Tales from today's commute....

[Ganymede]

Did one of my domestic commutes today. Hot sunshine, strong breeze.

1 close pass by silver ****panzer
1 lovely white luton driver holding back and giving a big wave ("cyclists beware of passing this vehicle on the inside" too)
1 driver of small truck yawning massively behind the wheel at 45mph
Strange flappy noise located at last to loose parcel tape on ageing cardboard box strapped to bike rack for vegetable carrying
Nice people planting geraniums in a huge container by the road, pleasantries exchanged
Green woodpecker zipped out in front of me from the verge
Kind words exchanged with fellow cyclist
Friendly nod exchanged with leader of large pack of ageing motorcyclists

Yay!

I'm going to start calling them "vankpanzers" to get past the censorship...

 

[Arjimlad]

First commute in after 3 months off with depression. Otherwise uneventful.

Hugs
Archeress x

Hope you had a lovely ride and a great day at the coalface. Well done !

 

[GrumpyGregry]

On an otherwise empty country road a cat crept out from a bush in front of me and attempted to cross the road without applying the Green Cross Code. It was fixedly starring to its left whilst I was bearing down on it from the right. I considered shifting from primary to secondary and cutting behind it but my spidey senses told me that it was the sort of cat that, when alarmed, would retrace its steps and likely go under my wheels.

A double ding of my bell and it scampered back the way it came, pronto, as I swooshed by.

I think we can say it was an uneventful ride in.

 

[martint235]

On an otherwise empty country road a cat crept out from a bush in front of me and attempted to cross the road without applying the Green Cross Code. It was fixedly starring to its left whilst I was bearing down on it from the right. I considered shifting from primary to secondary and cutting behind it but my spidey senses told me that it was the sort of cat that, when alarmed, would retrace its steps and likely go under my wheels.

A double ding of my bell and it scampered back the way it came, pronto, as I swooshed by.

I think we can say it was an uneventful ride in.

But if you'd hit it, would it have been the cat's fault or yours?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

But if you'd hit it, would it have been the cat's fault or yours?

Since I did not the point is moot. But I'm not sure a felis catus can be held legally liable in English Law.

I am not a lawyer.

 

[Archeress]

Back home now, amazing how much I remembered about car insurance. Finished an hour earlier than scheduled as I was feeling very tired so only did 9-12. Nearly flattened a squirrel on the ride home.

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[Ganymede]

Back home now, amazing how much I remembered about car insurance. Finished an hour earlier than scheduled as I was feeling very tired so only did 9-12. Nearly flattened a squirrel on the ride home.

Hugs
Archeress x

Well done!

 

[benb]

Pulled up next to another cyclist who was trackstanding at the lights.
Being the friendly fellow I am I said cheerfully "Morning. I wish I could do that"
He completely ignored me - not a look, not a word, not a smile. Nothing.

Rude bstard.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

More activity than there has been of late, a woman in a big BMW SUV watched me come down the road until I was close enough to have to brake and alter course when she pulled out. Incensed enough to query it when I got next to her (I'm trying to be all cool about it, but I'm not always successful) and was told "you idiot cyclists are a pain in the arse" so I pulled in front of her to primary and did 10mph to the traffic light lane split (I like living up to stereotypes if those who hold them have no intention of changing them). She screamed past as the road widened and jumped the red to turn right across traffic. Class. Still, I hope she got the kid in the back to primary school on time...

Shared Sidcup hill with a guy on a Defy, after a short exchange about how hot it was. I deferred to him as we were about the same speed. He disappeared for a while in Sidcup as I wasn't going to overtake the bus in the roadworks by jumping the pavement (the old geezer he startled by doing it was probably thankful it wasn't two of us although oddly he didn't acknowledge my cheery 'morning' as he reached me, probably couldn't hear with his headphones in).

Caught defy guy up again on the climb in to Eltham, where he turned off towards the police station. On the woosh down the hill had an MPV pull out from a left side road, actually much closer than the earlier SUV and was completely over my lane when she stopped. I'd shouted "Whoah" and then an extended Steve Martinesque "Puhlease" and she appeared to be giving me verbal as I went across her nose but I didn't care so much. From then on was fine though. Which was nice.

 

[martint235]

More activity than there has been of late, a woman in a big BMW SUV watched me come down the road until I was close enough to have to brake and alter course when she pulled out. Incensed enough to query it when I got next to her (I'm trying to be all cool about it, but I'm not always successful) and was told "you idiot cyclists are a pain in the arse" so I pulled in front of her to primary and did 10mph to the traffic light lane split (I like living up to stereotypes if those who hold them have no intention of changing them). She screamed past as the road widened and jumped the red to turn right across traffic. Class. Still, I hope she got the kid in the back to primary school on time...

Shared Sidcup hill with a guy on a Defy, after a short exchange about how hot it was. I deferred to him as we were about the same speed. He disappeared for a while in Sidcup as I wasn't going to overtake the bus in the roadworks by jumping the pavement (the old geezer he startled by doing it was probably thankful it wasn't two of us although oddly he didn't acknowledge my cheery 'morning' as he reached me, probably couldn't hear with his headphones in).

Caught defy guy up again on the climb in to Eltham, where he turned off towards the police station. On the woosh down the hill had an MPV pull out from a left side road, actually much closer than the earlier SUV and was completely over my lane when she stopped. I'd shouted "Whoah" and then an extended Steve Martinesque "Puhlease" and she appeared to be giving me verbal as I went across her nose but I didn't care so much. From then on was fine though. Which was nice.

Avoided Shooters Hill as I'm trying to make this a rest day with my first FNRttC tomorrow.

Would have been better off going over Shooters Hill after all.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Would have been better off going over Shooters Hill after all.

:-) not part of todays route in. Anyway, Shooters Hill was where the guy in the Golf decided to punishment pass me for doing 30+ down the hill behind a bus and therefore 'holding him up' close enough to fold his nearside mirror flat by clipping my bars, while still at 30mph. Was quite happy I didn't fall off to be honest, pretty close to my scariest cycling moment.

 

[martint235]

:-) not part of todays route in. Anyway, Shooters Hill was where the guy in the Golf decided to punishment pass me for doing 30+ down the hill behind a bus and therefore 'holding him up' close enough to fold his nearside mirror flat by clipping my bars, while still at 30mph. Was quite happy I didn't fall off to be honest, pretty close to my scariest cycling moment.

Yep you get some kerbs on Shooters Hill. It's why, particularly on the Kent side, I take a primary right over near the centre line. That and the traffic islands mean that only the most determined of idiots trouble me.

You need to up your speed too!! Should be doing well over 40 down there.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I would have been, if the bus I was behind wasn't doing 32 at the time :-)

Sometimes I come in from Crayford (or Dartford now my wife works there) which makes Shooters Hill an option, although it is pretty unique in only existing to go up and down like some masochist.

 

[martint235]

I would have been, if the bus I was behind wasn't doing 32 at the time :-)

Sometimes I come in from Crayford (or Dartford now my wife works there) which makes Shooters Hill an option, although it is pretty unique in only existing to go up and down like some masochist.

Yep it's a pretty stupid hill. I don't go over it as much as I used to. Will be heading over it tonight on the way to the FNRttC start though.

There's a guy on Sundays who just seems to ride over it over and over again. Judging by his timings at my house I'd guess he's going to the Sun in the Sands and then Welling Way.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I'm sure he has his reasons, I'm not saying they are good reasons.

I'll be heading out from a friends in Plumstead, but planning to follow the river through Greenwich.