You are reading a single comment by @OldSkoolRacer and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@OldSkoolRacer
This morning I'm riding into work on my usual route and get to the bit where i turn off E&C r'bout. I come from the South and turn left onto the 1-way bus lane bit that heads up towards Waterloo etc. Knowing this route well, and i'm sure many of you do too, there is the usual chaos of buses cutting wide round the corner (which they have to, to be able to get around the corner without going over the curb). I'm riding in a smooth arc round the corner when a chap on a Boris bike a few yards in front slams on his brakes to let a bus out. I hit the brakes to scrub some speed off and alter my course by, and this bit is essential, maybe 2 inches at most to just go a bit wider than him and use the other half of the bus lane, which was clear...
At this point I hear a faint "woah-woah-woah" come from somewhere behind me, but given that I've just taken the corner smoothly and have a clear road in front of me I assume someone has gone into the Boris bike or along those lines...
Through the set of lights where the CS7(i think?) crosses and straight on down the empty bus lane towards St Johns Circus & Waterloo. Then a lady comes panting up next to me on my outside and says; "You should look over your shoulder before you move out", so I looked at her a bit taken aback and said "was it you who shouted back there", she replies "no, no, it wasn't me, don't have a go at me" so I said "well whats the issue then?" "You nearly took out that guy back there" "what guy, and I didn't "pull out", and why is he riding in my pocket over taking me on a corner into a clusterfuck of buses?!" and she rides off shaking her head only whilst I have to then overtake her expecting a fresh wave of righteousness, which never came.
What annoys me the most is i am more than considerate on the roads, I'm not out to win any Tour-de-Commute medals, I read the road and ride sensibly. I always leave adequate room around me, but then someone who I can't even see, from what I can tell nearly rides into the back of me going round a wet corner off a dangerous r'bout into a cluster of buses and then I get somebody on their high horse telling me off for it rather than say to the guy riding dangerously "Don't you think that was a bit daft?"
Rant over. Bring the flaming.
#everyoneneedscycletraining
#ishouldwearmorefluro