Is this a bit kinky?

[I like Skol]

A change to my working hours and an increase in my cycle commuting ratio since Christmas has meant I am riding home in the post-evening school run rush hour traffic a lot more than before. The thing is, despite the dark nights, inclement weather and the traffic congestion, I have realised I'm loving it more than ever!
Slightly perversely, I am actually detouring to find the busier roads because I enjoy mixing it with the traffic. I am also pushing harder to up the speed as this maximises the 'thrill' and a chance to filter in moving traffic really sets my pulse racing.
The problem is I know this is seen as dangerous and contrary to common advice but as an experienced road user, both as a cyclist and a commercial driver, I am sure I am capable of keeping safe, I can handle it and know when to stop?
Is it going to end badly, will I suffer a painful and unfortunate consequence or am I just taking 'it' to the next level?

 

[Radchenister]

You carry on ... I'll hold your beer and watch .

 

[HLaB]

If I'm in the mood for it sometimes I prefer busier roads too, touch wood its not ended badly for me so far Having said that, I really enjoyed my AM commute (getting out just before the school rush) and my PM commute after the rush period

 

[theclaud]

A change to my working hours and an increase in my cycle commuting ratio since Christmas has meant I am riding home in the post-evening school run rush hour traffic a lot more than before. The thing is, despite the dark nights, inclement weather and the traffic congestion, I have realised I'm loving it more than ever!
Slightly perversely, I am actually detouring to find the busier roads because I enjoy mixing it with the traffic. I am also pushing harder to up the speed as this maximises the 'thrill' and a chance to filter in moving traffic really sets my pulse racing.
The problem is I know this is seen as dangerous and contrary to common advice but as an experienced road user, both as a cyclist and a commercial driver, I am sure I am capable of keeping safe, I can handle it and know when to stop?
Is it going to end badly, will I suffer a painful and unfortunate consequence or am I just taking 'it' to the next level?

There's your answer. I often deliberately pick a busier route into work in the morning rush hour - I wend my way uphill through some quiet roads, then I meet a main commuter route into town and get three downhill miles of being the fastest thing on the road. Big fun.

 

[daSmirnov]

I work shifts, usual starting between 06:00 - 14:00. So often hit the school rush either side. Sometimes I'm in the mood for cycling at half 5 in the morning, not so much in the winter, but in the summer its great, usually before any wind kicks up. Other times I love the 08:00-09:00 action. Slower moving traffic, filtering past everyone, and yeah I'll often take the long route to enjoy it...

Risk? Everything has some risk level. Kicking it up with the busy roads *may* be more risky. But even if its twice as risky, twice of almost nothing is still almost nothing. Plus around here at least, the main roads are the only decent quality roads, small residential roads around here almost shake my teeth out.

Filtering requires its own skills - a couple of years back I would go looking for traffic just to get more experience at filtering - nothing more than common sense really, expect that car to brake to let a car out of a side road, expect peds to run across the road without checking for 2 wheelers. Filtering and slow moving traffic is also probably where a cyclist is most likely to be caught out and damage another vehicle, so might wanna get 3rd party insurance since its almost free. That way you can turn around smugly to a driver kicking off in case they lose a wing mirror or you're on their back seat. "Here's my insurance details." Always wanted to do that ;-)

 

[ColinJ]

Each to his/her own!

I'd be perfectly happy never to see a motor vehicle on one of my rides, and never to cycle through a large built-up area.

(Actually, I'd be happy never to visit a large town or city again apart from the fact that I have friends and family who I wouldn't get to see very often if I didn't.)

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I work shifts too, hate it when I need to commute in rush hour.
I am simply too slow for fast traffic, hence when it's busy get often beeped, shouted to get out of the way by drivers.
Fortunately I can get to work and back home without using the roads if I need to.
Love commuting in the wee hours!

 

[BimblingBee]

I thought you were going to say you'd started seeing some hot milf on the school run!

 

[potsy]

Having seen you on your mtb when we went to southport I can't say I'm surprised at your new commuting style, hooligan springs to mind

I had a similar experience when I went to day work last year, initially dreaded the extra traffic after 3 years of quiet roads, soon got used to it and love filtering passed queues of cars on the way home, still like the occasional off road quiet though

 

[TheMcDay]

I can't say I agree. Cycle paths and quiet roads are the way forward!

 

[summerdays]

Depends on my mood generally - I probably enjoy a bit of both, though I hate filtering where there is very little room as there is on one of my routes if I hit rush hour (and the traffic by that point has been queuing quite a while and isn't that keen on leaving enough space to filter).

The only think about your statement that would worry me is if you start needing to up the ante to get the thrill - so making riskier choices, maybe take the quiet route every now and again to reset your thrill scale if that looks like a problem

 

[byegad]

...Edit...
The only think about your statement that would worry me is if you start needing to up the ante to get the thrill - so making riskier choices, maybe take the quiet route every now and again to reset your thrill scale if that looks like a problem

Yes, that worried me too. You are looking for risk. With a busy road this is not wise. I commuted 16 miles each way and the slowest part was in town ... even though this was by far the smoothest and flattest part of my commute. I backed off in order to keep safe. It sounds very much like you are doing the opposite.

 

[Leaway2]

I do feel disappointed when I get to the busy section where the cars are usually in a 1 mile Q and there is no traffic.
However I do feel the adrenaline as I filter to the front (down the centre).

 

[fossyant]

Bloody shift cyclists....

Welcome to the dark side with us rush hour loons !

 

[fossyant]

Bloody terrible traffic this morning mate ! Slowed me down by 3 minutes over 11 miles. Shocking.