This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Capes thread

http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/274813/

Very mild this morning, still sweating at desk. Yuck.

Left when spitting, 2 minutes later and the onslaught began. Fuck off.

Living at the bottom of the hill really pisses me off. Oh look, rain from the west, that's coming my way, will it make it over with out getting me? Will it fuck. Ride up hill, descend hill, get to Herne Hill way rain stops.

Still. My mudguards kept my bum and feet dry.

Met an absolute star this morning. Nothing to do with me but I was there to witness it.
I was waiting behind a tractor that was trimming the hedge on the side of a narrow road just going west out of Hounslow. There was another car in front of me waiting for there to be a break in the oncoming traffic. As we begin to overtake, some hotshot decides to overtake both of us at the same time. (overtaking a car that is currently overtaking a tractor is not the smartest of moves). During all of this, there's a massive UPS truck barreling towards us. I swear there it must have been a matter of centimeters before things could have been ugly.

Manage to pass the guy waiting at the lights and as I was waiting to turn right, the shit-fiddler undercut me super close cutting of more oncoming traffic causing them to slam their brakes on. :/

I give up on life...

Haven't cycled for ten days. So today there was much nodding and chewing of stem. Also, there might have been some dribbling three quarters of the way up Spring Hill E5.

Also, rain or don't rain. Puddle tease.

Ugh/10

Didn't see a heron this morning which is unusual, didn't see the lady who walks her two dalmations (one called Domino, don't know the other dog's name), or partner of ex-colleague who cycles in the opposite direction to me. Did see many moorhens, said hello to the elderly lady who takes her morning stroll along past the fishing lake, greeted the cows who were not blocking the path as they often do, almost fell off in the mud, and got wet feet from long grass, splashed through some puddles, and someone stopped to let me cross the road rather than crawling forward onto the swing bridge.

Life/10
Will commute again.

Didn't see a heron this morning which is unusual, didn't see the lady who walks her two dalmations (one called Domino, don't know the other dog's name), or partner of ex-colleague who cycles in the opposite direction to me. Did see many moorhens, said hello to the elderly lady who takes her morning stroll along past the fishing lake, greeted the cows who were not blocking the path as they often do, almost fell off in the mud, and got wet feet from long grass, splashed through some puddles, and someone stopped to let me cross the road rather than crawling forward onto the swing bridge.

Fucking nodder!

Almost squashed by a left-turning lorry without indicators on the mess of a junction that is currently being completely changed in Lewisham. Was turning into a building site and all the hi-viz chaps were yelling at him for not using indicators. Pretty hairy.

This, also forget to put the rain cover on my bag so all my 'dry' stuff was also soaked.

Lost my rag with a ped along near Peckham Grove. It's raining ped walks up to the pelican crossing I stop. Ped decided that he doesn't want to cross now and continues walking, I start off again only for 50 meters up the road the ped decides to cross the road so now there is a ped infront of me and a bus just over taking me. Slam on brakes on nice smooth wet tarmac and shouting ped looks up but has now stopped because the bus is in his way. Miss hit him just, he has a go at me for going to fast and that he didn't think I was going to stop at the crossing. even though I was poxy stopped. I shout felt bad for a nano second.

Reason he crossed where he did on a bend and near a bus stop was because it was closer to the shop on the other side. Fucking Moran

Need to figure out a route to central avoiding Lewisham soon ..

Dylan?

Darwin more like

True.

At the moment this is my usual route:

https://www.strava.com/activities/397995232

Sometimes I go the other way up Downham Way and go through Lee to Blackheath, but it's no better. If you could get to Greenwich on a nice route (I haven't found one) then you're laughing as you have CS3 (not perfect, I know) and the upcoming East West Cycle Superhighway...

Just a load of meh on the road this morning. No one awful, just a load of unthinking, slightly speeding,slightly not leaving enough room, non indicating drivers. Meh.

Watched a GoPromuter squeeze his merry way down the left of a bus today - seemingly quite happy with the idea that he was filming himself being a complete twonk.

Also, rain. It didn't feel like it was raining - but still got soaked. Must buy mudguards.

Cyclist on a Belfast rental bike plodding up a 4 lane road...in the right lane too. Perhaps not THE best position. No honking or anything, despite the moaning of drivers online they aren't too bad over here.

Gradually picking up acceleration and cadence with this 52x15, but it's tough, especially with traffic. Much mashing and out the saddle. Also think I was on the wrong side of a cyclone both to and from town, this disc wheel cover is (feels like/I'm not strong enough so/etc) hard work when the wind is at you.

Saw a man get angry with an upright plastic sign outside Iceland, the police seemed unfazed.

Also rain. Soaked from sweat inside, and rain out, still glad I was wearing the giordana boil-in-the-bag.

I'm genuinely surprised that 'Lewisham Gateway' has been allowed to get into that state: the worst I've ever seen in London. I've been through it on foot, bike and driving, and it was appalling each time.

Even catching a bus there is an utter clusterfuck.

It's appalling. In fact, I'd like to fire off a complaint about this morning, but I didn't take a reg number or any details because I was a bit shaken.

The worst part is that once it's finished it'll still be a mess. No bike lanes as far as I could see.

there'll be no more roundabout though, right?

"Confluence Place" makes me wince every time I see it...

I mean, confluence... really?!