Overcome with an element of smugness...

[Wigsie]

Exactly. And not only did people still get into work, they might come home and find their house demolished by a doodlebug*

*Historical note, I'm fairly sure doodlebugs came after the blitz, but doodlebug sounded better than bomb....

Doodlebug is a cool name for something so destructive never the less!

I have to go up Lun'dan taaan a couple of times a month, I try my best to arrange meetings for 11 so I miss the rush in, can have a meeting a bite to eat and a beer and get the 3.30 - 4 train home. Meeting on Monday in Angel and then earls court at 2.30 so will definately be drinking in that dodgy pub at Charing cross till the rush goes away... drives me crazy, give me trees and country lanes any day. Let alone on a day with a tube strike!

 

[Greenbank]

They just told us to work from home today and tomorrow. Strange as most people come in by train anyway as we're right near Waterloo. What kind of fool would live in the wastelands North of the river?

I had a hospital appointment this morning and took the bus, by the time I got back home there was little point going in. The eye clinic was running late because many staff were having problems getting into work.

Tube drivers striking to get a 2% above inflation pay rise when they already earn £40,000? Automate the tube driving like the DLR and give the tube drivers salaries to the underpaid nurses/others in the NHS.

Will be cycling in tomorrow to see what the carnage is like.

 

[Sittingduck]

Well I've just got back home to sunny South London and it's getting a bit saucy out there Glad I start and finish early, so I can beat the worst! Not many cyclists but the roads are locking up badly.

What kind of fool would live in the wastelands North of the river?

Know exactly what you mean Bruv - strange folk up there and it's like the Wild West

 

[redjedi]

Traffic wasn't too bad for me this morning, but I leave at 7.40 so miss the worst of it. There were quite a few more cyclists. At one point I had to wait for a peloton of about 10 cyclists to go past.

 

[Sittingduck]

Traffic wasn't too bad for me this morning, but I leave at 7.40 so miss the worst of it. There were quite a few more cyclists. At one point I had to wait for a peloton of about 10 cyclists to go past.

So you could hang off the tail drafting huh?

 

[Downward]

In fairness we have X-million folks here trying to get to work in a few square miles. The system is overloaded as it is.

Indeed Birmingham and surrounding area becomes gridlocked regularly although to me fair most people here are 100% reliant on cars. There are a handful of trains and buses just get stuck in the traffic with the cars.

 

[Sittingduck]

Must admit the buses are far better in London then Brum. Having to wait for 30 mins for such legendary routes as the 900 just isn't on IMHO!

 

[redjedi]

So you could hang off the tail drafting huh?

I don't mean to draft, but it's a good way to get my breath back and prepare myself for the next sprint.

Trouble is that when I do overtake them, I then have to stop at a red light. Apparently I have a sign on my back that reads

"Although I am much faster than you, please jump in front of me while I wait at these lights, and slow me down again!!"

I'm surprised I haven't noticed the drag from such a large sign

 

[Sittingduck]

Ariel 2pt text?

 

[eldudino]

I'm surprised Landaners didn't use it to take a day off like the infamous 'snow day' earlier in the year. A mate of mine couldn't get to work as it's 3 miles away, though he could walk to the park and back to go sledging and build a snowman which is about a mile away...

 

[Aperitif]

I don't mean to draft, but it's a good way to get my breath back and prepare myself for the next sprint.

Trouble is that when I do overtake them, I then have to stop at a red light. Apparently I have a sign on my back that reads

"Although I am much faster than you, please jump in front of me while I wait at these lights, and slow me down again!!"

I'm surprised I haven't noticed the drag from such a large sign

That's the beginnings of the 'Sandbar of Stupidity' (arallsopp gets the credit for a bikesnob article he posted - somewhere or the other, on this forum )

 

[hackbike 666]

I'm surprised Landaners didn't use it to take a day off like the infamous 'snow day' earlier in the year. A mate of mine couldn't get to work as it's 3 miles away, though he could walk to the park and back to go sledging and build a snowman which is about a mile away...

I made it to work on that day and that was probably the longest commute I have ever done to Waterloo in twenty years.

It was possibly one of the most dangerous commutes I have ever done.

I got called stupid by work colleagues but I think that was a bit unfair as due there being no buses running that day and no gritters either it was treacherous.

 

[Greenbank]

It was possibly one of the most dangerous commutes I have ever done.

I got called stupid by work colleagues but I think that was a bit unfair as due there being no buses running that day and no gritters either it was treacherous.

Schwalbe Marathon Winter:- http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/c2-1217-schwalbe-tires-marathon-winter.html

Fitted to my hackbike, only got one outing. The studs just eat up the snow and ice. Only lost 2kph on my usual commuting average too when I was ran them in on snow/ice-free days.

 

[Bugner]

UPDATE FROM LONDON.

As i leave quite early 6.30 ish, this morning's ride was quite uneventful other than the large bus queues/crowds. In comparison coming home was like wacky races. The regular cyclists were outnumbered by the POB's the POB's were outnumbered by the MOBs (Morons on Bikes).

Some of the cycling was suicidal!! I was even left hooked by somebody on a bike and I was in primary position!! He came of worse, but what a bloody nightmare. Think I will work late tomorrow and let the carnage dispurse before a ride home

 

[redjedi]

That's the beginnings of the 'Sandbar of Stupidity' (arallsopp gets the credit for a bikesnob article he posted - somewhere or the other, on this forum )

I did like that article, describes my daily commute to a tee.

Today I saw something that made me smile. An elderly gent was waiting at the lights. I pulled up on his right as I was going straight on. Another guys comes up behind, the gent spots him and starts moving his bike towards to curb to cut off the young guy who was about to squeeze past.
Then what could only be described as a dance happened as the young guy tried to get past only for the older gent to keep blocking him, once, twice and three times

I paid attention and will practice what I learnt tomorrow.