Tales from today's commute....

[subaqua]

One of those times you know when to keep your mouth shut...
Turning right round a RBT onto dual carriageway this morning, guy driving a flatbed decided that I shouldn't really be there and just pulls out into the same lane I am going into.
When I shout, basically getting eye contact and letting him know he was out of line he had to go onto the kerb to avoid hitting me (bonus for then I suppose!).
About 120m along the road he slow passes me with the passenger leaning out giving me verbal and the finger, shout that I am a barsteward and I should be on the pavement -oddly enough, just where he was a few moments before .

Now , I had noted. During the initial and subsequent encounter, that said flatbed had mesh side and was resplendent with an old washer and various other scrap metal paraphernalia.
Not being a complete helmet, and further deducing from their rough demeanour, woolly hats and dirty tanned colouring, that these citizens were of the travelling or lesser law-abiding kind, so I refrained from further verbal discourse due to the understanding that this could easily lead to a much more detrimental discourse - for me that is.

Following any encounter when we almost all act and react automatically, I mentally review how I reacted , and decided that though it may have seemed the cowardly way at the time, I think it was definitely the wiser move.

Oh what fun the commute can be.

yeah they don't like being told " feck orf ya pikey c....."

 

[DWiggy]

I hate fricking Pikey's, got harassed by some the other week going down a fast hill they thought they would scare me by driving close and beeping me...they did lol

 

[BSRU]

Saw a guy using the double yellow line cycle lane this morning, he looked extremely nervous

 

[Matthew_T]

Saw a cyclist last night. He had a hi-viz vest on and a helmet, looking good so far. However, when I neared I realise that he didnt have a front light. So as he passed me, I said "Try and get some lights mate". He didnt respond but I then saw a very small and dim red LED on his helmet.
A bit of a silly cyclist really.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

36 miles of commuting yesterday. 1/2 with a great tailwind and the other half with a not so great head wind.
only the 1 incident where some idiot decided overtaking me whilst going across a single lane bridge was a good move (I had already let the traffic go ahead of me, he was trying to get through on the same set of lights which is not normally an issue). Don't normally swear at drivers but he got a mouthful. would not have been so bad where it not for the fact I was at 'blocking' the lane (well to the right of the left hand 'tyre' marks). Turned out to be one of those tiny fiat chincenta things... but did help another cyclist out on the last leg. Cycling along the unlit back lanes I became aware of something in the hedgerow on the otherside of the road... finally realised it was a cyclist walking her bike when car caught her in their headlights. A quick check to see if she was OK transpired she was not. front light had been knicked the day before, new to the area & first time cycling that road (standard country lane) and her rear light had just come off and broken when it hit the road. Ended up 'escorting' her to the nearest lit area some 3 miles away riding side by side with me on the outside so motorists went around her - she was petrified of the road, but she did make me realise how fit I actually am - she barely managed to cycle on the flat at 8kph and talk...

 

[DWiggy]

There's a paper boy in our village that does his round on a BMX without lights, reflectors and he's usually clad in black!! I've almost run him over numerous times on my bike, apparently common sense doesn't kick in until your around 25 or involved in an accident!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

There's a paper boy in our village that does his round on a BMX without lights, reflectors and he's usually clad in black!! I've almost run him over numerous times on my bike, apparently common sense doesn't kick in until your around 25 or involved in an accident!

common sense has to be taught or learnt the hard way!

 

[ianrauk]

Beautiful sunny skies this morning. But freezing cold. Zero deg's when I left home.
The wind has dropped to so made for a really nice commute.
Only spoilt by a bint in a white Mercedes who decided to overtake me then turn left.

 

[apb]

Back on the SS today after coming off it a couple of weeks ago, it's running better than ever after a bit of work.
My geared seems to be missing a pannier rack/mudguard screw, so it was a good reason to pull on the backpack and jump on it.

Lovely weather this morning, very dry and cool.

 

[Kookas]

Both rear lights ran flat while I was out in London yesterday, so it was a walk of shame the whole way down Marylebone road. Was interesting to find out what it is like riding in London, though - the taxis are all nutters, and neither car nor bus ever goes over 15mph.

 

[MickL]

Chilly morning, lovely sunrise through, also starting to filter more in traffic, while coming on the outside of one of those megabuses, the driver held back a little so I could pull in front of him which was nice so I gave him a wave and a thumbs up a most enjoyable ride.
Here is the sunrise this morning as I set out.

 

[BSRU]

Ice bike this morning, -2 when I left home, roads were dry but any surface water was ice, plenty of ice on the country lanes.

 

[donnydave]

I just keep thinking I am trying to save he planet and yet mother natures just ****es on me !

I often think this too, especially when come the summer when my alternative to cycling is a car that averages 8mpg at best. Nature should count itself effin lucky!

 

[donnydave]

Saw a cyclist last night. He had a hi-viz vest on and a helmet, looking good so far. However, when I neared I realise that he didnt have a front light. So as he passed me, I said "Try and get some lights mate". He didnt respond but I then saw a very small and dim red LED on his helmet.
A bit of a silly cyclist really.

I've seen a couple of people on my commute in/out north cambridge with red lights showing forward. Numpties! I've often seen what I first thought was a dirty reflector and it turns when you get close out to actually be a light. Can't believe what some people think is acceptable illumination?

There's also a bloke who goes opposite way to me I see him most days who insists on having his powerful front light on full 90's rave strobe, one of these days I'm going to have a fit and fall off

 

[fossyant]

Nice and dry despite freezing conditions, so out on 23mm's. Main traffic lights were out again on the A34 - really tricky getting across 6 lanes, so jumped off the bike and wheeled it across at a suitable gap . Stopped and phoned home to warn the missus to avoid the area.