This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Rode the beater-tank-wooden-box-mobile.

Slow and smooth.

9/10

Back on the bike today, save for a 20min turbo yesterday. Got up with the missus on early shift to avoid the traffic. The Kinesis is currently overgeared singlespeed so it was a bit of a grind but that suits me at the moment. Going home through heavier traffic could be less fun though.

Nothing wakes you up in the morning like a faceful of wiper fluid when you're going fast downhill in heavy traffic. Thanks, fat bald fella in ugly red range rover, for giving me the extra alertness needed to navigate swiss cottage junction.

I hate dirty windows.

Let's try a different route to work!

Half an hour walk to Denmark Hill Overground, 30 minute '11 minute' journey to Canada Water, then lots of very rude people all the way through to Cunty Wharf...

This is almost enough to get me back onto the biek... -3/10

Was there tail wind from SW to central? If there was 7/10 if not 8/10

but should I be stopping for them when they try and scuttle across the road a la Frogger?

Yes.

my glasses are spotless now

Silver linings!

Last Wednesday night I was struck really suddenly with a ghastly head cold. I rode into work on Thursday wrapped up like a good 'un but by mid afternoon had to concede that I was getting nowhere and grabbed a cab home. On Friday I had a breakfast meeting and so came in by train, went to the meeting, returned to the office and felt atrocious. By 1pm I conceded and cabbed home again. Straight to bed. Woke on Saturday feeling much better. I took it easy over the weekend and did not ride at all. On Sunday I drove to the office and picked up my bike and some other stuff.

This morning, I set off in the dark at 6:40am from home for the three mile ride to the City. Traffic was fairly light but the road surface was wet. For some reason I felt very uncomfortable on my bike and became overly concerned about skidding off on manhole covers. I rode really gingerly. I was tense on the bike. I had morbid thoughts of crashes; realisations of my own mortality.

Very odd. Not pleasant. Wouldn't want to repeat.

1/10

Way home was pretty good + my consultant called in sick so it was a 1/2 day. 21.2mph average.
Been a while since I'd broken 50 mins for the way home. Bring on tmw.
http://www.strava.com/activities/229702837/segments/5423133887

On way home today had to stop at a zebra to let class of primary school kids cross. Sat patiently in a trackstand until they finally passed, at which point the young lady teacher who was shepherding them smiled and said "good balance".

Makes it all worthwhile :)

I felt like this last week but it was a drunk guy who then shouted "Ready, set, GO!" after he had crossed the road, made me laugh.

Back wheel totally skidded out on a smooth manhole cover.. Styled it out well good.
8/10 would skid again

Delayed leaving as much as possible, even contemplated the train. Within 5 minutes on the bike I was enjoying it (just as I usually do) and happy that I'd taken the bike.

Got to work and ID badge and work keys are in my running bag at home. Luckily Tuesday is changeover day for my locker (clothes, towel, etc) and so I'm not left wandering the office in cycling shorts.

Commute: 8.895/10
Administrivia: 2/10

i have a horrible cough so my g/f cycled off without me and i got the tube and made everyone ill. The tube was late, had to get off and get a bus, late to work.

3/10

sunny and crisp ride in for 10 am start
10/10

bah

Pitch black and glorious again. 10/10. Got in at 7:15, one of the quicker rides in, bit of a head-wind, spurred on by the thought of breakfast and coffee.
The only thing that could improve my ride in is if I could find an as close to completely off-road version- as there are days when road riding makes me sad.
The planning is in the works... Just need a properly free weekend.

Way home is gonna suck though. Traffic is just mental at the moment.

You wait 4 months for the bike of your dreams and this happens. My mates bike, day 5 after getting and we went for an after work spin. He's ok, nothing broken, but a bit shaken up. He wept when he saw the remains of his pride and joy. 0/10

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oh god.
The rest of it is under the car? What happened? Did he go over the bonnet/windscreen/roof?

Perhaps all the crap wedged in the front of the car didn't help the driver see properly.

Fuck. Glad he's alright.
Hope the driver pays out.

Looks nasty. Lucky not to have broken any bones with a hit like that. What happened?

Holly molly, hope he's alright?

Flipping 'eck!