside, when I was sat on his wheel. Should have been more patient and waited behind me shouldn't he Eventually I took the bait and turned off up Blackfriars ramp soon after. Annoys me when riders are so insistent that people don't ride behind them but are so eager to do a naughty to get marginally in front at a red light.

 

[Tankengine]

I trust that whether he admits fault or not you're ensuring his insurers will have sight of the bill from said bike shop

For sure. His insurers rang me to hear my side today. And then having heard it, told me to send the damage report and bill to them

 

[Arjimlad]

First commute on my new steed. Kind of embarrassed that my commute is only 1.5 miles. I do plan on extending this to around five miles when I can, or feel like it.
Just finished a hard night shift .been off for three weeks. By the time 6am arrived I was done in. ( I have a real physical job humping gas cylinders around all night) plus it was raining so just cycled straight home. Hopefully add some miles tomorrow.now off to my warm bed. Hopefully the neighbours dog won't wake me up. Hope you all have a good day

Whatever distance, it's far better than driving!

 

[HarryTheDog]

The evening ride home reminded me I am getting a old fart, saw two young mtb chaps ahead trying to crush each other they were really going for it. , I grinned to myself that I would soon zip past them. They were only 100 metres ahead. how wrong was I, nasty little headwind but they were managing around 16-18 mph, I started to be convinced they both had motors. One visibly gave up after half a mile, took me a flippin mile to get past the faster one, no motors visible.
Coming into Dagenham there seemed to be a lot of pedestrians, mostly walking on the cycleway not the pavement as per usual. I caught up with a another rider who seemed to be utterly perplexed by the peds behaviour. I sauntered up beside him and explained this was the norm for Dagenham, if you are under 18 it is uncool to walk on the pavement , much cooler to semi annoy cyclists. the guy was amazed he had never gone this way before . Told me he was not coming again.
Hornchurch had me thanking myself for riding a bike. Traffic was rammed for half a mile trying to get over the A127.

 

[Drago]

Cycling in today. A bit chilly, so moderately wrapped up. Doing a good lick down the windy country lane, maybe 20 MPH of sheer warp speed being produced by my mighty thighs.

Anyway, I’m a regular shoulder checker so was aware of a lorry coming up behind me long before it arrived. A big old un-artic 17 tonne class job. He came up behind me, wasn’t hassling me. I was in a decent primary, but being the nice chap I am was already thinking ahead to a straight stretch coming up where I could move across and help get him safely past.

But no, it didn’t work like that. Our Yorkie munching friend decided it was most appropriate to try and overtake in his lumbering behemoth on the approach to a blind corner. To be fair he left me plenty of room, but nevertheless I was thinking “what a chump, if someone were coming the other way there’d be a right mess here.”

And you can guess what happened next.

Right on cue a procession of 3 cars came round the corner in the opposite direction. The first braked hard to avoid smearing itself over the front of the large oncoming truck. The second braked hard and just avoided rear ending the first. Alas, the third shunted up the rear of the second. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to mess up the bumper, grille and bonnet.

I took great delight in shouting “anyone want a witness?”

 

[DrLex]

[...]

I took great delight in shouting “anyone want a witness?”

Must look good on the witness statement when you put your occupation.

 

[Drago]

Yes, "Gigolo" always looks good.

 

[Simontm]

Back on the commute after two weeks of work related shoite and trying to get my girl through the first couple of days of big school (wife's taken over duties this morning and it's still not too good ) . Schools are definitely back aren't they!!! I think the best term to describe the style of driving at this time of year is random, very random
Saw a few people in arm warmers and jackets which was a bit weird for me as it is still in the 13/14s in the morning down here.
Numpty count: 1 School mum (natch) just decided to pull out on a mini-roundabout as I was turning right. She did put a hand up in apologies.

 

[Sittingduck]

It will get worse in a few weeks time when the the nights start drawing in. As soon as it is getting dark during evening rush hour it turns into silly season. I think the drivers take a couple of weeks to adjust to commuting in the dark... expect the unexpected.

 

[Drago]

She did put a hand up in apologies.

Are you sure it wasn't a Nazi salute?

 

[Simontm]

Are you sure it wasn't a Nazi salute?

Lots of national socialists doing the school run in your area?

 

[JMT]

Good ride in this morning, cool but not cold, threatened to rain at one point but stopped after a few drops. Lots of good drivers on the way in one even anticipating that I was catching a slower cyclist (slower than me, I was surprised) an held back until I passed them, another waiting at a traffic calming point where I had right of way (this doesn't happen often). Thinking about extended ride home up Creech hill Lulworth as its the only hill to have beaten me so far. I am prepared this time though, I have my camera so I can stop if I get tired..... I mean to take pictures of the lovely scenery.