This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Yesterday heading northbound over lambeth Bridge, went zooming over, taking the right exit to head down towards parliament. Black cab pulls out, onto the roundabout from the 2nd exit, has his hand raised in apology as he does it, even though I’ve got time and space to slow and anticipate the move.
Drives ahead of me towards the houses of parliament with his hand up out of the cab still apologising as I catch up, I raise my hand to acknowledge his apology, he moves right gives me loads of space wind down his window and asks why I’m riding so quickly.
I tell him I’m late for work.
Traffics backs up, I move ahead. Feeling happy inside that not all black cabbies are arses...

Ah, yes. Still seems bizarre - surely they're constantly getting stuck in traffic.

Last night heard a taxi revving trying to get around me when I was about to turn right so I stuck my arm out to let him know not to bother trying. He immediately goes to undertake me instead. Then a twat on a motorbike blats between us at about 45. Exchanged a glance with the taxi driver and we both have the same 'oh shiiit' expression.
I go to make my right turn and some absolute turd of a dad with his kid in the front overtakes me on the corner and carries on down the wrong side of the road for about 50m before swerving over. Classic 'on the phone' move in my eyes but I couldn't confirm it.

So have a bit of a "who was in the wrong?" thing from this morning.

I'm coming on to the main road from my flat. Traffic is backed up southbound, I need to get across that to go northbound. I ride very slowly between two stationary vans looking to my left to see if anything is coming northbound, as I can't see past the vans until I get my head past.

Suddenly hear a "WARGARBLE!" from my right, and a cyclist comes past very close from the right and I just nudge his rear wheel as he passes. He then stops and starts hurling invectives and "fucking look!". I apologise and we move on.

But was that my fault? Because I was between two vans I could not see what was coming either way at that point and I was pretty much tiptoeing it out. Was he filtering too close? Can he really have a go at me for not looking as I was looking in the direction I expected traffic to be coming from? What if I had been a pedestrian?

On the other hand, I was looking so intensely for what was coming from the left, I'm not sure I would have looked to my right before I pulled out later.

Sounds like 'one of them things'. Whenever I'm filtering outside of vehicles I'm always aware that a pedestrian could move out from between vehicles and adjust my speed/observation accordingly. If you couldn't have looked right any further than you did, I'm not sure what more you can do.

Just one of those things that happen imo, no blame either way. You have to creep out to see whats coming in some traffic situations.

surely they're constantly getting stuck in traffic

More time to look out of the window, innit.

link to video?

There is a one (green) always parked on Manor Street, drives like a lunatic around clapham residential streets. never understood it.

Sounds like you both were doing pretty much the right thing... you were being careful, he was going slow enough to avoid an accident despite having his rear wheel nudged.

Obvs a warm hug and handshake would've been preferable to the shouting but can't win em all.

Picture please!!!! That bike sounds excellent

asks why I’m riding so quickly

Next time tell him you come from LFGSS.

A +ve tale from the western end of the '50km High Street'. Had some errands to do, including one in Uxbridge. Completed and deceided to pop into Southall to check the £1/bowl guys. This means climbing out of the Colne Valley up Hillingdon Hill. (Hillingdon underground station is doubly mis-named as both the Piccadilly & Metropolitan lines out here are overground but not the 'Overground', and it is nowhere near Hillingdon. When I was a Tube-commuting schoolboy it was correctly undernamed 'Hillingdon (Swakeleys)').
I cycled up the hill to find a Biffa domestic refuse truck blocking the bike lane, and protruding into the roadway. A car was also less than a bike width behind. I stopped and took a welcome swig of water and waited for Mr. Biffa to pull out.
I hadn't noticed a woman pushing an unloved hybrid. She caught up with me and exclaimed 'Did you cycle up that hill?'
I confirmed that indeed I had.
'Crazy' she replied and pushed her bike through another gap. Mr. Biffa finally pushed into the traffic and I crossed the road, catching up with the bike pusher. The bike had a triple chainset.
I suggested she tried with the 'little one' as it would be 25% easier, (rough estimate for a 50:40:30 triple?). She got back on the bike changed to the smallest chain ring and cycled away, admittedly on much less of an incline than the 'hill'.
Hopefully another bike owner who has fallen back in love with pedalpower.

I'm good thanks.

The cuss was a bit of a pisstake, a bit like this forum normally. It's really not that deep..

It's astonishing how many people ride bikes and don't use their gears.

The person I sit next to at work was complaining that cycling made her knees hurt. I asked her whether she was spinning or grinding. Turned out she spent her entire time cycling around in the highest gear.

Had a tailgater almost the entire way this morning on my current slightly less direct route (I'm avoiding a four way control that's set up right now). There was never any safe spot to overtake with parked cars on either side so I guess I'm glad they didn't try to force their way through but having them revving away right on my wheel and not getting the message when I kept looking back at them was aggravating. Thought the backstreets would be a bit more chill but I guess if I'm avoiding roadworks there will be rat runners in cars doing the same thing.

This morning just felt good. Perfect temperature, slight tail wind, quiet traffic and I think I beat everyone. 10/10

Saw a few casual/timid riders hugging the curb in rush hour traffic this morning.

They got cut up consistently by Vans pulling out on them with not the slightest care or cutting in front of them from Tottenham to Holloway. Why would you put yourself at that risk. Ride hard where the cars can see you its a hell of a lot safer and more fun.

singelspeed Guy grey bike and girl with orange helmet, black bike and basket were getting tailgated by Warren Street towards Leicestersquare did a few Whip skids to make him back up rather than grab your attention. If you're on here. you're welcome and no I wasn't showing off, "I heard your comment".

Maybe next time I'll just leave it and overtake and mind my own business.

Randomly parked van this morning south of Blackfriars Bridge

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Does anyone on here ride in from Bexley?
What's the best way?

There is enough human power there to tip it over

They got cut up consistently by Vans pulling out on them with not the slightest care or cutting in front of them from Tottenham to Holloway. Why would you put yourself at that risk. Ride hard where the cars can see you its a hell of a lot safer and more fun.

I try so hard to get my girlfriend to move away from the curb and parked cars but she is absolutely convinced it's more safe on it because she feels more secure as "cars can pass her and not need to wait to overtake".

Whip skids make people back off now?

Yep works like a charm IMHO.

It's astonishing how many people ride bikes and don't use their gears.

Maybe it’d be useful to have some kind of internet portal where these people can come together and compare notes on how they don’t use more than one gear. We could start with London first, see whether it takes off.