This morning's commute and other commuting stories

2) ...and carry an anvil on the back.

Had my early morning coffee on the move today. Some crazy outside Costa on Kingsland Road hurled a medium Caffe Latte with sugar at me - lid on - it was full too. I saw it coming from 11 o clock and hit the anchors. It bounced and exploded on the road in front of me and I swear some of it went in my mouth. Or maybe it was the vaporized aroma! Anyway I now smell of Columbian Rich Roast. The joys.................

Did the full 45 mile ride in from Surreh this morning, actually quite decent. Even CS8 was fine.

Respect umop!

Dem anvil gainz.

Yeah, but it has some success. I see some Santander Sycles as far south as Streatham. That can ONLY mean there are a few die hard suits willing to hire one overnight, yeah?

Back to a long sleeved base layer this morning, and proper winter gloves again.

thiefed by badman, innit.

#roadmanz

WTF?!

Seems to mostly follow cycle routes, so they'd need to work on Brixton Hill to get it further south than Cla'am. Considering how many City wasps are vexed at the Brixton station bustle of a morning, might not be too long.

It would also reduce pressure on the northern line. Unfortunately, anyone commuting in and out of Zone 1 from further south than Stockwell is likely to take more than 30 minutes - meaning the journey would get charged an extra £2 each way and it would cost £6 for the day (including the £2 usage fee).

People are willing to pay slightly more for a commute to avoid cramped/crap conditions and when it also gives you workout at the same time.

But £90 for yearly access instead of £2 a day brings your hypothetical journey down to £4.50/day (assuming doing it 4 out of 5 days a week and the £90 spread over those ~200 days).

Every commute has costs, even my run commute costs me ~70p in wear and tear on trainers (1000km lifespan of trainers, 11.5km commute, trainers £60 in a sale). Bike commute is way way cheaper though as I use a shit bike and inexpensive components (a whole new drivetrain for ~£50).

That's a fair point, I hadn't considered the overall cost. What @Greenbank says is quite true though.

Are Boris bikes included in normal travelcard?

@brokebroadbeat

Are Boris bikes included in normal travelcard?

No, don't think so. Wish they were.

@Greenbank All good points - completely agree.

4 out of 5 days a week

I don't know anything about bike rental usage - I'd be curious to know how many users are this consistent in their use of the Boris bikes.

I'd just love to be able to use them on mornings when I don't want to worry about leaving my bike at work that evening, e.g. when I'm anticipating a night out.

To be honest, the answer is obvious in my case. HTFU and either run to work or run the 4km to Stockwell and Boris Bike at from there.

Because, you know, fuck the northern line at rush hour.

kencycle.

Point taken.

Fuc..kencycle.

Absurdly zen ride home. Dropped the cadence right down and enjoyed the ride.

Not even the lady in the 4x4 pulling out of a side road at me could puncture my calm.

Zen/10

rode SPDS for the first time ever today. No idea why it has taken me so long! No problems with forgetting to unclip. Look like a twat at every set of lights trying to get clipped back in though!

Did some laps of regents park this evening. First I joined some tiny Colombian guys' train, then they dropped me.

Shortly after, I almost got knocked off by a guy driving on the wrong side of a traffic island as I came around a corner. Got a bit angry, hit his window then followed him. I'd calmed down by the time I caught up with him, asked him what he thought he was playing at - apparently he was in a hurry and didn't want to wait in a queue to turn right. I explained that him running late wasn't an excuse for almost killing me. He apologised, we shook hands and he went on his way. I then did a fast adrenaline fuelled lap.

It's not the first time, you're concentrating then. It's a week down the line when you forget about them!

The frosty air making my ears tingle in gentle pain but not quite numbing them.

The crispy crunch of freshly spread salt as 80psi tyres with 95kg of downforce crunch the salt into the tarmac.

The big mug of tea with a large single malt chaser as my ears return to normal.

Sage advice. Will undoubtedly come to mind when I'm lying on my arse somewhere next week!

Slackened the left pedal (stopping foot) off a quarter of a turn this evening in the hope it will aid me getting back into them while I'm getting used to them.

Always get a lot of driver hate for waiting for the red light onto Kennington road at this junction here, just because I'm in the bike box turning right, and they're in the wrong lane. I don't understand it, the delay is only 10-15 secs between the lights, and I'm where I should be. Get all sorts of abuse, today had a charming gent tell me he'd run me over next time. Sorry to ramble but felt this was a good section to vent in...

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