This morning's commute and other commuting stories

almost forgot how much aggro and how many pedestrians crossing whilst staring at their phones - sigh

January, when 'goodwill to all mankind' turns into 'get fucked, all mankind!'

Meh. It's been a while I don't ride a drop bar geared bike and I don't have much to compare it against. It has all the features but I'm finding it dull and the front end a bit harsh. Again, maybe I just need to get used to it. If you want to see it in the flesh / try it out let me know.

Just thought about it a bit more. The bikes I really liked riding were the ones that had a certain trait, like an old steel tourer that was royally plush, an alu fast-ish bike that just made a lovely, luxurious silence and immediately felt expensive, the 29er is like a big bouncy, stupid toy, but the Free Ranger is kind of bland and nothing-ish, at least in stock build. Zero character.

I had this realisation a couple of years ago.

Sold my Carbon road bike and built up a lovely vintage steel frame with modern group set.

Also got myself a steel track/ road fixed bike to complement the steel-relaxed fixed bike.

They all have character and lovely road feel. Happiness ensues.

Finally, first commute on tubeless without a tyre suddenly leaking air and going flat in the last 10 minutes of the ride.

#fuckTubeless
#fuckUserError

Worst close pass I've ever experienced this morning. Just seen the camera footage and am mad as fuck. A taxi driver, would you believe?

Addison Lee? Absolutely

No, taxi as in 'London's best trained drivers'.

Yes actually, I would totally believe that. They're usually not the worst road users on average, but some of them are absolutely horrible regardless.

I was being facetious.

https://youtu.be/-HL6GkcPnps

I had always assumed that you'd be aware of electric vehicles because of the road noise. Turns out that's not the case, had no idea this was happening until it was in my peripheral vision. Scared the shit out of me.

That's awful, literally the definition of a punishment pass.

Roadsafe the fu*cker

I feel scared just watching that!

Had some nobhead force me to the side of the road as they totally ignored my right of way and drove straight at me. It was as I was almost home and it turns out they also live on my street. Someone's getting a strongly worded note.

Fucking hell, that's terrifying!

What happened at the tea hut on Blackheath looks like a car has completely flattened it.
I hope nobody was hurt?

That sort of thing sends shivers down the spine. Definitely Roadsafe him.

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/15050481/

Drivers clearly having 3rd day back at work stress meltdown. Was sat behind two cars at a local roundabout. Car at the front was being cautious, which I don't really have a problem with. Car behind them has the both driver and passenger stress-smoking, hard. I can tell this by the frequency and depth of drags and the urgency and speed of repeated hard-flicking the ash off their fags at arms length out the window. Horn is sounded. Car at front ignores (good for them). Car at front pulls out when clear, car behind rushes to get out as well and nearly gets slow-speed T-boned in the process. Big altercation because T-boning car is clearly also STRESSED. I start laughing and my toddler can't work it out because he's facing backwards and can't see what's going on.

I don't really like commuting by car, but it has its moments.

Massive slow clap for the BMW twat who closed passed me at speed this morning, and a giant ten thumbs up for the Alpha Romeo cunt who passed me so closely that he knocked my bars with his wing mirror. You’re both getting reported to the cops.

Comedy fall-over this morning. Must have knocked the front raceblade with toe which then made the wheel not turn the way I needed it to. Cue slow motion topple over.

Otherwise more motorised cuntery then I care to mention.

Anyone else finding it really humid? Had to take my jacket off halfway last night and this morning. Also fuck the cars eternally in the bike box at regents park.

Not sure about humid, but it's definitely warm. I'm cycling in short lycra today and I didn't feel cold for a moment this morning.

Roadsafe.

Can you read the plates?