This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Had to walk bits, 40 mph sidewind gusts + being on the road can go >>>>>>>

Rode my brand new bike I put together on the commute today. Mudguards still haven't turned up, so I rode it back through the rain trying to avoid every puddle and then hand-dried the whole bike with a couple of old socks when I got home. What have I become?

Was a bit disappointed with the weather on the way home tonight. The promise of Armageddon was not fulfilled. Was warm, a bit damp with a light breeze. Got home bone dry.

Afternoon ride in.
42x18 bit spinny, must drop a 16t on.
Late ride home.
42x18 bit hard work, must not drop a 16t on just yet as legs not ready for headwinds.

Light rain in face was quite pleasant and not cold, empty roads and mudguards working :)

42/17 would be a better ratios.

Only got 16/18 freewheels :(

Oh and a 22t for offroad stuff.

Was expecting worse weather - and so, it would seem, was everyone else. Quiet one today.

Saw a bloke at work take 3 bananas from the fruit basket in the kitchen. 3! I ask you.

8/10

Spotted a harrowing scene just off St Georges Circus at the top of the road that goes to Borough High St at around 08:30. Tipper lorry stopped and cordoned off, a couple of police vans showing up and somebody being tended to on a stretcher in the road behind the lorry. Hope it is not as bad as it looks.

5/7

Me. Soon you will upgrade from old socks....

Use a teatowel or babywipes and you can become me...

;)

Ross Lydall reporting this as pedestrian v lorry rather than bike v lorry but still horrid.

Nearly squashed by a BTOpenreach van - LV57XXX

Over Vauxhall Bridge heading north, through the lights and he decided to move from middle lane to left lane as he has decided to head to Pimlico. He indicated (which was nice) but didn't check his mirrors. Cue much banging on the side of his van as he is drifting into me and pushing me across into the pavement

He stop, hands up and sorry - I think I am the winner of todays excessive use of the words "Cunt" and "Blind" at high (and probably squeaky) volume

I saw that, no sign of any casualties though, so hopefully their injuries are not too serious.

Sivyer, the haulage company the kitty was from, are based in Sydenham and their driving standards are appalling.

It was odd, no idea what actually happened of course but I couldn't even guess. The lorry was sat fairly straight in the road and the stretcher was quite far behind. Woke me up, that's for sure.

Whereabouts was this? Someone on the floor at the taxi rat-run near Cable St Studios this morn.

Filtering down the left side of stationary traffic and a massive cement mixer wants to come out of the side road on my left. He sees me and moves out just enough to stop me getting round.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"Fuck off"

Have a nice day fellow human!

^this is really infuriating. I often find myself going very primary near intersecting roads I pass, just in case a cruising driver is too busy looking along the road to see me nearer secondary.

I must say I believe using a front light day or night has made this happen less.

Though I take your point that the driver got eye contact with you then intentionally blocked you. I guess we've all had this happen.

@andyp

Sivyer

I have learnt to avoid these lorries having seen them around SE the last few years, I agree their driving is noticeably erratic, fast and dangerous.

@Blackandblue @JWestland now I don't know what to do, I rode it in to work today with no mudguards and some light rain. It has dirt on it and I have to leave it dirty all day before a (forecast) wet ride home. Mudguards expected to arrive tomorrow.

This hurts.

The Standard are reporting it was a guy in a wheelchair. Hope he's ok.

Fuck

My argument for drying bikes is cos they're all steel...and paintwork is a bit patchy.

So, I'm wondering about yours now... :p

You used old socks? F*cking cheapskate.

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Nah, alu frame. But brand new bike, brand new bits. And basically every ride on it so far has been in the pissing rain. I feel terrible that it's getting coated in crap with no guards to protect the delicate bits from stinky old road spray, grit and crap.