This morning's commute and other commuting stories

When I was at university (circa 2005), I was at home during the day and decided to make a gourmet bowl of instant noodles. We didn't have a microwave (obvs) and I was cooking them with the requisite amount of water. Went upstairs for a quick spot of Command and Conquer Red Alert and became so absorbed in the game I forgot about the noodles.

I went downstairs after an hour because of the smoke alarm, to find a jet of smoke coming out of the pot. The pot was destroyed and my noodles vaporised, but fortunately, the house didn't go up in flames.

Some chump in a white merc was tailgating and aggressively overtaking every cyclist on Barnsbury Road/Thornhill Road last night. Once it was my turn to have said chump 2 inches from my arse I turned around to enquire what he was playing at but he was too intent on being a dick to cool his boots. He zipped past me and then had to brake sharply for the next cyclist, causing me to have to scrub my speed to about 5mph. Then off he shoots again. Two minutes later who do I sail past, sat in a long line of traffic, but Mr Merc. You utter genius. It was all totally worth it.

Pulled out of Temple Meads alongside another cyclist on an old road bike. He seemed to fumble for his pedals or gears but then suddenly came roaring past me on my left. I was like fair dos, you take the wind then, as there was a vicious headwind, so just sat on his wheel. A couple of minutes later he dramatically slowed, obviously paying for his effort and the brutal wind, completely unable to keep up the pace.

That sort of silly bollocks never fails to amuse.

I like to really slowly roll past them sat in traffic, no expression on my face, making direct eye contact with a solitary middle finger raised. 5mph, no more. Really gets the fuckers boiling.

Got bored of running nice 28mm gumwall tyres on my MASH, so swapped for 23mm Gatorskins for mad skidz again. Opened the curtains this morning & there was about two inches of snow in Leeds.

Mad skidz were had, but not the kind I was after/10.

Would rep for play C&C Red Alert, epic game sadly now gone thanks to fucking EA.

Fuck EA.

Sorry to hear about the incident.

As you can imagine, cabbies know a thing or two about motor insurance. If I were to guess, having been in the business, he will go down to his local garage and try to pull the dent out (suction cups etc). If it doesn’t pull out and requires a visit to the body shop, you might get a call.

But the calculus the cabbie is doing is how much is the dent worth versus what might it do to my premium next year. And we all know what the answer is there...

Unfortunately, uk motor insurance is crap for any incident below c.£5k. Put it down to experience and move on.

Wasn’t even a dent, 3 ~15cm scratches in the paint on the rear panel. I’m only really concerned about my bike though

I also had a shit commute because of the snow and an inappropriate bike. Saw my street covered in snow, decided I'd better ride the mountain bike to work, got to the main road to see all the snow had turned to water and slush. Got sprayed to fuck, spent the rest of the day riding around soaking wet.

Train home after running in. Lots of seats, but all in pairs of seats already half-occupied. Picked the one where the lady had put her bag on the free seat, specifically because she'd done that.

Glad I don't engage in these petty commuting power-plays every day, or it'd go to my head and I'd have to start posting on /r/London.

Lucky for you she didn't do that bag on seat thing because of really bad flatulence, just to protect prospective neighbours.

Unlucky for her...

...never mind.

& it was all gone by like eleven too! Freaky. I asked my girlfriend who was meeting me later to bring me a change of cycling shoes as mine were soaked & I couldn't face them.

My feet were the only dry bit of me by the time I got to work! Bless you sweet over shoes.

Shout-out to the grey haired Rapha clothes horse who overtook me on Gray's Inn Road and then launched a snot rocket 5 yards in front of me. If it's close enough to hit me, I'm not 'miles away'.

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but it is related to commuting I guess. Basically, I am probably moving to Bexleyheath/Sidcup area of london soon due to being priced out of where I live now. Does anyone commute into the Blackfriars area from that way? What are the roads like and how long are is it realistic? Currently I am in peckham and from looking on google it appears to be roughly three times the distance...
Cheers

What's the deal with the CS7 on Southwark Bridge Road just round the corner from the Ministry of Sound?

It's now one way for cars (northbound), with the southbound CS7 as a contraflow (with priority all the way down, which is nice), but what the hell am I meant to do when the parking restrictions aren't in force and the CS7 becomes parking bays? Leave the lane and ride in oncoming traffic?

Monday. Raining again. Windy again. God bless Ortlieb and their waterproof magic

Tried out my new poncho today.

Fantastic at keeping my jeans dry, but a jacket underneath was overkill. Upper half boiled in the bag.

7/10 Would poncho again with better ventilation.

I haven't commuted it but have gone from central to there loads of times- it's not a particularly fun ride, but definitely commutable. Shooters Hill twice a day will keep you fit...

Thank you for this info. I just took a look at that hill and notice the space for cyclists looks minimal on that A-road. Are cars able to overtake you on that hill, or is it a close pass at break neck speed sort of road? Essentially I am scoping out getting a new bike but can't really justify it if I am too far out making the commute nonviable.

I don't remember feeling threatened when on that hill - I think there's space. But haven't really done it during rush hour so others may have better info.

Generally though, the route is fine. Pretty standard London commuting from central - Deptford, and after that it's more or less just one long road without too many issues.

That's great to know. I'm currently commuting in from peckham so anywhere from Deptford is pretty standard for me.
Doubt the single speed is going to cut it though...

If you're going to be more Sidcup than Bexley, the route might be flatter as you'd be avoiding Shooters Hill which is a bit of a one-off lump. So if it was more Sidcup--Eltham--Lewisham than Bexley--Shooters Hill--Blackheath, the single speed might be OK. Still lumpy but no major climbs.

That is interesting. We are scoping out places this weekend coming and having a look about the area, so this is something to consider. Thank you!