This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Is that what the ambos were for? I just picked my bike up (with new chain and almost split rear rim) from Spitalfields..

Where I saw the ambulance was outside 155 Bishopsgate, bit further north and other side of the road from the coppers.

It was just opposite the Natwest/RBS building if you are going towards Shorditch. Must admit I didn't stop as I was trying to get back to the office and plenty of witness at the bus stop saw it.

Gust of wind this morning blew a load of tree blossom into my face. Stung a little. Accidently said "ow" out loud. Had to check around to make sure no one heard. Macho/10. Would blossom again.

Had a nice death threat from a driver who basically suggested I looked at him funny. Passed him while he was making a three point turn...he wasn't in my way so I didn't think anything of it, a minute later he's made another three point turn in order to drive along side me for a while and ask if I have a problem with him, to which I reply that I have no idea what he's on about. He then said I turned my cheek when I went past him...still no clue what he's on about. carried on my normal route across London Fields - said he'd see me on the other side and kill me. Genuinely have no idea what his problem was or what facial expression I may have had in order to incur his wrath. Anyways, he had plenty of opportunity to run me over so was obviously bullshitting. Not a pleasant way to end the week nevertheless.

I had similar threats from a driver when I smiled at my 1 month old child in my partners' arms. The fact he was stationary in a long line of traffic probably had nothing to do with it...

I could perhaps understand the stress had he been in a traffic jam, but we were the only people on the whole street...I mean, doesn't he have better things to do?!

Had quite a heated altercation with another cyclist on Regent's canal on my way home today. After dark, no lights and headphones in - as I go past ringing my bell he swerves into me, oblivious. Tried to stay calm and explain what he was doing wrong, but he got aggressive and told me I should ring my bell. I told him I was and he should either get rid of the headphones or have a bit more awareness, he just got worse - decide to ignore and carry on but as I ride off I hear him shout something after me so I stop and we square up a bit. No fisticuffs but was quite unpleasant and not happy to have been involved in it.
Really not that type of guy but felt I had to make a stand. I'm along the canal often, and some of the inconsiderate cycling - mainly to pedestrians - is infuriating. Even though it's quite a detour I'll stay on the road from now on I think, I've had enough stupidity.

I walk my dog on Regents canal most mornings/evenings and the attitude of some of the cyclists pisses me right off. Was glad to read you mention the inconsiderate cycling in your post, I've not yet ridden down there myself, seems a bit like voluntarily putting yourself in a bottleneck to me but I know exactly why you felt you had to make a stand there, its a hot bed for bad attitude.

Definitely. I think if people decide to cycle down the canal, they have to accept it's gonna be slow and they don't have priority, but the cyclists who go down there seem to think exactly the opposite.
It gets very busy with cycle traffic down there at times and people treat it like a road which isn't on, you see a mix of clueless people like the guy tonight and then people kitted up with their lycra and panniers and high vis down there narrowly avoiding kids and dogs and prams at speed.
Nice to have a vent. Always feel guilty after having given someone a piece of my mind.

I walk with my dogs at the canal and sometimes really trying not to throw Tour De France racers in the water.

I have a canal boat so often riding on the towpath. Such dicks. You even get people on the overtake! Plenty of trunk roads in London with bus lanes if you want to go fast.

First commute in since having lung issues. Went ok considering a tiny bit of me was panicking as I'd left my asthma pump at home.

Only a few issues, lady on Kennington Road I was overtaking shoulder checked, saw I was there and then stuck her arm out and went anyway, grrr. Also lady at the lights under the railway bridge on Westminster Bridge Road, don't park yourself on the far left if you are then going to cut across all of us to then go right to Waterloo.

Made the error of not looking outside before leaving the house this morning. Much fog and bloody freezing out in the countryside. Glad to have my jacket in the bag, S/S Gabba and base layer was not enough today. Nice ride otherwise.

That's the joy of having a shed, got the bike out, went back inside and put more clothes on. It's going to be a hot ride home.

5C in
17C home

Half day at work last week, took the Lea home in the early afternoon and it was glorious, if a bit busy.

Here's a nice quiet spot:

Glorious through Battersea Park around 8:45am. Warm, sunny, those bright neon green early leaves shining back. Slight sepia tone to my new sunnies making everything seem like an instagramed 70's throwback. Looking forward to a potter up through St James park at lunch and the even warmer cruise home along the river.

Life could be so much worse.

Yes - it's looking gorgeous now..I love this time of year.

Not surprised he carried on, he had a dead body next to him.

Lol...

That's got me laughing in stitches!

Gauging her reaction very much doubt you could have gotten through to her.

A one inch punch to the temple usually gets the message across...

BIRDS! Ruddy birds!

Cycling along the canal this morning my front tyre flicked up some canada geese shite onto my crotch.
So now I've got a dubious purple stain near me zip. >>>>>healthclinic thread..
WTF do those birds eat? I mean, at least it's not white.. but c'mon
Quack/10

Absolutely loved riding in today. Home to hospital (#spotted @tricitybendix) hospital to Brikky. Lush. Missed riding so much when injured.

Fulham/Walham-Green was a car park this morning.

Miles and miles of solid traffic added, ooh, 30 seconds to my commute.

9/10. Would be smug again.

Walking up tooting high street last night at 6.30pm I was agasp at the amount of cyclists coming down CS7, waves and waves of them. I commute across london via some back streets so don't ride in the masses like this - Is it usual to be riding within a foot of the cyclist in front? I'd do that with someone I know but wouldn't risk it with some random commuter!

Summer's here!

Someone guy in a silver bmw made a close pass at speed while giving 3 blips of his horn today, 2 sets of lights later I pull up next to him and just sit pointing at the camera on my handlebars watching his face drop.

4/don't like to be close passed
10/would ruin bmw drivers morning again