This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I've asked her, she said he sounded posh @croft.

Ask your Mrs if he was on a Giant plz. The humpback.

It was a white bike, she didn't notice the brand.

Sounds kinda like my CEO. Awkward.

White bike, she thinks specialized with "an annoying bell". Funny if it was!!

Update: about 30 with dark floppy hair.

I bet. I just switched to 48/17 having been on a too-spinny 44/16 for a while. Hill starts now require a Hoy-like lurching hunch.

There's 2 inches difference between those gears, aka fuck all.

Boo. Not the same guy :(

Oh, the other thing that's switched out is 165mm cranks instead of 170. A cumulative effect.

Anyone know how this redeveloped roundabout on Queenstown Rd, Battersea is supposed to work? Seems to put continueing cyclists across the path of exiting vehicles at 90 degrees, at each exit. So by shunting cyclists to the outside edge, they now have to get through a bunch of traffic lights just to go straight through?

Found this: http://lcc.org.uk/articles/space4cycling-at-battersea-roundabout-but-is-it-dutch

It's going to depend on the timings of the lights, possibly generous, possibly shit. It's overcomplicated really, loads of room for cycle-zebras around a one lane roundabout.

NB. The 'ahead' cycle lights should be green with the ahead car lane. The conflicting movements are light controlled. TFL have a massive hard on for light controlled junctions as part of a massive London wide traffic management program.

Ah I see, phasing to control conflicting flows. Based on the number of drivers who completely ignore the red lights on similarly-sized trafalgar sqr roundabout, I have some doubts. If they optimise for North/south route it might work.

Rubbish news, just been informed that we are closing our London office and most of the company is moving to Reading due to the cost of renting office space. This is great news for the people who live in or near Reading, but for the only two Londoners one of which works at home 4 days a week this is shite news. As now I'll have no where to lock my bike or shower and no base. As I'm site 90% of the time suppose it makes sense, but what about my commuting in, saved a fortune in train fares over the last 3 years, really don't fancy have to get the train into work.

Options, Options

buy a brompton on cycle to work scheme, get on one stop later, get off one stop earlier, still riding and saving a "little" bit of money..

Had crossed my mind, but then it would mean lumping a Brompton around with me as sometimes I have a few client meetings at various sites.

Am impressed with the number of people who now shoulder check and still make a move regardless of what's behind them

No shoulder-checking, that's Head Indication™

Quit.

#Readingffs

^ This. Moving to Reading has clearly got to be constructive dismissal.

To be fair I'am going on sabbatical next year, not to poxy Reading mind.

sabbatical

I didn't know Ozzy and the band were touring. I listened to this yesterday..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yZA4TC_pt4

The time I ride at has moved a little and now I have one guy who I think treats it as a race but since the start of the week he seems to have got into the idea of not jumping lights I guess to copy me and make his race fair(?). Also chatted with a guy riding a dingle speed on the way home, old peugeot with the rear wheel swapped for a single freewheel and then the rear mech looked in pain as it was pulling out the slack in the chain.

some man carrying boxes 'meowed' at me

Saw a black cab today with the message 'look out for cyclists' displayed in neon on his roof.

Is it considered bad form to tell somebody their bike sounds like a heap of shit?

Probably. And mostly just mystifying.

What about a Langster (single speed) with only one rear brake pad?