Twilight Zone Commute

[Bristol Dave]

I had an unusual commute yesterday evening. Feeling a little jaded after a 'hard day at the office' the old legs were not up to their usual cadence. The heavens had just opened for the umpteenth time and I decided a steady pootle home was in order.

Wheeling along at about 3/4 my usual pace I had ample opportunity to give way to fellow road users and pedestrians alike. I received a bundle of cheery waves and smiles, despite the gloomy weather and I even found a car key on the pavement.

I arrived home having not been cut up or shouted at, tired but happy. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

BD

P.S. If anyone lost a key in the Beaufort Road area of St. George then go to Trinity Police Station where I handed it in this morning.

 

[beanzontoast]

Yeah - I never rush. Taking your time at a reasonable pace is the way to go IMO. Why rush when it's so much more enjoyable (and safer) to go at a steady speed? You don't arrive sweaty either, and it's easier on your bike's components if you don't thrash the bike every day.

It always makes me wonder when I see commuters hurtling along flat out on bikes. They can't all be that late for work, can they?!

 

[magnatom]

I do try and go as fast as I can (safely of course). Having a family I don't have much chance for excercise, so my commutes are my main exercise.

I find that I have fewer incidents now, that I am moving that bit faster. I find it easier to be assertive the faster I go, and I tend to get less hassle from drivers.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I do try and go as fast as I can (safely of course). Having a family I don't have much chance for excercise, so my commutes are my main exercise.

I find that I have fewer incidents now, that I am moving that bit faster. I find it easier to be assertive the faster I go, and I tend to get less hassle from drivers.

So you're basically admitting that all your previous incidents were your own fault for dawdling along?

 

[magnatom]

So you're basically admitting that all your previous incidents were your own fault for dawdling along?

Ha!

No, it's just that I find it easier to be more assertive now, than I did then. It's all about confidence, and when I was going slower it was a little easier to be that little bit closer to the curb etc.

 

[andyfromotley]

i finished work at 3.30am the other night and thus cycled home in still air, a bright moon and not a single car or soul to be seen on the 10 miles home, weird and awesome at the same time.

 

[ketka82uk]

I usually pootle in and gun it back.

Although I feel safer going slow, having totted it up I now realise I have had more unpleasant incidents when riding at recovery pace. Usually down to driver (or indeed cyclist) frustrations leading to close overtakes and nipping in front at junctions, lights etc...

Had an incident with a bus the other day where he tried to squeeze between me and oncoming traffic after I remained in primary to overtake two sets of parked cars about 50m apart. I wasn't going ridiculously slowly and didn't fancy moving in and then having to rejoin the traffic flow again almost immediately. Unfortunately, the cyclist in front who was travelling at approx the same speed did move in and the bus driver obviously considered I should have done the same (or blindly assumed I would do so). Passed me with literally centimetres to spare. Not pleasant! What annoyed me most was that the bus stop was only about 200m up the road!

That particular incident probably wouldn't have happened if I'd been going at a faster pace although I've had a few scrapes travelling at speed - many of which have been entirely my fault!

 

[notsolazy]

i finished work at 3.30am the other night and thus cycled home in still air, a bright moon and not a single car or soul to be seen on the 10 miles home, weird and awesome at the same time.

I regularly cycle home at this time when I've finished work (I love shift work). It isn't as long as 10 miles using the direct route but plenty of times I take a detour just because its nice to have the whole road to yourself and to enjoy the calmness

 

[Mac66]

Had a wierd twighlight zone experience a few months back.

I live out in get orf my laaand territory and my commute is 95% B-road and country lane.

Anyway, it was earlyish and misty. Not a single person or car in sight for whole 8 mile journey and no bird-song either.

It was like one of those only man alive, or "all roads lead back to the village" films

Bl**dy great it was.

 

[hackbike 666]

Yeah - I never rush. Taking your time at a reasonable pace is the way to go IMO. Why rush when it's so much more enjoyable (and safer) to go at a steady speed? You don't arrive sweaty either, and it's easier on your bike's components if you don't thrash the bike every day.

It always makes me wonder when I see commuters hurtling along flat out on bikes. They can't all be that late for work, can they?!

Yeah we are both too old to rush or go fast.

 

[summerdays]

The heavens had just opened for the umpteenth time

You were on the wrong side of Bristol then... it was weird how all the dark clouds stayed on the south/east side of Bristol and the north west was completely dry and sunny all day until 10pm we had some light rain.

 

[beanzontoast]

Yeah we are both too old to rush or go fast.

But at least there's the cheaper car insurance and half price at the gym!

 

[thomas]

Ha!

No, it's just that I find it easier to be more assertive now, than I did then. It's all about confidence, and when I was going slower it was a little easier to be that little bit closer to the curb etc.

It is true...when I'm worn out/getting tired I'd feel guilty taking a stronger position, where as if I was doing a good speed in the same bit I wouldn't.

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi Bristol Dave.

I have to say that I have watched a few (quite a few) posts about road rage and cut up's and have kept my mouth shut as I'm still a real noob in these things (only been cycling in a week and a half now).

But, my impressions so far really contradict most of the impressions from the "hardened" riders, in that I get a lot more GOOD experience than BAD.

I'm putting it down to a mix of quite routes, good behavior...and blind luck.

However, I do always make a point of thanking those who help (and get a big smile or reciprocal thanks) and often meet the same car/driver later who is even happier to help again ...often with laugh (like I've made some kind of commute buddy along the way).

I even had a brief chat with a guy at the lights on Monday who had moved over a couple of times to let me past an island and got thanked both times with a thumbs up and a wink from me. I find (so far) that the more you "include" drivers of cars, the more they are happy to help...they are, after all just like us (and none of us like to be excluded).

I'm sure this initial "honeymoon" impression will wear thin if I ever get knocked off or have a real scary incident but for now I'm riding all the time in the "twilight zone"....der-der-de-de-der-der-de-de...diddly-dum
-dum

Jonny

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

This morning was slightly odd: hardly any traffic and absolutely no peds or other bikes at all. But I did notice lots of cats .. all of which stopped and stared at me as I passed. It was like Day of the Triffids, only with cats instead of plants. And better special effects.