This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Yes. This ^
Also: I’ve noticed more lane segregating posts installed in the Clapham > Balham stretch of that road. Given the way the road is between Clapham South and Balham (single lane, lots of exits/entrances) this forces cyclists into a single file behind the slowest plodder /or/ to take one’s chances nipping between the posts (encountering traffic randoms).
Way too much extra drama in that run of streets.

I’ve stuck in a complaint to Wandsworth on their automated system, not expecting much but you’d have thought some sort of design process went into this. Annoyingly my feet were nice an dry till I hit these fubars.
Southbound is definitely worse, as you say way too much drama.

Have also stuck a complaint in.

and to @vilms5000

If you are a resident or can be bothered,
it is worth checking on the LB Wandsworth website to find which Councillor and Cabinet member
have responsibility for 'Cycling' or 'Highways'.
Elected councillors are sometimes more susceptible to democratic pressure than council officers.

Wandsworth Cycling Campaign are fairly active, so it might be worth giving them a shout.

@vilms5000 I've found wands separating cycle lanes to be frustrating for exactly that reason (not there, but along Grosvenor Road); however, that road from Clapham South to Balham might be TfL, rather than Wandsworth BC. Also, getting any cycling infrastructure in place in Wandsworth is a nightmare (they just removed all their LTNs pretty much in one day because of local pressure) because guess which political party controls the council! As such, I'd think twice before complaining about inclusive cycling infrastructure just because it slows us down a bit.

As such, I'd think twice before complaining about inclusive cycling infrastructure just because it slows us down a bit.

Aye. Good points. I think you’re right about it being a TfL thing. And YES, the LTN removal was a shocker and has returned Glenburnie Rd to its original rat-run state. I can’t cmd-z my complaint (but if it’s not WBC then maybe they’ll enjoy putting me straight) but I will comment on the LTN removals, not least because when the nearest planter had its olive tree nicked, we stuck some shrubs in there. All gone : /

(no, seriously, all good points, thank you)

Yup. Good idea. Thanks.

Cycled to work to feed the Clever Corvoids.

It's Baltic all of a sudden but sunny so no complaints.

Traffic is still light few people are working in office. Our security guy has merged with his seat cronenberg style by now ;)

(Actually he's happy enough luckily, none of us are in)

Ha ha! Closest ever to be taken out by a car crossing in front at a junction, tailwind of the year so far, clattered by tree shit, carried biek over a fallen tree in a lane, commute Friday such laughs, now cooking chilli >>>>> threadwhatevet

Spotted a mashed up Union Flag 🇬🇧 umbrella discarded on the ride in today. Unable to withstand the wind and rain, a metaphor for our times.

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Weirdly aggressive mood out there for the Friday evening rush. Everyone going full gas, charging about.

nice Cinelli locked up outsdie Richmond station yesterday with a v cheap lock; hope it is not nicked

Colindale-Marble Arch. Acceptable ride on the A5?

Mostly yes, but it won't be fun. I used to ride it North bound and made use of the flyover but it was almost always during daytime.

Dropped my chain coming home yesterday evening, glad I have a front brake.
Must act quicker when I can tell it's loose. Like a month quicker.

Seven miles of headwind at 7am. Urgh.

Yeahbutyeahbut records set on the return journey?

(I’m trying to gee myself up here... lots of south to north to south ahead this weekend)

visit from the fairy this morning in the pitch black, mudguards etc, what a faff!

Good point. I shall continue to use my basket as aero bars on the way home and smash KOMs all the way.

We all know the law - by the time you’re commuting home, the wind will have flipped and it will be headwind all the way home too.

No. I'm not allowing it. It'll be a wonderful tailwind, I'll unzip my jacket and hold it open like angel wings and be carried home majestically.

Ugh. Before I got ‘biek’, I remember having to change a tube on a Dutch bike (coaster brake, kick stand, chainguard) and it seemed like the entire back of the bloody thing had to be taken apart to do that one small operation.
Learned a lot that day.

I think you don't change the tube, you pull it out, patch it and shove it back in, then replace it at home or get a bike mechanic to do it at a more convenient time, eg about twenty years after the original puncture when the tube is more patch than rubber.

Hah! I got the patch-not-replace tip here (many years later). Added to the immeasurable faff of taking it apart, was the discovery that a 26 inch tire is not always a 26 inch tire: I’d bought a Marathon Plus 35-559, thinking it would mean never having to change the tube again. Didn’t fit (Dutch bike took 1 3/8 tires). It’s still knocking around in my parent’s garage.