Something for the weekend

[rog]

here's a snippet of footage from last night's ride home from London town. No real incident to speak of...just black cabs doing what black cabs do best; i.e. driving as if cyclists 'dont exist' or shouldn't be 'in their lane'


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQBen3wcG48


i wasnt too bothered by the close overtake as they are par for the course these days - what annoyed me up the most was the fact that it was completely avoidable - just required the lazy cabbie to turn his steering wheel just slightly to the right...

anway as you can see, zooming around London doesnt get you very far, unless of course you start running red lights as this chap did. will get him next time!

have a good weekend y'all...

 

[PBancroft]

To be fair, I wasn't there, and I know the camera never gives any justice to how close cars overtake... but that didn't seem too bad to me.

 

[rog]

sure. dont think i'll win any awards for closest overtake of the year - that's currently being contested by benborp and magnatom. however, it could be in the running for 'most easily avoided' - especially if you are gonna pass a cyclist well in excess of the speed limit.

 

[fossyant]

What lights were you running - look bright !!

Nice bit of pace there fella....

 

[downfader]

Thats some speed you were doing. I reckon that taxi was slowing you down somewhat.

 

[benborp]

I think there was an extremely close pass at 2:05, the cyclist ahead didn't look as he moved out and the passing cab didn't deviate an inch as he in turn passed the cyclists. As you say - standard fare for a London commute but it is dispiriting to see people driving with such a casual disregard or awareness of what is happening around them.

Congratulations on the scooter scalp. Although I think it was a rather easy one. Probably very little satisfaction in getting a scalp as easy as that, in fact it probably shouldn't count, I know I wouldn't count a scalp that was as easy as that, in fact that scooter looked as though it might have been a little ill, off colour in fact, my granny could take a scooter if it was...grumblegrumblegrumble

 

[fossyant]

I scalped a scooter this morning - I was quicker on the right side filtering he chickened out.... he had to follow me then...hah...hah..... I was only doing 22-23 into a head wind...

 

[ianrauk]

1: a lot of other cyclists in that short clip
2: lol at the scooter scalp... always fun to see

 

[rog]

What lights were you running - look bright !!

Nice bit of pace there fella....

cheers fossy. i've been running with an enduro race maxx for the last 18 months. the battery life aint great but its pretty much impossible not to be seen. esp if you set it to 'disco-strobe-mode'.

whilst its a bit OTT for being seen by motons (2x5w LEDs), its awesome at getting the attention of kerb-hopping peds!

Thats some speed you were doing. I reckon that taxi was slowing you down somewhat.

i'd like to say 'yeah' but to be honest, there was a bit of a headwind so i was glad of the draft!

I think there was an extremely close pass at 2:05, the cyclist ahead didn't look as he moved out and the passing cab didn't deviate an inch as he in turn passed the cyclists.

i winced a little when i saw the cyclist pull the overtake. however. it seemed like both of the cabs were determined to deviate as little as possible from 'their lane' in the way they passed all the cyclists they came across...

Congratulations on the scooter scalp.

that's okay. think nothing of it..

*breathes on knuckles. rubs chest*

 

[fossyant]

Been looking at the Enduro stuff..having got wiped out with loads of lights at xmas, I'm looking at some new bike lights for next winter, as, I hope, that will be on a new fixed road bike, not the MTB (crash proof) - my other road bikes don't do many commutes....to fast...

The Race Maxx is the two LED one -looks impressive... I think the Maxx D might be too much..........(BRIGHT)

 

[J4CKO]

WTF are you riding, a GSXR 1000 ?

 

[fossyant]

Road bike...

It's surprisingly alarming to drivers when you do this...... hence why I commute on the MTB 99.99% of the time.....

I have a section of flat on my training run, that I can easily maintain 30 MPH.......the drivers poop themselves... as it's weekend..... so fewer cars and there is a bike going faster...... it's do-able !!! I like it as you get really 'shocked looks'....... especially from big motor bike riders.... (i.e. big powerfull uns..)

 

[rog]

yeah..its the one with 2 LEDs. i cant complain...apart from the price! having said that, i'd rather pay a few extra quid rather than take the chance as you've gotta be pretty blind not to notice it. the main thing for me is that i always feel pretty safe riding with it...one less thing to worry (a little less) about.

 

[jmaccyd]

Difficult to say what with camera angles and such, but the passing didn't look the worst (cetainly wouldn't want any closer than that so bare minimum clearance) As for the rest, i'm not really sure quite what the point is, a below average bit of driving sure, but believe you me nothing to what I see through the window of my cab most days! Anyway, keep filming you will have a lot more interesting stuff to post I am sure