This morning's commute and other commuting stories

agreed re adrenaline, as the driver was at the round about junction i had no option other than going past him from behind, once the verbal "moment" had passed, and he kept driving, it ended as far as i was concerned
i was proceeding along my prior determined route, as things turned out, behind him downhill when he pulled the brakes

but it's always best to take some deep breaths and let the trouble just drive away.

I don't think he'd like to be told how to deal with it after someone getting away with dangerous driving.

shifter damage is the real nause though, was in pretty good nick prior to that
he was long gone by the time i got up the other side of the hill
left hand took main impact of back of truck,then i dropped, he just stopped,glad i wasn't too fast or may have been underneath

Shit man, that's awful. What a dick. Stuff like this makes cams tempting.

2nd day of living in London and I had my first real ride through the centre. From Finsbury Park to Elephant and Castle. Not bad, much more exciting then the country roads I'm used too! Only complaint is the shitty road surface..

Sunday cycle today, as my pulled back muscle still isn't 100%, so no gym bar the necessary.

Pinged The Googles, for some reason most of NI cycle routes are missing from maps. Perhaps as you can't drive the camera vans down the cycle lanes, but still...would be good to have them on.

Deirdre's cycling casebook, episode 5......

"Dear Deirdre,

Despite it only being early September, I found I needed to wear arm warmers for my morning commute this morning, due to the cold.

Is there a problem with my manhood?

Yours sincerely

Rhodrich"

Perhaps as you can't drive the camera vans down the cycle lanes, but still...would be good to have them on.

Worth doing. Google do loads of streetview with a backpack mounted camera system. They also have them mounted on bike trailers. (There's a job I'd enjoy...)

Was initially sceptical, but is great having a new commute heading out of London instead of in. Only had to clip out once, only had to properly brake once in 25 mins.

To all my fellow cyclists on the approach to E&C this morning who, upon seeing a bus sitting across the lane because he's joining from the right and hasn't made it all the way across yet, decided to go ahead and squeeze past him anyway, thus delaying him in his attempt to get across and slowing everybody else down: you're all selfish cunts.

Generally too much "must get to the front" syndrome, really. 6/10.

If that was about 8.40am, I probably saw that too. Mind you, it could've been any time, considering the shocking standard of riding, especially with the nice weather meaning it's Nodders' Last Stand before the bikes get put away behind the lawnmowers for another 6 months.

Cycling behind a lorry this morning. It slows down and indicates a left turn with plenty of warning just outside Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. I slow down and wait. Guy on a Boris Bike comes piling along at a fair pace and looks like he's going to shoot down the inside of aforesaid left-turning lorry. I decide I must take action and bellow 'it's turning left' just as BB guy nonchalantly skids to a stop, whereupon he turns around and glances disdainfully at me before joining me in waiting for the lorry to complete its manouevre. I felt a bit of a prat.

Too much shitty riding to note this morning, including from me. Personal favourite was the fixed guy on New North Road who decided to undertake a left turning car about two seconds after it started turning.

But given that I crashed into the back of a stationary car I should certainly not judge.

Yes but not because you feel the cold, but because you own arm warmers.

Much annoyance at the new layout on London Bridge as you come into the city, they have painted a nice cycle lane on the left which means it is now much harder to get over to the right if you want to go straight on as car who want to go left just pull straight over the end of the cycle lane.

It was around that time - but you're right, could have been any time.

Need more zen.

Guy on a silver fixed frame with 90mm deep up front and Mash Castelli kit - you cut me and a few others up the OKR today. I had to slam my brake to avoid my front wheel being taken out. May I suggest some slightly less aggressive riding please.

You may have a point there! Touché!

Traffic was awful, my chest was tight and useless after drinking and smoking over the weekend and I felt fat and slow. Perfect temperature though. Looking forward to some lazy autumn riding.

So generally I like our German cycle infrastructure. Most bigger roads have a nice segregated bike path, with proper smooth tarmac, 1,5m wide.
The downside of this is, that the mantra "don't undertake vehicles indicating to turn in your direction" doesn't apply here, because that's the only way to cross the road on the bikepath. German drivers are schooled to give way to cyclists and pedestrians crossing the road and are schooled to check their blind spots.

Sure as hell, that doesn't always work. I had 2 collisions in the last 2 years coming from exactly that scenario, and lots of near misses, because drivers were to daft to turn their head. I always approach intersections with caution and a finger on the brake, which has saved me numerous times.

Of course, today was such a day again, when a big ass construction lorry went right into a side street, ignoring my existence on the bikepath.

These are the times where I wish I could carry a paint ball gun in a quick draw holster in traffic...

Having just spent a few days in Berlin I agree - I was amazed and delighted at the attitude of drivers towards cyclists. Of course there are bound to be some bad apples as you say, but the general attitude was exemplary. I think it's no doubt helped by the massive amounts of space on Berlin streets - most of the main roads are at least 2 or 3 lanes in each direction for vehicles, plus a bike lane, plus the pavement, so there doesn't seem to be that same jostling for space amongst different road users that there is in London.

Rather feel a prat than watch the guy go under knowing you should have said something.
You did the right thing.

You can suggest edits to Google maps and add on cycle paths/cycling contraflow stuff. I've done a few, it's very easy.
I think http://www.google.co.uk/mapmaker is what you want.

Tx, it's open for UK so I can do it.

Most are missing...including the path to Bangor, which I can't, eh, find... (well that's a mission for a Sunday PM for me) :)

You might have some luck comparing with the Open Street Map, they have all the national routes on already I think....?