This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Late middle-aged man with grey hair? I see him most mornings, unless there are two of them. There's often one parked outside the Lion King on my way home, too.

Don't mind a bit of innovation as long as they keep electric cars out of bus lanes.

Late middle-aged man with grey hair? I see him most mornings, unless there are two of them. There's often one parked outside the Lion King on my way home, too.

Don't mind a bit of innovation as long as they keep electric cars out of bus lanes.

Office for Low Emissions Vehicles - the forum?

I went out on Sunday with Brixton CC, we stopped at the junction of Skid Hill* road and Fairchildes Road to re-group.

It became apparent (two large skid marks) that a car had left its braking a little too late coming down Chelsham Court Road, and had clearly gone up and over the border of the field, narrowly missing the sign.

Moving a bit closer it turned out to be a silver Subaru WRX- still in the field, with three lads looking at it in a "how the fuck do we get this back out" way.

*Nominative determinism?

That was funny, especially when you went to talk to them and everyone thought you were taking the piss!

http://instagram.com/p/nSvkMyGwLW/

That ride was a right mare - ended up escorting our newest, most poorly maintained, member to Oxted so he could get the train home, only to find it was rail replacement busses. The 3rd driver finally let him on with a dismantled bike...

We then took our frustration out on chalkpit with cold legs. which was daft.

Mother of God, London's busy. So many near misses spotted today.

And it was so busy, that with a full archie on my back getting through gaps was so slow.
Don't miss this at all on my commutes up midlands, on an open road, with no traffic, in the countryside.

Po-po decided to overtake me on the ramp up a bridge over the motorway. He did so at a mellow 15mph, presumably so he could cruise the estate looking for permicious knids, so on the ramp up he was faster, on the ramp down I was faster, much faster, so had to brake rather fly around a nice twisty, swoopy section, and so gave Po-po the 'if you're going to go that slow, why did you overtake' handgesture

I didn't get a great look at the Twizy driver, but he looked quite young.

Knocked off on the way home today. Driver was turning left on to the road I was cycling along and didn't see that I was there. I had just enough time to think 'oh fuck' before rolling over the bonnet and on to the floor.
Stood up to him waving an apologetic hand hand through the window before he drove off.
No real damage other than a slight buckle in front wheel but feel like such a n00b for not getting a num plate or anything.
If anyone was around Hornsey Rd at about 18:20 and saw anything let me know

Huge increase in bikes this morning but it was actually fairly pleasant along Walworth Road. The faster group rode very well and the slower didn't push to the front at the lights. Even the drivers seemed to be in a better mood.

Ride home seemed to be the polar opposite. Nearly taken out by a bus and then nearly barrelled into a another rider who had decided to try the illegal right turn from Denmark Hill onto Coldharbour lane after their lights had gone red. She just stopped in the middle of the yellow box, signalling right wondering why everyone was shouting and leaning on their horns.

^^Police that shit, that's failing to stop at the scene of an accident, which they might put a small amount of effort into chasing up.

^ Would like to but didn't do anything to get the number plate. All I know is that it was a red hatch back, not sure what the police could really do...

Other half reports a cyclist smacked a UPS driver's wing mirror off on Shaftesbury Avenue, it was hanging off afterwards. About 9.30.

Much anger. Bet his hand hurt after.

Doing it wrong. Short sharp kick. Easy when you see red.

I had my first run-in with target fixation this morning - I knew it existed but I'd never had it or really understood how it works. Discovered precisely what it's like when a chap on a motorcycle tried to undertake me while moving off at the set of lights on St George's road right at the monument thingy. I turned to my left to do a shoulder check, clocked him zooming up my left hand side and suddenly I was actually veering towards him at the same time. He stopped undertaking me when he realised what was happening, but bloody hell.

Long shot - those handlebars weren't green were they?

Genuinely can't remember, as I passed her up the road I blurted out a "I saw that, are you OK!?" and just got "Yeeeeessss -.-".

