This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Dafuq was going on at Bank this morning?
Police cars everywhere.
Crowds and craziness.

Then in the middle of it all I think I saw three black lads in black tracksuits, with hoods up and black kit bags getting gripped by 5-0.

Weird.
I was musing on how if you were to get criminal around Bank during rush hour you should do your best to blend in to the character of the area.
Then imagining my criminal guise for each character area I went through.

Hatton Garden - Hasidic jew
Covent Garden - American tourist
etc

Smile and nod from somebody on the Luton-Dunstable busway track. Fuck this is a nice route. Uninterrupted pedalling for solid 5 miles station to college.

Well done to the guy in full suit and tie on the brompton who left me for dust, he'd had his readybrek.

Failed bunnyhop up a low kerb resulted in my back wheel skidding along at a 45° angle behind me at 20mph and my ankle smashing against the crank as the bike jumped to the side. Somehow held the bike and styled it out, but it hurt(s) like hell and was super close to a really nasty fall. Won't be doing that again.

Cabby this morning - "160 million they spent on that cycle path - why won't you use it"

Because I need to go in a different direction, and don't mind using the road that cost half a billion.

El Classico.

Wonder if he knows the collective cost to the nhs from everyone in big cities slowly dying from pollution / diesel poisoning. Cough cough!

Good to know. I've never cycled the busway, but have considered it as a winter route to work which means I avoid the A5 and the tiny country lanes I currently use which I imagine will conspire to kill me with ice and leaves in a month or two's time.

Two problems for a winter commute: It's 50% unpaved, the surface is a clay and stone affair, lots of loose stones on top, but not deep. This makes it a possibly bumpy ride but that dangerous compared to gravel on tarmac. I run 28 front and 32 rear and that's fine. A mudguard would be a good investment.

Secondly there is no street lighting, I imagine it will be pretty fucking dark along parts of the route. I reckon the scrotes of Luton are not to be fancied after dark.

But right now all is good.

Hmmm. Cheers for the info. I'm running 28 front and rear and have mudguards, it's basically a tourer/commuter. Gets a bit jangly off-road, though. Maybe need to get my SS beater MTB project up and running faster than I thought. May not deal with the scrotes, though.

any MTB will be more than happy along there

close pass by a guy in a little white Audi; inevitably I caught up with him 100 yards down the road and took the opportunity to ask if he wouldn't mind leaving a bit more room in future. He seemed genuinely surprised and apologised.

0/10 for observation, 9/10 for being polite.

Thanks Skully, yep, I have been already this week after work.

Hahahahahaha

Funny incendent at holborn today. Guy tailgates car in front through the junction, gets stuck in hatchings. Starts blasting his horn at the car in front to get out of his way.

Armed police officer gets out of car in front and gives him a massive bollocking.

I laugh directly into his face as I pass.

I need to start using my camera again.

Priceless!

Nice weather today. Aldi sunnies not really cutting it, though.

I found a set of keys on the corner of Ilderton and Verney.
Two bike lock keys, and a little one that looks like it might be for an office locker or something.
What do I do about it?

Yesterday was a series of near death (for other people) incidents. I was on the scene of the cyclist who hit a parked car in Regents Park with his head about 60 second after it happened in the morning.

Then going home the lad riding directly ahead of me on Waterloo bridge had a group of American girls step out on him from the middle of the road and didn't look left. He knocked one of them out cold as he faceplanted and his bike flipped into mine smashing a spoke.

I absolutely thought they were both fucked as we were riding at about 30kph but he got away with grazes.

Pleasant commute, warm but crisp. got away with short and armwarmers. I think may take it easy home today

Eeek. Hope everyone involved is ok.

full lights again at 6.20 this morning, twas dark in the Highlands ;)
saw a young glowing eyed badger on road, a fox (or maybe cat) and a buzzard getting attacked by crows. lovely sunrise.

only downer - my leg warmers keep slipping down! wtf!

oh and its so cold (5 degrees), my water bottle with Tea gets cold almost within 5 mins

anyone know a thermal water bottle with easy drinking tube (ie. not flask like!)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/elite-turacio-cork-thermal-water-bottle/rp-prod145182?gs=1&gclid=CNmJzKPPrM8CFWIq0wodhkgDUg&gclsrc=aw.ds

Currently £2.50 instead of £11.99

Wore long sleeves. Jeez, it must be Autumn.

fan-tas-tique many thanks!

My first commute since breaking my collar bone 3 months ago. Took it nice and easy and watched many cunts taking pointless and dangerous gaps to gain at the most is a second off their strava times.

PBs are a matter of life and death

No, they're more than that.

• Lance Armstrong