This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Not at this time of year I hope!

Buff and woolly hat yesterday, I only bother with a hat once or twice a year. There was a lightdusting of powdery stuff on the roads like icing sugar on a cake for someone you don't especially like.

I don't know if they still make it but I can highly recommend the Rapha deep winter collar, its like a super buff. Its got a split in the middle so you can wear it like a balaclava.
When the wind is really bitter I wear it to cover my ears and face AND a buff to seal my throat.

Very much the least flattering time of year. Not to mention the chance of frostbite.

something like this?

had mine a few months and it's been invaluable!

That link made all the security on my work pc freak out. I'd probably not advise people click on that.

Also, just wear headphones. Then you get fun music too!

Someone posted on Reddit today that that is their bike, and they leave it locked outside as their flat is too small, and they are currently on holiday.

Two questions:

1. How the fuck has this person's bike not been stolen yet?

2. How fucked is this person's bike going to be upon their return? Will it even be rideable?

that's really odd - sorry! it was working fine this morning.

I've changed it from a badly behaved biketart link to cyclestore link instead.

Baader-Meinhoff

Left the house at 6am instead of my usual 8:15.

Wowee, that makes a difference. The traffic is faster and all the lights are green...

Funny you should mention that - I just learned about it the other day.

The more scientifically accepted name nowadays is “frequency illusion”.

New commute today.

4.5miles of canal joy/10

Great commute in and home from work today, G4S in Nine Elms, 14 miles each way on 66" fixed, apart from the bellend in Twickenham in his BMW 1 series driving in the cycle lane!

First jacketless cycle of the year. Gorgeous day. Bring on springtime!

Little coming together between me and a fellow rider filtering down the right hand side of a traffic jam today - I had left so much space between me and the cars that when I came to slot back into an appropriate gap I found him on my left. Small bump, nobody hit the deck, everyone went about their day.

I swear on my upright bike even my crashes are chilled out.

Going up Hazlewell Rd in Putney, see a gentleman on the pavement yelling something quite a bit ahead from behind a row of carst. Then he appears on the road just as i am about to pass him seemingly trying to give me a hug (im going about 25kmph). I said 'no thanks' and then i hear him shout 'pussy'. strange.

glorious morning though

Sounds like @ChainBreaker

I was in Putney this morning...
I do love hugs.

The facts do seem to line up.

Except im not one to shout 'pussy'. You sure it wasnt just at normal volume but YOU HEARD IT AS A SHOUT CAUSE OF YOUR DELICATE EARS?

4.5miles of carnal joy/10

Is how I read that. Need to get out more.

I've change to commuting on my SS 'fatbike' but I'm still too fast for the fucking peds ignoring the crossings and weaving their way through three lanes of cars. Wankers. Maybe a Dutch bike or beach cruiser is the answer? Or maybe a bike with a full roll cage, covered in blades like something out of Mad Max is more useful. Hmm..

Id say something with a big scoop at the front would be better. You want to displace them rather than get all tangled up.

Or how about buying yourself an India spoke bell?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D9EHX2OcKTY

Ha! Peds still won't hear it though. They're headphoned up, deep in amongst noisy car engines, running for the safety of the footpath... across the bike lane.

Add a flamethrower too, extra weight and you can toast some marshmallows ;)

Squeaky brake sounds are the only thing they seem to hear. Play that at volume 100 db...

Not a fan of marshmallows but being able to reheat a kebab could come in handy.

Maybe I should switch to my other bike, people in Scotland can hear that.