This morning's commute and other commuting stories

It's my birthday! First ride into work on my Bambi Bike - chucking it down, and my first proper ride on a fixed gear in a while. Didn't die, made it up all of the hills, fantastic. 9.9/10

Last commute in London forever today. First half, even with rain and no mudguards it was very enjoyable. Can't help but think it's because this monotony is ending.

∑∞k=1310k13=0.333⋯=∑k=1∞310k / out of 10

Last commute in London forever today. First half, even with rain and no mudguards it was very enjoyable. Can't help but think it's because this monotony is ending.

∑∞k=1 3/10k

Spooky double post?

Cycling up the road I hear a bang and air escaping...not it's not the patched up front but the rear.

Sometimes the universe has a sense of humour...
...also need new tyres :)

Congratulations ^_^

Cycling cake later?

Why don't people have mudguards on their bikes? Wet arse, greasy back. It will rain on and off all summer so why not get mudguards?

It was rather nice, this morning. Warm rain is ok, especially when you've got mudguards.

Bit wet out isn't it. Shorts and short-sleeves the way to go, though I got a few looks from peds as if to suggest I'd misjudged the weather a tad.

ALSO spotted a On-One with LFGSS sticker on downtube at Clapham North. Some rather striking fluro pink gilet too.

Smug but wet passing the heaving throng stuck outside Clapham Common station. Called lady who stepped infront of bike traffic an idiot but 7/10 WRA

Much too warm for anything more than a wind proof gilet (rad crazy speed demon). Was nice getting wet and staying warm, something liberating like waking up fully clothed in a bath after a party.

The thought of you in nothing more than a wind proof gilet is utterly horrifying...

#bodyshaming

You know you want it, now beg.

Wet weather means showering at work - which means lycra-ing up and upping the speed. Such fun.

Chain needs some serious maintenance though. Slaaaaack.

Took a ride east and ended up over at the Olympic park Sunday... I seemed to be the only cyclist on the road that was stopping at red lights... it boiled my piss!

Last night and today I was glad I invested in a set of mudguards. Not for me, but for the people that have to follow me: I never really realised how annoying it is following someone without them, and getting spayed in the face continuously haha.

It's a drafting deterrent.

Clipped a schoolgirl on Kingsland Rd - this morning. Shouldered her as I passed. She had headphones in and actually looked in the opposite direction to oncoming traffic as she stepped out into the S-bound bus lane. She had a helluva shock as I yelled and then knocked into her. I had a gentle chat - she knew what she had done wrong. If I'd been a motorcyclist or maybe a car she'd be in AnE right now. As it was we both escaped only shaken.

Wet and sticky ride in. Anyone else make the most of the police escort up old street / clerkenwell road?

I would like to know who they were transporting though as it seemed and awfully big fuss for a paddy wagon!

Sounds like me - hello! Yeah that Pretorius kit is pretty loud!

In that awkward position (middle of the road in front of a bus waiting to turn right) from cannon st on to London bridge last night when a motorcycle guy came to a stop at the red from Gracechurch st only for a chap on a hybrid to crash into the back of him. Motorcycle guys body language quickly seemed to change form fear to anger at the lack of attention / wet brakes mishap but i wasn't in a position to see what happened next.

Opted for Swimming trunks under shorts combo with the item of the day a gillet. Only took about 800M for water to reach my perineum but still an enjoyable ride and I refuse to deface my bike with mudguards. Spare swimming trunks for the way home. Took tower bridge north to avoid tooley street and managed to skip across traffic easily to scoot a long a very quiet super highway. Would do again. 8.5/10

Partly because so few road bikes are built to accept mudguards?

I was extremely annoyed to find that I couldn't get crud catchers over 25c tyres on my Lynskey. So I've gone through a whole winter annoying not only myself but other riders as well.

Now I'm in a dilemma as to whether to try again with 23c tyres or go for n+1 solution, and get a quick winter bike. Or try to keep up with the Sunday pack on a Cross Check.... It's hard enough as it is.

I sometimes wonder if I'd be a faster rider if I had a "proper" light road bike.

I keep up fine with my pace group, but maybe I could jump up more easily if I got something without guards, lighter, more aero bla bla bla.

Might have a placebo effect?

Sorry to the chap just south of Stockwell who I overtook as he shoulder checked and made a move to turn right.

In my defence, he had been sitting right-of-centre in the bus lane for a good few hundred metres - I thought he was just lane hogging...

There was this fella on my commute home today who pulled to the front at some lights and CANED IT for about 200m. He was on SS and I was geared so I was trying to keep up, and only just managing.

Anyway, after a while he slows down completely and just soft pedals to the lights, even though there was quite a way to go.

Then I stay behind him for the next bit of road and he's going lots slower for some reason. I overtake and forget about him, until a few junctions later he cuts me up and goes slow again.

I think "that's odd" so I this time I just draft him. No time for this leapfrogging shit.

Then next lights he takes an early jump on the green and starts CANING IT. Again, I can barely keep up. After a while it's back to super slow coasting and soft pedalling.

Then I realised - was he doing Strava segments? Such a weird way to commute.

Or get long drop brakes and 650b wheels, then you can fit mudguard and still be lighter than your original set-up, like this Trek road bike converted to 650b, room for 38mm and mudguard.