Tales from today's commute....

[fossyant]

Wet but not too wet. Not wet enough for me to put my waterproof on until it was too late! Full lights on this morning

I was expecting wet as it's been two wet mornings and a wet return last night.

It's actually a beautiful day in Manchester (I tell the truth).

Bumped into my regular again from yesterday but dropped him in traffic as I shot down the outside to remind two motorists about close passes. My city centre filtering head clicked in and I was gone

 

[fimm]

Ah, the joys of teaching a dyspraxic child to ride a bike...

Tandem?

 

[fimm]

There was an accident yesterday not far from where I stay. Felt very smug filtering through a very long queue of traffic - slightly less smug when I got to the front and saw the ambulance and police cars...
Annoying weather, bits of me were too hot and bits were too cold. I need to find my long-fingered gloves!

 

[ianrauk]

Okay. A weird incident riding home yesterday afternoon. A bunch of lads on motor scooters came past me and the back marker came right up alongside me, shouted, "awright!" (or some such) and punched me playfully on the arm before riding off into the distance. He was obviously a piss-taker and I told him to fück off.
I seriously fail to understand the mindset of some people.

There are tossers in all walks of life unfortunately. And lads on motor scooters score very highly in that bracket.

 

[ianrauk]

Back to standard mileage this morning after having a few shorter days due to the man flu. Still feel crap but good to at least put some distance in even though the speed was lacking a bit.

Take it easy bud. Make sure you fully recover before stretching yourself other wise it will just take longer to clear completely.

 

[ianrauk]

A thorough soaking again this morning. Along with a cheeky headwind and crappy traffic made it slow going. Pain in the 'arris.
It did stop raining by about halfway into the commute and on the A21 managed to up the speed a little to help dry the clothes out.

 

[Nocode]

A thorough soaking again this morning. Along with a cheeky headwind and crappy traffic made it slow going. Pain in the 'arris.
It did stop raining by about halfway into the commute and on the A21 managed to up the speed a little to help dry the clothes out.

Yep, soaked this morning too. Forecast said it wasn't due to rain until 8am, they lied No overshoes or wet weather gear for me and got caught in 2 rain showers. Currently a nice blue sky outside. Hopefully the kit will be dry for the ride home.

 

[ianrauk]

Yep, soaked this morning too. Forecast said it wasn't due to rain until 8am, they lied No overshoes or wet weather gear for me and got caught in 2 rain showers. Currently a nice blue sky outside. Hopefully the kit will be dry for the ride home.

And the crappy traffic this week.. FFS all week it's been the same...

 

[Origamist]

First 10 miles home were wet last night, but once I got past Ashley the rain stopped. Got a puncture 500 metres from home, so rode on the rim as I could not be bothered to walk or change the tube...

Much better this morning, but I was feeling sluggish.

No commuting for 2 weeks as I'm getting married on Saturday and then off on honeymoon. Undoubtedly, we will have a two week Indian Summer in my absence...

 

[400bhp]

First 10 miles home were wet last night, but once I got past Ashley the rain stopped. Got a puncture 500 metres from home, so rode on the rim as I could not be bothered to walk or change the tube...

Much better this morning, but I was feeling sluggish.

No commuting for 2 weeks as I'm getting married on Saturday and then off on honeymoon. Undoubtedly, we will have a two week Indian Summer in my absence...

All the best and yes, the forecast for the next couple of weeks looks pretty good.

 

[ianrauk]

First 10 miles home were wet last night, but once I got past Ashley the rain stopped. Got a puncture 500 metres from home, so rode on the rim as I could not be bothered to walk or change the tube...

Much better this morning, but I was feeling sluggish.

No commuting for 2 weeks as I'm getting married on Saturday and then off on honeymoon. Undoubtedly, we will have a two week Indian Summer in my absence...

Married.. blimey... with a mug like yours?
LOL.. Brilliant mate. The weather is looking great for your day so all the very best, have a great day and congratulations bud.
Where you off to?

 

[HarryTheDog]

There are tossers in all walks of life unfortunately. And lads on motor scooters score very highly in that bracket.

Yes tell me about it, I got a broken wrist and hand courtesy of tossers on scooters. still suffering for it now 9 months on.
At Harold wood it started to rain so I put my waterproof on. By Hornchurch it had reached a monsoon of biblical proportions. It didn’t stop raining till Canning Town, by then my feet and gloves were squelching and my lower half was just sopping wet. Note to self , need waterproof gloves.
Wasn’t cold really so I was still managing to smile.
Only thing of note was another cyclist forced himself to the front of the queue at the A127 crossing lights . I did my usual and took up station behind the 3rd car ( I do this to get a draft off the car in front and the other side of the junction is narrow and cars will bully themselves past)
Sure enough when the lights went green the cars in front tried to squeeze past him. He freaked out a bit and took to the pavement in a bit of a panic. I felt sorry for him as it isn’t right for the cars to be such arrogant buggers, however he may learn as he watched me disappear up the road behind my personal tow vehicle.
Now to find an equipment cabinet with an airflow in it to dry my clothes off.

 

[jahlive905]

Idiot of a woman stepped out into the road as I was coming down Borough High Street.

A group of pedestrian commuters were crossing even though the traffic lights were green. Three of them saw me coming speeding down the road, idiot woman didn't. I assumed she would, but it was too late before I realised she wouldn't and I hit her. My clipless pedals come off very easily, so I jumped off the bike. The bike hits the floor (after hitting idiot woman) and all she can say is 'Sorry, I'm so sleepy today' and walks off. I'm obviously fuming, tell her to watch where she's going next time and go to assess bike damages. Chain's come off and handlebar is completely bent out of shape.

Walk the rest of the journey to work so I can start fixing chain and gears. Colleague appears and I tell him the story, he says 'oh its been ages since I hit someone...'

?!? Is this a regular occurrence?? Also - what do I do about the handlebars...?

 

[Origamist]

Cheers fellas.

Singapore for a couple of days, then Langkawi. Might hire an MTB for a bit of exploring...

 

[ianrauk]

Only thing of note was another cyclist forced himself to the front of the queue at the A127 crossing lights . I did my usual and took up station behind the 3rd car ( I do this to get a draft off the car in front and the other side of the junction is narrow and cars will bully themselves past)
Sure enough when the lights went green the cars in front tried to squeeze past him. He freaked out a bit and took to the pavement in a bit of a panic. I felt sorry for him as it isn’t right for the cars to be such arrogant buggers, however he may learn as he watched me disappear up the road behind my personal tow vehicle.
Now to find an equipment cabinet with an airflow in it to dry my clothes off.

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of cyclists that don't understand the principle of this and would rather just have a MGIF mindset. I have lost count at how many other cyclists on my commute I have overtaken as the car behind accelerates to overtake with me drafting the car. Cyclists that you would think know better too.