This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Fucking drenched this morning, some proto-flooding in places to the point my feet were dipping under the water as I pedaled. Definitely one of those moments where you just can't get any wetter.

Was difficult at the transtation trying to get my glasses clear and my phone screen dry to open the ticket app when everything was wet and dripping. The hand dryer in the toilet was much appreciated, the fact the bike bit was at the front of a 7 carriage train which met I have to leave cover less so.

This June can fuck off, although at least the rain was warm.

The rain had stopped on the south coast and it was warm and muggy. I’m commuting pretty much fully loaded to check by touring kit. This means getting nice and warm and sweaty on the ride. Imagine my joy when I arrived and the showers had no hot water.

This June can fuck off

Totally. Fed up being soaked, overheated, windswept. And have root canal treatment tomorrow. Fucks sake.

Bankruptcy flashed before my eyes just now as a pedestrian stepped off the kerb right in front of me while staring down at her phone.

I had a root canal last year. After hearing many stories it was surprisingly no worse than any other trip to the dentist.

It has been honestly worse that the entirety of the winter commuting for me.

So just painful, uncomfortable, and choking on your own saliva then.

The one root canal I had was mildly uncomfortable, but it was utter bliss compared to the pain I was in before.

Nailed it

Such anticipation. Much cost. Most discomfort.

Oh yes, I'd almost forgotten about the grand I handed over for the privilege.

You got a bargain. Well North of that...

Top tip - get your dental work done while you're funemployed and on the dole.

Took a low speed tumble the other day and hand swelled up badly. Off to a&e on Monday morning for six hours, hand trauma unit today for two hours, surgery for broken and twisted metacarpal on Thursday morning.

Fucksticks.

1 Attachment

Bad luck mate! Hope you heal up ok

Heal up soon!

I had my root canal done when I got hit by a car and knocked two teeth out. Other guy paid. #protip

Had a word with a bromptoner repeatedly dinging his bell at anyone in the vicinity of a junction - and those already crossing them. Got the typical responses of 'they shouldn't be in the road', 'I was just warning them' and 'cars do it'. He acknowledged that they had priority, but only to the extent that it meant he shouldn't actually hit them.

Hopefully I managed to give him something to think about.

If nothing else, you definitely feel more relaxed and generally happier/calmer for the rest of the day when you realise that you can shout at people and ding your bell until the fat lady sings, the cows come home and the sun don’t set but the next day there’s gonna be more cunts to ding at and argue with so why not just take it easy, smile, let people out in front of you when you don’t need to, kick it down a gear, enjoy the sights and the sun. You might even live longer

Yeah, 100x this. Works when driving too.

Yup. I can’t be arsed with arriving at work seething with anger any more. Just let it go. My wife is the exact opposite and has stress issues and seemingly spends her commute swearing at everyone. She’s a behaviour analyst. Go figure.

Also, almost all of my bikes have a bell fitted. I find them much better than shouting at people.

I think in this country we use bells in the same way we use car horns, incorrectly.
If you spend any time driving around Italy, you'll hear beeps 10x as often but it's never malicious, it's a "by the way I'm here". Definitely makes you look before pulling out of a junction. (in less urban areas at least)
I've never used a bike bell personally. I opt for the @hippy mindset and wear SafetyBlack™. If you assume everyone hasn't seen you and you ride accordingly, expecting to be pulled out on or for someone switch lane into you then you generally become more prepared for those things and tend to avoid them. In the same way helmets have a subconscious effect on how many risks we take when riding, I think bells and hi-viz probably have a similar effect in that we expect to be seen and heard and therefore continue to ride as if we have been even when at times we haven't been.

IAMNAPSYCHOLOGIST

Sounds legit.

Commute was dry. Train was very late so took a detour. Ran into old friend and her dogs in the park. No drivers were dickheads. Only improvement to make would be some sun.

Wise words. Saw a Brompton rider this morning in full hi-viz with daytime running lights almost get wiped out on a hatched junction because they followed the lights slavishly rather than reading the queuing traffic.

I have a Spurcycle bell, it's a lifestyle purchase.

Most bells sound too aggressive really, a more traditional 'bring bring' is much more friendly than a high pitched ping.