Tales from today's commute....

[KnackeredBike]

More harassment / bullying by a motorist on my ride to work just now. It was my usual pre-dawn commute, with next to no road traffic, and as the motorist overtook me he leaned on his horn button. It was physically impossible then and there for me to delay him even for a split second, so I can only assume he hates cyclists.

Some days I really wish a motorist like him would just drive straight at me and finish the job, so I wouldn't have to put up with any more of the daily hate.

You can't win all the people all the time. There is a cyclist I often see riding in the gutter on a very busy road and getting countless close overtakes (and presumably lots of p*cntures). I always think "what a knob riding in the gutter" but presumably he and plenty of motorists see me and think "what a knob riding (secondary) in the middle of the road".

If you're aiming for universal approval you will be cycling a long time. That said it is very cathartic to aim some colourful language at the more "special" drivers we have to share the roads with.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Had my scary moment of the month, on my ride home from work, circa 22:15
I was descending 'Stanley Hill' (ie; Aberford Road/A642, from Pinderfields General Hospital, towards Stanley)

When we get to just the far side of the garage, where there's been road-works & temporary traffic-lights, I realise at the very last second that there's what appear the big steel plates covering the holes
Feeling both tyres momentarily sliding sideways on them, knowing that the road is also greasy was not nice, so they'd probably keep sliding

Took a couple of pictures on my way in, today
They are looking from the opposite side of the road, so I was hitting them from the left of frame



All I remember thinking, as I hit them last night was

This is going to hurt

Damn!!!!!, I've only had this bike 3 weeks, now I'm going to trash it

In which order, I'll let you guess

 

[palinurus]

Cold and a bit foggy this morning, time for this year's first majority off-road commute along the canal.

Really nice, hardly anyone about.

 

[si_c]

First ride back in just over a month following my last commutes incident. Near perfect weather aside from the headwind. No complaints about other road users either.

Had a minor mechanical issue when the right hand pedal decided it didn't want to remained attached to the crankarm, bodged for now, will inspect properly when I get home tonight.

 

[smiler1207]

Bright sunshine and blue sky this time of year = bloody freezing!
Nice ride in though

 

[Twizit]

Totally caught out with clothing choice this morning. Shorts and fingerless mitts definitely not the best choice for the freezing fog through Richmond Park. Just about got feeling back into my fingers by the time I arrived at work. Guaranteed to boil on the way home now that the sun's out

 

[Sixmile]

Yea, it's not warm these mornings yet. Base, long sleeve and jacket was perfect for this mornings ride. I was late coming in due to giving my wife a morning off the school run but straight forward ride in.

 

[clippetydoodah]

Lovely bright morning. Should have put my warmer gloves on as my Summer gloves
left me with cold hands for a bit.

Only one numpty which was a lady driving straight on at a roundabout without looking
left or right. Fortunately this happens at this roundabout pretty regularly so I was aware
even if she wasn't.

Looking forward to the wind being behind me on the way home.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I do like Sheffield. Just a short-ish detour to make this the route home rather than cutting straight through the city.

A nice steady pootle, except for the bit where I got chased by a not so nice and steady poodle.....

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Was a bit chilly this morning, but tonight it was warm enough for full summer kit

 

[tallliman]

Pretty chilly this morning, I'd agree but possibly my favourite sunrise through the fog at Swarkestone.....stunning and probably missed by most of the drivers

 

[KnackeredBike]

Had a bit of a do'h moment tonight. Cycling along a segregated cycle lane and saw a blue Polo parked bang in the middle of it. For some reason it was so stupid that I didn't actually process it until I clattered into the wing mirror. Oops.

 

[ianrauk]

I thought I was going to get wet today. Forecast all yesterday was for rain this morning and most of the day. It was a little damp when I left, but certainly not wet. I put the raceblade on the bike anyway just in case it did rain. But nothing, nada... nice, dry, traffic free commute today.

 

[Glow worm]

I thought I was going to get wet today. Forecast all yesterday was for rain this morning and most of the day. It was a little damp when I left, but certainly not wet. I put the raceblade on the bike anyway just in case it did rain. But nothing, nada... nice, dry, traffic free commute today.

Same here. Prepared for a soaking after seeing the forecast last night and not a drop. I sometimes wonder why the Met Office even bother. Reckon they should give up doing weather and take up horoscopes or something.

 

[thefollen]

Just remembered! Crazy BMXer on the CS7 this morning (London, northbound somewhere between stockwell and oval).

Cycling furiously, bunnyhopping anything that could be bunnyhopped, jumping every jumpable red and smacking the sides of Addison Lee cars followed by a middle finger gesture as he passed.

Truth be told I was actually impressed by the speed he generated! Flew past me on the roadie, and I'm no slouch.