This morning's commute and other commuting stories

But wait...

Ah, but do you, consciously or subconsciously, ride in a way more likely to irritate people because you know you have the protection of the moral high ground on an Internet forum?

I would get front/rear cameras but I can't be arsed with the faff of having to remember to charge them, remove them when locking up the bike/etc. I went to a dynamo hub lighting system to not to have to faff about that aspect on my commuter bike.

I can see the benefit to them, and would hope that the vast majority of the time I wouldn't even need to view the footage let alone upload it somewhere, but they're not quite there yet for me.

I do need to remove them but I just have it so it easily unclips from a cradle and then that+garmin+stuff all fits in a triangle bag. Again it's no more faff than a whole range of other optional gear.

Majority of the time I don't need to view the footage. If I felt something was entertaining or whatever I'll put it up.

In a way - not a wave.

Did they offer you £50 then?

Not yet. I think they have adopted the full theft route now as that was costing them £50 at times.

I treat it like a back light, as the camera I got is a back light, that loop over the oldest stuff, and last 6 hours.

Fair point on charging it, as it need charging a little more often than a regular back light.

#youtubestar cycling gaz got £1000 of a newspaper who used his vid without permission. It took half a dozen emails toing and froing but no more than that.

Do it. Then give the money to a road safety charity.

Yeah I was chatting to him on facebook about it. Daily Mail is yet to reply to messages.

ISTR the thing that got their attention was sending a big invoice.

Some kind of beef between the motorised bicycles and the non-motorised bicycles unfolded right in front of me on CS7 this morning. There was pipping of the horns, then some bearded skidder on a red ss just suddenly stopped his bike in the middle of the road - pretty daft trick with a trillion bikes, mopeds, buses etc - and gave it large to MrHonda50 behind him.

Yes - on Kingsland Road South approaching the lights at the junction with Old Street I'm in the bus lane. Lorry jinks left into the bus lane crossing the single hard white line and clouts my head with his wing mirror. That's how quickly it happened. His excuse for not seeing me (btw I wear an Exposure Diablo helmet mounted on flash) was 'One of your blokes hit my wing mirrors and I was pulling over to adjust them back again'. Priceless. Got his number - and pics - and phoned his employers. No damage done but I was shaken up. He was sorry and not rude but what a sh*t manoeuvre.

One of your blokes

So this was a race thing, right? :-/

End of the ride, no handying it past Angel station munching on a Clif peanut butter bar. Car in front brakes, I panic and grab a handful of front brake and unclip on the left, leading to some kind of whip-endo. Manage to keep it upright and avoid the car, bus behind unimpressed. Scoot off feeling like a pratt. 9/10, won't ride like a twat again

Left my bike at work to go to a TV recording last night, so was left with a choice between the tube and running in.

10/10 for being a strong independent runner who don't need no northern line.

Saw a guy yesterday over Vaixhall bridge riding a bike with an arm spinning eliptical rotary machine thing setup connected to the cranks. Still had pedals and normal chain drive, with the spinners connected to the bottom bracket by a rubber belt. Odd thing, didn't seem to well suited to optimal bike control.

Commuter doping

Seen him in the past as well - I assume it's a specialist adaptation to allow him to cycle. It's a but wobbly but fair play, I used to see him in all weathers.

Think I've seen that bloke as well (unless they're multiplying) on Camberwell new road.

I've seen him before but yesterday was the first time I've managed to get a close look. He's fully able and rides as normal, then when he's up to speed he uses the hand spinners.
I tried to ask him about it but he wasn't the chatty type. I think he just uses it as a double workout type affair. Didn't seem hugely optimal but fair play for trying something different.

Today my ds crank became so lose I had to ride the last mile or so to work one legged - could have done with such a setup.

Quiet commute today, also sun. But cold. Again...

Spotted the handcycling team from Dave Kane cycles last week. Fair play, one recumbent handcyclist and a standard bike cyclist keeping the road clear for him.

Traffic along Kennington Road seemed rather manic.

Cold but alright, 7/10

In relation to this, I now think I'm seeing at least one eBike a day on my commute. They are definitely becoming more popular, and I can see the appeal, whizz to work without the noise, expense and faff of a scooter but without the sweat and effort of cycling.

Apart from today, some bloke on one those gobikes absolutely smashing it down the upper Richmond Road in Putney. I drafted him for a while at about 25mph before overtaking just because I could (handy tailwind today). When we got to the next set of lights he was absolutely dripping in his boil in a bag max fluro commuter jacket. He then sheepishly dismounted and pushed over the pedestrian bit before continuing down the highstreet at pace. Maybe he was just late for work.

Shoutout to the guy taking a selfie at the lights, then going through on red.
Da real mvp

First ride with halo clickster.

Loud/10

E&C bike lanes go live tomorrow morning