Tales from today's commute....

[Sandra6]

After a week of getting lifts and walking home I felt so much happier cycling in to work.
And coming home the rain stopped and there was no traffic, I didn't even have to stop at the roundabout.
It'll probably be doubly awful tomorrow to bring back the balance.

 

[Melonfish]

Rush hour, sat at a red light on manchester road (a57) just after the roundabout where it meets liverpool road (caddishead)
chap in a black ford screams through the lights doing at least 50, they're redder then a red thing on a red planet at this point. he disappears round the corner sharpish.
I just smiled.
the lights turned green and i ambled off from them, within a minute i hit the traffic queue that at this time of the evening in rush hour runs all the way from the lights at warburton bridge to about 100 yards after the lights i just went through.
i casually pulled up along side said light runner and motioned for him to roll down his window.
"you just burned through those lights as if they weren't there" says I
he looked at me blankly
"look how far it got you eh?" i said, smiled and cycled off.

Bliss.

 

[ianrauk]

Allo allo

 

[Leodis]

The below picture sums up my ride into work... 2nd flat in 3 weeks

 

[ianrauk]

I was nearly offed on purpose by a fekwit in a crappy old blue estate car tonight. Zooming along the A21 northbound at a good speed with another cyclist. Taking turns drafting each other along the north bound cycle lane. Traffic on the left of the bus lane was at a standstill. (The bus lane is in the middle of the road) I saw the car slowly pull out from the left. He could see us, as at first he stopped, but then decided to go. The cyclist in front of me swerved round him and I had to put a quick spurt on to avoid being hit. How he didn't hit me I don't know. The driver knew what he was doing alright. I stopped the bike and was shouting my nut off at the driver. I turned round in the bus lane to catch up with him but he zoomed off. He was lucky. If I had caught up with him I would have dragged him out of the car and ripped his friggin head off his body. Tosser.

 

[Anders]

Crosswinds..... more tomorrow

 

[Beebo]

The first real winds of autumn arrived today, Very windy but surprisingly warm, I didnt need the gillet.

 

[MrSweary]

Cyclist down on the Kings Road this morning just before the common.. looked like a truck left hooking. Ambulance in attendance. The rear wheel of the bike looked as if it had gone under the truck wheel. Hope whoever it was is ok.

 

[thedatastream]

Lovely ride home yesterday evening. Been experimenting with standing up on the pedals in a higher gear for the steep bits of hills rather than changing down. Seems to be working, much quicker up the hills for a similar amount of pain

Checked over shoulder and moved towards the middle of the road before a traffic island narrowed the lane to just over a cars width. Heard car moving out to overtake before slowing down as he saw the island, pulling in behind again and then tooting at me. I moved back in to the kerb once I'd cleared the island sighing to myself "I doubt you'd understand even if I explained with big cartoon pictures and words of less than two syllables"

Filtered past him at the queue at the next roundabout.

 

[defy-one]

A windy non eventful ride into London. Arrived early so sat in hyde park admiring all the nice bikes go by

 

[ohnovino]

Got off and walked this morning. The headwind was bad for the whole commute, but one bit of road with tall buildings was like a wind tunnel. When I was doing 5mph downhill and struggling to stay upright, I decided enough was enough.

Still, at least a headwind on the way out means I'll have an absolute 100% guaranteed tailwind on the way back...

 

[tadpole]

Nearly t-boned another cyclist, who jumped from the pavement and cycled across the left hand lane so he could miss out having to go round the roundabout and within 50 yards came within about 6 inches of being doored. Driver stopped in the middle of the left turn lane and opened his door to go the newsagents.
I could see his reasoning he was queuing and the lights were red, and of course it is reasonable to abandon your car so you can get 20B&H and a scum.

 

[Anders]

Well after 6 weeks of commuting via bike and train this could be my last this year, saved over 3000 miles on my car! witness my 2nd train fail, where a guy who does the same journey 5 days a week and today was unable to get off the Virgin train!(note to all - tell the guard, even though thy call through!). windy ride but really enjoyed it, red wine now

 

[defy-one]

38 mile round trip today - 2nd whiskey. No more though as i have a riding date with the Slough arm of CC tommorow at 8am

 

[TheJDog]

Two things yesterday. On the way in a young woman pulled across the cycle lane when there was nowhere for her to go. Screeching brakes, massive not very well controlled back wheel lock up and much shouting from my. I shouted at her to look next time, but she couldn't care less

On the way home, very late on deserted roads I had a very close pass. Shouted at him, and it turned out he was pulling in to park not far ahead. I was pretty miffed and began a heated discussion about how close he was. I declined his invitation to fight, and was just leaving when he called me a d**khead, so I turned around, dropped my bike and accepted his previous offer. He locked his car doors and sat inside.

Might leave a note if it's in the same area next week, letting him know how foolish it is to make people angry when they know where you park your car