Tales from today's commute....

[RoubaixCube]

Ride home was a little traffic heavy. Tried to filter past a gap in front of the car, but the car rolled forward and blocked me off... Lady in the driving seat wasnt even looking. I had to perform a quick emergency stop and yank my foot out of pedals to stabilize myself from tipping over onto her car. I raised my hand and simply said "Youre not even looking!!" to which her passenger replied "Fark off!" If only I could have rolled a big sticker on her car/windscreen like the 'stop a douchebag' movement in Russia -- Id probably get the snot kicked out of me a few times for it, but other road users, especially the more vulnerable ones deserve to know who the bad drivers are and to be extra cautious around them.

99% of drivers were well behaved in gave me enough space and didnt bully me when i had got myself in a bit of a pickle when filtering and the traffic started to pull away and i was in the middle lane, Bus driver on the left gave way and i got back into the bus lane and carried on filtering in safety.

past a pillock in an old renault estate or something who had arse packed tight of "gotta get in front" syndrome. His overtaking was very dangerous, especially when i was hitting 24-27mph on a descent.

my magicshine MJ-858 is completely dead -- I think the LED must of burnt out or something. Luckily I had a Lezyne micro drive to take over front light duties but its not really bright enough for what i want it for....

Thinking Gotta look for a replacement light now.

 

[tallliman]

@RoubaixCube, probikekit are offering an additional 10% off some of the higher end lights at the moment, lezeyne power drive 1100xl for 70quid as a result (couldn't resist even though it was a little above my 50quid budget)

 

[RoubaixCube]

@RoubaixCube, probikekit are offering an additional 10% off some of the higher end lights at the moment, lezeyne power drive 1100xl for 70quid as a result (couldn't resist even though it was a little above my 50quid budget)

Evanscycles had 10%off aswell. I have an MJ-808 clone up and running so I'll hold off making a purchase for now

 

[classic33]

Numpty count 500+

Left work early today - Northern pedestrians have clearly never seen a commuter on a bike before. Broad daylight, I swear to god they looked me in the eye (all 500 of them :-)) and just strode out anyway. I slowed down and gave then all plenty of room...

Same with cars, don't worry.

It's the more timid ones that are a worry.

 

[RoubaixCube]

Caught a little light drizzle on the way to work . Its warmer then yesterday though. I was actually breaking a sweat with a light summer baselayer and thermal jersey on. Skies are very grey and overcast

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I'm going to trial a longer commute to work tomorrow morning ***. For years now, I've been doing 27.5km to work and 31km from work, and it's not that challenging anymore, although it gives me a good workout and keeps me fit. Tomorrow I'll try a slight deviation to the route which will increase it to 30km, thus making the round-trip commute 61km, or 305km per week.

*** "morning" is stretching it a bit: I start riding at about 4:30am and arrive at work at about 5:45am (with roughly 5 minutes "red traffic light" time), so even at this time of year, it's still dark when I get to work. But the big advantage of that is that I can choose any route I wish, because they're all almost traffic-free.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I'm going to trial a longer commute to work tomorrow morning ***. For years now, I've been doing 27.5km to work and 31km from work, and it's not that challenging anymore, although it gives me a good workout and keeps me fit. Tomorrow I'll try a slight deviation to the route which will increase it to 30km, thus making the round-trip commute 61km, or 305km per week.

*** "morning" is stretching it a bit: I start riding at about 4:30am and arrive at work at about 5:45am (with roughly 5 minutes "red traffic light" time), so even at this time of year, it's still dark when I get to work. But the big advantage of that is that I can choose any route I wish, because they're all almost traffic-free.

I tried the new route, and the comparison is: old = 27.5km with 325m climbing, new = 29.5km with 355m climbing. I think I'll be doing this one more often.

 

[martint235]

So I'm back to using a backpack and I must say I enjoyed. The bike certainly feels lighter, quicker and more responsive. The commute was a tad quicker but that could be for other reasons (more daylight) so will see how the week goes. I know that the total package of bike+me weighs the same, it's just felt "friskier".

No real numpties either, a few people going faster than I felt they should have been doing in fog but hey ho

 

[Simontm]

Well the clocks going back certainly put the cyclists back on the streets this morning. RLJs, nodders and plodders, the works.
Found a knog back light so spread the word if someone at work's moaning in or around SW London and if they can tell me where they lost it,I'll post it to them.

Numpty count:2 someone in a tractor decided to pull in on the kerb to get round someone just as I was there.
The second...erm...me. Filtering at church street Kensington, I slightly mistimed it causing a recycling truck to brake (sorry)

 

[Andrew_P]

And today it was water melon, water melon fog. Anyone else getting this more and more some sort of weird sweet smelling fruity vaping fogs in traffic? Some of them when they puff look like the cars on fire! Something I object to inhaling something that's been through someone elses lungs?!

 

[martint235]

And today it was water melon, water melon fog. Anyone else getting this more and more some sort of weird sweet smelling fruity vaping fogs in traffic? Some of them when they puff look like the cars on fire! Something I object to inhaling something that's been through someone elses lungs?!

Given that CO2 is heavier than oxygen, isn't most of what you breathe in recycled?

 

[Jamieyorky]

Having last week off work and being off the dutch bike it was a joy to cycle into work this morning. Althought the farmer had cut the hedge over the weekend and there was big thorns allover the place but luckily didnt get one of them p things .

was looking forward to my 1st commute home in the dark tonight but having to take a car home so looks like the bike will be staying at work tonight .

 

[Arjimlad]

Close pass from a fast Quashquai, then a council truck driver drifting into the cycle paint bit because he was fiddling with his phone.. otherwise a nice but misty 10 miles into work. I am following up the council driver thing..

 

[Andrew_P]

Given that CO2 is heavier than oxygen, isn't most of what you breathe in recycled?

yeah I get that, it is just not flavoured to let me know the when and who plus not over keen on fruity steam or whatever the end vape is :-)

 

[Twizit]

Woke up to a flat tyre on the usual CX commuter, so had to take the single speed instead. Haven't used it in a while and my legs are clearly more accustomed to spinning a nice low gear on start up rather than the power stomp required to get the SS moving. Hard work but satisfying to get back into the swing of cycle commuting - October has been a very light month given illness, travelling and holidays.