This morning's commute and other commuting stories

A large part of the problem is cars on your side of the road slow and wave them through so they don't bother looking.
Happens all the time in rush hour heading Southbound on Camden Road.

I'd go along the top of the hill, through the hospital and out the other side rather than down onto that busy main road.

I stopped commuting down there in favour of Caledonian Road. I'd always be suitably cautious of any gaps in the stationary traffic - particularly passing the petrol station - and was constantly amazed how many people just gunned it past me. Hi-vis and helmets obviously, because safety conscious.

Crystal Palace Park Road Descent - Yesterday clear road, doing maybe 40kph car some distance in front indicates and starts to turn left then stops with maybe half or less of the car in the road, I shoulder check and move into the centre of the road and a buggy appears, being pushed by a woman without looking. Cue me scrubbing speed, minor lockup and a bit of swearing, go through the gap now behind her (safely) having shed at least half of my speed. Heard her say 'I looked, the car let me out' followed by some outright screaming at me. I suspect she was in shock as it was the stupidest and most dangerous thing she'd probably ever done. Who the fuck pushes a buggy out in the road without looking properly!

CPPR Part 2 - Descent today, in primary, keeping up with traffic with maybe 2 car lengths tops to the car in front, hear some revving behind me and low and behold a BMW X5 with private numberplate (M12 ETC) accelerates past me into the gap in front. Wanted to congratulate him on his excellent driving I gave him the thumbs up. Obviously this is incitement as he then kept trying to get me to pull in, shouting stuff out of the window. I just sat behind him smiling the rest of the way down.

Commuting joys.

Yeah, at the junction with Murray St, just after the petrol station.

In contrast to this morning's palaver, I was followed down part of Cavendish Road this evening by one of the most patient drivers I've had the pleasure of riding in front of.

It's parked cars most of the way down there, so I was keeping a good distance from the door zone.

He kept a good distance from my back wheel, and didn't even make any of the tell-tale champing-at-the-bit engine noise.

Gave him a little thumbs up as I rode off into Tooting Bec Common. Lovely.

Who the fuck pushes a buggy out in the road without looking properly!

Cockfucks in Acton, that's who.

@PhilDAS, @NurseHolliday
Literally always have one on me, for those reasons.

Who the fuck pushes a buggy out in the road

Almost every new mum.
Especially the ones with double prams.

Almost every new mum.

bit like every cyclist...

A bit, only hopefully taken with a bit of salt

Twins or sarcasm?

Fuuucccking cold thumbs. Need better gloves (with radiators in). Hard shell, though! Toasty :-)

What a beautiful crisp morning! Cheered me up no end. Even my usual 'What do you think you're doing, cunt?' shout outs to errant drivers were accompanied by a smile :)

was involved in the tail-end of rider down - a white van* driver decided to cross two lanes because he’d missed the turning west at Clapham Common (it’s a hazard on the best of days). Rider on a Ribble got crunched but seemed to be okay. Lots of cars braking suddenly... (I went into the back of a hatchback, bounced off. Handlebars on-the-piss and right knee a bit blown). Another rider kindly took the victim’s details and had a helmet mounted GoPro too, so hopefully the rider heals up and his bike gets replaced. It all could have been so much worse.

*The Sash Window Co

Shorts and t-shirt still...

with an LS undershirt, knee warmers, merino hat and full finger gloves. :)

Think I'll go for full longs though and thicker gloves instead of the race ones. It was -1 yesterday when I left and 3 ish this morning. Hands and feet didn't like me.

I got the train. It was shite and I sweated more than on the bike because the heating was set to emulate the surface of the sun. TfL are shite.

It crossed my mind. I did 240-odd km yesterday, with a fair bit of overgeared climbing so my knees were pretty tender and I wanted a sleep in. In the end I 'wussed out'? set the alarm early and rode the SS in. Not sure if it was better or worse than train.

^ Tonight's Zumba class is cancelled btw guiz.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Saw your audax post - nice work! Put my Sunday 30m potter-about to shame :-)

30m is more than most people did yesterday. (Assuming you mean miles and not metres)

I need to clean the bike, swap out the silly wheels, get lower gears to save my knees a bit and do it again another 33 times to get my 100 AAA points.

(s)miles :-)

the roads/drivers around Clapham Common are appalling. I've nearly been taken out many times (and one colleagues actually was) by drivers speeding to get to turn left of long road into CC north side.

Glad to hear the rider was ok