Tales from today's commute....

[fossyant]

It's cold today, but not bitterly so. And no rain thankfully.
Decided on a change of bike for the commute. The Tern Verge was looking a little sad and lost in the bike shed so am giving it a run out for a while.
It's a fun and nippy little beast.
View attachment 798847

Bike has shrunk

 

[ianrauk]

Bike has shrunk

Indeed it has.. will still give you a run for your money mate.

 

[spen666]

More escooter idiocy this morning. Just sat at these lights, they went green and as I sent off, idiot on escooter shoots past on the left (see arrows). Could have been an accident, the road tapers as you enter, he could have either hit the wall....or me:
View attachment 798762

Came on here to comment on my commute this morning and was intending to mention those on ebikes ( and to a lesser degree e scooters). Those on chipped vehicles are riding at speeds without the skills or road craft to ensure they are ridden safely.
it seems that like the captain, those I see on ebikes operate on the principle they are going to barge their way through, irrespective of danger or risk to others.

In segregated cycle lanes, where you are understandably expecting relatively sedate cyclists, to have these idiots haring past at circa 25-30mph is dangerous and scary.
Not just ebike riders, but when did traffic lights become optional for all road users, bikes, pedestrians, motorists etc?



Everytime I see the traffic queuing on my commute to work, I think of these lyrics from Synchronicity 2 by the Police

,,,
Only the rush hour hell to face
Packed like lemmings into shiny metal boxes
Contestants in a suicidal race...

 

[simongt]

On the way back from seeing my sister today, there was a car waiting at the lights at a crossroads. As I approached, the car began rolling forward onto the ASL area before the lights had changed.
Hmm I thought, no handbrake engaged.
As I was next to said car when the lights turned green, I observed the driver suddenly drop her cellphone into her lap and drive off.
The risks folk take for the sake of a ruddy cellphone.

 

[cyberknight]

Switched to the cx bike today as the brakes and bearings on the regular commuter are in dire need of a fettle. In other news the cycle path I use was kinda of a feature on the BBC as the worst road for litter in the UK

 

[fossyant]

Biting headwind on way home. Popped out to the supermarket once showered and home and the car said 3c.

 

[Gritstone]

Concerning week for locals driving ability/ attention!

My wife’s Fiesta got bumped while parked on Monday night/Tuesday morning and is now featuring a big scratch/dent on the rear quarter. No one’s owning up/seen anything on our quiet road. No luck with the one of neighbours camera footage either.

Then saw a FB post about a car-on-car crash on the junction on to the residential road I live on last night about an hour after I’d cycled home into that junction.

Then today I cycled through the debris field of a car-on-car crash on one of the main roads commuting home. Only one car still at the scene, parked on the payment and definitely a write-off and no occupants seemingly still around. Hopefully, I’ve not picked up a slow p*ncture! Concerningly it was on a junction between a zebra crossing and a nursery around the time schools close and people would be being picked up.

 

[HLaB]

A wet one this morning ( a lot of standing water) but traffic was pretty light and what traffic there was pretty light. I could have done with one car overtaking me on the short dual carriageway before a roundabout or in the wide two lane roundabout as most drivers do, but the held back until quite a while after I had exited the roundabout.

 

[biking_fox]

Back on the bike after 4 days away at a conference. Great to be ack cycling, but could have picked a nicer day. Cold wet and windy my least favourite conditions. But Cycling agian!

 

[HLaB]

Almost day light still when I left the office at 4.45pm for the short scoot round to the Station. The train when it arrived was totally packed. I managed to squeeze in opposite a wheel chair user untill most folk got off at Huntingdon (the stop before PeterB). Friday night's seem to be popular again. The Pottyboro city centre was busy with traffic too, although the ones that were around me were nice and patient. After getting 3 miles down the road I decided to have a bimble round the fairly recently built shared paths which were mostly empty at that time. I got my self into a mood that I continued bimbling a few miles past my house. But to beat the heavy rain as I had a strong tailwind I came back by road. Traffic finally died down at that point to the regular busy rather than manic. Shortly after I put my dinner in the microwave it sounds like the forecasted rain has started.

 

[biking_fox]

Monday morning - nothing else to say. Dull grey no weather, some cars and a few cyclists.

 

[captain nemo1701]

Came on here to comment on my commute this morning and was intending to mention those on ebikes ( and to a lesser degree e scooters). Those on chipped vehicles are riding at speeds without the skills or road craft to ensure they are ridden safely.
it seems that like the captain, those I see on ebikes operate on the principle they are going to barge their way through, irrespective of danger or risk to others.

In segregated cycle lanes, where you are understandably expecting relatively sedate cyclists, to have these idiots haring past at circa 25-30mph is dangerous and scary.
Not just ebike riders, but when did traffic lights become optional for all road users, bikes, pedestrians, motorists etc?



Everytime I see the traffic queuing on my commute to work, I think of these lyrics from Synchronicity 2 by the Police

Yep, see plenty of overclocked/unrestricted ebikes bombing up the B2B Railway path....about 20mph uphill no pedalling. I see Amsterdam is considering banning those 'fat bikes', there are a few of those too. You can hear them approaching from behind, the 'veeeeee...' of the motor, sound of unfeasibly fat motorbike-type of tyres of the asphalt, big front light. I don't know why their riders insist on pretending to pedal, they're all on the motor.

 

[wafter]

In: Tired and reluctant, mild but damp so chilly. Took me around 4.5 minutes before I found myself smiling because I was on my bicycle
A decent ride into town although got overtaken up the hill by an incongruous legal-looking-but-evidently-not ebike. Sausages get 7/10.

Out: More tired and reluctant; seemingly much colder but not sure if I'm just feeling it more for being a bit ill. Felt better once I'd warmed up, toured the supermarkets for some 75% off onion rings and half price corned beef from the deli counter amongst other things. Bothered the rings briefly; mainly for some stretches.

Sampled a fresh hell at the station en-route to Botley - the previous, reasonably direct underpass through the bridge works now replaced by a convoluted route that takes you into the station, along the platform, over a bridge that spans both sides of the track and out the other side. Other than the novelty of standing right in the middle of the tracks I can see that getting old very quicky.

Avoided revisting the above by heading out past Oatlands rec (which appears fit for windsurfing) and through the industrial estate. Headed back along the river which was largely deserted barring some very switched on and consciencious joggers, who were thanked accordingly. The river is as high as it's been recently with a few adjacent fields flooding; as had Parson's Pleasure when I passed it earlier.

Everywhere remains passable for now, but it won't take much more water for that to change.

 

[straas]

Directly into a headwind this morning. Some of the gusts nearly brought me to a stop. Bet it's rotated around 180 by sometime

 

[HLaB]

Forecast to br wet this morning which is maybe why the roads were packed. The roads were bone dry though. Could have done with a car or two knowing their highway code and giving way to the crossing when they are turning. No biggie though I just had to moderate my speed as I could see they were never stopping. On a wide road though where I am always overtook today's driver didn't and sat behind me for nearly a mile before the opposing lane emptied completely.

Despite the rain forecast being wrong though the strong headwind forecast was right. Making that driver sitting behind even more patient 👍

23mph headwind apparently and here in the flat lands that's a hurricane.