This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Today was a shitty day. So I will take a moment to recall this morning's commute which was the last good thing to happen to me. I emerged into the spring air with God Gave Rock and Roll to You by Kiss in my head. Why? Because some legend had welcomed the sun yesterday morning by whistling it while riding behind me near Elephant.

I got chatting with a lad half my age at the lights on tower bridge. He said he doesn't ride bikes much and that I must be dead fit. I said he'd still trounce me lights to lights in a race. Then for the first time ever the traffic thinned and it looked safe to have a proper spin so I said "come on then". Me on my sscx, beard in the wind sweating my balls off, him on a crappy mtb, wearing a Parker with a parachute of a hood on it. Both of us with big grins as we traded honours. He gave a good account of himself - being about 17 and not suffering the effects of a lifetimes boozing and smoking, but ran out of steam in the last 100 yards and I ended up mauling him but slowed up and we rode down tower bridge rd together chatting about bikes and stuff. Parted company at the big NKR roundabout. Nice to meet you Kevin, you're definitely not on here but my day got off to a goodn.

Downhill from there but that's another story bro.

I got chatting with a lad half my age at the lights on tower bridge... dead fit... I said "come on then"...sweating my balls off... Both of us with big grins as we traded honours...He gave a good account of himself -, but ran out of steam and I ended up mauling him...Nice to meet you Kevin, you're definitely not on here but my day got off to a goodn.
.

And you a married man.

:) I know! Scandalous!

Not a 'spotted' bc he's prolly not on here, but every, EVERY! morning I see the same courier on Primrose st. Orange jacket, citysprint maybe.

If I'm on time, we're at the opposite end of lights. If I'm late, he lurking outside the office building on Primrose st.

It used to be: glance - oh that guy again.
Then it moved on to: look of recognition.
Then: slight nod.
Yesterday: pursed lips smile.

Do I go all out and yell "HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" wave

It's getting awkward. Plz help+ interwebz forum of cycle geeks.

+The irony is not lost.

As I'm sure you're eager to hear, further developments:
Courier was there last night same spot, opposite direction. pursed lips smile.
This morning same regular spot by the building.
He's learning my movements, I'll surprise him next week by not turning up evah again!

I've unfortunately not got a commute at the moment, just a sub ~10 walk through the delights of Shoreditch.

However, last night's riding was absolutely wonderful. Training in London can be shitty and repetitive and soporific when you're hunkered down in Regents, but it does mean that when you feel good and are riding well, you really notice it. The moons aligned for me last night, and I was feeling brill. Shorts and a jersey, a warm and close evening and exactly the right psi - blissful.

Also nice when Strava backs you up on that feeling!

^this x100.

Can I just add: A beautifully clean, lubed, quiet drive train. Perfectly adjusted gears (if you haz them). Dry roads with loads of grip, perfect for above average cornering speed. That snugness and comfort that freshly laundered cycling clothes gives. Cleats adjusted spot on.

Strange that after this morning, I just discovered this thread....

I was coming out of my road, just about to start my ride to work this morning, when a friendly guy in a beaten up old Escort stopped me to ask for directions. I spent a little while explaining the directions, but he wasn't really getting it. I realised it was on my way, so why not just follow me there? So, in our little bike + car convoy, we coasted down Streatham High Road and the guy patiently followed me to his destination. Guess it just goes to show that some cyclists and some drivers can find a way to get along....

Amazing that he needed not one, but two escorts to get there. :)

^this. smiley face not necessary, but cheeky.

New bike boxes and ASLs have cropped up over the weekend on Woburn Place near Tavistock Gardens. Pleasantly surprised.

Was enjoying the sun this morning until, cycling uphill in a cycle lane a driver in slow moving traffic swerves right into the cycle lane in front of me just to avoid a bump in the road ahead!
I caught up alongside and tried to get the drivers attention by waving (literally, no middle finger stuff) but she was too busy texting (i assume) on her phone to see me even then. Have never felt so invisible, so much for a sunny ride into work.

So - two things I thought about my commute
Firstly it is still too cold for fingerless gloves in the morning

Secondly - it wasn't getting harder to cycle into work - I hadn't swapped my wheel round from the track session so I was cycling in on track gearing

Me: on the right hand side of the right hand lane of traffic free two lane one way street, ending at a big crossroads and red traffic lights. Red beamer skims me on my inside (left) then stops at the red lights. As I cycle past him I ask him to give cyclists more space in future, his response was that I was in the middle of the road and that I can piss off. I called him some names.

So two empty lanes and he chooses to pass within a foot of me, a punishment pass clearly, I was even in the middle of the right lane. But I will say that is one of the issues with taking primary (even though I wasn't) is that being away from the curb seems to have the effect of painting a target on your back, and I find when I do so to prevent drivers overtaking me, half the time they take increased risks to get past me.

I found the commute home last night hard going, almost as if the breaks were on. I couldn't get enough air into my lungs and felt generally unfit. perhaps this was why?

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/02/smog-alert-england-wales-air-pollution-saharan-dust

Going to be worse tonight apparently

I felt crap riding last night too (I had had some beers, but this felt different).

Nasty.

I found the commute home last night hard going, almost as if the breaks were on. I couldn't get enough air into my lungs and felt generally unfit. perhaps this was why?

Or a headwind?

I and a forumeager have a hard time trying to fight it on the way home.

Photo opportunity I could not miss on yesterday's ride in.http://imageshack.com/a/img27/148/1r6v.jpg

Whoa that's BIG.

Or a headwind?

I and a forumeager have a hard time trying to fight it on the way home.

Headwind = more air in lungs, no?

I found the commute home last night hard going, almost as if the breaks were on. I couldn't get enough air into my lungs and felt generally unfit. perhaps this was why?

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/02/smog-alert-england-wales-air-pollution-saharan-dust

Going to be worse tonight apparently

It's more likely to be because you are old and unfit, Mike.

Really liked the conditions for this morning's ride in. Only a little bit of rain. Nice and cool. Felt I was taking it easy yet arrived at work faster than normal.

Although I did encounter a lorry with the tallest cab I've seen. Irish plates. Couldn't understand why the driver's seat was so lofty. I sat way back from it because I didn't trust it to be safe. Another rider still went up the inside of it though. Tried to warn him after that it was dangerous and he just looked baffled by what I was saying. oh well.

Crashed last night when I hit a wet drain cover turning left at some lights. Only minor damage to a pedal (and my knee).

Then, this morning I nearly stacked it when my hand slipped off my handlebar. Somehow managed to keep upright!

Hoping for a more chilled ride tonight.

Lot's of fast moving aggressive HGV's out there this morning. I fear the worst

Photo opportunity I could not miss on yesterday's ride in.http://imageshack.com/a/img27/148/1r6v.jpg

Bike tag?