This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I love the way that police patronise and treat normal decent people who are their intellectual, social and moral betters as though they are naughty four years olds.

This.

So much.

Coppers always call me "son". Sometimes I'm like twice their age. And probably get paid similar wage as they are.

Cunts.

#acab

Love early morning weekend rides into work (05:30), love going through Brixton watching all the clubbers wondering what to do next.

Big shout out to the group of kids who asked very politely if I would by them some booze, given the state of some of them I decline.

1/10 for having to be in work on Saturday in this weather
10/10 for being out on the bike on a lovely sunny morning.

Big shout out to the group of kids who asked very politely if I would by them some booze, given the state of some of them I decline.

Y U so square granddad?

ha ha probably, but didn't want to be the reason if something bad had happened. Two of the girls were in quite a bad way and I think they had, had enough it was just after 6.

Kids hey

Can you even buy booze at 6am?

Can't up ere (Scotland).

You can in Brixton...taps nose

Last day of school yesterday so the teens were out in force.

Ah, heady days.

Dem leggings....

The run from New Cross to Vauxhall this morning was the payback I have been waiting for after I struck every light on green last week.

Stopped by every red light, school crossing, zebra crossing, pelican crossing, toucan crossing and puffin crossing...
Still, track stand practice right?

First Monday cycle commute for 8 months:-

• left home at 9am (once the drizzle had stopped)
  
• way emptier roads thanks to school holidays
  
• legs nicely tired after a long walk yesterday
  
  

8/10

My commute today was "refreshing"

Warm rain is nice, not having radiators at work and smelling of wet less so...
Still, lots of Belfast bikes, everyone in a good mood so good all around

7/10

They've pulled the tarmac off a portion of my commute and left a ton of gravel everywhere, so I've had to cycle in the car tyre tracks to avoid losing front/back wheel from under me. On the way home there's been a haze of dust kicked up by it all, so had to find the old route I used to take through some woods. 4/10 convenience, 9/10 nostalgia.

pnctr

Came back from Fulham to Walworth in the piss this morning, totally soaked through. Almost enjoyed it except for past Victoria (went via Sloane Sq), getting to the river and hitting all the real commuters.

That shit is scary. Cleat malfunctions, strange commands shouted by people, zero shoulder checking, erratic pacing. How do you lot do this every morning with that peloton?

Halfway realised the old clips/straps I have had broken, so the strap was loose from the toe clip. Much flapping.

Lovely ride through Newbury and out the other side this morning. New ground for my commute, a bit slow getting through Newbury as the path is narrow but then opens up near Thatcham and bosh happily along the towpath.

Where do all the dog walkers walk their dogs when it's not sunny? Not a fucker in sight this morning. #notcomplainingthough

school holidays = quiet streets = super fun. i wonder what % of traffic is school runs on an average day in london?

also, super wide bars, removing the temptation to go for gaps is the best bike choice I have ever made. love commuting.

Someone "on here" made a good point a while ago - that the traffic is lighter due to the general effect of a load of people being on holiday with their kids and therefore not driving to work. It's not specific to actual school-run traffic, which makes up varying percentages depending on how near a school you are. I personally rarely see kids in cars on my commute, the vast majority are single-occupant commuters or commercial vehicles.

A12 fucked this morning, queue lots of people trying routes that avoided the A12.

Commuting through stationary traffic, schadenfreude/10

@jimmy_james that is a good point. and one that i had completely missed!

Tipping point innit.

Take just a few cars off the road and it all starts to flow : http://impresaconsulting.com/?p=134

Had one of those commutes where it feels like you get stuck at every light. Still could have been worse, like the guy in full livestrong kit, mountain bike trying to pull away from some lights on Camberwell new road broke in two.

Don't think he'll wait until he's just about to stop to change gear again.

7km to Regents Park to meet daughter #1 at 6.30 - 40 laps of the inner circuit - 7km to London Wall and work. That was epic. Thank you Jess. BTW the whole point of thios post is not hey look at me I did 40k before breakfast bollocks. Nope - it's that as a Dad, I never imagined I would be doing this with my daughter..I have a son...that's what he's for isn't it? Yes - I know - what a sexist bla bla bla but that's just how it is. So when my son can't get his ass out of bed before 1pm and daughter #1 is in the pool at 5.30 am and then cycling I think yeh - need to share this cos it's f*cking amazing.

You were the cute girl in the summer dress who only barely managed to stop her scooter as the light for the traffic went green. I was the scruffy looking cyclist on the red bike with the white tyres who spotted you at the last second and paused to check you weren't going to throw yourself into the road before I pulled away. We shared a look and a wry smile.

9/10 Would put safety first again.

Some guy in front of me, going through Bank, waving his arm up and down to signal he was slowing down in full Highway Code-approved stylee. Had to stifle my giggles in front of bus stop people. 9/10

The new, improved E&C was an abomination this morning.