Tales from today's commute....

[biking_fox]

Another lovely morning riding. Sunshine again no wind, cars mostly behaving and completed the don't leave the bike challenge, no feet on the ground, no resting on fences etc. Only 2 red lights (our of a least a dozen when it goes badly) and trackstand for both.

This evening and tomorrow looking like a much soggier affair.

 

[wafter]

This morning appeared doomed from the off.. a crap night's kip after a day of exertion yesterday, following a weekend of procrastination and last night's essential washing predictably not dry by the time it was required today.

Knowing better than to tumble dry merino wool I opted for a different base layer but chucked my damp trousers in the washer / dryer to finish them off. Thanks to a raft of ineptitude on both the part of the machine's designer and latterly its operator I managed instead to start them on a wash cycle; only noticing 15 minutes later and having to remove them absolutely sodden, wring them out and start again. They were tolerably dry by the time I needed them but probably little more so than had I not bothered.. and of course that whole escapade has cost me in 'leccy.

The damp theme continued outside the flat with the rain radar plot showing an ominous patch marching towards the city.. However, it looked OK when I left so I decided to chance a run into town - at least having the pragmatism to don my waterproofs.

The morning's first and largest pair of knobheads were encountered shortly afterwards, with one "assisting" the other reverse his massive fragile-ego-chariot from their driveway. It's fat arse was only just hanging over the pavement (leaving the road clear) when the driver's accomplice saw me, but instead of telling him to stop she just put her open palm out towards me (presumably either instructing me to stop or assumptively thanking me for stopping).

Regardless I had right of way and it would have taken all of ten seconds to let me pass so I carried on, around the back of the vile, bloated contraption as it now sat broadside blocking both lanes and continued on my way - making sure to take the lane until I needed to turn off in order to leave the driver in no uncertainty of my presence since this was evidently of little concern to them initially.

Roads remained mercifully quite although it didn't take long for the rain to start; thankfully it wasn't too heavy so the waterproofs did a decent job of keeping me dry.

Sausages were so-so today but I'm glad I made the effort anyway

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

Steady commute into work this morning, new tyres working nicely on the leaves and mud. Short stretch of road to work was shouted at by an Aldi wagon driver but couldn't make head nor tail of what he said 🤷 all lights working on bike and tucked well into side of the road?

 

[Andy in Germany]

Steady commute into work this morning, new tyres working nicely on the leaves and mud. Short stretch of road to work was shouted at by an Aldi wagon driver but couldn't make head nor tail of what he said 🤷 all lights working on bike and tucked well into side of the road?

I just assume they're saying what an awesome bike I have, and say "thank you" with a big thumbs up.

 

[Mazz]

On my way in to work, there's a long steady uphill road. Enough space for cars to get by , but not so easy for buses and HGVs.
Today there was an HGV patiently driving behind me. Stayed behind me even at the top end, where the road starts to widen, and he could've overtaken.
At the top end is a traffic light-controlled roundabout and both the HGV and I were on red.
I turned round and gave the driver a thumbs-up which he acknowledged. Good driving! Always nice to have some positive interaction.

 

[simongt]

Returning home, a fire engine was heading towards us at speed, lights & sirens on when a car decided to pull out from a side road.
Driver then realised there was a fire engine, by this time, almost behind him / her. As there was a queue for traffic lights on my side of the road, the driver stopped to let the fire engine past, but the fire engine had to wait until cars on my side had move out of it's way before it could progress.
Hmm.

 

[blackrat]

This morning appeared doomed from the off.. a crap night's kip after a day of exertion yesterday, following a weekend of procrastination and last night's essential washing predictably not dry by the time it was required today.

Knowing better than to tumble dry merino wool I opted for a different base layer but chucked my damp trousers in the washer / dryer to finish them off. Thanks to a raft of ineptitude on both the part of the machine's designer and latterly its operator I managed instead to start them on a wash cycle; only noticing 15 minutes later and having to remove them absolutely sodden, wring them out and start again. They were tolerably dry by the time I needed them but probably little more so than had I not bothered.. and of course that whole escapade has cost me in 'leccy.

The damp theme continued outside the flat with the rain radar plot showing an ominous patch marching towards the city.. However, it looked OK when I left so I decided to chance a run into town - at least having the pragmatism to don my waterproofs.

The morning's first and largest pair of knobheads were encountered shortly afterwards, with one "assisting" the other reverse his massive fragile-ego-chariot from their driveway. It's fat arse was only just hanging over the pavement (leaving the road clear) when the driver's accomplice saw me, but instead of telling him to stop she just put her open palm out towards me (presumably either instructing me to stop or assumptively thanking me for stopping).

Regardless I had right of way and it would have taken all of ten seconds to let me pass so I carried on, around the back of the vile, bloated contraption as it sat broadside blocking both lanes and continued on my way - making sure to take the lane until I needed to turn off in order to leave the driver in no uncertainty of my presence since this was evidently of little concern to them initially.

Roads remained mercifully quite although it didn't take long for the rain to start; thankfully it wasn't too heavy so the waterproofs did a decent job of keeping me dry.

