This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Well, Vee said that cos tfl are obliged to inform a council if they're responsible, they're made more accountable to fix it.

Or spray yellow paint 'round it.

Sometimes I wonder just how aware other road users are that cycling with a good pair of locks actually equates to being armed to the teeth... Just saying...

Shout out to the fat chav in the polo who cut me up on the back bit of Clapham Common. Break testing,cutting me up and chucking a can of red bull at me all before 630 am. It is not my fault I can see my penis when I look down. #thug life

I often carry two large mallets on my back, doesn't stop drivers being dicks.

Shout out to the fat chav in the polo who cut me up on the back bit of Clapham Common. Break testing,cutting me up and chucking a can of red bull at me all before 630 am.

Nice guy, can't wait to meet him.

Been a ped all week, so was surprised by a local news piece last night saying that we might follow Paris by allowing cyclist to run red lights, don't we already do that now?

On that note shout out to the group of city workers on Abbey Bikes who must be colour blind as they went straight through the red lights outside Liverpool street while peds where crossing. Not forgetting the guy whi came bombing down Primrose street just missing the left turning cab to then cut across everyone as he turned right onto Bishopsgate, good skilz, not

A lot of mopeds making very close passes on the A1 this morning. 50cc Valentino Rossi wannabe cunts.

Hardly anyone anywhere and then BLAMMO! a man dressed head to toe in neon yellow appears like the hippy crack Mr Ben.

Attempted to take pix but he had gone by the time my eyes had adjusted to the relative darkness of daylight.

I've just started bike commuting after a two year gap (Combination of bad knee injury and office being within a few mins walking distance of home). It has been great to be back on two wheels.

I've noticed that most of my instincts are in tact if not a little dulled through lack of use.

However, last night on the way home from my new office a toddler on a scooter rolled out in front of me (not on a crossing). He just managed to get away from his mother who was still on the pavement. I was probably doing about 20mph. I missed him by about 6 inches. His Mum screamed so loudly it hurt my ears.

In hindsight I'm not sure I could have been more aware of potential hazards in front of me and I'm glad that I managed to wrestle my bike around him but it shook me up so much I nearly rode in front of a car at the next junction.

Lessons learned all round I think. Mum will hopefully keep better tabs on her kid, kid will hopefully be more wary after having the shit scared out of him and I have had a stark reminder of the need to constantly pay attention...it was very lucky that I saw him in time.

When/If I have a near miss in the future I'm going to get off the bike and make sure I'm calm before riding off because you can't ride safely when you're shocked.

When/If I have a near miss in the future I'm going to get off the bike and make sure I'm calm before riding off because you can't ride safely when you're shocked.

Damn good idea, same goes after having a "difference of opinion" with another road user. Nothing like a shot of adrenalin to really fuck your decision making.

Conversely, my decision making has been a little hesitant today which has left me feeling a little more vulnerable. Riding with confidence is essential imho. An uneventful morning commute has hopefully put an end to that though.

First commute since getting back from the mountains.

London is not the mountains.

London is stupid and smells.

0/10

Guys in Merc tries to purposely run me off the road twice and then tries to get out his car to confront me. My crime? not giving him the entire lane to pass me.. York way is massive, and he is a cunt.

Shit on his bonnet.

They have one of them mini velodrome's at Exchange Square

no CCTV, witnesses didn't want to know.

Forumenger Anna is riding it:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/women-cycling-in-london-must-be-more-assertive-to-protect-themselves-from-killer-lorries-a2488111.html

Audi drivers reaffirming their claim to the top of the cunt pile this morning.

They had that in Worthing, of all places a couple of weekends ago.

Got absolutely drenched and loved every second of it.

Always happy to ride in the rain. 10/10

Blame the weather on me folks. Last night I switched from full on knobblies to Schwalbe Kojak slicks on my mountain bike for a laugh and now this in London...downpour.

Happy to hear you avoided a major collision.

Well police report lodged however not hopeful that the police will do anything. They quoted 2 weeks to look at it (if they look at it at all). Also the process for lodging a report is completely manual. You cannot lodge anything online. Hardly surprising many don't file a report.

Not much luck on any CCTV. Local borough and nearby buildings don't have any road facing cameras. Next option is TFL but doubtful they will provide anything as no TFL cameras in the area. And don't think they will supply anything else where I am not featured.

Lesson learned to wear a camera at all times otherwise you have no chance of progressing anything.

0/10

So an eventful day...
Came down to London and thought I would use my Brompton, had a good day on the bike going to a few bike shops etc, before going to Lion King for a works do, had to leave at half time to return to Cambridge in time for club ride.
Exited theatre to find lock broken and bike stolen.
Headed home on train, got changed and went out for ride, stopped at lights in box at front reserved for cyclists. An old bloke on a hybrid joined me in box but close, hemming me in and annoyingly slightly in front. Made slight contact with him as I wobbled to recleat. Heated discussion ensued, him saying I barged him, me pointing out that why did he have to come and sit in front of me when I was already at the lights.
Now waiting for crime number so can claim.....

Incidentally what is the correct form for calling out RLJers? I am afraid I will spout some long winded rebuke that will make me look insane as the offender will be long gone?

Red!

engine revving, ASL occupying, rear wheel nudging, white van driving, morbidly obese heart attack waiting to happen got called a fat fucking cunt at the lights just south of waterloo bridge for his troubles. he did not like it.