Tales from today's commute....

[martint235]

Back to a calm and relaxed commute. Although no one was close to me, I did notice that the general standard of driving this morning was p*** poor. Lane changing without indicating, undertaking at speed etc.

Only one numpty in the world today, me. Cycling along the South Circular, pushing it a bit, I thought "Ooh that's a twinge from my achilles (old injury that flares up occasionally), better take it easy". Next thing I know I'm doing 30mph past Selhurst Station when I thought "Didn't my achilles protest a while back?"

 

[Simontm]

Legs were a bit of a struggle this morning - all to build up on s'pose.
Traffic was fairly OK, a couple of a bit too close passes but not significant, however...
numpty count: 1. A Biffa rubbish truck. Coming along the Portsmouth Road, heard the van roaring up behind me and it suddenly braked as we hit the pinch point that's the university traffic lights. He then hared pass me with not a lot of room and I raised my hand (as in you effwit). Driver then pulled over into the cycle lane and slammed his brakes on causing me to suddenly turn out in front of a beemer (sorry for that Mr BMW driver) - I probably would have gone straight into the back of the truck otherwise. As I pulled alongside the truck, he leaned out while keeping my speed shouting: "Get of the road you mummyfunster (or words to that effect)" before haring off to meet the red lights at the road works

 

[si_c]

Carefree commute home last night. Got the ferry for the first time in a month, forgotten how nice it was. No numpties that I can recall either.

This morning was quite pleasant also, avoided the bypass and cut through town a bit. On dumbass in a merc decides she's going to turn right across my lane as I'm crossing the junction at 25mph. Didn't even look when I shouted.

 

[Andrew_P]

Every single commute I get shoot, EVERY single one. Starting to get right on my tits

 

[HarryTheDog]

Another quick ride in though not as quick as yesterday, . Managed to add another age group KOM to my collection . Ended up in a bit of semi SCR with a young guy who owns a lot of the KOM’s in the latter part of my commute but he was on his trycross with pannier so actually dropped him for a little while.
We both knew who each other was, but have never actually spoke.
We ended up chatting and turns out he did the tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix last year. He warned me that Roubaix is full of the wrong sort and a lot of cars were broken into last year, luckily I should be ok as going with sports tours so the bike will be in my room and no car.

 

[Origamist]

Milder this morning at around 6C – was a bit warm but kept the gilet on as the NE wind was cool. Another lovely morning, only spoilt by two dangerous overtakes in the space of 200metres – both passed me with space, but into the face of oncoming traffic which was forced to brake and move left, both of the drivers beeped their horns and I theatrically threw my right hand up in exasperation (this is more to get the attention of the drivers behind).

Starting to see a few more cyclists – hopefully they will learn to dodge potholes quickly.

 

[Karlt]

Quite a few numpties this morning. Yes, there's solid traffic in the oncoming lane, but, bugger me, I'm doing 25 in a 30 limit so do you really need to get past? Ditto the twat in a lorry who passed me when I was doing over 30 in a downhill 30 limit, then slowed down in front of me when he realised what speed we were doing. Thanks mate. Really needed to brake just as the hill evened out and started going back up again...

 

[martint235]

Quite a few numpties this morning. Yes, there's solid traffic in the oncoming lane, but, bugger me, I'm doing 25 in a 30 limit so do you really need to get past? Ditto the twat in a lorry who passed me when I was doing over 30 in a downhill 30 limit, then slowed down in front of me when he realised what speed we were doing. Thanks mate. Really needed to brake just as the hill evened out and started going back up again...

I had something similar yesterday but I won. See above as I'd had a bad commute but there's a 30 mph limit on the road down to my house with pinch points. I turned on to the road with a car turning alongside me which wound me up so I speeded up to stay not far behind him. Another car then pulled up alongside me so having had a bad trip, I speeded up until I was doing a tad over 30. He's still alongside me. Then he realised there was a pinch point and that I wasn't a. slowing down or b. moving from my line. Cue heavy breaking on his part. Unfortunately he didn't want to make an issue of it as I was really looking for someone to eat by that point.

 

[hennbell]

Had a fun ride into work.

Winter snow is starting to melt making large puddles, the puddles freeze over night.

In the morning you play the fun game of staying wheels up and hitting the perfect speed so that the ice cracks but the bicycle does not break through the ice.
In the afternoon the running water on top of the ice makes things very fun to ride.

 

[si_c]

Pleasant commute today, missed the ferry I'd aimed for this evening, so was forced to add another 3miles to my ride. The horror. One complete bellend tonight, driving a jag into the space where another cyclist was trying to ride, forcing her to stop and dismount. Otherwise generally courteous drivers tonight

 

[Simontm]

Easy ride home with slight headwind.
Numpty count:1 - One pedestrian stepped out in front of me, forcing a sudden stop. Cue many "sorry I didn't see you". I'm 6'2' ex-forward wearing a very bright yellow jacket, the phrase you were looking for madam was "I didn't look"
Apart from that and being poisoned by following a VW Transporter which, by the way it was being driven, probably had worse brakes than me nowt much ado.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Starting to put some effort in now on the commute. Upped the mileage to 60\65 for the daily round trip and getting it done at about 20.5/21.5 average. Also putting in some quick sections which have made it varied and interesting. Spring will soon be with us proper

 

[martint235]

That was a really enjoyable ride in. So much so that I even considered extending my commute out through Westerham and then into the south of Croydon. However just as I was about to take the Bromley turn I remembered I'm on call so not an option. Maybe next week if the weather is still good.

Only one numpty on a bike (quelle surprise). Pulled up alongside me at some lights and then tried to beat me away from them. Legs going like mad, car behind understandably getting a touch impatient with the pillock. I switched gear and pulled away smoothly from him. So I have a Carradice and a steel bike it doesn't mean you can beat just by bringing a plastic bike, you need more.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Yesterday's ride home, as usual, on a '20mph' road where almost all drivers are doing 30mph. Lots of MGIF (usual), even though EVERY DAY I pass the same drivers when they are stuck at two subsequent traffic lights.
Numpty of the night award goes to the van driver, who was stationary at the first lights; 2nd in the queue behind a Jag (who was so far forward his front wheels were in front of the ASL). Lights change, the Jag drives off, then slows down for the queue of stationary traffic on the other side of the lights (queue for the 2nd set of lights). Van driver takes off at high speed, has an 'oh f*ck' moment when he realises that traffic isn't going anywhere and slams on anchors so fast he ends up slightly sideways.

 

[Simontm]

Not a lot this morning, aside from a slightly close Prius - Pious drivers, saving the environment one cyclist at a time .
However, numpty count: 1 - me! Left the house and thought "oh my hands are cold...oh pillock you've forgotten your gloves". Then five minutes later, "I think I've forgotten something..." that something being my helmet. Thought sod it and carried on.