This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Next step is no skid lid, Sid.

This account name was created a few years ago... I've moved on since then.

It sparked quite the pub debate with my family at Christmas when I arrived on the bike, shockingly unbehelmeted. Certain family members genuinely consider the decision 'fucking idiotic'. Unsurprisingly, those family members are also drivers.

I've got into less nasty situations on the road since I went upright on my commuter

I've noticed this too. Possible reasons that occur to me:

• More time to anticipate developing hazards.
  
• Going at a speed other road users expect cyclists to go at (rightly or wrongly) means they end up dealing with you better, and giving you more time/space.
  
• Less prejudice against you as a trundling utility cyclist than when in 'lycra-clad road warrior' mode.
  
• You're less pumped up , and maybe less prone to taking risks you would otherwise take.
  

Less prejudice against you as a trundling utility cyclist than when in 'lycra-clad road warrior' mode.

This one. All those studies on helmets and stuff show that drivers are more aggressive towards you when you have a helmet and fancy bike (which is also why it looks like helmets don't do anything for safety in the statistics). For some reason the Clarkson types don't have a problem with 19-year-old girls on city bikes but the MAMILs in Lycra shorts send them into a fury

something i've been meaning to moan about recently but slips my mind by the time i'm in front of my laptop.

what the fuck is it with nodders coasting E V E R Y W H E R E at the moment?

I'm more than happy for someone to go their own speed on the clear open road but being stuck behind someone clearly not fussed about actually making any forward progress and wobbling along at a speed that can barely keep their bike upright while going through hazardous junctions or narrow cycle paths or solely using gravity to take them down the gentlest of hills at <10mph is the most frustrating (and in some cases with turning traffic for example dangerous) thing evar.

Was stuck behind someone going over southwark bridge who must have turned his pedals less than 10 times total, he also took about 100 minutes to get across. with no room to pass because of the giant anti-terrorism lego stuff

You still live with your parents because you've bought an M3 and now can't afford a house deposit but then you're precious M3 doesn't get you any girls because all you can talk about is your precious M3 and then on the way home you're passed by a constant stream of fitter, smarter and generally more successful people on bicycles. Bicycles FFS!

I tend to land on my face so should be fine.

I ride fixed on a relatively light steel track frame and was worried the bag would fudge the handling. TBH i barely noticed it but the benefits of no backpack/raised stem we're massive for commuting comfort.

This has got #shitfixieskidderssay all over it

I don't mind them going at their own pace as long as they haven't pushed in front of everyone else at traffic lights to do such speeds.

I haven't ruled out the possibility. Could also be the bike. Or my lucky rabbits foot.

Did you mean to type fitter or fatter?

Bigger is better.

For some reason the Clarkson types don't have a problem with 19-year-old girls on city bikes

I would talk to some women cyclists about that ...

Ha, fair point. A different sort of verbal harassment.

giant anti-terrorism lego stuff

That stuff (and the bridge-long barriers on Waterloo Br and I assume other bridges) is really starting to boil my piss.

I mean how long are we going to have to put up with that shit? Talk about 'letting the terrorororists win' like the daily fail types might say.

I tend to land on my face so should be fine.

Wear a backpack on your face?

#logic

Facepack?

Wear your backpack on the front. That way you can draft it and get to work quicker

something i've been meaning to moan about recently but slips my mind by the time i'm in front of my laptop.

what the fuck is it with nodders coasting E V E R Y W H E R E at the moment?

Er. Mate. You complain about nodders all the time. You've got to find a way to chill out. I recommend riding to work with @Skülly.

Countless studies by the military have shown that helmets de-humanise people. A helmeted silhouette is easier to shoot at than an un-helmeted one/Civilians more fearful of helmeted patrols/British Army often patrol in Berets whilst trying to win hearts & minds etc etc.

The silhouette of a cycling helmet definitely triggers something in certain drivers.

Perhaps there’s a market for some LFGSS cycling berets...

We can’t even get a run of fucking cycling caps made never mind berets

How about something like this? I'd definitely give a wide berth...

Took a route through a bad part of Belfast. Lots of cuntish overtaking, to be expected.

Had half a bus seat thrown at me from the 8a When it had stopped at a bus stop, so proper job with keeping it thuggy.

Google should have an elevation and arsehole level for any route :p

Really enjoyed trundling in against the wind this morning. No winter jacket or winter gloves, no ear cover, no lights, sweaty glow on arrival. Given that the weather is set to return to somewhere between relentless and miserable later in the week it was damn nearly a 10/10. Would enjoy the early joys of spring again.

First ride with a Fly6 this morning. Seems to have captured 2gb of video for ~41min of commute.

yup - thats about right.