Tales from today's commute....

[David Parry]

Collective consciousness was grumpy this morning . . passing car clearances seemed unusually tight, a right-turning nerd tried to blocked the bike lane at a red light, and I had to fend off a right hook! Perhaps February blahs, perhaps an unrequited Valentine's day . . something was wrong!

 

[martint235]

Fairly quiet day today. Road has been resurfaced in Catford gyratory which is nice but obviously there was no chance of me having 3 whole days without a set of temporary lights on my commute so I've got a new set.

Also it appears to be "Race a Cyclist into a Pinch Point" day but I must have missed the memo for that one so I was unprepared. One driver got shouted at, one got the tap on the window (ignored)

 

[Leodis]

Grrrr another flat, I think it was a pinch flat due to cheap tubes but really didnt have time to inspect it as it was dumped and replaced. Other than that a cracking ride, started to think of M+ for commuting, 2 flats in 2 weeks is not good, we see how the Conti tubes last.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Had a guy come past me on the way in this morning, didn't look like a novice but he clearly needs to learn a few things, so I took the chance to educate him.
1. If you come past me on the drops giving it some then expect a race.
2. Please make an increase from your overtaking speed for at least the next mile.
3. If you cannot complete 2 then expect the race to be over after five seconds...... as it was this morning.....
See you tomorrow Squire

 

[BSRU]

Almost taken out by a cyclist who decided to suddenly veer to the right in order to ride on the pavement. Fortunately not only had I slowed down for the overtake I gave them plenty of room just in case.
Apart from that a warm, dry and fairly windless commute in, I was over dressed a little.

 

[Ace Ventura]

Saw a cyclist taken down by a car this morning. I was approaching from opposite way- he was coming from Tooting Bec down to the Broadway- but from the bang I heard and the aftermath a Merc A-class pulled out of the side road and he landed on his back . Seemed to be moving ok initially, and drivers really apologetic. Couldn't offer to be a witness as didn't see enough but there were 3 others with him who could which was good. To the 5 or so behind me who slalomed past the cyclist and the stationary car without bothering to slow and see if he needed help- may you never need help yourselves

The cs7 between Balham and Colliers Wood is such a lottery. Too many people cutting through, and many without licences I'd hypothesize

 

[HLaB]

A pretty quiet commute for me, the rowing lake path floods have subsided and I took that route as apart from two mini's it presents a straight roundabout free commute to town.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Cracking ride today, hardly any wind and very warm for time of year. Positively flew to work compared to some of the speeds I have been doing recently.

 

[ianrauk]

@martint235 , re Catford Gyratory. I always do this on my evening commute rather then going through the bus lane. More often then not it is quicker, especially if the lights are with you. The new tarmac is lovely and smooth...can get up a decent speed now without having to dodge the pot holes.

On another note, another cracking commute this morning. Fastest of the year. No traffic, dry roads and traffic lights that had the green for go gods smiling. Brilliant.

Only sour note was another cyclist on a green touring Dawes with bar end levers, looking at him, an obvious experienced cyclist. Decided to shoal in front of me at a junction and stop at a diagonal in front of me. That squire is the height of bad manners and you weren't very quick either as I had to maneouver around you when the lights change.

 

[Origamist]

I share a secure bike shed with the police at work, at the moment there are currently about 8 to 10 stolen bikes stored there. Today there was a stolen pram in the normal place I store my bike, whatever next?.

Tmrw, a crying baby in the pram?

Roads are far less busy due to half-term and it's a nicer commute. The canal path is sodden and muddy, but who cares.

 

[fossyant]

Wet again. Just short of 32 miles yesterday and looking like it might be close on that today if I can ride the long route back from Manchester later. Got an early dart as have parents evening at 4ish !

 

[Hacienda71]

Nothing malfunctioned,fell off the bike or caused me any stress this morning.

 

[I like Skol]

Nothing malfunctioned,fell off the bike or caused me any stress this morning.

Is it a day off?

 

[jagman.2003]

Good commute in today. First for two weeks. Also with the improved weather brought the Sirrus hybrid back into service.
Running alot more slick with the 10 speed setup. Before the cassette had some noticeable jumps. Which left me either pedalling madly just below potential speed or grinding it out for only 5 mins at a time.
Pretty warm this morning, stopped to loose a layer & gained 3 colleagues cycling to work together. So had a team ride the rest of the way.

 

[Ciar]

Happily back in the saddle the last 4 weeks until this morning, sitting at bow flyover in the cycle lane going straight across to the mile end road, saw the car on my right mini cab was indicating to turn left, cool i can deal with that, it was when the bellend silver taxi cab behind him, decides to speed up slap on his indicator and nearly left hook me which pissed me right of.

honestly i don't think i could have been more cautious, no indication no nothing until the last moment, then he tries to take me out, no wonder so many riders have issue with that shitty roundabout.

back to going over the flyover there and back!