This morning's commute and other commuting stories

#trainwankered due to chesty cough and didn't face running in the early morning sleet/drizzle. Also shaved beard (and #2 on what's left of the hair on my head) so felt very cold this morning out there. Excuses...

Rammed trains, even after 9am. 1/10

yeah I know, I hate what an urban wasteland it is. No green spaces to be found anywhere south of the river.

How many times do I need to tell you, Essex is 400yds away.

Proves my point exactly, thanks.

South Green Spaces = Plague Death Pits

West is best.

^^^ 45% singles in North London???

Essex is a lot closer to the middle of nowhere than that.

Does that infographic say that there are no Jews living south of the river? Bold claim!

No, it says that less than 0.5% of the population of South is Jewish.

If the South population was 4M that could mean there were 19,999. Or, if they're doing shit rounding, it could even be 39,999.

But basically South London is anti-Semitic and every derelict scrap of land with weeds growing between slabs of cracked concrete has been designated as parkland/greenspace.

@Ramsaye we invented the concrete front garden/car space.

Of course.

South London wins hands down in terms of people walking in the middle of the road, I know that much

First commute in 8 weeks that hasn't been on an aeroplane.
New job means I can only get two days a week cycle commute max.

So I've gone from 15 miles each way to Swiss Cottage with a significant hill, 5 days a week.
to
7 flat miles each way to Old Street, 2 days a week tops.

Balls.

First ride on my new (first) build today. Was perfect apart from the fact that I forgot to fully tighten the back wheel nuts when I was sorting the chain tension last night. Back wheel skewed over to the drive side and locked up as I was crossing mare street at Cambridge heath station. Squeaky bum time.

Sorted it roadside and had the most satisfying ride ever, despite total fuck up.

I left a little later than normal so was the first morning commute for months when it was not dark. 9/10

Whenever I tighten the chain I take a 15mm with me for a couple of days... Twice I've been nobbled by an axle nut slipping.

I very nearly didn't bring my tool roll. Was delighted to be able to fix it there and then rather than walk it to work. Lesson learned!

I always carry a small tool kit. The number of times it's proved invaluable is worth the extra weight. Trixie (15mm box wrench and lockring tool) is a permanent fixture.

+1 for Trixie - insanely useful little tool.

The only biek I will ride without taking a toolkit is the folder as it can still go on public transport. Though the toolkit for it is a permanent fixture in the bag that attaches to the bike.

Did you know you can buy a toolkit that go inside the Brompton frame?

I did. I have one. I never used it, as the only mechanical problems I've had on the Bromptons are spokes breaking and mudguard stays snapping.

How do people keep Zen when faced with commuter confrontation? I always seem to get raging which ain't great as I'd be crap in a fight, and I'm sure one of these days I'm gonna get flattened.

Had a guy telling me helmets were a legal requirement unless you wore a turban! Couldn't help but get shouty (he started it).

want to sell it?