This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Through Bishops park after Putney Bridge, then along the back streets past River Cafe, then along the river bank - pops out at Hammersmith Roundabout. Don't think there's any way of avoiding that. Then you can go up Brook Green and down the back streets but I could never be arsed.

Tried to engage with a fellow cyclist awhile back, all I got was the look straight ahead response. Forgot that commuting is not the same as club rides on a Sunday.

That's often a good moment ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn7HXmzxqV8

I am a bit bonkers I think, cos I get this a lot.

Commuters. Srs bsns. No-one talks to each other on the tube do they? But it's awesome when they do.

Same on the bikes. I try and throw a "nice bike" when I see one. Usually works.

Almost got doored when a driver waiting at some traffic lights decided to get out for whatever reason and then some dick in a Merc tried to overtake me down Agar Grove despite a rapidly approaching traffic island and me only being a few meters from the car in front. Still a pretty pleasant ride really.

Lovely morning for a ride in. glorious sunshine, and cold enough that I didn't get too sweaty.

Even the return in darkness isn't annoying me too much...

^^^This. Bike compliments are the way to go.

Through Bishops park after Putney Bridge, then along the back streets past River Cafe, then along the river bank - pops out at Hammersmith Roundabout.

When I go that way I go onto Fulham Palace Road from Chacellor's Road rather than dice with dogwalkers on the river bank, it's usually an easy left turn into an empty bus lane.

^^^This. Bike compliments are the way to go.

Absolutely. Even 'I like your brown chain, where do I get one?' can work...

My track standing in full work garb including leather brogue boots and PS socks was appreciated this morning by a random fellow commuter at regents street

Small victories

What are "PS socks"?

Please let it be Playstation socks.

Paul Smith?

Purple Satin?

Porn Star?

Piss Stain?

Best socks:
https://www.londonsockcompany.com/

Got gobbed on during the run home.

Quietly pootling along minding my own business through streatham.

Grim

You win!

That's fucking disgusting. I read somewhere (on here?) about someone getting spat on and taking it to a police station where it was DNA tested and someone (with previous, hence DNA on record) got nicked for doing it. Sweet justice but how do you retain the gob for duration of journey?

Tissue?

I don't carry tissues on my commute...

Rapha essentials case with tissue pocket... >>>>

better a coal fired power station in the middle of nowhere than a diesel in my face...

And the pollution generated by all the many devices using it can be dealt with in that one place.

Also, @Skülly, separating the original power generation from the vehicle means you can change the method of generation without having to redesign and replace the engine. So if coal powered stations are replaced by something cleaner, all the dependent electric devices become cleaner. Separation of concerns. That's a big contrast to petrol/diesel engines, which in any case are so tightly coupled to the nature of the fuel they burn that it's very hard to genuinely reduce their pollution.

Of course, batteries aren't made from hemp, bamboo and coconut water, don't last for ever and are hard to dispose of cleanly, so the real balance is trickier to calculate.

batteries aren't made from hemp, bamboo and coconut water

S'all about the dynamos for this reason too! Magnets!