This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I really hate my road bike sometimes. Always things to go wrong.
This morning, 2.5 miles into my commute, the chain jumps over the last cog on the cassette ( going up a steep hill). Gets jammed in between the wheel and the cassette, shears a couple of spokes and the chain snaps.
Cue masses of swearing, oily hands which I don't think will be clean now for at least a week. Had to get the chain tool out and cut the chain.

Freewheeled down the hill for a bit then pushed with one leg, then up a hill. Home half an hour later. To the bike shop it's all fucked.
Late for work covered in oil, sweat and at least £100 out of pocket.

And I had to get the tube with all the other fuckers
Wish I still had my fixed gear :(

This is why you have limit screws

2 UNLIMITED - NO LIMIT (HQ official video) - YouTube

This is why you have limit screws

I think the limit screws were the least of my problems to be honest.

Have a bit of a cold, so broke a personal record of snot production on the way in.
Was lovely to have a commute back. Looking forward to the next 8 weeks of my 16-20mile each way (depending on route (plus more if I get distracted on the way home)).

After the 8 weeks I get a different but slightly shorter 14-18mile each way commute in the opposite direction, which should be nice too.

Told a driver his indicator was on, he waved at me in thanks.
No one tried to kill me. Good day all 'round.

Busenger today. I think I'll watch some YouTube docs on the way home.

Benchmark set for my commute.
http://www.strava.com/activities/154817633

Benchmark set for my commute.
http://www.strava.com/activities/154817633

you have burnt 9 cans of pepsi worth calories. and overall impressive stats you got there, me envious.

Damn it's cold in The tracbike utopia, summer... I wish.

Nearly hit a kid who ran across in front of the stationary bus I was passing. Thankfully one of us had watched the Superted road safety videos in our youth and was looking out for suicidal peds. Still close though and I still swore.

Benchmark set for my commute.
http://www.strava.com/activities/154817633

What's with canyon halfway through your ride?

Two days of cycling in London (I am new duh) and I have survived the Oval to Knightsbridge commute. Can't say it's been bad (so far).

What's with canyon halfway through your ride?

Garmin artefact...

^^ Short commute, that. Ugly one, too.

You from Nottingham Eyebrows?

Nearly hit a kid who ran across in front of the stationary bus I was passing. Thankfully one of us had watched the Superted road safety videos in our youth and was looking out for suicidal peds. Still close though and I still swore.

Ted has saved a lot of school childrens lives.

I've always been wary about the front of buses since that and at around school closing times.

Filtered down the left of 3-4 cars in the marked cycle lane and pulled across into the middle of the cycle box as lights were red at a junction with a ped crossing. Noticed one of the women, waiting to cross staring at me, and after the 2-3rd time of looking back at her she vaguely gestured for me to look behind. I ignored her but she held her gaze. Then she mouthed "Police" at me, by which point everyone else had crossed the road but she is still staring at me even more intensely, at the crossing.
Now I know there was a police car behind me, I passed it. I look back expecting flashing lights or something, but no.
The lights change to green and I give her a confused frown and go on my way. Looking back she still hadn't moved.
Weirdos make me feel uneasy.

I'm finding more and more peds are hesitant to cross at zebra crossings. Palm out 'it's your right' gesture takes them by surprise and I get thanked. Thanked. So much confuse..

^This. And yet I feel I see more peds walk out in the middle of traffic (often only yards from a crossing)...

it's the ones who cross through the asl/bit where traffic stops rather than go straight across the road who piss me off. I'm still coming to a stop for the lights. don't fucking walk out in front of me.

it's the ones who cross through the asl/bit where traffic stops rather than go straight across the road who piss me off. I'm still coming to a stop for the lights. don't fucking walk out in front of me.

Urgh god, yeah, this. Some muppet shouted at me the other day "it's a crossing, I have right of way!" Sure you do you pelmet, ON THE CROSSING, which I am not on. It ended, as all my interactions with the general public seem to do at the moment, with him walking away with his middle finger stuck up in the air.

I'm finding more and more peds are hesitant to cross at zebra crossings. Palm out 'it's your right' gesture takes them by surprise and I get thanked. Thanked. So much confuse..

Much confuse indeed. I read something on here about potentially confusing them by riding fixed, they don't think you're stopping as you're still pedalling towards them even though you're slowing down and intending to stop. Sort of makes sense to me.

Probably safer to do mad skiddz at them.

This and This

Guy at E&C Roundabout last night trying to track stand. All he did was managed just to track stand on the crossing so peds had to walk around him. Loved it as the lights turn bloke just rides pas him - shouting 'DICK' (might have been his name)

Such pain, much owies, epic chaffage