Tales from today's commute....

[donnydave]

Foggy McFog Fogstons this morning, hardly anyone with lights on, both cars and bicycles. Great looming grey shapes materialising out the mirk with no reduction in speed to suit the conditions. Seems to be the way of it now, was it always thus?

 

[helston90]

Took advantage of this morning being dry and still and extended the commute- for one reason or another I've not been able to do this for a while, so this mornings route went from 12 miles to 21 and encompassed 1500+ feet of climbing.
And now the drizzle has set in, so I'm glad I chose to do it on the way to work.

 

[Sandeep2504]

Apparently I'm a c you next Tuesday because i delayed a man from pulling out from side road to collect my light which had fallen off while cycling all while observing the highway code....hmmmm

 

[400bhp]

Wet again – the forecasters were wrong! Decided to wear my new lightweight rain mac and sweated like a pig. Two things in life I know for sure, 1) meteorology is as reliable as astrology 2) a lightweight, waterproof and breathable jacket will never meet all of the aforementioned criteria.

Heading towards Ashley, but from a distance, I saw a guy by the side of the road with his bike upside down and covered head-to-toe in mud. Ahh, I thought, someone training for the cyclo-cross season by toughing it out on country fields and paths. As I get closer, I noticed that what I first thought was mud, were actually tattoos all over his body, including head and face! I asked if he needed help, but he said he was fine…

Help in general, or for the bike?

 

[biggs682]

big smile commute as the good old faithful marin was out so ran out of gears after about 200 yards

 

[fossyant]

Really wished I had not put any waterproofs on. Weird weather tonight. Muggy and mizzle, but sproadic. Started with no cape, but in pocket. Had to stop as it was coming down. Rolled a mile and it had stopped, and dry roads. Pulled over and removed cape. Argh. Hate weather like this. Either chuck it down or don't bother.

 

[HLaB]

I went for a relaxed bimble after work which became more relaxed when my fix cog decided to unscrew its self on a descent with a bump half way down! Fixed that but I wasn't carrying latex gloves. So stopped of at the boating lake or whatever its called and washed them a bit. The water at 6:30pm'ish was lovely and warm :-)

 

[Twelve Spokes]

Not a bad commute in and return.Was very angry on Southwark Bridge more with myself because I felt knackered more due to work rather than cycling but I improved.Sixth day in seven,day off tomorrow.Was determined not to get wound up and I didn't.

 

[Spartak]

Long may this 'Indian Summer' continue ..... great conditions tonight very little wind & 16 degrees

Took it nice & easy, lots of traffic on Avon ring road though - M4 closed again !!!

 

[BSRU]

Started of with mizzle, mist and drizzle, this meant the front half of me got wet.
But it eventually cleared up resulting in the last half hour on dry roads, my clothes almost dried by the time I got to work, just a little damp.

 

[Origamist]

Came across my first bona fide idiot after 6 months in Cheshire as I passed a coach/bus that had pulled in and had a queue of 6-7 cars behind it in Bedells Lane, Wilmslow. I had passed all of the cars, but the coach started to pull away and indicate as I was passing its front axle – no problem, as there was quite a speed differential between us and I was able to pull back in front of the coach without impeding it. Five seconds later, repeated beeps! I look back and the frothing, gawping driver is mouthing something at me. I ignore him and he tail-gates me but can’t pass (I’m about a metre from the kerb and there is traffic in the opposite direction) . Three seconds later, more beeps. I ignore him as we are approaching queuing traffic (12 cars at least) at the top of Hawthorn Lane. I then move into the opposite lane to pass the queue, turn, smile, and give the driver a wave. I don’t see him again and think he is an odd sort to be driving a bus…

 

[Frood42]

Ended up leaving late, so had to cut the commute this morning from 31 miles down to 26 miles.

Fairly uneventful, although I am sure I had the same Sunrise (or something like that) lorry come from behind me again at Bow, far too close to me for the size of vehicle, but I kept a strong position as I was NOT going to be intimidated by the twunt and to stop the same close pass that was done yesterday.

A few cyclists out, not many going from east to west, a few going west to east, but the last stretch through Mile End to Stratford and then to Ilford is normally very lonely.

Stratford is still a mess with the road works...

 

[tadpole]

After yesterday's pleasant ride, where no one tried to kill me, it was a shame to return to normal service, an articulated tesco truck driver, shouted abuse at me for cycling at the very edge of the the cycle lane, The lane was chockablock with horse sh%t glass and other detritus. His punishment pass was performed whilst going down hill, round a bend in the road under a railway bridge on what is effectively a blind curve in the fog/dark. Whilst he was performing the maneuver he was winding up/down his window holding his phone to his ear and shouting "get off the road you creaking funt" I grabbed a small handful of brake, so his back axle did not hit me as it bounced off the curb on my side of the road. New pants were needed when I got to work.

 

[Arjimlad]

After yesterday's pleasant ride, where no one tried to kill me, it was a shame to return to normal service, an articulated tesco truck driver, shouted abuse at me for cycling at the very edge of the the cycle lane, The lane was chockablock with horse sh%t glass and other detritus. His punishment pass was performed whilst going down hill, round a bend in the road under a railway bridge on what is effectively a blind curve in the fog/dark. Whilst he was performing the maneuver he was winding up/down his window holding his phone to his ear and shouting "get off the road you creaking funt" I grabbed a small handful of brake, so his back axle did not hit me as it bounced off the curb on my side of the road. New pants were needed when I got to work.

You may not have video evidence, but I would urge you to report this neanderthal dangerfreak to Tescos anyway. It may be that he is on his last warning for such antics and you do us all a favour by getting him sacked.

You never know, until you try...

 

[BSRU]

Hooray, some FCN points won on the way home.
Me, beardy bloke, on my Croix de Fer, knobbly CX tyres, panniers, mudguards them on a nice looking Giant road bike.
They just could not handle my awesome power, they did look very nervous riding on the road.