This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Bit boring but I had my first ever technical "london commute" today after years of taking the tube over short distances. Much fun, little sweat, few douches. Will ride again. 9/10

No rain forecast today = everyone back on summer bikes = OKR drag race. 10/10 would race again.

Urgh. I hadn't got round to remembering one of the routes suggested in this thread so just did what I knew already, which was Tulse Hill - Effra Rd - Brixton Rd - Kennington Park Rd - E&C - Borough High St.

Up until Brixton Rd was nice, then hideous amounts of traffic until past Kennington, and then a million terrible cyclists.

3/10

Definitely going to take a longer, less busy route home today.

same on CS8; I drafted a night vision ..

7/10

After weeks of zen I finally lost it today and called someone out for RLJ-ing. He claimed not to understand. I think English was not his first language.

Nobody wins.

Still too hot.

5/10

I’ve got a pulled muscle and a trapped nerve in my lower back, and it is serving up pain in my left testicle.

Could've been better.

4/10

So slow.

So very, very slow.

Still - nobody's shitty careless driving put me at risk at any point.

c/10

Kudos to the chap gripping his front light between his teeth. Dedication to the road safety cause.

I did this last night, only cause the fucker blitzed past me. He retorted but I couldn't hear what he said. I tried to catch up with him, but the lights weren't in my favour. However I did then get complimented by a scooter driver on my speed.

8/10

I think I may have been in that drag race... me bouncing along on a blue charge plug with chavvy mud guards, rear light on. 9/10, got stuck behind a bus.

Train in today, slow and tedious. Does anyone else avoid drain covers while walking as they would when cycling?

Not really but I do find myself head checking and getting annoyed at people who 'change lanes' without head checking.

I do that.

And bosh gels and piss myself on really long walks.

Multi Grain goodness with a slight sugary flavour 1st thing in the morning?

You Sir, are the Cheerio-type.

Bit late the show but worthwhile IMO.

I have a race belt full of bars, gels, sunscreen and ibuprofen and also only ever wear shorts, so I can piss on the move.

Watched that episode the other day

<3 Hal

Erm, never mind.

Didn't spot the whole other page after the post I was replying to.

Just to add, as a non commuter, this is an enthralling and educating thread.

a night vision

lol

I think I might have been with you at
round two at the lights on Albany Rd/Sainsburys? I was on a dark blue Bianchi Pista.

It launched off the start line immediately into a bus cluster fuck, lots of racers from round 1 got caught up in the mayhem..

I managed to get into the inside lane and absolutely blasted it with the cars, caught up with and passed my main rival from round 1, putting me in 2nd but I had to slow up because of a wobbly MTBer who jumped off the pavement ahead near the finish line (bricklayers arms roundabout) and he took me on the outside corner from my draft at a rapid pace. Gave me a smile as he passed.

Haha yep I was there, I went from the inside to the outside and got through the cluster in the relatively empty right turn lane. The rest is a bit of a blur but was a good run up there this morning, top three in two of my segments on strava since recovering from an injury so the turkey last night was doing some good.

Dont remember seeing such a tasteful bike but will certainly look out for you on the next run. DAS me if you see my bearded face and wait for realisation to dawn.

I have a commute again!!!!!!
Fuck yeah.
Rose it fixed today, with a very heavy bag and I'm not sure about that decision. Was 10mins slower than speediest geared time... But holy fuck it was glorious.
Warm, no wind, no cars, no people and beautifully crisp. In such a good mood!

rolled into town late, avoiding the commuter peloton, and swanned about on the porteur, something to be said for being above the rushing hoi polloi, felt very stately..

you just love saying the word 'porteur' go on, say it again. you're saying it out loud right now, aren't you?