This morning's commute and other commuting stories

you are @skrtluv aicmfp

It would appear the term hasn't quite made it out of Australia. Basically it's a noob or knob who can't cycle :)

He knows the inference. Doesn't like collective grouping and calling people whatever version of nodders.

It's cold and it's wet and I'm grumpy AF. Huff/10

I will be sure to be more specific with the individual traits of all cyclists I come across next time. Apologies.

I've got no problem with it.

Trundling along the eternally fucked off-road trail section of Hampstead Lane, between Kenwood and Spaniards, I picked up my fourth flat in two weeks. Time to retire the old Corsa G+s, I reckon. On the plus side I had a lovely damp walk through the Swamps (does anyone else know Sandy Heath as the Swamps?)

Never met him so didn't know his nickname

I had the same epiphany switching from narrow flat bars to much wider risers on my everyday workhorse bike. Doesn't fit through slim gaps as well but so much nicer to ride.

So much sun this morning. Shades/10

But still cold. Confusion/10. Cold hands/10.

Threw on some widebars at the tail end of last week.
Literally the worst thing to commute on! Stupid-fun to ride but just stupid for commuting.
Headwind in today and the wide stance turned me into a sail.

Putting the drops back on / 10

officially spring now so the mitts came out.

had a rash of punctures recently as well as some leaky tubes (prob doesnt help I'm a total fat bastard at the moment) so filled my tyres with slime last night and am hoping that's the end of that. also loctited my presta valves to try and discourage my lezyne pump from tearing them out every time I have to inflate whilst out and about.

exactly the same feeling ! should be nice on a windless day though

Saw the sun and went out in spring kit. If course it was fucking freezing.

Does no one listen to the weather forecast?

I sleep until the absolute last minute then panic rush my way out of the flat to work. ain't nobody got time for weather reports.

Recently did the same. Then found myself apologising to a guy behind me when I couldn't make a gap and held him up. 'Its my bars mate. Too wide'. Then maybe thought he'd misheard and in a moment of low self worth tried to explain that I'd said bars and not that my arse is too wide. Too late.

Tense ride home, hoped people might give each other a little more respect than normal but everyone seemed extra intent on getting home as quick as possible. Understandable i suppose given the circumstances, hopefully all the bridges will be back open tomorrow, stay safe all.

So in a strong headwind when someone sits right on your wheel and just stays there...
I just stopped pedaling and slowed until he had to overtake.
Just wondered what you lot do... Say something?

Drop them

Flick your elbow, breakaway style?
More seriously, I think all you can do is slow down to drop back from whatever is in front of you as you'll need to give yourself space to brake slowly so the wheelsucker idiot doesn't collide with you.

Someone on here had a wheelsucker, slowed down, so did they, slowed down a bit more, so did they, drew to a stop, so did they, looked round and he looked at the floor!

Ha! That was me once on the commute. I wasn't wheel sucking (honest), the bloke in front was my neighbour and it was way too early to say hello and then possibly have to ride with them, so I was hanging back. He got slower and slower, so did I, and then he stopped and looked back at me.

Awks!

I rode past and then buried myself.

He now leaves about 10 mins earlier to avoid this happening again!

Sometimes I leave earlier as well, to wind him up.