Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
On a sharp descent with a left hand turn at the bottom, where the main road bends round to the right, I'm usually doing over 30mph. Traffic on the opposite side of the road sometimes waits to turn into the road I take.
Last night I made the mistake of signalling that I wanted to turn left at the bottom of the hill.
This encouraged 2 cars to turn in front of me. The rearmost car just about made it in front of me, but then didn't bother to accelerate out of my way.
Braking like mad I bellowed "MOOOOOOOOOVE!" and the dozy driver then applied boot to accelerator and gave me some space.
Next time if there are cars waiting to turn across me I won't signal.
Last night I made the mistake of signalling that I wanted to turn left at the bottom of the hill.
This encouraged 2 cars to turn in front of me. The rearmost car just about made it in front of me, but then didn't bother to accelerate out of my way.
Braking like mad I bellowed "MOOOOOOOOOVE!" and the dozy driver then applied boot to accelerator and gave me some space.
Next time if there are cars waiting to turn across me I won't signal.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
A nice fast ride in today with the lack of school run drivers. 20mph average just outside of central London but it dipped to 18mph by the time I got to the office.
I quite liked the rain today, nice and cooling. Full length mudguards meant I didn't get wet.
Had a numpty motorcyclist who pointed to the blue strip in the bus lane as he passed me, asked him what was up when I caught up at the lights. "You should be cycling here" naaah mate, this isn't a cycle lane, a cycle lane has a boundary marking. I left out the point that I was doing near 30mph, overtaking other cyclists and that he was able to pass me without a problem. Funny thing is, he had a camera on his helmet as well. I would expect a camera motorcyclist to be fully aware of how the road system works, I guess not.
I think the only time i've had a motorcyclist having an issue with my position before was when a foreign rider told me I couldn't ride in the bus lane, when actually it was clearly sign posted that I could.
I quite liked the rain today, nice and cooling. Full length mudguards meant I didn't get wet.
Had a numpty motorcyclist who pointed to the blue strip in the bus lane as he passed me, asked him what was up when I caught up at the lights. "You should be cycling here" naaah mate, this isn't a cycle lane, a cycle lane has a boundary marking. I left out the point that I was doing near 30mph, overtaking other cyclists and that he was able to pass me without a problem. Funny thing is, he had a camera on his helmet as well. I would expect a camera motorcyclist to be fully aware of how the road system works, I guess not.
I think the only time i've had a motorcyclist having an issue with my position before was when a foreign rider told me I couldn't ride in the bus lane, when actually it was clearly sign posted that I could.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
Another slow recovery commute, nice quiet roads again at 4.45am 
Homeward leg at 2 was almost as busy as it is on my old 'day' shift, and I got rained on again
Homeward leg at 2 was almost as busy as it is on my old 'day' shift, and I got rained on again
ClichéGuevara
Legendary Member
- Location
- Kingston upon the River Hull
Pootling sweetly when some noddy pulls along side, bibs and gestures at the nearby painted path. I smiled and pointed at the road, hopefully making it clear I was quite content where I was. The noddy thought he knew better and pulled past and into a bus stop, clearly wanting a chat. Being the sociable type it seemed rude to ignore him, so I stopped and leaned through his window. "The cycle lane is mandatory" said noddy. He seemed confused when I pointed out it wasn't a cycle lane.but a cycle path, so the mandatory bit's academic as cars wouldn't be there anyway. I checked to see if he knew that mandatory meant cars couldn't use it, but Noddy just kept repeating it and saying he knew the law. I pointed out that as I ride at over 18mph, I'm not supposed to use shared use cycle paths, but that confused him further.
Clearly it was going nowhere, so I thought a bet was in order and suggested £50 on it not being mandatory for me to be in a cycle lane (because it's painted green seemingly) and offered my hand. Noddy was a bit taken aback, so I suggested we swap phone numbers and he can check the internet later and I'll ring him to find out when I can have my £50. I even suggested we have a few more bets while we're at it, as he seemed so confident, but he backed out.
Needless to say the number' he gave is dead. Which is a shame because I was going to offer him double or quits on proper use of a horn and bus stops.
He was a meaningless fool, but what was concerning was that he had two kiddies in his car that he's obviously passing on such behaviour and nonsense to instead of encouraging them to be active.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
You think you're signalling a left turn, they think you're indicating they should pass you. Something gets lost in translation. These days I never signal left unless I'm pulling over to a halt. (Never do the flappy thing, oh no)
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Two notable things.
A Porsche Cayenne reversed out of my way and let me through on the bridleway/cycle route bit at the start of my ride home.
