Tales from today's commute....

[RoubaixCube]

(stories from yesterday's commute)

I didnt commute due to having a free travel pass, But I watched a random guy who had sloppily spraypainted his 'fixie' and got it all over EVERYTHING on the bike including the tyres. used a Lezyne 400XL as a 'rear blinker' except it wasnt blinking, it was on a constant beam.

I would also point out he had no front light either.

I honestly cant make this sh!t up.

 

[martint235]

So back to summer kit for a couple of days. Shorts, ss jersey, fingerless gloves. I could get used to this!!

Just the one nobber. On a bike surprise surprise. Between Penge and Norwood he was a complete tool. First rode along the pavement to get past me and ooh a whole 3 other cars. Then jumped a red at the next junction. Then up on the pavement again. After each episode once he rejoined the road he was so feckin slow

The best bit was around the bus though, complete feckin daffodil. I don't often have camaraderie with car drivers but me and the guy in the 4x4 behind him had time to discuss laughing at him, swearing at him or just knocking him off. Bus in front of us had stopped in the road not at a bus stop. It's a busy road. Nobber decides to go to the right of the bus and finds that, unsurprisingly there is another bus heading towards him. He then has to back up his bike to get out of the way. Stumbles about a bit and unsurprisingly heads for the pavement but now the traffic is moving again and he can't find a way to rejoin. If he hadn't p*****d me off by being so obstructive to me it would have been funny. Nobber.

 

[summerdays]

So back to summer kit for a couple of days. Shorts, ss jersey, fingerless gloves. I could get used to this!!

Well not quite shorts but certainly very few layers, and it was dark this morning....

 

[LewisLondon]

Came across my first cycling kn*bber on my commute yesterday.

Wearing fully black, with no lights, happy to bomb past everyone to fly through red lights. The worst was when we came to a big roundabout (Wandsworth bridge if anyone knows it), and he flew out on a red, completely cutting up traffic flowing from the right, and then cut across 2 more lanes to keep going round, causing cars to slam on brakes.

Most ridiculous display I've seen in a while. He really didn't seem that bothered either, not sure if he even knew what he was doing, never looked behind.

 

[Sbudge]

Came across my first cycling kn*bber on my commute yesterday.

Wearing fully black, with no lights, happy to bomb past everyone to fly through red lights. The worst was when we came to a big roundabout (Wandsworth bridge if anyone knows it), and he flew out on a red, completely cutting up traffic flowing from the right, and then cut across 2 more lanes to keep going round, causing cars to slam on brakes.

Most ridiculous display I've seen in a while. He really didn't seem that bothered either, not sure if he even knew what he was doing, never looked behind.

I know the feeling. Last night in heavy rain and rush hour traffic there was a cyclist dressed all in black, no lights, hi-vis etc. Not racing but completely oblivious to the world. Almost impossible to see in the rain-flare and weaving in and out of traffic. It'd be a wonder if they last until Christmas at that rate.

 

[ianrauk]

I know the feeling. Last night in heavy rain and rush hour traffic there was a cyclist dressed all in black, no lights, hi-vis etc. Not racing but completely oblivious to the world. Almost impossible to see in the rain-flare and weaving in and out of traffic. It'd be a wonder if they last until Christmas at that rate.

I wear all black and no hi-viz (yet do have lights) and seem to have managed fine since I started cycle commuting in 1982

 

[Sbudge]

I wear all black and no hi-viz (yet do have lights) and seem to have managed fine since I started cycle commuting in 1982

There's a big difference between something and nothing . I also suspect you have far far more road awareness than last night's muppet. This person was so hard to see in the rain I only saw them when I was practically drafting them. I backed off and saw several vehicles do similar.

 

[13 rider]

I try and make Wednesday and Thursday bike days . Nearly bailed this morning alarm woke and I could hear rain lashing the window shall I have that extra half an hour and take the car or man up . Decided on the later quick cup of coffee and out the door and it had stopped raining . So slightly extended route for 12 miles in warm dry conditions had put overshoes on to keep feet dry and they were very toasty warm boarding on to warm. Direct route home 8.1 miles in warm if a bit windy conditions .came across a guy fixing a puncture stopped and asked if he was OK and he said he'd just finished and was OK .

 

[Jenkins]

First day of nine consecutive in the run up to Christmas. Out at 6am and overdressed in a long sleeved summer weight jersey & Lusso Breathe jersey.

Virtually no traffic on the way in but by the afternoon people seemed to be concentrating on anything other than driving sensibly. Couple of close passes, one rapid swerve in to make a pinch point and another trying to inch out at a junction while only looking in one direction - not mine!

 

[Origamist]

Too warm!

 

[Andrew_P]

I am a daffodil I keep wearing the appropriate kit for December, I mean real December. Still its aiding the weight loss - not doing the people I work with much good though.

 

[summerdays]

I am a daffodil I keep wearing the appropriate kit for December, I mean real December. Still its aiding the weight loss - not doing the people I work with much good though.

Yes I have that problem too, I keep wearing a buff and i suspect I don't need to.

 

[martint235]

I tried the Riverside Park today. It's a really nice place to cycle, bit too flat for my fitness levels but it's got smooth paths, considerate dog walkers and is only marred by the complete nobbers on bikes. I despair, I really do.

Other than that a pleasantly warm cycle in, one van tried to race me into a pinch point but my zen like calm remains. Haven't yet decided how many commutes I'm doing over the Xmas period, I have to come to work on the 29th but may work from home the rest of the time.

 

[Origamist]

Felt a bit tired this morning, but a good tailwind meant it was a pretty quick commute.

Still stupidly mild for December, but I should really stop moaning as I suspect when it is 1C and sleeting I would kill for 10C...

Achilles seems to have sorted itself out - if so, that's the best xmas present I could have hoped for...

 

[donnydave]

Haven't cycled for nearly a month now, firstly due to falling off and not realising I was injured, then sent away for work for a whole week (last week), now this week was only 4 working days for me due to travelling back from foreign lands, then I got ill from drinking the local water while away on aforementioned business trip so I've been getting lifts to work, then today and tomorrow I have a mountain of stuff to take to/from work, too much for the bike. THEN...... on holiday from next week until last week in Jan so in total almost 2 months off the bike!

My legs ache constantly and the muscles feel very tight so I can only presume they are withering away to nothing due to lack of use