This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Remind me why I bother commuting by bike at this time of year?

You don't, pack it in and take the tube.

Last night's commute was indeed dreadful. Absolutely bucketing it down, with the sort of wind that either tries to knock you off when it comes at you from the side, or stops you dead in your tracks when it hits you from the front, combined with drivers with steamed up windows who can't see you for shit.

That wind really seemed to come out of nowhere, leaving work I was expecting a pleasant ride but shortly before turning up the Col du Camberwell Grove I was attacked by a ridiculous gust that nearly lifted me onto the pavement. Later on I was cycling under a tree when I heard an ominous cracking noise...nothing came of it mind

Remind me why I bother commuting by bike at this time of year?

Because you get to have a cathartic chat to the other people stopped at the light about how crap the weather is, and because for just a few hundred yards on my main drag home the wind suddenly switched and left me spinning along at 20mph in zero relative wind. It was all very zen.

Having said that, this morning was much much nicer (although my legs are looking forward to a christmas break).

On the plus side, 35mph tailwind up the mile of 10% to home yesterday evening! On the minus side, legs buggered by then..... 10mph headwind this morning, felt almost like a tailwind after yesterday.

Ed, unfortunately the Circle Line hasn't extended to the South Coast. Public Transport with other peoples' farts and halitosis is Hell anyway!

Had a nice 4x4 overtake me like an utter c*nt this morning. Nothing like looking him in the eye and grinning like a twat as I overtook him and another 20 odd cars when they all his traffic.

Stupid headwinds on the way into work today almost crawling slow , on the way home no traffic , massive tailwind and 90" Gi roughly was the fastest I've ever done my commute

Think I only saw about four other people cycling this morning on my commute from Sydenham to Aldgate. Very quiet. Must be nearly Christmas or something.

Having said that, this morning was much much nicer (although my legs are looking forward to a christmas break).

Festive 500 bruv

Yeah, there were about 5 people from W5 to EC2 and traffic seemed well down and almost pleasant.

The schools broke up yesterday, which seems to have removed a good 75% of the traffic, judging by Brockley Road today.

OKR seemed as joyfully packed with cars as ever.

Yesterday evenings commute.
A contender for cunt of the year.
Wide boy footballer type in a white Mercedes C63 AMG in North London. Travelling between 50 and 60 mph in a 30 zone with people and traffic everywhere.
He tried to force me off the road, I stood my ground, cut in front of him, he tried to swerve into me, I moved into him he slammed on the brakes then accelerated past me at between 80 and 90 mph into a traffic jam at the set of lights.
I caught up with him , place my bike on the floor and asked him if he'd like to get out the fucking car you cunt and sort this out now. He declined.
Never seen driving like that before. I think he may have been a footballer such was his age, stupidity and type of car

Glad to see fatherhood has mellowed you, Mike.

Looking forward to the holidays and to ten days of cycling only for pleasure. ..

Glad to see fatherhood has mellowed you, Mike.

I was doing so so well until this.
No drunk cycling, no aggro, no abuse, no road rage whatsever. Just normal acceptable behaviour but then this guy tries to kill me and all the rage returned.
I didn't crash into him though so that's a step in the right direction

I caught up with him , place my bike on the floor and asked him if he'd like to get out the fucking car you cunt and sort this out now. He declined.
Never seen driving like that before. I think he may have been a footballer such was his age, stupidity and type of car

respect, doesn't happen enough

.

Sometimes it can be very very difficult to keep calm in these circumstances.
I used to be very bad for it. I have calmed down a lot in recent years but clearly the rage is still there when provoked.
It's just that nowadays I need to be provoked a lot more. i.e threatened with a 200mph, 2 ton weapon.
Cunt

You didn't do all the cyclist a favour, reporting bad driving, especially a tipper is always the best course of action.

Festive 500 bruv

Calories consumed per hour?

.

I love my life and enjoy being alive so if some fucker nearly ends it I feel perfectly justified in wanting to take it out on him. Fuck trying to reason with these people. Well done XavJ

had my first close encounter of the black ice kind this winter. luckily only nursing a bruised behind

The fact you italicised some of that hints that you are veiling some buggery or you are a massive racist