I got filmed on a cameraphone by the passenger of an audi 4x4. And, as far as I can determine from the RP drivel spouting from the window, I am being reported it seems. For riding in the middle of the road. To whom I'm not sure but I think the Bunty-type with a iPhone said "The Orthor-it-ease".
I said "Lane" She said "Pardon me" I said "Middle of the lane. The double white lines are the middle of the road" She told her ?husband? to drive on...
A Porsche Cayenne reversed out of my way and let me through on the bridleway/cycle route bit at the start of my ride home.
I got filmed on a cameraphone by the passenger of an audi 4x4. And, as far as I can determine from the RP drivel spouting from the window, I am being reported it seems. For riding in the middle of the road. To whom I'm not sure but I think the Bunty-type with a iPhone said "The Orthor-it-ease".
I said "Lane" She said "Pardon me" I said "Middle of the lane. The double white lines are the middle of the road" She told her ?husband? to drive on...
This does illustrate my thought that 'mandatory' is a crap name for the solid edged cycle lane. It should be 'exclusive' or 'cycle-only' or better still they should all not be allowed to have cars in them then there's no argument.
Yesterdays ride home was interesting. Went from Rochdale to Walsden via Bacup. Hoped I'd missed the rain for the day. Had a p******e in Whitworth and spent a pleasant 20 minutes sitting on a bench methodically fixing it.
Not long after began raining a bit. Then a bit more so I stopped to don rainwear at the summit between Whitworth and Bacup. Very heavy rainstorm on the way down to Bacup then thunder and lightning going off round me (but at least 3+ seconds away, I was counting carefully. Carbon Fibre IS conductive apparently.).
Rain eased as I went up Todmorden Road from Bacup although there was a fair amount of run off coming down the road.It was clear as I went over the top and I thought the worst had past as the sun was poking out, but then riding down Bacup Road it became a maelstrom again and shortly the road was effectively a shallow river with a gravel bed. Riding very gingerly down the middle at 20ish mph avoiding the boulders and floating wheelie bins when I normally do 40+.
The short bit from Bacup Road to Hollins Road is uphill and again I had to ride in the middle as I couldn't really make headway due to the current any further left!
Because of my tardiness and the weather my SWMBO was actually about to phone work and then go looking for me.
Of course the real story is the people suffering flooding again for the second year running.
News stories on the flash floods here.
Not long after began raining a bit. Then a bit more so I stopped to don rainwear at the summit between Whitworth and Bacup. Very heavy rainstorm on the way down to Bacup then thunder and lightning going off round me (but at least 3+ seconds away, I was counting carefully. Carbon Fibre IS conductive apparently.).
Rain eased as I went up Todmorden Road from Bacup although there was a fair amount of run off coming down the road.It was clear as I went over the top and I thought the worst had past as the sun was poking out, but then riding down Bacup Road it became a maelstrom again and shortly the road was effectively a shallow river with a gravel bed. Riding very gingerly down the middle at 20ish mph avoiding the boulders and floating wheelie bins when I normally do 40+.
The short bit from Bacup Road to Hollins Road is uphill and again I had to ride in the middle as I couldn't really make headway due to the current any further left!
Because of my tardiness and the weather my SWMBO was actually about to phone work and then go looking for me.
Of course the real story is the people suffering flooding again for the second year running.
News stories on the flash floods here.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I feel really sorry for them.
Various members of my family were phoning today to check that things are okay here. As far as I can tell, most of Hebden Bridge got away without flooding this time, except for a few waterlogged cellars.
PJ79LIZARD
Über Member
- Location
- WEST MIDLANDS
Expected heavy rain this morning, but missed it luckily, just very light rain. Supposed to get up to 27 degrees tomorrow.
thefollen
Veteran
- Location
- Balham/Tooting Bec
Amazing stunt cycling alert!
About 70metres from the Clapham South lights heading northbound on the CS7.
A bloke just ahead of me was cycling along when suddenly he went into a 360 spin which turned into a 720 as he put his foot down. On the second spin the front wheel was in the air. Somehow he stayed on his feet, ended up facing forwards again and it looked absolutely awesome.
My guess is he lost the front wheel on a slippy bit. Great recovery and an impromptu win! Well done that lad. Had to congratulate him on it :-)
About 70metres from the Clapham South lights heading northbound on the CS7.
A bloke just ahead of me was cycling along when suddenly he went into a 360 spin which turned into a 720 as he put his foot down. On the second spin the front wheel was in the air. Somehow he stayed on his feet, ended up facing forwards again and it looked absolutely awesome.
My guess is he lost the front wheel on a slippy bit. Great recovery and an impromptu win! Well done that lad. Had to congratulate him on it :-)
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
The same 5.5mile commute as yesterday and its a delight at present, School Holidays 
