Tales from today's commute....

[Sixmile]

I have the camera mount on my hybrid but I'm using the road bike for my commutes these days and unfortunately the mount doesn't fit the drop bars. After reading this, I've went and ordered a helmet mount. I've had a few close passes especially on last weeks commutes but there isn't much we can do about other peoples driving and I've zero faith that the peelers over here would give me the time of day if I approached them with footage of aforementioned careless driving. That being said there is a certain security in the camera if anyone ever tried to claim against you or accuse you for something you didn't do.

Todays commute though... glorious. First time using arm warmers, a wee Planet X purchase from last week. Saved me bringing any long sleeved top today and rolled them off after I warmed up. Why haven't I bought such a thing sooner?!

 

[Tin Pot]

Nice ride in today.

 

[HarryTheDog]

How awful. I'd definitely get a camera in these circumstances. Am now running an SJCAM M10 just for country lane cockwombles but this sort of aggression is lamentable.

I ordered a ciclic Fly 6 for the back and a fly 12 for the front, the fly 12 has a 10hr battery and does all sorts of tricks, tramlines and links to strava to display speed etc.. Both from freeborn bikes as they had 50 quid off the Fly 12. Both function as decent lights as well and look like lights so have gone for the stealth approach. I wanted a Replay 1080 xd for the helmet but everyone seems sold out, even the manufacturer.

 

[skudupnorth]

Must be something in the water or drivers are getting heat stroke because the past few commutes have made me wonder if it is worth risking life and limb to ride. Weather is perfect and the last thing I want to be doing is sat in my car for the 7 mile journey ! Lets see if anything improves now the school holidays are around the corner and the traffic will ease a tad but this is the first time in the many years I have cycle commuted, that I have wondered if it is worth it.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Cycling weather Gods shined down on me tonight.

Just thinking of leaving work and it is chucking it down, so wait 10 minutes until it stopped and set off. Managed to avoid the rain all the way home, for the last 5 or 6 miles it was dark and raining over to my left and to my right, but blue sky in front

Also ticked off another 100 mile commuting day.

 

[fossyant]

Youngsters with no regard for the injury they may do to people, what the hell is wrong with people!

There are many folk like this.

 

[martint235]

So I've had near misses before and even been knocked off but tonight was a new one. On the way down the hill towards Penge I followed a van as it moved to overtake a bus at a bus stop. The bus started indicating as the van passed him but I'd already committed to overtake. Bus left the bus stop and accelerated alongside me, he then kept moving right forcing me into on coming traffic. I sped up, so did he. Traffic island approaching and he still refused to move from his line that I believe was deliberately endangering me so I slowed and slotted in behind him which is what he wanted from the start. He got a piece of my mind at his next stop all of 20 yards further on. Reported to TfL and his bus company. B******d

 

[briantrumpet]

As I crossed a pelican crossing this afternoon, I thought I heard someone's radio on full blast, but playing odd music... oh, no, it's someone making sheep noises at me... oh, no, it's sheep, in a lorry, at the pelican crossing.

 

[Tin Pot]

Mahoosive rainbows most of the ride home, which cheered me up.

 

[summerdays]

I realised that my back wheel seemed to be making a bit of noise today, guessed it was the brake and took it easy all the way home with a constant squeak trying to avoid using the back brake. Sure enough when I got home and took the wheel out I realised the clip that holds the disk brake pads had snapped. Luckily I'd ordered a spare recently.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

The commute home from hell today has me googling for camera's.
Going through Dagenahm group of 6 teenagers on MTB's as I go past one tries to barge me off. Then when that does not work I got all sorts of threats.
Then within 2 miles a youngster driving a large BMW coupe ( 6 or 7 series ?) goes to right hook me, I saw it coming so braked and came to a halt. I followed him up the side road ( I was going that way anyway not chasing him) he slowed and wound his window down. He did not seem angry or anything so was expecting a apology so I wasnt angry either, nope got a load of verbal about how he did not give a monkey's if he ran me over. I sarcastically told him how brave he was in his steel box and told him to knob off. He turned left at the next oppurtunity. I cleared it from my mind but then got a blast from a horn and brave boy comes past at around 70mph shaving me really close. If I had moved when he hit the horn I would not be typing this now. Well I went ballistic and shot after him with the intent of pulling him out of his car and stamping all over him. Around the corner rammed traffic. Boyo poo's himself and roars up the road on the wrong side of the road and takes the next available right wheels squealing etc . I consider going down the road but think the situation is now getting far too serious.
I realise I have no number plate and not much of a description of the car or driver.
Youngsters with no regard for the injury they may do to people, what the hell is wrong with people!

You have my greatest respect mate, not an easy day or ride.

We need more police out on the roads, I would pay more tax if we had people out there looking and nailing these people.

 

[Sixmile]

Cold start this morning but once warmed up it was very pleasant. I'm getting seriously fed up with drivers cutting into the bus lane at numerous points along my route. Seriously slowing me down! If ya wanna get to work faster, get on yer bike love!

 

[HarryTheDog]

Friday was abuse, today was a compliment!

Going down from Hornchurch to Rainham I noticed a long wheelbase van behind me with a very long trailer. I didn’t want him to chance an overtake so I got a move on.
He pulled up beside me at a set of lights 1.5 miles later. He seemed to be very excited, I was expecting abuse. No he was totally over the moon that I had sped all the way from Hornchurch to the lights at Airfield way without him having to consider a overtake. ( analysing later I had shot through 2 strava segments and got 2 4th overall's so a result ) . My faith in human nature is restored.
https://www.strava.com/activities/586130160

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Hard work this morning, realised why when I got to work. Rear wheel is a little buckled and the brake was rubbing pretty bad.The wheels are still the original stock wheels and I've done just under 10,000 miles on them so think I've got my moneys worth. Just need to decide whether to replace the wheel like with like or get a set of hand built.

Second day in a row of 100 mile commute - don't think there will be a third tomorrow.

 

[tallliman]

^how do you find the time for 100 miles whilst working?

Reasonable couple of commutes so far this week but think I need a day's rest as I had little left coming home today. Nothing really to report!