This morning's commute and other commuting stories

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May have slightly, uh, gone into the back of a car in traffic this morning. Thankfully it was such a tiny bump they didn't notice. Weird though because the road surface was super treacly and I felt like I was putting tons of effort in and barely picking up any speed, but then when I came to stop I just wasn't slowing down at all either. Might just be me not being used to the roller brake though and expecting an immediate stop rather than a graceful gradual one.

Front wheel slipped across wet manhole cover when cornering. Thought my left knee was in for a nice grating when everything suddenly gained full traction as the tyre hit tarmac on the other side. Almost flipped over to my right but by some weird miracle managed to stay upright and clipped in. Next two miles probably some sort of PB. Adrenaline/10!

Nearly a full house in cunt on the road bingo
Van bibbing and sitting on my rear wheel to get 6 feet further forward into the traffic jam...check
Policeman hanging out the window shouting get out of the way when i am a foot from the curb and both lanes are clear for him to pass
Punishment pass by a motorbike as i am filtering down the outside of non moving traffic, only for me to have to go around him 10 metres down the road
Then in the bike lane over southwark bridge I slowed down as i am coming down the hill to the (red) traffic lights and some wobbly tit on a brompton squeezes through the tiniest gap to get to the red lights first. Plus he didnt hear me calling him out because he had noise cancelling headphones on!

This is why people need cameras.

Skitched the open window of an ice cream van, received free ice cream on the move

No THIS is why people need cameras!

Skitched the open window of an ice cream van, received free ice cream on the move

Actually, sadly a bit suspicious of this one. Aren't ice cream vans usually solo operated?

Skitched the open window of an ice cream van, received free ice cream on the move

Yeah, also struggling with the physics of it. One hand on bars, one hand on ice cream van, did the vendor feed it straight into your mouth?

Nah they had a passenger in the front seat who handed it to me after I let go, being fed ice cream on the go is the ultimate dream

Exactly

Saw 4 brklss fixie skidderz on CS7 this morning. Did I not get the memo about it being national Remember Charlie Alliston Day?

Forevah in are jailz.

"I've been cycling in London since before you were born young pup, I've got just as much right to be on the roads at peak time as you do" - old lady shaking her fist at some team sky lycra hero getting all pissed off he cant rush to the red light on the Blackfriars Bridge northbound this morning. He went by her in a huff shaking his head and making it very clear of his displeasure at her, only to have that said to him in front of all of the other cyclists at the next lights loool.

She sounds excellent - would have loved to have witnessed that.

People rushing to get to the red lights first is probably the thing that annoys me the most about cycling in London. That and people on bikes who shoot off the line like a firework when someone hasnt fully crossed when the lights change to green. No idea why they annoy me so much (apart from the fact they are dickheads)

I often pick up an ice lolly or an ice cream on the way home through Vicky Park. I recommend the bubble gum flavoured ice cream from the van opposite the Royal Inn.

Ice cream commuting > silly commuter racing.

Bubble gum?
Are you sick in the head?

It certainly lightened my day and put a smile on my face.
@Camel_toe I concur with both of those.

Finally got round to sorting my fucked BB and rebuilt my fixed yesterday. Out on it for the first time in at least a couple of years.
Slight nervousness about not forgetting to pedal was exacerbated by my having not had the correct size allen key to tighten the cranks. Thought it would be fine but that was an error. Just made it to BC before the NDS came off completely where JimBilly provided a tool. Which is what I felt like.

And what’s with people going when the cycle traffic lights are still red? To some extent I get why some people set off before the main traffic lights change to green, although I don’t think the majority are doing it for safety reasons, but when you’ve got your own dedicated lights that go green before the main ones, why do people feel the need to go when they are still red, especially when people are crossing? I will have to do some interviews on the go.

Could have been worse. You have been berated by Em instead.

Cross your fingers for the forgiving smiles of Lincoln.

You Sarferners will never understand.

Crystal palace road has a sinkhole.
Pics later.

Crystal Palace is a shithole

ftfy