Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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Commute today was OK, probably should've driven as I ended up riding in pure spin mode on the way home as I was shattered.
Special plaudits for the lorry driver who decided that I had to be turning left because he was at a roundabout. He was rather upset when he found I wasn't. Can't understand that.
Special plaudits for the lorry driver who decided that I had to be turning left because he was at a roundabout. He was rather upset when he found I wasn't. Can't understand that.
grumpyoldwoman
Senior Member
- Location
- WsM Somerset UK
Carnival here tonight in Cheese and Cider country.
Which means people everywhere.Walking in the roads too.
.
Some got quite irate when I rang my bell at them to get out of my way - yes it was dark. Yes I had lights on and my high viz vest over my coat. Yes there were street lights on.So why on earth was I in the wrong???????????? Was it the fact I was obviously going in the ''wrong'' direction (away from the noise,burger vans and screaming little darlings?)
Listen dear pedestrian,roads are for vehicles. Pavements are in the main,for you guys.
Which means people everywhere.Walking in the roads too.
.
Some got quite irate when I rang my bell at them to get out of my way - yes it was dark. Yes I had lights on and my high viz vest over my coat. Yes there were street lights on.So why on earth was I in the wrong???????????? Was it the fact I was obviously going in the ''wrong'' direction (away from the noise,burger vans and screaming little darlings?)
Listen dear pedestrian,roads are for vehicles. Pavements are in the main,for you guys.
My 151st consecutive cycle commute on the same bike this year didn't start off too well.I had the wrong SPD shoes on when I left this morning as they had no clips fitted so had to go back for the identical shoes with the clips fitted.Got to Bow at 0525am only to see a pedestrian? lying in the middle of the road and the paramedics in attendance with the road cordoned off by the cops towards Mile End and also towards the Bow flyover.....on the junction where the right turn leads to Bow bus garage.The scene really did not look good at all.
As I had only done 5 miles cycling in the last month I was quite surprised how I coped with this commute that was extended up to Westminster.Even managed to keep up with an electric folding bike that insisted on jumping every red light going. and some young cyclist at Tower Gateway.The cyclist traffic light also played up at Tower Gateway as usual because they just didn't detect me or goes to sleep at that time of morning.Got to Westminster just on 6am to hear Big Ben chime.Very nice.Had been delayed as I hadn't bothered to top up the batteries for my rear lights so I had to get my spare out although the magicshine lasted the whole twenty miles.Quite surprised with that as I had forgotten to charge it as well.
The month off and rest from shift work really has done wonders and I really did feel like a different person today.
As I had only done 5 miles cycling in the last month I was quite surprised how I coped with this commute that was extended up to Westminster.Even managed to keep up with an electric folding bike that insisted on jumping every red light going. and some young cyclist at Tower Gateway.The cyclist traffic light also played up at Tower Gateway as usual because they just didn't detect me or goes to sleep at that time of morning.Got to Westminster just on 6am to hear Big Ben chime.Very nice.Had been delayed as I hadn't bothered to top up the batteries for my rear lights so I had to get my spare out although the magicshine lasted the whole twenty miles.Quite surprised with that as I had forgotten to charge it as well.
The month off and rest from shift work really has done wonders and I really did feel like a different person today.
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Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
This morning, I took a shortcut to examine the newly-resurfaced Church Road between Latteridge and Rudgeway and whilst the road is now billiard-table-esque smooth, a rude 5-series BMW passed me way too close at over 40mph, reminding me why I prefer to avoid it.
And I need to adjust front derailleur as the chain fell off on shifting to the biggest chainring. Bah.
And I need to adjust front derailleur as the chain fell off on shifting to the biggest chainring. Bah.
Mrs C woke me up two hours early today, so decided to take advantage of the opportunity and do 20miles before work. This worked will to the 10 mile mark whereupon my rear QR snapped. Thus meaning I had to walk the 4 miles to the station. And was an hour late for work. Could be worse, my boss had a dentists appointment this morning, so was later than me.
I live in the flat old East Anglia and whilst riding to work this morning and taking an absolute soaking in a complete downpour my thoughts inevitably drifted onto the weather.
My judgement was probably slightly skewed by being in the pouring rain but in some years I seem to get away with mostly dry commutes during autumn/winter. However this autumn seems to have started off particularly wet and I've had quite a few thorough soakings. I'm hoping that the last few weeks are a bit of a blip and I'm not in for an autumn/winter of being rained on almost every day.
My judgement was probably slightly skewed by being in the pouring rain but in some years I seem to get away with mostly dry commutes during autumn/winter. However this autumn seems to have started off particularly wet and I've had quite a few thorough soakings. I'm hoping that the last few weeks are a bit of a blip and I'm not in for an autumn/winter of being rained on almost every day.
Gixxerman
Guru
- Location
- Market Rasen
I am riding in strong secondary position about 1m from the curb on a 30mph urban dual carrigeway. Chap in a car passes me and his door mirror comes within about 10cm of my handlebars. I protest and give the "WTF?" hand gesture.
I catch up with him at the next traffic queue. I explain to him that he was far too close. He winds his window down and says "How much room do you farking want?". My answer was "More than you gave me. You should leave me a least 1 metre of space when passing, not 10cm". He tells me that he gave me more than enough room. I tell him that he did not and ask him what is wrong with using the other lane to overtake me, you know the "overtaking lane". "I'm not going in the other lane just to go past a bike." I leave it at that as there is no point in talking to idiots. So in his eyes, my life is worth less because I ride a bike? What a fine example of the species his is. Rant over.
I catch up with him at the next traffic queue. I explain to him that he was far too close. He winds his window down and says "How much room do you farking want?". My answer was "More than you gave me. You should leave me a least 1 metre of space when passing, not 10cm". He tells me that he gave me more than enough room. I tell him that he did not and ask him what is wrong with using the other lane to overtake me, you know the "overtaking lane". "I'm not going in the other lane just to go past a bike." I leave it at that as there is no point in talking to idiots. So in his eyes, my life is worth less because I ride a bike? What a fine example of the species his is. Rant over.
Leaway2
Lycrist
- Location
- Manchester (Sale)
So do I. I only have 28 this year
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
Very mild tonight riding home and to top it off broke 16,000 miles for the year today.