Sausages were so-so today but I'm glad I made the effort anyway

"Regardless I had right of way"
Not to seem judgemental, but I don't understand the reasoning behind not allowing a vehicle to exit a driveway when that action has already commenced. I often hear cars blowing their horns at drivers trying to do the same when common courtesy would suggest giving the exiting car the opportunity to complete the maneuver. Plus you get a good person tick at the end of it.

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

Wet and miserable on the way home but not cold at least. Passed this pile of scrap pulled from the river last week, seems to be more added today.

 

[wafter]

"Regardless I had right of way"
Not to seem judgemental, but I don't understand the reasoning behind not allowing a vehicle to exit a driveway when that action has already commenced. I often hear cars blowing their horns at drivers trying to do the same when common courtesy would suggest giving the exiting car the opportunity to complete the maneuver. Plus you get a good person tick at the end of it.

Because they were barely moving, not even on the road when their spotter clocked me and I would have been required to brake relatively hard from 15-20mph to a standstill to let them out.

Because my stopping would have cost me more time than it would have saved them.

Because while I go out of my way to be courteous, respectful and considerate, often deviating from the status quo in the name of being "nice" just leads to confusion and everyone's time being wasted.

Because end of the day I did have right of way and they should have given way to me, yet instead chose to force their way out anyway causing me to either brake or take evasive action.

Maybe braking would have earned me a "good person tick". Maybe it would have simply reinforced the existing sense of entitlement and superiority that fuelled their expectation that I'd stop in the first place.

 

[wafter]

Crap ride home - thankfully the rain held off but it was cold and I was knackered.

Kickboxing was frustrating and particularly exhausting, I decided against any time on the rings and ran over a mouse on the tow path

 

[blackrat]

Because they were barely moving, not even on the road when their spotter clocked me and I would have been required to brake relatively hard from 15-20mph to a standstill to let them out.

Because my stopping would have cost me more time than it would have saved them.

Because while I go out of my way to be courteous, respectful and considerate, often deviating from the status quo in the name of being "nice" just leads to confusion and everyone's time being wasted.

Because end of the day I did have right of way and they should have given way to me, yet instead chose to force their way out anyway causing me to either brake or take evasive action.

Maybe braking would have earned me a "good person tick". Maybe it would have simply reinforced the existing sense of entitlement and superiority that fuelled their expectation that I'd stop in the first place.

"...from 15-20mph.."
Good grief, were you motorised - strong tail wind - were you riding a bike you just stole? It's been a long time since I rode that speed solo.

 

[markharry66]

cycled in nobody around, had a couple of class passes near traffic islands usual for the route report it nothing gets done and nothing ever changes. Cycled in slower got the road bike out as wanted qucker journey into avoid tain ended up riding the slowest have in a long while forogt had gattor tyrest on so was playing avoid pot hole and manhole cover in the dark. Actually saw a few people out on their bikes this morning. Still mild for this time of year. Brough a new "breathable" raib proof walking jacket from Aldis, time I got to work felt like I had spent three weeks in bali in sun this is going straight in the bin when I get home tonight.

 

[HLaB]

Nice fast ride in this morning with one patient motorist at the start and almost car free to town. It was a good job he was patient when a ninja shot across us in the dark (from unlit cycle path to unlit cycle path) and on this dreich morning I could barely see them, I hope the driver with wipers could.

 

[captain nemo1701]

Another call to the cops this morning....still has a D lock on it:

A couple of minutes before, witnessed a near-miss potential accident as fool on high speed escooter doing I reckon about 20-25mph...uphill... came up right behind a pedestrian, swerving around them at the last second, missing by about a foot and as other cyclists were coming downhill...could have been a pile up, poor ped jumped, simply did not hear the escooter behind him. And it wasn't one of those wee scooters either, looked like a high speed 50mph job. Getting really fed up of these on cyclepaths, one day there will be a big accident...

 

[wafter]

"...from 15-20mph.."
Good grief, were you motorised - strong tail wind - were you riding a bike you just stole? It's been a long time since I rode that speed solo.

Well, it's not really outside the abilities of many - especially with a bit of a grad and yes; a tailwind too.


This morning was pretty nice - emerged late, exhausted and full of trepidation but it was dry and as usual I felt instantly better upon the first few pedal strokes.

The first mile or two was almost surreal in how quiet it was - a few vehicles coming the other way but I don't think I shared the road with anything heading in the same direction until I got inside the ring road. Even then it was pretty chilled with light traffic all travelling at a similar speed so no need for anyone to overtake anyone else; which was nice.

Thankfully minimal conflict; the only annoyance was a bus that had to slowly pull out as I was passing and while I usually just press on around the outside, a more cautious cyclist in front of me prevented this on this occasion. Sure enough, round the corner we go to find a parked van and opposing traffic blocking the buses' route and mine by extension. Fortunately there was room to go around and it was left for dust.

Very much a ride of two halves; in was quick thanks to a tailwind and lateness; out wasn't due to the same wind and my previous over-enthusiasm.

Still, nice to get out still felt like a privilege compared to what most endure on a daily basis in the name of getting to work.