Ok then, cheers love. (y)

Then.......same day, same road (Camberwell New Rd) but this time on the commute home, I caught up with another nodder pack which started to break up. I kept on the tail of the fastest rider who was wearing baggy everything on this purple SS with white wheels making lots of rattling sounds so I then lodged off the tow and kept my distance, anyway a white car in front of us started to signal to turn left so I put the breaks on, rider in front just carries on completely oblivious, the is car is also not paying attention so turns left and this slow motion crash proceeds to unfold.

The guy hits the rear corner of the car but keeps the bike upright somehow, the car drives off like nothing just happened and because the guy has come to a complete unexpected stop he just falls off into oncoming bikes behind me who didn't see what was going on. I managed to stop, block the oncoming and ask him if he was ok etc. and he was cool BUT as a rode with him to Camberwell Green he proceeded to give ME a health and safety on the road briefing all the way to the lights!

He carried on nice and loudly at the red lights as other riders were pulling up "you always need to watch where you are going man, I've been riding for 13 years, every day you take your life in your hands". Other riders now overhearing and then looking at me as if it was my fisher-price my first ride to work day and I just had a silly crash. I really should have just turned around and said ffs who just crashed, you or me? But I just couldn't give the breath for it.

Pulled up into Cycle PS. and Harvey (owner) did a proper bar man "tell me your problems routine" I had a good moan and a good pint and it all ended happy ever after. The end.

After a 5 mile chase on my way home from work today (on commuter-x with rack and pannier, wearing shorts and t shirt) I finally dropped a guy in full lycra on some kind of carbon BMC... All I did was maintain my usual 18-22mph along the flattish route... While he remained glued to my back wheel... Dropped him like a sack of spuds when we hit a mild incline.

Made me smile, I've only been back on the bike 2 weeks after quite a while off with injury.... I tend to just ride at my own speed and don't really try to race, if someone overtakes I think it would be too much of an effort to chase them... people are funny. If I'm enjoying my ride why don't you?

^ Would like to but didn't do anything to get the number plate. All I know is that it was a red hatch back, not sure what the police could really do...

Do it anyway, there might be CCTV somewhere and they seem to be more interested in leaving the scene that sorting out accidents where people stop.

After a 5 mile chase on my way home from work today (on commuter-x with rack and pannier, wearing shorts and t shirt) I finally dropped a guy in full lycra on some kind of carbon BMC... All I did was maintain my usual 18-22mph along the flattish route... While he remained glued to my back wheel... Dropped him like a sack of spuds when we hit a mild incline.

Made me smile, I've only been back on the bike 2 weeks after quite a while off with injury.... I tend to just ride at my own speed and don't really try to race, if someone overtakes I think it would be too much of an effort to chase them... people are funny. If I'm enjoying my ride why don't you?

So you went quicker than someone else, without much effort. He should be ashamed!

After a 5 mile chase on my way home from work today (on commuter-x with rack and pannier, wearing shorts and t shirt) I finally dropped a guy in full lycra on some kind of carbon BMC... All I did was maintain my usual 18-22mph along the flattish route... While he remained glued to my back wheel... Dropped him like a sack of spuds when we hit a mild incline.

Made me smile, I've only been back on the bike 2 weeks after quite a while off with injury.... I tend to just ride at my own speed and don't really try to race, if someone overtakes I think it would be too much of an effort to chase them... people are funny. If I'm enjoying my ride why don't you?

Bikeradar is that way >>>>>>>>

Very quiet on the roads today - is the tube strike over?

Everyone's on the trains. Had to take one this morning as I had too much stuff for the bike, it was a nightmare

Strikelists are water soluble so can't risk it on days like today.

Man it pisses my off when people hug your back wheel. It's not a club run, this is London commuting. Depending on the person I'll either a) slow down, b) bunny hop over a pot hole, or c) start singing "I've got a song that'll get on your nerves" loudly in a stupid voice.

I'll hug people's wheels if they overtake me at lights.

Nothing fucks me off more.

If you push past me when I'm stood still/pushing off/moving through heavy traffic and then don't cycle faster than me, expect me to hitch a free ride off you.

Actually one thing I do do is if people hug my back wheel I slow down to lure them into overtaking then hug theirs.

Strikelists are water soluble so can't risk it on days like today.

Strikelists - good word. I have made a note of it and intend to use it in conversation. Hope that's OK...