Tales from today's commute....

[subaqua]

headwind again, and cockwomble city along CS2 BT van WR07 FXP trying to drive through me and then squish me at pinchpoints . never mind you have been reported to fleet and will no doubt get a call later ha ha ha. then a big fat merc thinks its acceptable to left hook me outside the " walkie talkie" building . he pulls level at junction with gracechurch street drops window and in a heavy eastern european accent says " bikes not be on road , you scum " charming .

 

[DWiggy]

My ride home last night was absolutely scary/epic ,my 10 mile commute part town part country was like riding on the last day of the apocalypse with a massive head wind and +45mph gusts.
There was one point the gust was so strong the counter lean I had on was ridiculous and almost had to stop before I was blown into the gutter.
Felt alive though! :/

 

[clarion]

I'm astonished that, on that section, a patch of tarmac has been thrown on a series of potholes, but only the first two thirds of the strip! Leaving the worst bit, which is on the approach to the sharp turn onto the Common.

 

[Sandra6]

I had to take a detour to the pub yesterday (to collect daughter's gloves ) went up the back road, cobbles, saw an old bloke riding towards me on my side of the road and thought "what are you doing ?" He moved over, said hello and passed me. Coming back from the pub I realised why he was over on my side -oh my word-so many pot holes!!!
Coming home after work met an idiot in a white van, trying to pass me yards from the junction to the next road- only way he could have done was if I'd slammed on and let him-obviously I didn't.
He gave me a punishment pass-but I knew it was coming so I'd slowed down and gave him room.
Funny bit was when we both arrived at the same RAB minutes later from opposite directions and he had to stop and let me pass!

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Nice steady ride in today, windy but dry.

 

[fossyant]

Yay, off the MTB and onto the quiet bike. Last few weeks of struggling on the studs are paying off (or it might be the pain killers I took before setting off - more drugs than Lance at the minute ).

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I like having our cycle department back in our shop, even if I don't work in it anymore (although our other branch is sending one back for my attention as I think they've tried to fix a minor issue and made a pigs ear of it)

It means when I turn up knackered as I took the hilly route - which isn't really that hilly, except when mysteriously over the last few days in the shed, the rear wheel had gone ridiculously out of true putting the brakes on for 3/4 of each revolution - I can just whip the bike on the stand and give it a 2 minute emergency true for the ride home.

 

[Beebo]

Very mild, I was wearing the wrong gloves and jacket, which made for a sweaty ride in.
Got undertaken by a taxi in a bus lane, total nuts!!!

 

[MisterStan]

Very mild this morning, took the road route in for a change (and partly because the Busway is flooded AGAIN) only had a couple of close passes - do they sing the mantra as they drive past? MGIF, MGIF, MGIF....
Oh and the lady who beeped me for no reason on Huntingdon Road and then wouldn't look me in the eye as I gave here 'the stare' as I caught up with her at the traffic lights - I sat right at the front of the ASL in the middle - wouldn't usually do that, but it felt like a punishment pass in reverse - childish? Yes. Satisfying? Very!

 

[Beebo]

.......He was suited up so he was clearly off to a funeral. ..........

The video clip shown in "Road Wars" of the group of cyclists assaulted in Bexley Highstreet, was done by some nobber who had just been to a funeral. So take care near these nobbers.
'm sure its what his Mother would have wanted!

 

[donnydave]

I thought my chain was a bit noisy on the (non-flooded) bit of the gbw but someone was drafting pretty close. I don't normally mind this and I'll share the work until we part ways.

After about 5 mins I slowed down and waved him past and said something like "your go now mate". Not a peep from my new friend and he started pulling away."Hmm, poor show old chap", I thought, so I increased the magnitude of my velocity.

He glanced behind a few times then moved to the side and angrily waved that I should pass so I said, "I thought we were sharing slipstreams, you've had your go so its mine now" His reply: "you've got the cheek to slipstream me?! I've got two heavy panniers!"

I glanced down at my own bulging payload (hehe) but this was too subtle for him so I suggested that if his bike was so heavy maybe he shouldn't ride so close behind in case I have to brake unexpectedly. His reply was that I should pedal faster (touche, sir!). He could have conveyed this as a joke and it would have been fine but he was pretty upset so I let him get on with it, dropped behind a bit and watched him angrily cut and weave through the peds and cyclists like his life depended on it. Perhaps it did. Or he was late. Or he was feeling a bit inadequate as he appeared to be riding a kids sized knobblied mtb.

He appeared to be a regular commuter by his getup, I hope you're not a member on here sir as you bring shame on us all!

 

[fossyant]

Panniers multiply the SCR factor. Rules of SCR are to pass (or drop) and leave them for dead, not to share workload - unless you agree to work together ! Too much conversation there !

 

[Andrew_P]

Well today I got threatened with assault...that was fun

Waiting at lights, in the right hand lane, at the very front of the que. lights change, I set off fast, hitting around 25mph quite quickly, max speed limit is 30mph. Guy behind me decides overtaking is a good idea, speeding (Maybe hitting 40 i would guess) he overtakes, missing me by about 6-12inches. and in the process has to cut across chevrons (not sure if they where solid lined -ill check tomorrow). Anyway, this scares me ridged!

In typical fashion, a few yards the road the lights change and be has to stop. As I approach I notice his windows already down. I make the comment that he should give cyclists more room, and at that point he looses it, spittle and finger pointing, anger in his eyes.

Driver: "I'm going to a funeral, my mothers funeral, and if you don't buck your f***en ideas up it will be your f***en funeral!" - or something like that

Wasn't expecting that...so...


Snip

iv not mentioned this to my wife, I think it would worry her a lot.

I hate these sort of confrontations and now try and avoid them, no one comes out a winner. Ayt best I get home mega aggravated or at worst you could end in a fight. That said I still cannot keep my gob shut at times so must try harder, it always feck up a nice ride too, just when you think you are minding your own

 

[ianrauk]

Well today I got threatened with assault...that was fun

One day this cock will get what's coming to him. Just because he's going to a funeral is no excuse for his crap behaviour.
You did well not to react. But I wouldn't have blamed you for one second if you punched the idiot in the throat. That would have stopped him ranting and threatening for a bit.

 

[ianrauk]

[quote="subaqua, post: 2282074, member: 13512" " bikes not be on road , you scum " charming .[/quote]

Thing is, they are happy to bully and harass when in their metal boxes. Now.. you're a big bloke. You know for a fact that imbeciles like him wouldn't dare do the same face to face with you.