This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Can you tell I went to a talk by him? Company i worked for used to have bikes taking Umatic tapes to him in Birmingham so we could get technical clearance on last-minute TV advertising back in the day.

I should add this is a secluded, unlit path away from cars and all motor vehicles without a huge amout of trafic at all. A single, bright light does you fine. It was utterly pointless to strobe it up.

For some reason, drivers slowly trying to squeeze me into the kerb while staring straight ahead sets me off more than some of the probably more dickish moves in rush-hour traffic. Three today. All three Addison Lee wankers... Must wash my mouth out. Not a good look from me. Must remember to see their side... Considered it & they're still wankers.

Oh, also two presumed scrotes on a (almost certainly nicked) moped pulled out into Euston Rd on Friday am, 07:50-ish, drove straight into the side of a moving bus (I think from Mabeldon Place, IIRC). Picked up the scooter and sped off northwards. Probably should have stopped to give deets to bus driver, but there were 5-6 people already there and they were much closer to the action (plus a busload of passengers, obvs).

I could offer that at times I am so slow even my dynarmow lamp flickers. Sorry deers, badgers, rabbits.

Ah, yeah, me too.

We've been here before
https://www.lfgss.com/comments/9840128/

I get where people are coming from with anti-social mega lights and agree you should have your lights angled down. But I also empathise with fellow cyclists. I’ve been riding the same route everyday for almost 5 years and always had my light on the lowest flash setting and angled down. Since lockdown the council have bollarded off the bike lane making it more dangerous than ever. Pedestrians and vehicles don’t appear to have an inkling that it’s even there and I would say someone pulls out or steps out on me at least once a day. Since day light savings this year I’ve felt more invisible than ever and have resorted to having my light on its brightest flash setting, still angled down - I am definitely more visible this way. I think most cyclists on main roads in London aren’t using lights to see where they’re going. Unless you’ve all moved out of London and we are specifically talking about a dark cycle path with no lamps in which case the argument makes more sense.

no problem when they're used appropriately.
daytime, low sun, as a secondary in well lit areas etc.

having a single flashing 1.21 gigawatt strobe burnt into your retinas on an unlit lane or towpath is not very pleasant.

"Dip ya lights ya fuckin' prick" on repeat

TFL "See their side" ad has been pulled temporarily: https://twitter.com/roadcc/status/1465997456487989250

Lols. 'Temporarily'.

Never to see the light of day again.

Dip your lights mate by the Streets is a great track.

I'm going to share an unpopular opinion; you do not need to be seen to be safe. It's your own responsibility to look after your personal safety and understand how to ride / position yourself amongst a sea of dribbling cockwombles (motorised vehicle or otherwise). "I didn't see you" shouldn't be part of the discussion, you should have seen them first and mitigated a situation. Otherwise perhaps road use isn't for you. Big flashy lights and hi-vis are purely a way to shift responsibility onto others. Sure they help, but they help you be lackadaisical.

More to my point, flash your lights elsewhere you furry smeg-ends.

Unless you live in the countryside and death stalks you around every corner.

I'm going to share an unpopular opinion; you do not need to be seen to be safe. It's your own responsibility to look after your personal safety and understand how to ride / position yourself amongst a sea of dribbling cockwombles (motorised vehicle or otherwise). "I didn't see you" shouldn't be part of the discussion, you should have seen them first and mitigated a situation. Otherwise perhaps road use isn't for you. Big flashy lights and hi-vis are purely a way to shift responsibility onto others. Sure they help, but they help you be lackadaisical.

Quoting this to read back to you when you get knocked off.

Bike lights are simultaneously too bright, yet not bright enough, too flashy, yet not flashy enough.

Bikeradar >>>>>>>>>>>>>

I can't hear you, I'm dead.

I have some sympathy with this from a front light perspective - but no rear light in the pitch black means the safest place is deep in the gutter - no fanx.

I certainly try and ride as if no one's seen me - whilst lighting myself in way that gives others ample opportunity to see me, but without blinding my fellow road users.

When out in the lanes, super stroby mega flashy things can get to fuck, but the only lights that give me headaches are the ultra bright rear lights mounted on peoples helmet. Sitting behind someone at a set of lights with those things beaming straight through your retinas has been enough for me to just get off and wait 3 mins so we don't meet again.

has been enough for me to just get off and wait 3 mins so we don't meet again.

Wrong. Drop them

Anyway - rare commute for me yesterday now I'm too lazy to un work from home...

Lovely tail wind autumnal trip into town- "I really should do this more often".

Headwind slog back along the Thames after a late finish, a pint and no dinner - forgot Richmond Park is shut through the night at the mo, so all the way to the locked gate and then detour round Sheen>Richmond,>Petersham>Ham to get home - "Shoulda got the train".

I wish...I've made the winter commuter even spinnyer now I'm hardly doing it - trying to drop people is exhausting and looks ridiculous- I'm a slow and steady wins the race kinda guy now. Getting older / wiser / grumpier.

you've changed man, etc

Still on the sandblasted cannondale?

It's still in use- but rarely for commuting. Generally hibernate it over winter and stick with my flat bar pomp.

Only occasionally going into the office means all commutes now involve trucking my laptop, clothes, shoes etc in. Stripped back promuting does not appear in my new normal.

Absolute balls isn't it. Need two work laptops, and a work uniform so I don't have to keep my own (good) clothes at work. Some sick custom Dickies overalls should do it.

that's wack yo.
luckily I'm able to use a laptop to remote into my workstation at the office when I wfh.
works pretty well most of the time.

Anyone know why Piccadilly was shut near Burlington House around 6-615pm? Blue lights everywhere. Taped off and traffic ushered down a side street by coppers.

back to WFH so no actual commute, but I did pull my rat fixed conversion out of the shed for the school run. was fun.
(need to re-fit the straps)

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