Scary screaming cycling lady (the London Banshee)

brilliant!!

priceless

Brilliant!

this was the highlight of my morning.

Good work Olly, what time was that? I can't believe I've never seen him as its on my route.
He looks like a commuting stormtrooper from behind (his blaster is on his rack)

Hiya Clefty - it would have been about 8:40am. You must have cycled within a gnat's whisker of him loads of times!

If only the streets of Glasgow were this interesting.

hehe!! Hot stuff!!

Hiya Clefty - it would have been about 8:40am. You must have cycled within a gnat's whisker of him loads of times!

Dammit I must have missed him by seconds this morning!
I'm strapping the go-pro camera to my bike tonight, must get some video footage.

Someone seriously needs to start getting vimeo's up of this stuff, it's solid gold.

you should of stoped him and asked if you could take a picture you wimp
thats way outta line taking a picture with out him knowing
i hope he does turn round, get pissed of and give you a beating you stalker (i know i would if some one was taking photos of me to be posted on the net for other people amusement)

Hiya Clefty - it would have been about 8:40am. You must have cycled within a gnat's whisker of him loads of times!

8.40am. What are you lot - students?

Yeah, but that wouldn't be half as funny.

maybe that's why he chooses to wear an american football helmet - anonymity....

Good effort now onto "the banshee". One day she will be captured. Does she ever get aggressive?

We need Tynan.

I gots her on film

I hear she is like a cross between a Siren with Medusa, she draws you in with her cries but then one look in the eye and you are turned to stone.

Hilarious OP, and hilarious photos of the american football helmet man. I go through Deptford Bridge area every day, am disappointed that I've never seen the shouty lady.

.

you wimp

Guilty your honour

i hope he does turn round, get pissed of and give you a beating you stalker

Your hope is admirable, but given that the incident occured this morning (i.e. in the past), I'm not unduly worried about the likelihood of your fantasy unfolding. Perhaps if he wore a less enveloping (or less amusing) helmet, I wouldn't have dared (or been arsed) to try.

8.40am. What are you lot - students?

no, work at Tower Bridge - so its almost at the end of my commute. What are you, an investment banker? ;-)

do you make the bridge go up and down? please say yes

on a similar note...going south over London Bridge last night. I passed someone wearing a full on American football helmet!! wtf?

The best bit was he was this big burly, looking bloke....squeaking along on a Brompton. I laughed so hard until i caught his eye, then presumed anyone cycling in a football helmet is a either a nutter or way harder than me (or both) and promptly legged it.

£10 to the first person with a photo of this dude!!

Bobs

I saw this guy riding along great eastern st (Shoreditch) a few weeks back.

I peed a little. There, I said it.

Profession guess.......are you a solicitor?

I have to date sadly failed to capture evidence of The Banshee, but since the challenge was laid down my general heightened level of awareness (well, one step up from dozing), acutely peeled eye and easily accessible camera phone have lent me something of a pre-disposition to capitalise upon interesting encounters by recording them for posterity. This morning heralded the first such occasion - I bring you AFL Dude.

I captured these images despite considerable physical risk - both in the case that he had glanced over his shoulder seen me mid-snap - and because I was traversing the southern Elephant and Castle roundabout one-handed at the time transfixed upon a one-inch square phone screen. Nonetheless, I did my duty in the name of education and perhaps mild amusement for the forum.

All that was foretold is true. Observe his imposing frame, tricking the distant observer into supposing he is riding a childs bicycle for a wheeze. The reality is that his towering hulk makes an adult sized bike look hopelessly inadequate. See his ursine shoulders, striking fear into telephone directories lest he tear them asunder in a display of strength. Lastly look at his helmet. For this phenomenon there are no words. A true God of the road.

I fear The Banshee will prove to be considerably wilier quarry. Visually she is indistinguishable from a thousand commuters. She reveals herself upon issue of her cry - and despite its sometimes protracted nature, entraining short instructive sentences, it is by its nature a fleeting occurrence. Rather like someone operating a loudhailer or perhaps a compressed air horn from the window of a passing car as you stand at a pelican crossing. Startling, brief, leaving the dumbstruck victim questioning the assailant's identity and motive.

Still, I urge you please to remain vigilant. Be prepared, like a coiled spring. Capture The Banshee's cry!

Profession guess.......are you a solicitor?

Almost as dull but not quite!

do you make the bridge go up and down? please say yes

yes, I am the bridge mistress.