Tales from today's commute....
- Thread starter martint235
- Start date
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biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Fun ride in, still a faint hint of smoke in the air but mostly just overcast. Gods blessed the traffic lights today, only 1 short trackstand required for a fast journey 2mph faster than normal from not having to slow down and pull away so many times. Light traffic as well always helps.
Arjimlad
Tights of Cydonia
- Location
- South Glos
Lovely new separated cycle lanes on my way home but this big lad was weaving all over them on a legal rental scooter, staring at his phone, earbuds in. Oblivious to the bell and my "on your right".
I did manage to squeeze past and he did apologise so all's well.
I must put the electric horn on this bike!
I did manage to squeeze past and he did apologise so all's well.
I must put the electric horn on this bike!
less car trouble today, well there was a taxi driver, you know that thing where theres solid white line no overtake thing so they dont cross the line when they overtake. that.
but no today was pedestrians on shared paths who caused my ire, who all seemed I dont know completely unprepared to cope with sharing a path. like Im cycling on the cycle path designated bit, theres 3 feet of pristine empty pavement to my right hand side, and all the pedestrians are walking towards me on the cycle path bit instead or just blocking the whole path completely, to the point in one case I actually had to stop because Ive no idea if theyre going to swap sides or what, and only when they realised I was physically in their way and they werent going to be able to walk through me, then they moved over.
so felt a very passive aggressive journey today. and then I get back on the road,fortunately not a busy one, suddenly hear a crashing noise, I know something has just fallen off my bike, check the important stuff was still all where it should be, turned around and it was my rear mud guard,the rear half of it had sheared perfectly off. its polycarbonate and had for years so I guess just eventually gave up the ghost as they do become brittle over time ,and it has tended to bounce up into my rack alot over the bumps on the cycle path. (the irony being I only use the cycle path bit because of the hassle I get on the road alot of the time)
oh well everyday is an adventure as they say
but no today was pedestrians on shared paths who caused my ire, who all seemed I dont know completely unprepared to cope with sharing a path. like Im cycling on the cycle path designated bit, theres 3 feet of pristine empty pavement to my right hand side, and all the pedestrians are walking towards me on the cycle path bit instead or just blocking the whole path completely, to the point in one case I actually had to stop because Ive no idea if theyre going to swap sides or what, and only when they realised I was physically in their way and they werent going to be able to walk through me, then they moved over.
so felt a very passive aggressive journey today. and then I get back on the road,fortunately not a busy one, suddenly hear a crashing noise, I know something has just fallen off my bike, check the important stuff was still all where it should be, turned around and it was my rear mud guard,the rear half of it had sheared perfectly off. its polycarbonate and had for years so I guess just eventually gave up the ghost as they do become brittle over time ,and it has tended to bounce up into my rack alot over the bumps on the cycle path. (the irony being I only use the cycle path bit because of the hassle I get on the road alot of the time)
oh well everyday is an adventure as they say
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Got my first Bell end taxi driver for a while. He drove into the tiny service road before a cyclepath. Got stuck, before eventually completing a 63 point turn only to instantly parked up to wait for a passenger. He was so focused on his 63point turn and not damaging his motor he failed to notice that he was completely blocking a cycle path. If he'd looked up once I'm pretty sure he'd been polite and let me through but as he never I was taking no risks.
I was coming towards you in the screenshot.
I was coming towards you in the screenshot.
Where's the cycle path? Is it up ahead where the road appears to dogleg and there's what look like bollards?
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
The road is dead end and supposed to be access to the crown courts underground garage only but despite the continous double yellow lines folk occasionally go into it to drop off. The bike path is visually the continuation of the outside lane.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/sbxLFsReYLNeFoG66?g_st=ac
PS, you can just see the one way cycle markings (to therightoftheblack bollard), yet at the other end its marked as two way 🤯
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getting back into cycling with dad now after a gap of a few years, my trusty rockrider 540 hasn't skipped a beat and is running great as is dads rockrider 520.
im too heavy for my road bike i think at the moment so sticking to the mountain bike and we had a decent wee 12 mile trip earlier
im too heavy for my road bike i think at the moment so sticking to the mountain bike and we had a decent wee 12 mile trip earlier
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
First day of school holidays - empty roads. Makes a huge difference. Thought I was on for another red light free run, only to be scuppered by the final 2.
The total lack of situational awareness from peds is shocking, isn't it? As I'm sure we all do, I watch for hazards and usually clock potential situations before they occur - this has revealed how it's apparently now standard for most people to just step into the road without checking for traffic at all.less car trouble today, well there was a taxi driver, you know that thing where theres solid white line no overtake thing so they dont cross the line when they overtake. that.
but no today was pedestrians on shared paths who caused my ire, who all seemed I dont know completely unprepared to cope with sharing a path. like Im cycling on the cycle path designated bit, theres 3 feet of pristine empty pavement to my right hand side, and all the pedestrians are walking towards me on the cycle path bit instead or just blocking the whole path completely, to the point in one case I actually had to stop because Ive no idea if theyre going to swap sides or what, and only when they realised I was physically in their way and they werent going to be able to walk through me, then they moved over.
so felt a very passive aggressive journey today. and then I get back on the road,fortunately not a busy one, suddenly hear a crashing noise, I know something has just fallen off my bike, check the important stuff was still all where it should be, turned around and it was my rear mud guard,the rear half of it had sheared perfectly off. its polycarbonate and had for years so I guess just eventually gave up the ghost as they do become brittle over time ,and it has tended to bounce up into my rack alot over the bumps on the cycle path. (the irony being I only use the cycle path bit because of the hassle I get on the road alot of the time)
oh well everyday is an adventure as they say
I've also encountered a few joggers on shared paths recently running pretty much in the middle; no reaction to the bell or verbal announcement of my presence; only to let out varying yelps of shock / surprise / indignation when I pass "unannounced" - presumably because they were listening to music and failed to account for their lack of hearing with appropriate positioning and visual checks..
So, this morning.... As usual dragged from a deep sleep by the need for a leak but only five minutes before the alarm for a change - probably as a result of the weekend's utter exhaustion.
Out into an almost perfect morning - sunny but cool and comfortable in SS base layer and lightweight shorts. Good mood maintained by a lack of bellends outside the shop, however quickly spoilt by some idiot in a junior Chelsea tractor coming the other way; following a large wagon around a parked car and swinging wide despite evidently being able to see sod all of what was coming the other way (me). Righteously abused.
Chased a female racing snake on a gravel bike into town, who maintained a good speed and slowly crept away. Sausages were so crisp and golden I couldn't resist three before getting back on the tow path towards work. No trimming today (I think it's been "officially" done over the weekend).
A largely pleasant ride with the exception of another near head-on with a cyclist coming the other way; drifting inattentively around a slower rider until they clocked me and pulled back in sharpish. Also had a woman on a bike shoot out onto the path from the bridge in front of me; since this wouldn't be the first time I've come to anticipate such things and at least I got an apology which made it all OK...
Looking forward to the ride home
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