This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Did this it worked very well. Sadly couldn't do it on normal rides so now carry a bag full of glass bottles.

Be wary when skidding though, managed to burn out my tire in a matter of weeks when I tried at first.

Track stands are partially about being relaxed, I couldn't do it for ages then cycling home drunk one time it just kinda happened!

If you are able to emergency skid you don't really need to learn... It just wastes rubber.

Happy people everywhere in town (it was 20 degrees and they yellow lamp was out) and a good run up the hill to get to the gym, slightly marred by a moron undertaking me as I was on the middle of the lane due to Suicidal Pedestrians, Mr Taxidriver and other assorted fun.

Ah well some people have no road sense, and as cyclists are people...

Ahh THE biscuit factory in Bermondsey? There plenty for bouldering, so I see plenty of soon-to-be cyclists wobbling around there.

Yeah, last day of a 4 day CTUK Instructor training. The little mini high street I tried some of for lunches was great too, elite chip shop just in a side road(go out the gym side exit under bridge and cross over and it's the turn before Iceland) decent food for cheap as they had a bunch of special offers up. Didn't think to stop much at that part before but now more inclined to.

Turkish supermarket is good too.

I usually try to go for shops like that instead anyway, they will be paying more tax and often paying the staff better than a tesco or whatever.

Turkish supermarket have great bread, hummus and olive.

Skydancer took you there?

I dunno I'm rather bad at working out names vs forum names unless I'm told. I had a forum cap on for most of the training but I suspect even if on here it's a bit unprofessional to strike up that line of convo and I didn't either for the same reason plus looking really dumb. Our instructor teaching us into instructors was awesome tho and let us make the mistakes we needed and not really need to correct us too much as she paired us up to bounce ideas I think.

Just sort of got given some time to get lunch and left too it, nobody says yes when you ask if they want anything from the shops either, I figure tomorrow one of them will remember being asked 2 days in a row and think of something they want but then nobody will come and ask.

Second day's commuting on fixed, and I still haven't died. Beginning to get the hang of it, and even got a PB on Kingston Hill.

Witnessed a classic SMIDSY between white van man and motorcyclist. White van man pulled out of side road, and motorcyclist slammed into the side or the van. Motorcyclist got up after the crash, and brushed himself down, so aside from cuts and bruises, he appeared to be OK, although the front forks on the bike looked decidedly bent. Hung around to give statement to the police, who will no doubt call it an 'accident', and do nothing.

Caught every red light through Holloway and got buzzed by multiple mopeds (especially pricks on those fucking 3-wheelers).

PB tho - 7/10

I've decided that the majority of other riders are toolbags! On my current commute anyway.
Small bike syndrome train commuters who just have to be at the front and pedal like lunatics to get ahead of everyone, only to be overtaken 100 metres up the road. Then it all starts again at the next lights.
Inconsistent douches who will blast over a zebra crossing when peds are on it then wait at lights to go into a road that is closed to traffic.
Blast all the lights you want but don't fuck with pedestrians. They are soft and break easily and have the right to not be scared on a crossing.
Rant over.

Ride slightly redeemed by the lovely warm sun 6/10

Watched a guy RLJ at the top of Kennington Park Road, followed by a girl on a Boris bike who assumed that the lights must have gone green and followed him merrily out into the junction.

You forgot the moron who overshoots the lights by 10 yards to sit in the middle of the junction, only to be too far ahead to actually see them turn green.

So many new ways of wobbling on display last night, so many impatience cyclist at Oval making things worst by trying to go through disappearing gaps, so little road awareness from cyclist and so many fu*king wank*er mopeds.

Compared to this morning, bit of banter with a cabbie, a bus driver letting me through.

That actually happened this morning as well! Twat on a mountain bike with knobbly tyres and a helmet from the 90s.

Getting overtaken on Wells Park Road this morning was a bit demoralizing.

Forgot about trackstand man today, very impressed with his skilz for a big fella only let down but his lack of speed when the lights changed. Still good effort.

Also the idiot that blazed through the red lights at the junction at bank, when the lights had gone green from traffic going across. Very lucky not to be another statistic

So many people blasting through red lights recently.

Also, still loads of whoppers blasting down the shared use path along the river at Wandsworth. Between them and the residents who've resorted to putting flower pots in the way to slow them down, I despair at our dysfunctional road culture.

(cycles out of street) ? Why is there a v-brake brake pad on the road?
(watches 3 cyclists jump a red to go onto the right lane to go onto kerb and they keep cycling at speed) GRRR just walk that bit once it's green, will ya?
(slids on wet big stones) Sustrans, why u use big massive slippery cobbles in the drains?
(wet behind) Ow crap, I put my raincoat on and didn't put mudguard on. Genius.
(at work) Ow man, I didn't bring my towel.
(sits on cycling top and plastic bag)

6/10 would get soaked again ;)

normal culture of general rudeness last night -

take primary in left of two lanes at a junction (one lane going left/straight ahead, the other going right/straight ahead)
white van wants to turn left, but doesn't want to be behind me so pulls up next to me, straddling the two lanes with his left indicator on

lights turn green and he just blasts right across me obviously, just why

Noooooooooo!! That is your manor, your hill. You'll be back.

I had them on the descent of College Road.
#fatjokes

1 and 2 are probably true.

3 is probably what they/you think but don't seem to realise that not everyone is racing on their commute.

EDIT: Small bike syndrome guys and people who have to squeeze to the front are generally the same, in my experience.
Also, I have nothing against small wheeled bikes or fold up bikes or any bikes. Just the twats that ride them.

Oi, Bromptons are small-wheeled and great fun!

;)