This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Safety black: https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--QVmNv2-s--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/18mnrdxdjazb1jpg.jpg

Would.

In other news my I went to ride home tonight only to find some cunt has ruined my S-Works.
Bent the RD, hanger and broken a spoke, presumably by ramming a trolley or something into it. I doubt it was a car because there were no marks on the wheel, which was further out. So, if a building burns down tomorrow you know they didn't find any CCTV of the incident...

One car turns right across me inro a stationary line of traffic I was whizzing past.

a little more caution might avoid some issues (not all, obvs)

Shit man, you're not having much luck at the moment!

I noticed a sudden uptick in cuntitude the other week. The only concession I’ve made to high vis is a Sam Brown belt.

I think it started when it was fully dark for the commute rather than specific reaction to high viz. Dumbasses can’t judge distance as well in the dark.

Ack no :(

The frame and wheels are ok otherwise?

So basically:

Asshole drivers gonna asshole, hi-vis lemon or promuter look, or not
Wear a wig and skirt to look like a woman if you want wider passes

When is the safety black wig coming out? :)

Wear a wig and skirt to look like a woman if you want wider passes

I have long hair, does that count? (though usually tied up)

Honestly though, I doubt women get wider passes tbh. The assholes that don't care just don't care.

This.

You are shit out of luck at the moment, fatso.

Men don't make wider passes at girls who wear glasses.

I have long hair too - usually in a ponytail when I ride.

Perhaps it's a factor in my recent lack of driver conflict, who knows?

I have indeed!

You're not the first forumenger who has asked me about it with a view to purchasing one, either

I love it to bits - comfortable and virtually bombproof. I can't quite scamper up Brixton Hill like I used to on my SS, but that's just something you have to accept about that sort of bike.

Harry and Kristina (and Scamp the dog) at the Flying Dutchman are great too - really doing fantastic work bringing a more relaxed/utilitarian cycling culture to London. Big thumbs up from me. That shop makes me wish I had a use for a cargo bike so I had an excuse to buy one...

makes me wish I had a use for a cargo bike

That’s something to worry about after you have the cargo bike

Sadly, I also don't have anywhere to keep one.

One day...

No, I am not. 12 years I've owned that bike and as much as I wanted it killed so I could claim insurance and free up a rack, I never wanted a fucking bin man to take it out while it was fucking parked up doing commutes while my normal shitters were out of action. Sad times. I hope the hanger saved the frame.

Dumbasses can’t judge distance

Abridged version.

When did you ride home? Or did you take public transport because of bike damage? Asking because I thought I saw you on Holland Park Avenue.

I thought "ooh it's odd breaking a spoke in the middle, that never happens, wtf" and then when I'd unlocked and went to ride saw the derailleur pointing 90 degrees the wrong fucking way. I walked over to the intercom, buzzed and said "do you have video cameras in here?!" then wandered around with various security types taking notes. So, I didn't really inspect anything in detail. I didn't notice anything else so I'm hoping it's just a hanger, RD, and spoke replacement but if it's fucked the frame then I'm killing everyone in the office and drinking their blood*.

*jokes you gchq fucks

What's wrong with my sexy bleached blonde locks, biiatch?!

You make your own luck...
What that means to me is, I'm going to legalese email fuck the skulls of enough people that they will be buying me new bikes just to shut me up. I only ride across continents to warm myself up for arguing with insurance companies.

Nah, the bike was fucked. I could've probably bent the RD/hanger back to useable-ish but I'm already in pain from the Tues crash so I don't need to be slipping chains and slamming body parts on stuff. I took the train. I'm now down to a cracked fixed gear with flat pedals or my turbo bike, the old TT machine.

Ah, OK. I didn't see him too clearly, but seeing as he was very fa(s)t I thought there was a chance it was you.

Shit luck about the bike.

I suggest printing some new black-and-yellow stickers and stickering all the bikes in your work bike park.

I have been riding rapidly but that's because wearing summer clothes means you don't have a lot of choice if you want to make it home before your fingers fall off. It is funny how many people think you're mental just for walking outside with no sleeves though. I mean, it's not that cold people! #htfu

It was BDW that sorted me out this bike too, he knew someone at Sigma. Back before we rode L2P in'06. Happy Days.

You've definitely turned into @mmccarthy. :)