This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Bikes fucked due to the fall the other day, gearing right out. Had to spin it all the way up to the shop for repair. On Wandsworth Common, some womans dog tore out in front of me with about half a metre to spare. As I've WOAH! and stopped, then started off again, she piped up with the typical "you cyclists are a menace, this is a park, you should SLOW DOWN" indignant Major Misunderstanding face. Considering I was going about three miles an hour, I pointed out that I wasn't speeding at all and how would she know, considering she was picking up dog shit at the time?

Then got the "well you shouldn't be here in the first place" lecture, so pointed out the massive Shared Cycle/Ped sign right next to her and, why yes, I am allowed here thank you. And never mind it was your dog that actually caused this, eh?

Then she got really snooty and started with the sarky "have a nice xmas eh?", so got told exactly where to go.

Typical blame everyone else I'm always in the right you know, yes I am the epitome of English good manners, you people shouldn't be here in the first place motherfucker.

10/10 for the lighting in that vid - looks fab.

I know I'm getting old as my elbow and hip hurt more now, 48 hours after the spill, than they did at the time.

I hope you shat on her dog.

or fed it frozen sausages

Hammered frozen sausages into the dog and shit in her hand and punched it

10/10 for the lighting in that vid - looks fab.

Eh? Not sure what you mean.

Turns out 5 of my friends fell off their bikes due to ice last night. Out of about 10 who commute by bike.

The light in the video looks good. I'm a bit of a tart for good looking lighting.

I fell on the ice - landed on the expensive side. Three weeks and I've wrecked the derailleur - hefty bill expected in about an hour.

Least with my old SS, I'd get up and just get back on the bastard.

Ah right, thought you were joking about my cheapo Aldi camera or something. Struggles a bit in the dark but was impressed that it managed to (mostly) capture what happened reasonably well. Clearly not lit well enough there for me to spot the ice on the road though!

Unlucky about the derailleur! Just make sure you only turn left from now on?

My usual commute is mainly via a shared path disused railway. Up until at least Tuesday it was still covered in impacted snow that had turned to ice. Prolly clear now but I have been on the road and enjoying it: being surrounded by motor vehicles adds a little frisson. As the story about the dog above shows off-road shared paths carry their own hazards.

It's a bad week for rear derailleurs in London. Two wrecked by ice, one stolen, that I know of.

Maybe Shimano is to blame.

Weird this morning. Frost under tyre but drizzling. Guess it was quite cold overnight but then a change rolled in and I hit it just before it thawed. Out of the gym and it was just wet, nothing frozen, lots of big puddles. No car punching required this morning though a grey cab got a snot rocket paint job for a close pass.

Puncture fairy visited tonight. Found shelter in an underpass and was very pleased with my makeshift work stand. Centering the wheel is also an absolute doddle at eye height.

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Lots of black ice around after the rain earlier, I just wasn't expecting it and nearly came a Croper riding through plumstead tonight.

It's a bad week for rear derailleurs in London. Two wrecked by ice, one stolen, that I know of.

Maybe Shimano is to blame.

Aren't Shimano and their UK distributor Madison having some kind of massive fall out?

Suspicious.

Bombed about town on my GF’s town bike yesterday - forgot how much fun bigger tyres are, big grin despite the rain and the fucking meat sticks on Oxford St. Wet’n’happy/10

Greasy as hell this morning. Took it very easy into the turns, what with both elbows and my wallet still paining. Stuck behind some lady who gobbed incessantly to both sides and had no mudguard wheels flinging belgian toothpaste all over me.

Should overtake but scared of falling off/10

Looked outside to see lots of frost, an excuse to crack out the 29+

Monster / 10

So, this week will be 'much milder' with a nice, cosy blanket of warm weather cuddling the country. What a load of weathercastbollocks. Bloody freezing yesterday with black ice, bloody freezing this morning with a nice cold headwind. Warmer? Than Irkutsk?

It was 15 degrees centigrade in parts of northern Scotland last night. That’s mild for summer up there, never mind winter.

slid out on one of those sand-c0loured crossing points at a curve on CS6, because it was glazed with ice and I couldn't see it. My right knee is shredded, my right buttock is throbbing. Thankfully, I have an arse you can rest a pint of beer on.

Otherwise, serene commute. Perfect weather. A++ would slam again.

Going to Brikky this morning with nipper on his new fat tyred trek clunker thing. Will have to avoid small roads if it's icy out there. Shite.

Slippery frost under tyre in the side streets but main roads seemed fine.

Twice down like Bambi on the back roads and ended up walking the rest to the main roads and taking the most straight route I could after that. Exhausting even at the snails pace.
Fellow with a head gash on Trinity Road being looked after while waiting for the ambulance.
School girl in tears after a spill.
There were lovely people around to check everyone was OK in each case.

Don't lean

Baltic but beautiful in Richmond Park. Less icy than yesterday but still generally shitting myself at every corner.

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