This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Counting traffic lights a few pages back - I think I've got less than 10 on my 25km commute including at least 5 pedestrian crossings, 3 of which are on the 200m stretch outside my flat. Bliss.

Not your fault someone was dumb enough to put white carpets in an office!

Passed someone three times this morning and saw him enter the city before me. The fuck is this black magic.

Sounds like you're missing a short cut.

Encountered a classic "Urban Warrior" cyclist this morning. Cityfied 26" MTB festooned with gadgets, loads of lycra, cycling like an aggressive knobber.

Also had the archetypal stroppy driver who was annoyed that I was stopping him from getting to the back of the queue of traffic in front of us.

Stillbetterthanthetube/10

sadly someone died on the way to work this morning

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/peckham-crash-cyclist-death-a4348706.html

Was just about to bitch about my commute then saw this. Not good, RIP

Yeah really makes me pause every time that logo goes black. I just rode my bike to work this morning. Just spinning my wheels and getting where I was going. RIP to that rider.

Encountered a classic "Urban Warrior" cyclist this morning. Cityfied 26" MTB festooned with gadgets, loads of lycra, cycling like an aggressive knobber.

I dig these dudes, I do wonder about the buying process though

how do you wind up commuting, in a city, on a full suspension mtb ?

Santa Cruz Chameleon with RS Pike... with bar mounted bell and iPhone mount... by trafalgar square this morning. Not convinced it wasn't stolen, not convinced (judging the rider hard) it sees much other than tarmac...

Someone's nicked my bell. It cost £3. What do you reckon their plan is?

I guess they are just attention seeking.

expensive set up for the old tarmac, rough and patchy as it it is....

You'll see

Strava heatmap time!

In other news yesterday was my first day on the bike for 8 days. My lower back went into spasm Thursday 23rd. This happens about every 18 months for me from a combination of too much cycling and/or gardening but this was the first time it's happened from sitting in my home office all day.

Still it was sufficiently recovered plus my legs were itching to get back on the bike for a mild, dry Friday morning in January.

Had a little bit of SCR on the false flat up to Westferry Circus in Canary Wharf and thought I would share it with you via the medium of moving pictures.

I thought I had positioned myself perfectly for the sprint finish but ultimately left myself too much to do to catch red bootie/pink backpack/squeaky mudguard guy or (whispers) perhaps he was just faster than me #sillycommuterracing

Fucking beastly headwind for twenty fucking miles.

Fucking fucking fucking headwind.

I also know it'll switch for the return journey and headwind all the way home.

Return journey was blissful tailwind and warmer temperatures than this morning.
Found an alternative route on one section, one that has smoother roads, is more direct and quieter.

Got a surplus aliexpress knock off bell if you want it

Rode my partners (much too small bike) into work, was sorta getting into it and starting to lean into the corners when I managed to clip the pedal pretty hard on the floor. Didn’t hit the deck but did manage to slam my coccyx so hard into the saddle it gave it that ‘my first build’ angle.. Nose pointing straight down. Mega sore arse for the rest of the day / likely the whole week. Then on the way back home lost the rear wheel on some wet paving stones and did an accidental mega skid- all in all way too much excitement for me on a commute.

I'm sorted for now thanks dude

Not sure where to best post this. Found someones Kryptonite lock key and tesco clubcard on the way to work this morning. Thought I could contact them via Kryptonite, but they don't seem like they do that. Will drop them in to a Tesco tonight. Let me know if you lost them in Hackney.

I would drop it to a Tesco store close to where you found it. He/she probably wouldn't know where they dropped the card/key, but the store would be on/near their commute the next day when they go to pick it up after being contacted by Tesco. And if the person can't be contacted (no phone number on file etc) they know at least which 1000 stores to drop by and ask around, if they wanted.

Two wee shitcunts tried to rob me of my Brompton in Highbury tonight. Luckily they were shit at it, announced themselves way too early and allowed me to get my d-lock out and twat one of them into the middle of next week. The other one fucked off pretty sharpish. A few good wrist stamps will have hopefully put him out of action for a few weeks.

Cunts. I’m in the pub having a beer to calm the nerves and get the adrenaline down to manageable levels.