Inadvertantly did 24 miles today

[downfader]

Had a bit of a problem this morning. Got all the way into work to realise that my lock wasnt in the pannier bag. Not good. You can imagine the scene as my language was "brisk", babies screaming, birds flying off in shock. I pulled the whole bag open looking for it and then decided I would have to ride the 6 miles home and after establishing the time thanks to a lad who pulled up 5 minutes after I'd arrived I set off.

I didnt make it back in time so thats 30 minutes of wage lost. Company policy, even though I clocked in only 10 minutes late.

Several things struck me today and made me think:

1. I'm very glad I set off as early as I do. Traffic gets REALLY snarled up around the city centre, and some people did some very, VERY silly things around me. (Van driver nearly pulled out in front of me - I shout "whoa there tiger!" to stop him or else it could have been messy. Drivers blocking the cyclelane on the Itchen Bridge, I filtered through from the right, thanked a driver for letting me through only for another driver further up to pull hard left without indication to pick up his mate. He got a "shout" as I managed to stop in time, not that he cared as he was texting)

2. People on cyclepaths dont give a s*** for their own safety. Or rather they wandered on to it right in front of me as I trundled along. I really wish they'd treat it more like a road, I have seen some cyclists tear along there at around 30mph. Thats going to hurt when it goes wrong.

3. Stuck behind a lad on a BSO up the bridge. He nervously kept looking behind at me, and as he did seemed to brake. I think the motion of his pedalling kept his wheels turning as something was seriously rubbing. I wanted to say to him "just keep your eyes on the road ahead, I'll overtake if its safe" but couldnt due to his ear phones.

4. My father's bike isnt that fast. I can only get a couple of useful gears out of it. It needs a service... and clean.

5. I'm sore... you know, in the fella parts. Short rides are fine without pads but I was unprepared and I'm suffering for it now. His saddle is a typical cheap, spongey peice of crap. It puts pressure in the wrong areas of your body, I think its age has let it slowly malform.

6. People who brake suddenly in front of you just because they think they've seen a parking space are worringly more prevalent during rush hour than any other time. They also annoyed not just me but a fair few drivers.

7. The only things moving were cyclists and motorcyclists. Makes you wonder why people sit in their car when a motorcycle or moped might sort out the longer journeys quite well. Extra training I know but surely worthwhile for many. And safety in numbers.

8. Kids on BMXs. Reminds me of Krusty the Clown on his miniture bicycle.

 

[Browser]

Several things struck me today and made me think:

1. I'm very glad I set off as early as I do. Traffic gets REALLY snarled up around the city centre, and some people did some very, VERY silly things around me.

I'm very glad I work shifts, as I avoid virtually all of the traffic snarl-up nastiness that so many people have to put up with.
2. People on cyclepaths dont give a s*** for their own safety. Or rather they wandered on to it right in front of me as I trundled along.

True! THey seem to switch off because it's a 'safe' cyclepath.

3. Stuck behind a lad on a BSO up the bridge. He nervously kept looking behind at me, and as he did seemed to brake. I think the motion of his pedalling kept his wheels turning as something was seriously rubbing. I wanted to say to him "just keep your eyes on the road ahead, I'll overtake if its safe" but couldnt due to his ear phones.

Yup been there. They also sprint like hell for 10 seconds, thinking they'll get out of your way

4. My father's bike isnt that fast. I can only get a couple of useful gears out of it. It needs a service... and clean.

Your dad or the bike?

5. I'm sore... you know, in the fella parts. Short rides are fine without pads but I was unprepared and I'm suffering for it now. His saddle is a typical cheap, spongey peice of crap. It puts pressure in the wrong areas of your body, I think its age has let it slowly malform.

I'm still suffering with sore 'sit bones' after a 74-miler last weekend

6. People who brake suddenly in front of you just because they think they've seen a parking space are worringly more prevalent during rush hour than any other time. They also annoyed not just me but a fair few drivers.

Oops, done that meself a time or two :shame:

7. The only things moving were cyclists and motorcyclists. Makes you wonder why people sit in their car when a motorcycle or moped might sort out the longer journeys quite well. Extra training I know but surely worthwhile for many. And safety in numbers.

Laziness? Because it's 'easy'? Habit? I dunno, it'd drive me mad though.

8. Kids on BMXs. Reminds me of Krusty the Clown on his miniture bicycle.

Yup, and unlike the first time BMXs were the latest best thing, they all insist on having the saddle so low the clamp is resting on top of the seat tube, so they can do tricks etc. Since most of the Brillaintly Marketed eXcretamobiles (see what I did there ) I see out are at standstill while their owners yack, this argument doesn't really hold too much H[sub]2[/sub]O for me

 

[downfader]

Dont get me wrong, some BMXs are pretty good bikes. They're not really transport imvho. I rarely see kids doing stunts on them. I had a white BMX and full faced helmet as an 8 year old, I spent all my time doing tricks, making ramps etc. Awesome bikes, but theres now a BSO version I see all over the shop... full sus and saddle as low as you said.

 

[taxing]

I think the motion of his pedalling kept his wheels turning as something was seriously rubbing.

Hang on... how do you keep your bike moving?

 

[downfader]

Hang on... how do you keep your bike moving?

There was no freewheeling, if you get me. The brakes or something were almost completely on and the wheel looked wrecked.

 

[taxing]

Ohhhhh, I'm with it now.

I still find that pedalling helps a lot, though. If you want to keep moving, I mean.

 

[summerdays]

Could you have lock shared or gone and bought another lock? (Then you could leave it at work as a spare for future lapses.)

I forgot my lock this week and just locked it up with another colleagues bike - though it was a pain as we couldn't find a stand totally free - so we locked the bikes to my boss's bike. OK not totally safe but it is within an area that you should need a card to get into - though the gates take ages to shut. Or one time the nice security guard let me put it in the well at the bottom of the stairs (he's only done that once though).

 

[downfader]

Could you have lock shared or gone and bought another lock? (Then you could leave it at work as a spare for future lapses.)

I forgot my lock this week and just locked it up with another colleagues bike - though it was a pain as we couldn't find a stand totally free - so we locked the bikes to my boss's bike. OK not totally safe but it is within an area that you should need a card to get into - though the gates take ages to shut. Or one time the nice security guard let me put it in the well at the bottom of the stairs (he's only done that once though).

Theres a couple of guys I know but I havent seen them in ages. Problem is I cant take it into the building as its a sterile food prep area, and too early to buy a lock from a shop - I start at 8.30am (I usually get there an hour earlier for various reasons incuding an "army" wash, lol)

Got a spare lock on the way now. Will keep it in the locker at work and phone a workmate to come and look after the bike for a few minutes whilst I retreive it if they agree.

 

[Riverman]

If your bike isn't expensive it's sometimes worth considering whether there's a poundland nearby as they sell cable locks for a quid. Sure, it might get nicked if you use one but if you only use it once and put it somewhere not very conspicuous then the chances of it being stolen on that one day are slim.