This morning's commute and other commuting stories

couple bottles of pinot grigio and a bottle of sauvignon blanc. I tried to get some nice bottles, as it's a really solid, good commuter bike, but in peckham I have no idea if that's possible!

where was everyone this morning? Was so quiet on the roads! Lovely cycle in, stress free and fast.
10/10

They were all on the river lea towpath. #bloodycyclists everywhere.

Ah damn, hopefully all gone by time you head back tonight then! I also meant the lack of cars too.

Are some schools off for summer now?
Also, I think loads of fair weather cyclists broke themselves in the heat yesterday and decided not to bother today. Yesterday was a total clusterfuck.

Weird response from a driver parking on the double yellows in the cycle lane. I think my hand on and give them a grumpy face (no middle fingers or anything just "hey...") and they said what sounds like "thank you".

For what?

In fairness the road could do with temp car parking spots as people stop to get / drop people off at work and they can't enter for free due to barriers. It's the usual problem of no enforcement combined with no facilities.

Are some schools off for summer now?

Posh schools were off last week or even the week before.

Most state (primary) schools in London finish today although many will have scheduled their INSET days to finish earlier. My daughter's school finished last Friday as they scheduled three of their INSET days for this week to allow people to bugger off earlier.

Lost some skin this morning after a chain snap at 25mph. Thanks to the 2 cyclists and person with dog that checked I was alright.

First fixed gear commute... didn't die!

Starting and stopping still a bit challenging though.

Left 15min earlier and it was like riding on a Sunday. Must poo quicker in future and get out of the house at that time every day.

School holidays now, innit.

Yeah, this just felt extra quiet. But that is gonna be it.

It was glorious this morning. I almost forgot that I live in one of the most congested and polluted cities in the world. Almost.

Someone driving managed to flatten a pigeon on the junction at the southeast of Regent's Park this morning. Lots of beeping from traffic behind - driver knew what had occurred and momentarily considered stopping.

Woman on motorbike in front of me at junction stops, puts the bike on its stand and runs across the road to tend to the stricken bird.

More motorist fury ensues.

Happy Thursday.

Someone driving managed to flatten a pigeon

A pigeon flew through the back wheel of a cyclist right in front of me last year and exploded into a spray of feathers and blood. It was spectacular and horrific. He didn't even realise it had happened until we all stopped at the next traffic lights and told him.

Yeah. It was the contrast between the 'get the fuck out of my way' honking and the woman abandoning her motorbike to see if she could help the creature that I found a bit affecting.

Last night on Waterloo Bridge...

Damn son.

Resist that.

that'll buff out.

Took tube today. Arrived at work sweatier than when I rode in yesterday.

Filtering up the inside of a van, van pulls sharply towards kerb, I somehow swerve and duck below their wing mirror and escape anything other than a bit of a fright.

Mad props from a couple of the riders behind me, but I had no place riding up the inside of a van with such a narrow gap.

Also, snotted in a fella's face, not realising he was on my back wheel. And then again, the same fella, 20 minutes later.

I can't begin to compute how that can physically happen...

Also, snotted in a fella's face, not realising he was on my back wheel. And then again, the same fella, 20 minutes later.

The second one is his own fault.

Much TdF being channeled in people's riding - way more Cat6 racing than usual.