Tales from today's commute....

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Blimey, when is this warm, dry, windless weather commuting going to end? Is it set to last? Last time I had a rainy commute was the 28th of May..

Yep, similar here, just 2 wet days since May 13th, gotta make the most of it, I think of it as reward for the year round commutes! Is it set to last? A couple of weeks of more unsettled weather on the way but after that should see another good dry period.

 

[Ganymede]

Yep, similar here, just 2 wet days since May 13th, gotta make the most of it, I think of it as reward for the year round commutes! Is it set to last? A couple of weeks of more unsettled weather on the way but after that should see another good dry period.

Yes it makes up a bit for the Winter and early Spring, when I thought I would never get out on a bike again! - though I had some fun cycling through the floods when even the 4x4s were wary! (I cycled in wellies and the water was almost to the top on the down pedal!).

 

[fossyant]

Bit nippy this morning and overcast. Sat minding my own business at lights on Simonsway in Wythenshaw, and some old fella in an old Fiesta pulls up in next lane. He shouts over 'not jumping the red light then this morning ?'

I said "I don't jump red lights, I'm a good boy" - He gives thelook. I say "Someone has too". Lights change and I shoot off. If I'd have been witty, I should have asked if he had been smoking weed this morning ! Everyone else is !

 

[Ganymede]

Bit nippy this morning and overcast. Sat minding my own business at lights on Simonsway in Wythenshaw, and some old fella in an old Fiesta pulls up in next lane. He shouts over 'not jumping the red light then this morning ?'

I said "I don't jump red lights, I'm a good boy" - He gives thelook. I say "Someone has too". Lights change and I shoot off. If I'd have been witty, I should have asked if he had been smoking weed this morning ! Everyone else is !

I cycled through a huge cloud of weed smoke after getting off the homebound train last night. Office worker puffing as if his life depended on it, quite the bonfire. Felt sorry for him really

 

[MisterStan]

22 miles of beautiful sunshine this morning. Traffic was well behaved too. We took a different route into town, filtering on the right hand side down Madingley hill was an absolute treat - 30 mph for most of it. Cars probably averaging 5mph.

 

[ianrauk]

22 miles of beautiful sunshine this morning. Traffic was well behaved too. We took a different route into town, filtering on the right hand side down Madingley hill was an absolute treat - 30 mph for most of it. Cars probably averaging 5mph.

Sounds like all the cycling, traffic and weather gods are on the same side this morning...

 

[HLaB]

The short Orton Mere commute for me again this morning; nothing much happened other than it was

 

[summerdays]

I had a car overtake at the wrong place and the car coming the other way beeped him!!! Other than than a cooler commute.

 

[GrasB]

Fastest bike - check
Full aero gear - check
Tiny concealed bag with small riding spares, wallet & phone - check
Attack mode - enabled
Result -

 

[mangid]

School girl being followed by father (I assume) along cycle lane (Huntingdon Road, Cambridge). Girl comes up behind chap going slowly on his BSO, she just pulls put into traffic lane, no shoulder check, doesn't really give the cyclist much room, but worse it's at a pinch point and WMV has to slam anchors on.

Very nearly had words as I passed further on, but decided against it, wasn't sure distracting them was the right thing to do ... But feel I should have done, if they're going around like that it's only a question of time before they have an accident.

 

[Andrew_P]

On a cycle lane, Ambulance approaching from behind sirens going in heavy two way 15mph traffic, I slow down anticipating the car in front to pull over to the left (he doesn't) car started to overtake me Ambulance trying to overtake him in to oncoming traffic I'm already slowing right down, he swerves I emergency brake to stop him clipping me I can't believe people are oblivious to sirens and big yellow vehicle with blue flashing lights that are less than twenty foot behind and the car that swerved I believe wasn't even aware before or during that I was there which is scary. I had been trying to anticipate everyone's reaction for what seemed like an eternity before anyone reacted. Must drive the emergency service nuts!

 

[summerdays]

On a cycle lane, Ambulance approaching from behind sirens going in heavy two way 15mph traffic, I slow down anticipating the car in front to pull over to the left (he doesn't) car started to overtake me Ambulance trying to overtake him in to oncoming traffic I'm already slowing right down, he swerves I emergency brake to stop him clipping me I can't believe people are oblivious to sirens and big yellow vehicle with blue flashing lights that are less than twenty foot behind and the car that swerved I believe wasn't even aware before or during that I was there which is scary. I had been trying to anticipate everyone's reaction for what seemed like an eternity before anyone reacted. Must drive the emergency service nuts!

I agree, though we do have the advantage of being more aware of the sounds around us. Sometimes I just get myself off the road when I hear sirens .... just in case they are chasing something or the cars don't look as they pull over.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

There have been a lot of blues and twos on my commute the last couple of days. Pretty much a 50/50 split police and ambulance. From motorbiking days I know cages become completely unpredictable when emergency services are around (nothing worse than an ambulance doing 70mph with blues and twos when you are trying to make progress down a motorway on a bike). I make plenty of room, anticipate as much as possible and if it looks too chaotic stop on the path at the next drop kerb.

 

[robjh]

Nearly ran over a kamikaze squirrel that darted from the undergrowth and across my path inches from my front wheel. Other than that I saw three dead foxes on another short stretch of road – looked like young ones, possibly not yet wise to the ways of the road and all culled by the nighttime traffic.

It’s been a wonderful couple of weeks for cycling here with all the warm weather, although it looks like big rain is on its way for tomorrow.

 

[GrasB]

On a cycle lane, Ambulance approaching from behind sirens going in heavy two way 15mph traffic, I slow down anticipating the car in front to pull over to the left (he doesn't) car started to overtake me Ambulance trying to overtake him in to oncoming traffic I'm already slowing right down, he swerves I emergency brake to stop him clipping me I can't believe people are oblivious to sirens and big yellow vehicle with blue flashing lights that are less than twenty foot behind and the car that swerved I believe wasn't even aware before or during that I was there which is scary. I had been trying to anticipate everyone's reaction for what seemed like an eternity before anyone reacted. Must drive the emergency service nuts!

Reminds me of an incident that happened a while ago. I hear sirens & find the emergency vehicle, straddling the middle of the road passing between the two normal lines of traffic. I realise that if we keep on going at the same speed it's going to want to pass me when we're at a large road island, so come to a halt a good distance clear of this obstacle. The driver behind me blares their horn then goes past me with two more following them, getting stuck blocking the road in the road restriction leaving no space for anyone manoeuvre.