Tales from today's commute....

[BSRU]

To the two cyclists I saw cycling towards me this morning on unlit country roads, "SORT YOUR LIGHTS OUT".
First one no front light on the bike but a very very bright helmet light which meant if they looked anywhere near me I was blinded.
Second again with a very very bright front light(attached to the bike this time) but it should be illuminating the road not dazzling oncoming road users.

Since it was only +5 I thought I'd try out some Prendas wind proof overshoes this morning, wearing summer shoes and summer socks on my feet.
They did a grand job stopping my toes freezing.

 

[sazzaa]

Coming down a hill this morning on the way to work and there's an Audi sitting at a junction, he saw me and pulled out almost right into me, making me swerve

 

[potsy]

1st commute for 2 weeks due to illness and holiday, was a wee bit more sluggish than usual, can't think why

Lovely and dry though, virtually no wind and a pleasant 7c was just about perfect in my winter shirt and gilet.

 

[Frood42]

Fairly uneventful except for the wind which was astonishing when it bounced off the high rises on Stratford High Street.

On another note should us cyclists local to Stratford take a sweepstake on when the CS2 extension may be finished? It appears an amazingly slow process, maybe they are resurfacing it using a teaspoon? I am tempted to throw the cones to one side as, even with a bit of a rough surface, it would be easier to go down it than weave through the traffic.

I have got to the point where I am now rather fed up with it.
I have changed my route now, so that rather than passing through Stratford and Bow 4 times, I pass through only 2 times.

I go East to West then West to East in the morning for a 20 or 30 mile ride.
I go through Stratford in the morning headed into Central London when it is less crowded, and then on my loop back and heading into work at Ilford I take the CS3, much better than trying to negotiate with impatient nobbers during peak hours. I then do the reverse in the evening, so cut through to CS3 from Ilford into Central London, and then loop back through Stratford in the evening on my way home.

The CS3 is very much open to the elements and the wind, but the cut through to Ilford is much better than trying to negotiate the works at Stratford to Bow (or vice versa).

I was quite amazed to see some blue paint on the surface today on my way from Stratford to Bow, and then saw it only lasted a few yards, which was disappointing to say the least.

It will be interesting to see if any motorbikes or cars attempt to use it...

The problem is, when you get beyond Bow flyover, it all goes to pot again, as the CS2 is only partially cycle lane and partially a blue painted guideway. I tend to hang a left at Mile End station and head for the CS3, it may be a shared path, but I find it easier than negotating the terrible road surfaces down at Aldgate.

 

[Frood42]

Chilly with a headwind.
Other than that Unevenful.

 

[Biscuit]

Hands n Feet frozen this morning... Boo!

 

[Frood42]

For those who don't know the Stratford area and saw my rant, here are some videos, they are not mine, just someone random on youtube who happens to do the same route as me

There are even signs off to the left saying "Narrow Lanes, Avoid Overtaking Cyclists", but you still get nobbers...

 

[Crankarm]

To the two cyclists I saw cycling towards me this morning on unlit country roads, "SORT YOUR LIGHTS OUT".
First one no front light on the bike but a very very bright helmet light which meant if they looked anywhere near me I was blinded.
Second again with a very very bright front light(attached to the bike this time) but it should be illuminating the road not dazzling oncoming road users.

I hate it when they do this. In response I switch both my Exposure Max Ds from minimum onto full beam which generally gets them to dip or cancels their dazzling beam at me. It is also followed by a tirade of swearing from them but if you can't take it yourself don't dish it out to others. Ha-ha!

 

[donnydave]

Halfway home last night front light charge indicator says half charge remaning. No probs, only 15 mins left I thought. First proper dark night cycling home since last year, and I remember a charge lasting a couple of days. 5 mins later charge indicator goes to red, my light goes to energy saving mode, good enough to be seen but not brilliant as a proper light for me to see by. Still luckily I'm only a couple of miles from home and there's streetlights. Seems like my light doesn't hold its charge as well as it used to, but I'll just make sure I charge it every day now instead of every 2 days.

Oh no whats this! Power cut?! Street lights, traffic lights everything is off. My back light is still going strong, I'll just angle my light up a bit to make sure people see me from the front. There's a 2 mile stretch in the middle of nowhere then I'm home, I know that road well so not a problem.

Arrrr, forgot! Someone did some really bad resurfacing the other week and didn't seal properly between the old and new tarmac. They also missed a load of massive pot holes. I haven't yet had chance to learn what the best line is to avoid all the bumps yet. Bumpity bumpity bump all the way home, intermittent brake rubbing on rear rim, must have knocked it out of true on some of the big crashing pot holes.

Get home, power cut still going strong. Everywhere is completely dark, apart from our house just looks like normal! Clever wifey went round the house and scooped up all our old spare bike lights and put upturned glass tumblers over them. Inside the house was like a tanning salon! Power was off until very late last night, luckily we have loads and loads of candles too so spent the evening necking a nice bit of Hendricks gin and having a flap around on the piano practising carols ready for the parents visiting at Christmas.

On inspection this morning my rear wheel seems fine, the brakes had somehow got knocked to the side so weren't evenly contacting each side of the rim.

 

[HLaB]

Beatiful morning, crisp an clear so I did my Haddon Loop Commute.

 

[MisterStan]

First cycle commute since last Thursday - Daddy Day Care Monday and Tuesday and sick yesterday - picked up a one day bug - probably at the soft play I took the little'un to on Monday.

Wrapped up nice and warm as the forecast last night said it would be cooler, didn't bother again checking this morning before I left - a couple of degrees cooler and my gloves were insufficient - hands were very cold by the time I got to work.

@martinclive and I picked up his boss David on the way in, then scalped a guy on a very interesting looking Trek single speed, he caught us up and we chatted all the way in to town.

Great to be back on the bike.

 

[BSRU]

Moron in a car gave me a lovely left hook, haven't had one for ages and this one occurred whilst I was travelling fairly fast.
The drivers excuse, he had no other option

 

[jagman.2003]

Hadn't ridden in for two weeks due to illness. Took the hilly route & kept it steady. Very nice views as the sun came up overlooking the mist in Painswick valley. Got held up at a roundabout in Stroud & then every red light for a mile. Other cyclists from work caught me up. To be fair they were going well. I kept with them, but feeling it now. Trying out an improvised helmet light. Probably could have done with a brighter handle bar light as it was a bit darker this morning than two weeks ago. A good ride in all round. Still sunny for the ride back.

 

[Beebo]

Coming down the hill in Greenwich Park this morning, I saw the Police pull over a cyclist, for what I assume was speeding on a single speed bike. It's a 20mph limit, but I was under the impression they couldnt apply it to bikes.
The police car was using lights and siren, and over took two cars to get to the cyclist.
It just seemed a little OTT for a minor offence

 

[potsy]

on for the ride home, added a mile on at the end just cos I could