This morning's commute and other commuting stories

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

Nah, you got it right, placebo effect.

I'm lucky to have a 13kg touring bike to commute in, which make it easier to compare to the sub 8kg road bike (and the sub 10kg randonneur), the biggest difference I've notice are acceleration, especially from standstill, but once you get up to speed, the difference become smaller.

The sub 8kg road bike feel the quickest of them all, but the bike computer just show that it's no different to riding on the 13kg touring bike.

Interesting idea, Ed. Do you think it would have much effect on the handling?

My mudguards were an absolute pig to fit: I have to deflate the rear tyre (25c) to get it on, and even then it's a squeeze. I suppose it does mean no one is nicking the wheel easily haha.

The bike simply feel a little more nimble to ride, a 650b with 42mm is the same as a 700c with 23mm, so with 38mm tyres, you'll benefit from a slightly lower BB, which in itself not a problem (even with clip and strap pedals).

it's cheaper than having to get a winter bike, or a different frames.

Probably not Strava, more likely short sprint intervals.

Building that into your commute takes commitment, and they'll be far from perfect and they'll make you look like a cock.

I tried it for a while when I was racing, was good fun. Still ended up being crap at sprinting though.

That's a great idea, I'll be giving that a go I think.

Slowed to stop myself undertaking a left indicating truck only to have a guy with a red beard and road bike nearly go into the back of me. He goes around me and gives me a shake of the head. He then undertakes the truck as it's making its turn. I shout "dickhead".

Both then stop at the same lights on Regent St so I ask " were you shaking your head at me, pal?"

He then completely throws me by saying "no".

I gt confused, apologise and ride off.

Sneaky bastard.

You can go onto the pavement by the churchill statue to turn right onto Whitehall. Saw a group of cyclists who had come from Westminster Bridge stopped at a traffic light there this morning.

That right turn has gone completely stupid. There's a prominent "No right turn" sign on the traffic lights, then a low-key and unclear "Right turn in two phases" sign on a stand on the pavement.

The confusion I've seen since Monday has included cyclists not using the new bike lane and turning right using the old method (including me); cyclists going in the bike lane and turning right using the old method across the stream of oncoming bikes from Parliament Square; and cyclists getting confused by the new two-phase right turn that doglegs onto a pavement and holds you for ages on a red.

One cyclists who chose not to use the bike lane was jeered - actually jeered - off the main carriageway by a group of three motorbike twats.

It's such a pointless bit of fuckery.

Yeah I spotted the no right turn signs and didn't see the small two phase sign so I was surprised when I saw a group of cyclists going over to the Churchill statue. Ah well I'm probably better off going around Parliament Square towards Horse Guards Parade to join The Mall anyway.

I'd agree with you for the differences in speeds on the commute, but on the open road that's simply nonsense. I get a 1-2kph ave speed difference between two different carbon bikes, with a 1kg ish weight difference - main difference between them being the winter and summer tyres, I guess. So the difference between a massive heavy steel beast and a carbon speedy will be huge, especially when the road goes uphill.

They opened the tracks about a week early to allow for Boris to take credit before the election. Hence those little temporary signs dotted about and some temporary 'islands' around some of the signals.

To get to Trafalgar square there is a tun on and off the Embankment at Northumberland avenue that might be more convenient than turning right at Whitehall.

The confusion I've seen since Monday has included cyclists not using the new bike lane and turning right using the old method (including me); cyclists going in the bike lane and turning right using the old method across the stream of oncoming bikes from Parliament Square; and cyclists getting confused by the new two-phase right turn that doglegs onto a pavement and holds you for ages on a red.

This is a large problem that TFL have made for themselves by choosing to build for particular flows of traffic. It makes more sense along Whitechapel road but for central London roundabouts, cf. E&C, there is the problem of 'non orthodox' movements.

Hopefully with tracks proving to be massively popular there is the political space to extend the scheme in new directions to build a proper network.

Wait, I can't turn right at Westminster Square onto Whitehall any more? I did it this morning...

Depends on which lights you used and whether there were any banned turn signs...

Same

Parliament Square properly confused me the other morning going from Millbank onto Embankment. Ended up weaving around trying to find the "proper" way onto Embankment and then just gave up and followed the normal route.

I'm confused now, basically I ride over the bridge straight past the turning for Embankment, keep my heading until I reach the corner of the Parliament Sq and then turn right onto Whitehall, the turning is now traffic lighted with a turn right signal.

Confused about what? If there is a right filter light then you're fine...

Ok good, I was just wondering what you meant about lights because there are only one set there, I must have taken that turn about 900 times now so I'm on auto pilot.

I meant if you get caught in the cycle lane, you can go right now

Well all junctions with a banned turn will have a plate saying so. In the above discussion the right turn from the cycle track is banned, you have to manoeuvre to the SE corner of the square and then move off with the green along towards Whitehall.

Ah yep I'm with you now, thanks. I'm not using the cycle track so I'm just carrying on as I usually do.

@Kat_Balou I'll look out for that! I usually filter down the middle of the bridge anyway so hopefully I wont get trapped again.

Whilst we're on the subject of confusing junctions - Can someone tell me how to turn left onto Southwark Bridge from the Cycle Superhighway on Upper Thames Street when I'm heading west?

So far the only method I've worked out is to turn right onto the pavement and loop around so I join the queue of cyclists waiting at the cycle lights from Queen Street. But that involves crossing the oncoming cycle lane so I have no clue what I'd do if there was a lot of oncoming cycle traffic.