This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Dithering driver this morning almost causing an accident, Could see said driver wanting to turn from side road onto the main road, I slow down a little they have plenty of time to make the turn, instead they keep edging out so much by the time I'm about 20 feet away the front of the car is pretty much blocking the cycle lane bringing me to a stop, driver then puts hand up to say thanks and makes the turn and then gets stopped at the lights a few meters how the road. Seems to be a thing this pulling far enough into a cycling lane causing cyclist to stop.

'Roast' on the daily specials at the local Police canteen?

What time? I went past around 8:40 and didn't see anything.

Gopro time suggests it was at about 9am.

CS2 by any chance??

I'm getting that more and more. Especially on Church Road, SE19. It's almost like they don't known where the nose of their car stops. The other evening someone speed up to such a position just as I was about to pass their side road, causing me to swerve out just as I was being overtaken. They then just acted all confused when I shouted "fuck you, you cunt!"

I didn't exactly have the time to formulate a more rational opening gambit.

CS7 the bit up by Clapham.

Seems perfectly rational to me

ha ha Church Road, try and avoid that as much as possible. Have they removed the speeds bumps am sure I read that the council had spent a ton of cash installing speed bumps on a section of road only to have to remove them as rescue services could get over them.

No speed bumps on that road for the two years that I've been using it. They did resurface it a few months ago.

It's got those shithouse "cycle lane" white line door zone death traps down both sides, which fucking annoys me as then it makes everyone else think they just need to stay outside that line rather than avoid the actual human being by a reasonable margin.

Kinda want to see the footage.

Kinda feel like I have a weird swan fetish now.

There you go, you sick pervert.

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Looks like it had headed up from the New River, there are always plenty on there.

My commute this morning was 30 miles over the Cotswolds.

Lovely views. Lovely drivers. Nasty hills.

Nice. Nearly likewise on the Chilterns, not quite so far (24m) or high. Return this evening in the rain (thanks MetOffice 'farcecast') with no coat but was actually still lovely (Mmmm...mudguards) apart from one Audi wanker passing within inches for no good reason. Tool.

I cycled from Leyton to rainham today including a bit of route 13 next to the a13. Pretty grim.

New sugoi bibs though. Lovely!

Went to Rapha for coffee

Cycled to a friends, left just as the rain started, an hour later at home I was so wet I had a shower to get dry.

Lucky bastard. It's 4 weeks until I get my next Mallorca fix. Although personally I would've headed up to Andratx and got a bit of MA-10 action in. Lovely road.

Am moving to Soller for 5 nights tomorrow. Anywhere you'd suggest I go to from there?

Ooooo, yes. We always stay in Soller when we go to Mallorca. Here's some ideas:

1. The Orient loop - up and over the Col de Soller, through Bunyola to Orient, down to Alaro, then through Lloseta to Selva, then back over the Puig Major via Escorca and the Col de Bataia. A big day, but a great ride.
   
2. Sa Calobra - up to Puig Major through the high tunnel, heading east out of Soller, then down the hill, turn left at the cafe shack, up and over the little hump (Col de Reia?) then down to Sa Calobra. Lunch by the sea, then back the way you came.
   
3. Deia Loop - West over the MA-10 to Deia, then down to Valdemossa, over the MA-11 towards Santa Maria, turn left and go through Bunyola, smash it home over the Col de Soller.
   
4. Cap de Formentor - you'll need a car, otherwise it's a very big ride from Soller, but if you drive to Pollenca or Porte de Pollenca, there's a really good there and back ride to the lighthouse at the Cap de Formentor. The road was built by the same chap who did the road to Sa Calobra.
   
5. Another car loop - drive to the junction of the MA-10 and the MA-2130, near the Repsol garage at the top of the Col de Bataia. Go down the Col de Bataia to Selva, then Moscari and Campanet before heading across the little back road towards Pollenca. Through Pollenca, and then back to the start over the MA-10.
   
   

Let me know if you want some gpx files for these rides.

Oh, and if you want tips on restaurants in Soller, give me a shout...

Rain brings the idiots out in full force. Text from friend to say he was knocked off a junction this morning and the guy's response was simply "sorry I didn't see you mate".

He's ok a little shaken and sore.

Almost got tag teamed on CS1. One driver gives it all the revving behind whilst the driver in front (who is the one holding me up anyway) decides to suddenly brake and turn sharp left without indicating. Luckily I reacted quickly enough, should have given them more space but so hard to when you're being tailgated.

Sweaty/10

Really enjoying chilling out and commuting sloooooow.

I should get a Dutch bike.

Actually... should I get a Dutch bike?