This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Big rear in tights

Don't be so hard on yourself.

Can't believe we had two pages of gender-based discussion and it was wholly rooted in binary genders.

It doesn't matter what demographic classification you're given, deaths from left-turning vehicles will surely mostly be due to poor road positioning – on the part of the cyclist or the motorist. Gender is an easy variable to introduce because it's immediately available.

If you haven't already considered it and it wasn't your fault, I gave CAMS a call who sorted every aspect of getting the legal ball rolling when I was hit by a car. Provided me with a hire bike to use for 6 months for free too.

White van man. Phone in left hand. Breakfast in his right hand, just casually drives out of side street as if nobody else exists.

He caught up at the lights and I assume he apologised, but said breakfast took up 90% of his mouth. Un-marked police car spotted and made them aware of his actions and they proceeded to follow him. Hopefully points and a fine

Lovely morning for riding today except that I got nearly left hooked heading towards Peckham from NX. Guy in a little hatchback overtook me and another cyclist and cut right across us - I skidded a hole in my tyre, emergency stopping. No harm done to my bike or my health otherwise, we exchanged words, he fucked off. Cheers to the Brompton dude who reassured me that I wasn't at fault.

Typo. Should have been 'massive twat' :-)

Interesting that you bring height/visibility/gender into this discussion .

Well, sex of riders was originally brought in by Bsample.

You have probably observed that many victims of this type of crash were non natives* of this country ( clumsy phrase I know - sorry ) so could this be a factor ?

* as in possibly more familiar with more benign road cycling environments ?

Yes, although a few years ago when I first thought about it in this way, there were definitely fewer non-natives involved in such crashes. I'll look into it when I have time, but my unresearched impression is that I don't believe their numbers are a significant factor compared to other factors, e.g. location or organisation of building work (my standard example are the people probably killed in relation to Shard building work along Tower Bridge Road a few years ago, where there has hardly been a serious crash since, even though there has continued to be huge building work on London Bridge Station) or, simply, who commutes when. I'm also wary of the explanation from 'more benign cycling environments' because it can easily be flipped to 'lack of (London) cycling skill', and as I suggested above, I don't think victim-blaming helps anyone. But all that said, trying to understand causation in crashes is a complex business (so many factors), and very few studies have been completed that are even remotely adequate.

It doesn't matter what demographic classification you're given, deaths from left-turning vehicles will surely mostly be due to poor road positioning – on the part of the cyclist or the motorist. Gender is an easy variable to introduce because it's immediately available.

Well, that's why I tried to reduce the importance of that variable by suggesting that it hides something more fundamental, which can affect both men and women, namely that height may play a role.

Also, without wishing to state the obvious all the time, crashes are caused by conflicting road positioning. This is usually conflict which is not perceived until it's too late, which is where the persistent use of the term 'accident' comes from. Yes, there is good road positioning, as in positioning yourself visibly, but it's really a concept that doesn't apply in conflict and dissolves somewhat in the event of the above kind of conflict, as arguably any conflicting road positioning is poor, never mind what caused the conflict. I know this sounds like splitting hairs, but I have over the years found it unproductive for understanding the most fundamental causes to concentrate on something like 'on the part of the cyclist or the motorist' (or, conceivably, both). Take a character like Dennis Putz (even though he was 100% at fault in my view), or the aforementioned Shard building works--there are quite often much more interesting causes than is at first apparent.

So, I guess i don't want to get out of the mindset, just moderate it a tad.

I see, hope it'll work!

Two people braked in time this evening.

Two people saved a youg man's life.

Passing by Monument Underground station, the young man jumped the red light and forced his way through incoming traffic. Clearly out of place, out of shape, with no style. A properly suicidal move. I watched as he barely swerved against this lorry's bumper, arriving at speed, blocked by a curb in the middle of the junction.

"Idiot," I thought.

The garbage truck braked. The cabin tilted forwards. And the cyclist continued on this way.

I decided to follow him to tell him off, to tell him how lucky he was to be alive - saved by this driver's pity, really.
Also, following him was safer than overtaking such a menace.

Two minutes later, we are cycling northbound. Bishopsgate, 7pm. Rush hour. Cars everywhere, already-three-pints-in zombies crossing the road in front of Leadenhall Market while staring at their phone.

He overtakes, as we all sort of do. But with much, much less space to clear that bus heading towards him.

He removes his left foot from the pedal. "That twat is hitting this car's bumper, seriously?" I think to myself.

Somehow, his body is projected forward, over the handlebars. He hits the ground hard and rolls over. The white Prius behind him stops instantly. And I know it didn't touch him.

I stop in front of the car, unclip, and halt the two lanes of traffic and mopeds coming, as some kind folks help him up and pull his superb Cinelli frame out of danger.

I stay with him for a moment. He says he's okay.

"No one's fault but mine," he confesses.

Yeah.

Thank those people you showed no respect for. I hope you made it safely to Broadway Market.

You need to write like novels and shit.

shit while writing novels

Improves if read in the voice of Batman

#rep

Messy. Messy roads. Messy traffic. Messy driving. Too messy for lenses. Grit in my eyes. So pollen count drops. Grit count rises. Either way my eyes sting. Maybe a 3/10.

Dropped my wallet without noticing and two motorists stopped to tell me. Wallet was still there after walking back up the road. Faith in humanity/10.

Wow. Nice.

Very wet out there this morning, my Gore Goretex over shorts are brilliant, I just wish there cut was a bit more rapha touring rather than, get Rad mountain biker.

Got drafted by some Ian Tomlinson looking geezer on a mtb who had a megaphone.
Cycling with a megaphone, adopting full British Public Service Broadcasting voice and telling everyone off.

"Please ensure you wait for the green man before crossing the road"

Dick.

Most excellent FKW in complete Team Sky outfit down to the blue rapha shoes and 20th Century Fox socks, spoiling his World Tour look slightly with a Proviz 360 jacket and Hump.

And a fixie dork pumping Diva Piano House Anthemz vol 3 on a Bluetooth speaker.

Old Kent Road don't ever change.

Flippin eck! Unbelievable, pic/video or it didn't happen etc

Sounds brilliant. Where can I find this mythical douchebag?
(the mtb guy, not you)

Good ride this morning. I like the wet as there are less hubbards on the road, however the wind wasn't the best.

hubbards

L.Ron's?

Mothers?

wut?

Changed bars from drop to semi-wide and put on a new saddle . feels like a different bike lol
takes way more space with those bars... not sure if i like it ...but need to add grips in order to judge properly .
5/10..