Spotted...

saw a similar thing today, a guy in flouro and helmet seemed to think he was invincible and kept trying to undertake a bus on Tower Bridge with about 20cm of room between it and the curb. Then as I was sat in front of a car for a second to turn right down a side road, a car in the road tried to pull out left, through me, so I shouted Oi at him to which he responded "what the fuck did you say to me? You little prick!" So I smiled at him and carried on my journey.

But in real spotted news, people who seem to think they're a bad ass because they've bought a Chrome bag and have a black bike. Yes I just overtook you, and yes I could hear you clicking through your gears to try and keep up.

I love that sound. it's the sound of bitterness and shame.

Or the sound of your doom when you have someone on your tail, and heard the aforementioned* 'click'.*

Spotted Kuba heading south past Bank, just shy of 6 last night. didn't shout because I was walking and he was negotiating his way around a bus...

nearly had a dust up with some undertaking cocknozzle at the lights in brixtstane last night. cue hippy* cyclist behind us wading in with 'let it go guys - we're all like, cyclists yeah? just be at peace, man' at which point i think roadie boy and i nearly turned on him.

*not sure if it was londons famous hippy, coulda been - never seen him in person.

I met him once - or was it a dream......

I met him once too. I was sore for days after.

did you lean?

Or the sound of your doom when you have someone on your tail, and heard the aforementioned* 'click'.*

The whirring of their chain is enough to kick me into gear.

two poloengers heading north up Cambridge Heath Road last night around 9pm. I said "yay, polo players!", my girlfriend said "squeaky brakes," and you looked at us inquisitively.

I tend to look rather than listen for what is coming up behind me. Listening to music I tend to look back once every 4 or 8 beats if the road is busy or there are many side roads where new road users may be joining and then coming up behind. As such I tend to be aware of potential undertakers and can often close them off at the pass.

It can be fun to just keep on gently pushing the pace and watching the cat 4 commuter racer slowly run out of breath and form. Once they start to wobble then put in the extra burst to leave them behind.

If they have over taken keep on their tail, and smile at them if they look backwards looking pained. You can observe their strained breathing and mashing at the pedals. Generally a low cadence/big gear rider will not have much left in their cardio system for an extra push (they are letting their legs not the heart do the work).

Occasionally someone else will pull these tricks on me, its great to be humbled and reminded that there are many stronger riders out there. Though generally I find serious cyclists are not using their commute to race, just to get base miles in.

I am riding my new Brompton today and it felt good to claim its first real victory. A chap on a "big wheeler" barged past at the lights on Vauxhall gyratory, clearly feeling he deserved to be ahead when it went green. I tailed him as we turned southbound onto the bridge, then put the hammer down and outdragged him on the mild incline. His face, his little spinny legs, oh it was brill. I know it's pathetic, but it's fun :)

Occasionally someone else will pull these tricks on me, its great to be humbled and reminded that there are many stronger riders out there.

Or riders that want it more

a guy on a fort track bike just now on mandela way

saw this and thought it would be me as I normally go that way...but then realised it probably wasn't as I took a diffrent route yesterday...spot fail

I met him a few times... But im always in a mess in my head so might only be sort of real

hippy doesn't exist. He's as fictional as Balki.

saw this and thought it would be me as I normally go that way...but then realised it probably wasn't as I took a diffrent route yesterday...spot fail

I actually have seen two fort track bikes going down there at times, is yours a smaller blue one?

No mine is a yellow one

Ah in that case there are three regular fort uses of mandela way!

Must be more Forts in London than I thought...I have one (blue) but never been near Mandela Way...

is your Fort a sort-of lopro with epic GI?

No way!

Pah then my unknown Fort rider remains an enigma. As you were, gents.

I am a blue Fort rider too. Smallish I guess, with deep black rims front and rear. I've just checked where Mandela way is though and I'm not sure I've ever been down there. That said, I am a south-sider so... air of mystery music

I always catch mine E&C way, think he heads down to/up from Brixton.