This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I don;t think they are at the moment, at least not towards HH from TH. This morning it was literally backed up right to the lovely Tulse Hill gyratory experienceTM.

To take your post more seriously (drawn in to the trolling)

Cycling safely is not difficult. A little common sense and some awareness, even without training, and you will be a perfectly competent cyclist. I refuse to excuse people cycling "in a way that causes them and others around them danger" on grounds of experience. You wouldn't give motorists that excuse.

If a pellet swerves in to me, they can cause an extremely serious, if not a fatal, collision. In this sense, my personal thoughts are quite the opposite to 'the more the merrier'. Shit cyclists endanger me, get in my way and generally frustrate me far more than drivers. I know I'm going to have to put up with them, for the good of increased spending on infrastructure, road user awareness and for buying nice shit second hand, but barring those (admittedly decent) benefits, I would rather everyone gave it up bar my immediate cycling compatriots.

I approve, in an abstract way, of more people choosing healthier and greener ways of travelling. However, I just wish they would take it up far, far away from me.

Is this a shitty, selfish, solipsistic way of thinking about commuters? Yes.
Am I a snob? Probably, yes
Will I continue to dislike everyone on the road bar me? Also yes.

#rep

/unzips/

Night, night,kidz...

So, I decided to retire my fuji track from commuting. My knees are still dodgy, the tyres are scarey in the wet, and the brakes even moreso. In it's place, I've dug out an old dawes xc hardtail, given it fat tyres (well, 1.5"), disc brakes and many and varied gears. Just did a test ride; it is awesome. Rides like a tank. Came down the leigham court road bunny-hopping every single speed hump. Genuinely looking forward to commuting now. Just hoping I don't get 20+ roadies up my back first time I have to hit the brakes.

...many and varied gears. Just did a test ride; it is awesome.

Some other bit of the internet >>>

many and varied gears.

Fuck this shit. I'm sat in my kitchen waiting for this rain to go. Should sort the men/women from the boys/girls*

*Privilege checked.

Reminds me, thanks to the rider (yesterday) who stopped to pick up my light after it made a bid for freedom on the King's Road (near Fernshaw Road). It's one of the numerous Cateye brackets that is never quite secure. At least it didn't crack open and spread its 4 AA batteries everywhere.

Next month will see a dynohub wheel ordered from Rose and I can fit the IQ Fly I have lying around somewhere.

I actually enjoyed riding in the rain this morning.
All fun and games until I got to Wimbledon and the whole town was gridlocked. ALL THE WEAVING.

Dropping off girls at Wimbledon High School does this.

"don't pull, squeeze"

It's just increased driver traffic between Clapham Common and Stockwell. I'm hoping the excitement will have died down by tomorrow as I didn't bike in this morning.

It wasn't as wet as last Tues.

#htfu

Should have changed the summer overshoes to my winter ones and got my arse in gear to put the rear mud guard on. Instead I have cold wet feet and a soggy harris. Also in need of some device to help me see through me goggles in the rain.

I'm going to chuck another coat of Salclear on my glasses to help stop them fogging and beading with water.

I did. I took all my clothes off, jammed an allen key up my jap's and sprinted into work on a child's bike I stole off a tramp.

#hardasfuck

Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous

Will check it out.

Ride in this morning was ace. Wet, but fast because everyone else seemed to be on the tube or the bus. Love rainy days.

Proper wannabe 'fixie' rider last night though. Blue leader frame, straight bars about 30cm in width, srsly - the ourys went to the stem. Single speed and one brake. classic.

I can only presume he was racing me, seemed to be spinning and huffing and sweating into his superdry bomber jacket. Dunno, should have said something but I'm sure any advice wouldn't have been appreciated.

Possibly roadworks on South Circular eastbound, it's been gridlocked every evening. Causing same issue in Dulwich on College Road.

Just look at that weather

Blue sky spotted in westminster - heading south east.

a very simple but deadly effective solution to the wet socks issue

DON'T WEAR THEM

suns out