This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Not every day initially, basically I'm moving back to my parents to save money so maybe one day I can afford to buy a flat/house and not just piss my money away on rent.

Moved back there before between rentals and cycled in 3 days a week, although that was mostly when I was working around Old St and the London end of the journey was pretty straightforward. I think I'll start at 3 and try to up it to 5 days a week. The more time I spend riding, the less time I'll have to spend money on crap I don't need, I guess.

I know the SS/Holloway/Camden stretch from when I lived in Walthamstow and my recent experience of the embankment and blackfriars cycle lanes and the selfish bellends who use it have put me off it forever - total clusterfuck.

So I'm thinking seven sisters, camden, regents park might be a better way, once I hit London. Unless there's a better option? Also, what's the quickest way from regents park to victoria?

Haha good shout. Cheaper to just risk the current bike getting stolen/additional wear from being constantly subjected to the elements.

probs down baker st right at the end then down past or through hyde park. oxford st and side roads are a nightmare i would of thought.

you can go to angel, probably turn right at finsbury park, then down roseberry avenue to holborn, shaftebury avenue to piddically then down the mall/green park

We have this

...what am i looking at?

Locked-up flip-flops. I call them...

Flip Locks™

I wonder about this. I think the conversation has to be kept positive, otherwise bad feeling ensues. I kept my trap shut this morning as I marvelled at the flatness of the (yellow) tyres on the single speed ahead of me as I headed into the city. I said nothing yesterday when I was passed by another guy running a radially-laced rear wheel on his track bike. Actually, I wish I had said something to him, but the moment passed.

So I'm thinking seven sisters, camden, regents park might be a better way, once I hit London. Unless there's a better option? Also, what's the quickest way from regents park to victoria?

My commute: Seven Sisters, Camden, Regent's Park is all quite a nice quick bus lane route. Then York Gate, Dorset St, Montagu Sq, Old Quebec St + Bryanson St (avoid some lights on these), Hyde Park, Albert Gate, Lowndes, Elizabeth St, Victoria.

I had a good commute this morning.

Was late, didn't care. Was riding slow enjoy the weather. A lovely girl recognised the bike and knows Robin Mather from Bristol, so we rode along chatting and talking bikes. No-one cut me up, rode the Embankment without hassle, freewheeled down the bridge and road to work.

9/10 will commute again.

Nearly stacked it but somehow remained upright this morning. Turning right into a fairly steep hill, I think my front wheel clipped a small pothole but as I was falling my right pedal struck the ground mid-stroke and pushed me upright. About 95% sure that's what happened but not certain, it was very odd to be in one moment thinking 'I'm gone here' and the next being upright and fine.

Weather ace and overtakes largely considerate. Have to give it a 10.

Leaving a lock there to try and reserve the spot. Classic arsehole behaviour.

Someone at my work locks their slides up in a similar manner. If it's not obvious it's so they don't get nicked or thrown away and means they can change into them from their Look cleated shoes to make it easier to walk to/from the changing rooms.

Hipster spice route is so over, dahling.

Thinking of heading south to the Riverside then West. Any thoughts?

High Holborn would be a quieter option than Clerkenwell rd in the morning for the east>west bit. Probably less busy than the cycle highway along the river also:

Old Street, Finsbury square, Beech Street, Smithfields on to High Holborn, New Oxford Street

My route here but now tempted to try the choices listed by everyone else
https://www.strava.com/activities/696494784/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-US&v=1473884246

Cycle in and lock your bike up, if the space is available they most likely won't clock on for a while and when they do be vague about who said you could and ask what the problem with it is. Either that or they notice on the day and the argument is turned upto 11 and resolved once and for all.

Also having worked in facilities management before we had a messed up system where my bosses for the building wanted tenants to give something in writing to say they understood it was at own risk(never asked this for a car which could be stolen/damaged) and so some tenants just couldn't be bothered to do this for employees and would fob them off the same as they might be with you.

Prawns down the seat tube on a friday on the club run on sunday rest of the club will get a whiff but nobody will be able to place it.

edit - you have to really hate someone for this one

Hipster spice route is so over, dahling.

You just didn't get into it early enough.

FOG
F O G
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF OG
FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG
FOGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

lots of fog today - full lights at front (1 for flash 1 for vision!) 2 at back (flashy red and also one on my rear foot flashy green)

problem with fog is glasses - mine mist up in a few seconds and get a layer of drizzle that does not shift! :(

There is always a space available, even if everyone registered for the bike parking rode in on a single day! The only challenge is that security have a list of names and assigned numbers that they just put a tick mark against every day when you ride in. I have numbers for people who use them sporadically so I am just going to rotate through those on days I know they arent using them, be friendly and just explain the situation if questioned. Successful day #1.

Our in house facilities management are happy to take credit when things have to be done (even when tehy are done poorly) but otherwise are very difficult to deal with. At one point they were trying to tell us that 27C temperatures in our area of the office were acceptable and only did something when we threatend to take it to the COO.

Edit - Karma for my complaining about them...apparently both the chillers in our building just failed simultaneously. Its about to get hot in here.

Fog here too...no glasses to deal with.

Spotted a white van with a Decepticon sticker. Seems somewhat apt considering the median white van man driving style and it was also parked half on the kerb/half on the cycle lane... ;)

riding into work with frame on back was interesting, especially since overtaking vehicles suddenly gave me shitloads of space. Fear of scratchy breaky forks doing damage to their bodywork, made it nice and easy..

also weather was amazing, hoping it holds for open house on the weekend..

Thanks - looks like a bit of a clusterfuck between Smithfields to High Holburn - whats the best way to get from one to the other?

Beech Street over to Long lane, stay on the right of the road and turn right down East Poultry Ave, turn left and onto col de Charterhouse Street. Admittedly I don't usually get to Smithfields until about 9/9:15 so most of the meat delivery vans have gone by then. If you're earlier than that you will have to contend with the odd fork lift crossing the road and pallets left here there and everywhere.

Filter on the right on Charterhouse St. as cars tend to accelerate if the lights at the top are green and you'll struggle to get across to turn right onto HH.

Had a stand up row with some guy this morning who crept through a red light and hit a lady who was on a bicycle in front of him.

He was offended that I called him a bell-end, which is apparently worse than hitting someone with your car.

Bell-end.

I'm waiting for pay-day so I can buy a miniature beach towel to lay on the spot.