This morning's commute and other commuting stories

All the chaps in Muddy Fox lycra from the '80s: the elastic has gone. It went some time ago. Please purchase new leggings that do not leave you horribly exposed.

It's pretty much see-through tights/leggings season again, isn't it? Please wear shorts, not sure I need to see your knickers. Mind you I found my jeans had slipped a bit low the other day. Apologies for any builder's bum.

Specialised Allez this morning...

Snapped chain, knackers smashed on the top tube and an unedifying roll into the middle of Bank junction at rush hour.

I felt for you bro

The Oval clusterfuck was particularly bad this morning - but I somehow breezed through E&C much more easily than usual. Swings and roundabouts, innit?

Lots of undertaking and general arseholery, but nicer weather than I was anticipating when I could hear the rain lashing down at 5am.

7/10

Still roadiedouchbag mode atm. Rode into work and the di2 decided to go into recovery mode, so pretty much ended up going old school in terms of spin2win! Not bad considering its been 6month since my last charge.

One of the songs on Homes Under the Hammer was "Bring Me Sunshine", then it rained like a bitch on me.

Complimented a gentleman at the top of Clapham High Road on his unusual looking chain. Some googling reveals it to be a belt, not a chain. Didn't know belt-driven bikes existed - very cool. Didn't half make a racket when he free-wheeled though.

I think Trek have a bike with a belt driven action?

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2012/02/urban-belt-drive-bikes/

No it wasn't me:)

Also Schindelhauer

Very, very angry Audi driver turning left at Oval onto Kennington this morning - your anger makes me happy, keep it up.

Got smacked hard on the head by a falling branch on the way home.

Damn wind

10/10 Would participate in the democratic process again.

A new one this morning. Overtaking traffic along the whole of Hackney Road, when I get to Old St roundabout a bloke on a bike pulls up next to me and says:

"About your passing on the right..."
to which I slow blink, sigh and turn my head to face the traffic lights
"are you listening?"
"sure, go ahead"
"it's actually very dangerous, because when you pass on the right, you force the cars you're overtaking to cut into the left across cyclists to get out of your way..."

"...it's actually a very selfish act."
"errr.... sure, thanks, have a good day."

dlock. teeth. move on.

You should report it to the Forestry Commission. They'll probably make the tree take an awareness course.

Stomach cramps, diarrhoea are not good when cycling. Can barely keep up 18mph right now. 2 weeks holiday has knocked me for 6

Is everyone who rides with a mirror on their bike a dick? I'm pretty sure they are.

Was he Aussie? Had someone attempt that argument before on tower Bridge

To be fair, overtaking on the right on TB into the path of traffic is pretty insane.

Why O why do people trying move into a space that doesn't exist or is rapidly disappearing. Same guy twice this morning cycling at full pelt into a stationary mob as he saw a glimmer of space near the front only for that space to disappear and him having to take action. Second time saw him hit a cyclist as they set off from the lights as he thought he could make the gap between cyclist and black cab, he hit the cyclist and bounce into the side of the cab. Fu8king Tool

Will laugh again 9/10

Marginal gains.

Is everyone who rides with a mirror on their bike a dick? I'm pretty sure they are.

Love this^

I apply same rule to recumbent riders.

Maybe we could do another bingo card - commuter twunt bingo:
Rear view mirror
Electric assist
Brown chain
Flat tyres
Full kit wanker
inappropriate bike with TT bars
Helmet on backwards
Left filter into disappearing gap inside left idicating HGV

Rear brake QR open
Saddle too low
Pedalling with arches of feet
Sailing over the stop line so they're past the traffic light and can't see when it changes
Pushes to front of ASZ, can't clip in when lights change

I'm assuming TB is tower bridge.
Done it many times, probably the safest place to be filtering down the center of traffic on tower bridge, as when space gets tight you'll always be squeezed against the kerb, when traffic pulls left to avoid touching ting mirrors.