This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Wide bars, knobby tyres, dual suspension, spinnyasfuck singlespeed gearing... you know what time it is? Do you know what time it is?! It's motherfucking Kona A time!

You guys seen this?
Been using that exact same route for the last 2 years....makes me a little bit worried must admit although it's by far the nicest/safest route from city to east.

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Last night I was waiting for the lights coming out of the bus only area in Kingston (cycling is allowed). It is a t-junction with a gap in the reservation so buses can turn. A car is sat in this gap trying to do an illegal u-turn.

Some hero on a massive dutch back jumps the red light and stops next to said car and starts shouting and waving his finger saying you can't do it that (!!!). My light goes green so the car can finish the u-turn. I realise it is a young guy with a p plate, probably an innocent mistake. At the next set out lights, not far away, the RLJing cyclist continues to give it to the driver whilst blocking his lane. At this stage a youff on a moped rides up and tells him to fuck off. Truly deserved.

Preferred the crash, of the two.

Sometimes I really miss rep.

Last night along Kennington Road I'm passing a stopped bus when a skanky dude decides to step out from in front of it without looking. Manage to just swerve to avoid hitting him full on, but brushed past and somehow picked up his carrier bag on my left arm. Still not quite sure how it happened.
Pulled over and gave it back to him, along with some 'advice' about crossing the road.

although it's by far the nicest/safest route from city to east

Really? Regents towpath is such a fucking mess; slow, aggravating and indirect to most places in East.

And as recent events have shown, not really that safe. Either from perspective of yoots mugging or going shoulder to shoulder with peds not feeling inclined to share the towpath - for which I don't blame them given the towpath isn't really wide enough for shared use

I guess it really depends on your exact journey and time of the day. I do 6.30am and 5.30pm barely anyone on there. And yes from leyton to city I personally think it's the safest and nicest route (gangs aside...). I would rather add 5-10min to my journey if it means I don't have to juggle between buses and cars and inhaling their exhaust smoke. But yeah if you commute after 8am and come back 6/7pm in the summer I can see how runners and tourist might fuck the all peace thing up.

yeah all depends on what your concerns are. I see where you are coming from. Got hit by a car and lost a kidney in the past so I would rather deal with pedestrians than running the risk of another major accident...in 3 years doing it daily I never really had any issues apart from the odd "fuck off" comments which happens on the road too.

But this all gang thing is making me reconsider my winter route atm...

Yes, good duck & tree to bus ratio but there's good busless, quiet routes to Leyton that avoid the increasingly dodgy canal, bearing in mind it's now dark at 5.30.

Personally I'd rather get home safe and share the road with a handful of cars than walk home with a bloody nose and no personal belongings for the sake of being able to look at moor hens

Starting to agree with you. At least for the return journey since victoria park is now closed by the time I get there....looking at alternative as we speak. I will keep the canal for morning rides. At 6.30am I would expect the gang risk to be low..

Sorry to hear that ... conversely I had a good friend of mine get her nose caved in by would be bike thieves 5 years ago near Queensbridge Rd, and ran into issues myself near Vic park - not like stories of bike and houseboat related violent crime around regents / lea extension are rare.

yes I don't think there is any 100% safe route in london anymore between the stupid drivers, the moped gang and the teenage chavs on bikes..They do seem to be targeting brommies a lot these days though.

Just look after yourself pal! There's no such thing as no risk when you get on a bike but it's better getting to the other end with all your limbs and wheels.

True! thanks man

I can't stand canal paths for commuting. For pottering along once every few months with the missus in summertime, maybe, but not A-B riding.

On a cold spring morning with the mist lingering on the canal and no-one around it's amazing.

I wouldn't even consider riding down the canal alone in the dark. There is no escape if you get confronted, that's why muggers like to hang by the canal.

I used to think the same riding around Regents Park.

Maybe I should give c(anal) another go..

Agreed. I really enjoy my morning commute at 6.30am. No one around and a real nice country side feeling (if you squint eyes and do abstraction of the new expensive builds being built all along it)

There's no escape? Have you seen me near a canal?

"Les poissons, les poissons!!"

To be fair, I've never really considered mugging. I just figure they pick easier targets than the large beardy weirdy on the silly bikes.

Haha, I didn't think you would choose canals, you're more an A road guy no?

I work the butch lesbian angle in an order to make myself seem less 'muggable'..

Yep, A for Angry or Arsehole depending on the moodswingz.

somehow picked up his carrier bag on my left arm. Still not quite sure how it happened.

Latent kleptomania?

Here's the actual link:

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/mugged-for-a-bike-london-victim-tells-of-violent-incident-361414

The picture probably shows the rider and the bike, although not the spot where it happened, which was the western end of Victoria Park, just after you come off the canal towpath by the entrance that was improved before the Olympics. There have been many, many muggings there over the years.

This happened to a friends friend a few weeks ago too in the same area, the took his house keys and drivers license too so they knew where he lived. Threatened to come get him if the pin he gave was wrong. He ran home and got an emergency locksmith.
Must be the same people.