This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Some of the new commuters seemed to be attempting to freewheel to work this morning.

pretty much a certainty that if the road narrows to the point passing cars make it impossible to overtake the person in front of me they will then start freewheeling for no reason. gradually getting slower and slower so I have to slow as well and have no chance of building up enough speed to squeeze through any of the gaps which do appear to get past safely, while people approaching from further behind are able to pass easily because they haven't been forced to slow down. bit like the lone car stuck right behind the lorry doing 50mph on the motorway.

this morning a lady on a brompton must have turned her pedals a maximum of 20 times over the entire length of clapham common.

got the attention of a police woman parked outside sainsbury's with her engine running scrolling through facebook yesterday, i asked if i was correct in thinking that it's illegal to use a mobile device with the engine running, she thanked for me for letting me know, I said you should really know that already. She glared. I smugged.

Think it's slightly more nuanced. The law is that you must not use a phone "while driving".

If you are clearly parked you can use your phone even if the engine is running. You can't if you are merely stopped in the road, at traffic lights for instance.

For instance, it would be a bit harsh to prosecute someone for using their phone while they waited for their car to thaw on a frosty morning.

She should have turned her engine off anyway of course. To save our lungs, the planet and the tax payer the cost of wasted fuel.

Speaking of commutes... just about to start commuting from Kingston into the city - can anyone recommend a good route?

You could go through richmond park and along to putney then over putney bridge and follow the river along. Or go over kingston hill to raynes park, up to south wimbledon then get on the cs7 into the city

Thanks man, will give them both a go see what’s better

Ask @KDense
Edit: and possibly @Scrabble iirc

B) is faster. A) is nicer. Although a bit more trafficy when you hit town.

cs7 from wimbledon is 95% of my commute, it has some shitty bits but is generally never completely fucked (except when stockwell->oval flooded that was a proper shit show).

riding back over kingston hill/coombes lane to finish your commute would suck though. also once cs7 runs out the drivers get a bit shittier and the roads narrow to single car width which is crap as they get pretty jammed up on the way to the A3.

B is faster? Interesting...

I used to go A) to Warren St. I now go along CS7 to Holborn. As you get closer to London with the Putney / Fulham / Kings Road / Embankment / whatever you choose I found there were more traffic lights / traffic - so average speed was generally lower. CS7 you can crack along most of the time - again personal observations, your mileage may vary etc.

Good to know man, cheers - I’ll be going from norbiton station basically - so B would probably be better

Thanks for all the input chaps

if you do go cs7 way and see a beardy fat bloke with a chicago bulls logo on his messenger bag say hi :)

You're a fool to miss Richmond Park out if it can be part of your route. From there, leaving from Roehampton gate you can either join the race heading over Putney Bridge, through Parsons Green and Fulham and onto the Embankment into Westminster.
Other option is to wiggle through Putney towards the Thames path from Osiers Road. You can take that all the way to Battersea Park before crossing Chelsea Bridge and joining CSsomething into town.

I like to mix it up with the a cross country trip round the offroad track in Richmond Park from Kingston gate to Robin Hood, then dive into Wimbledon Common and take the track up to the top of Putney Hill. Can be muddy but love a bit of a rip through the woods before work.

I will most certainly keep an eye out for you

Changed over from pursuits to 800mm(!?!?) risers last night.

Almost got between a bus and a car at a red light before I realised I wouldn't make the gap. Aborted last minute into the oncoming lane just as the light turned green.

new pants/10

I used to commute from Putney/Wandsworth Town into central and tried to make it as a traffic free as possible. Kings Road can be an obstacle course which I always try and avoid. I used to use the roads/cycle paths closer to the river and come out on the embankment via Lots Road (if I wasn't using the route south of the river via Thames Path that Scrabble mentions) .

Why not just stop behind the bus and car?

Close passed by a truck I went to skitch it but didn't find a hand hold.
Guy in green AMG hatchback drove past and offered me his spoiler.
We have the classiest hoons in west lundun.

Coz you need brains brakes to do that?

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@Starsky Exactly this.

I have so many variations of the route to keep it interesting, but the basic premise is to go through the park to Putney Bridge (possibly via Wimbledon too) and then New Kings Road and onwards. I tend to favour the more direct Kings Road, Mall, Strand axis, but many take Embankment - I just find it a bit too dual-carriageway.

yes the born stupid cycle club would rescind my membership if word got around that I stop for traffic, lights, peds, wildlife.

it's all very responsible in here these days init.