This morning's commute and other commuting stories

i have no idea what anyone is talking about anymore, so i am going home. GOOD. DAY.

no no no, trousers before shoes.

bit cold for ice cream

Speak up in the back, you're mumbling.

Drafted an old lady on an e-bike on the way back home yesterday. Felt bad.

And then there was that mamil on a hybrid BSO. IF you have to go full-kit-wanker at least have the bike look the part too.

Got knock off my bike last night by a grumpy blacked out Range Rover, they took anger with me because I sat in front of them in an ASL box. They then drove slow behind me until I reached a section of road where on my left were packed cars just I got to the first packed car they speed up so I couldn't move out and ended up smashing into the parked car. Buckled front wheel and cuts and bruises.

Did you get a number plate? should report them if you can

I guess lots of riders time themselves over their daily commute. I never do - although I do try to get a sense of how well and fit and fast it feels! You know - some days WOW and some days yuch. In October last year I was on fire every day - 15 miles each way - city to Poplar - including 3 laps of the Isle of Dogs. Felt like I'd reached an unstated goal and I was maintaining it. Then...disaster. A mountain biking accident. Serious. Smashed pelvis, lumbar and cervical vertebra. Discussions with people in white coats about wheel chairs ...forever. I lay on my back for 4 days - had surgery to screw my broken bits back together - managed to lean on a zimmer frame and drag myself a few steps, then crutches to the end of the ward, crutches to the loo(can't tell you how good that was), crutches to a shower and eventually crutches to the café! I was sent home to recover - climbed back on my bike in March - and have since ridden the Dunwich Dynamo in 8 hours and f*cked around with the HHSB lot to Cambridge. But it's my daily commute that is the yardstick for my recovery. And I can tell you that this week I am back! On fire and up to speed and knocking off those miles with a grin and many monster pedal strokes! Feels good. Love my commute. Love cycling.

Strange driver baffled me this morning. Sitting in stationary traffic on a quiet road, they suddenly pull out and come up halfway alongside me. Cue a minute of wondering whether they want to turn into the tiny side street I'm next to (I know, bad form), but they're not indicating or making any other sign.

Traffic finally moves and they sit stationary for ages after I cycle off. People are strange sometimes.

I find in most cases like that you'll look in the window and see a mobile phone in their lap that they're paying attention to.

#wouldrep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBktYJsJq-E#t=34

Awesome Melsbikes!

This is what it's all about man!

I had similar.

Big mountain bike smash last June - thoroughly smashed my left side (multiple fractures in my shoulder, collarbone, ribs, radius, ulnar, wrist) and nearly lost all use of my hand.
Three weeks in the 'ozzy, 4 operations and plenty of physio.
Followed by 9months on public transport.
Just into my fifth month back on the bike (12miles each way commute with regular laps of Regents thrown in) and feel fit and capable again.
Did the RideLondon100 and the bike TT as part of a team triathlon in Aug.
I fucking loves it.

Here's to bikes!

Nice to know I'm not the only plonker out there!
Public transport....shit...forgot about that bit....now there's an eye-opener! Tube escalators on crutches - feck!!!!! Getting to a seat on a bus before the driver floors the go pedal and tips you on your arse. Black cab? Forget it - not made for people on crutches with steel reinforced bones. And the final leg to the office. Slithery wet pavements and not-very-grippy crutches. I confess I am a convert to the London bus - always my second choice after the cycle.

Hmmm....will give mountain biking the swerve then

Looked in the window of a slow and randomly weaving car the other day, expecting to see the standard phone in driver's lap... in fact they were completely engrossed in counting a large wad of cash.

Swerving and mountain biking - my downfall. :-)

Awesome! Well done Mel!

That's awful. Did you call the police?

Schools are back .....

Back on my beloved Claud Butler for a morning commute over Williamsburg Bridge, tears of joy

Better than Manhattan Bridge at 11:30 on a Sunday. A mistake I will not make again.

Hipster thread>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Oh I get it, hahahaha, because there are only hipsters living in Williamsburg hahaahahah huhuhuhh.