This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Thank you to all the men who are buying white BMW saloons with black rims, particularly if they're getting the windows tinted. Its now much easier to know in advance that you're going to drive like a total twat now that I can see you from a greater distance.

Stopped to help a toad across a road this morning and saw a large bird of prey being harrised by some crows, amazing aerial display.

saw a large bird of prey being harrised by some crows

What were they doing to it with a spicy condiment paste?

Used to commute in from Barnehurst. Either the Shooters Hill way via A2 or via Plumstead and then following the A206.

Neither are lovely, but the A206 route was my favoured. Busier roads, but more room for bikes.

The worst part of either route was Welling High Street. Lots of takeaways and therefore lots of dodgy parking/driving especially at night.

You have options to mix it up by cutting across either route at Greenwich.

Fixed/SS doable.

This is effectively just a question of the best way to get between the Greenwich end of Q1 and wherever @dirac ends up living, isn't it?

Can I just make an obvious general observation; the roads are in an absolute state. Potholes and debris everywhere.

I went in to a pothole/sinkhole on a club run near Bromley last weekend. I only just climbed out.

I think you are right mate! Is the Q1 that route that takes you up through bermodsey?

That's the one.

http://content.tfl.gov.uk/quietway-1-south-map-waterloo-to-greenwich.pdf

It's a very nice ride - I use it to get as far as The Den once a week, and it's so much better than the route I used to take down Tooley Street. Highly recommended - and I know I'm not the only forumenger who thinks so. (@amey)

Can I just make an obvious general observation; the roads are in an absolute state. Potholes and debris everywhere.

Seconded.

@Skülly is the OG Q1 then @Sparky then @Ecobeard

I'm definitely not the only Q1 fan then!

You must be very long sighted, as I'm in Pitlochry today.

#Q1lyfe resumes tomorrow for me

Another big fan of Q1. Tried to ride it with @Ecobeard once and he got so excited he crashed his isen

Q1 protip:

This weird traffic-calming thingy on Trinity Street (I believe that's the technical term) can be avoided by using Swan Street and Cole Street instead.

I spent a little while being annoyed at it before realising it could be avoided with no loss of time.

I hate those things on trinity street, so much so I've always avoided it unless riding with other forum people on compass rides. didn't even know cole st existed.

@pastry_bot says there is a perfect line you can take that won't affect the speed, I am yet to discover 'the line'.

This line?

Could you not just hop the curb on left or right?

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you can see 'the line' in this ^ !

I have no memory of this

Edit - aaah when the saddle broke under my featherweight derrière, yes I remember now....

Q1 gets utterly shit east of Folkestone Gardens IMO. First a really bad road surface, with lots of shady driving, then a weird segregated bit that just ENDS halfway along the road it's alongside, as you get near Deptford High St, sends you across a bit of estate and then across the high st, only to become utterly shit east of that and Deptford Church St. Such a wasted opportunity. It's like cycles aren't expected to be useful for more than about 5 miles. Stupid planners.

North side of Bexleyheath you can get to Welling station on back roads/cycle filters, then avoid worst of shooters hill which is narrow westbound by taking welling way, rochester way, kidbrooke gardens to line up to cross blackheath on shared paths to drop down to west greenwich. Do this on the singlespeed, slightly more demanding in reverse! On gears sometimes come back north thames shore, woolwich tunnel, end up on blithdale and then new road to save all the climb for one spot; or if plumstead quiet, do bostall hill or wickham lane... lots of ways to try...

Having seen someone attempt 'the line' and fail spectacularly, I think I'll stick to be slalom/hip wiggle manoeuvre.

I was going to say, I'm not sure I'd be brave/foolhardy/rad enough to try the line, but then I've got broad shoulders and 50cm randonneur drops...

No one for this line?

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