This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Glad to hear you're back on the bike! I'm sure the fitness will come back quicker than you expect.

Thanks! Currently shopping for a 44t chainring to replace the 49 I’ve currently got on the brother haha.
Not looking forward to cycling home, lol.

Mildly scary moment on the way home last night. Not sure if it is worth reporting to the police. What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn4icR5Kyc4

(I accuse him of not indicating which was wrong and irrelevant anyway - I blame adrenaline - also pardon my language)

I lost some front teeth to a driver not looking the other way at a junction on a one way road with contraflow cycle lane. Hate those type of roads.

Roadsafe him. Terrible driving.

I absolutely hate contraflow cycle lanes. There’s some seriously dangerous ones around leeds.

I'd Roadsafe it. Can't imagine that anything will come out of that specific incident but if they get multiple reports for that vehicle (or possibly that location) something may come of it.

Contraflow cycle lanes (unless properly built up and obvious) are often shit, I try and avoid them when I can.

Cycled through an oil spill this morning on the intersection between Primrose Street -> Appold Street. Does anyone have any tips for how to get this off my tyres?

Lighter fuel / Petrol or washing up liquid & hot water if you prefer something less flammable.

A rag, then a rag with rubbing alcohol.

Ride until you can't see it on your tyres or your tyres are worn out enough to replace.

Solo scrote on electric dirt bike on Cycleway 4 this morning going west, 7:50 on Creek Road by Cycles UK. Dark get up, balaclava, flew past me then did a 180 and took a good, long look at me before continuing up the road. Just past Deptford High St he jumped off the bike lane and across two lanes of traffic and onto the pavement, a bus had just pulled into the bus stop. Nothing to snatch so he rode back on the bike path and did the same circling circling vulture maneuver on another cyclist, nothing he liked so carried on. I warned another cyclist who'd caught up with me and we rode together up to Southwark Park.

Given the scrote was riding solo and the move he pulled by the bus stop, my guess is he was looking to snatch phones and was scoping out handlebar mounted ones as well as ones from pedestrians. What a prick.

my guess is he was looking to snatch phones and was scoping out handlebar mounted ones as well as ones from pedestrians

Definitely seems to happen
https://twitter.com/carlafrancome/status/1673357060539383810

always nice to come back from a holiday to a wet monday morning commute. it really drives home the joy of going back to work after a nice break.
at least the schools are off now so there's a few weeks respite from the morning SUV brigade.

My mudguarded bike is in bits at the moment. I resent getting a wet arse in July. Broken Britain.

which reminds me, my rear guard is currently held on by a ziptie - need to order a new bridge mount bit

Whereas i wasted a load of time rebuilding my mudguard bike last night only to be met with light drizzle this morning.

How is bayswater road/ holland park avenue for commuting? I am starting a new job in september and figuring routes from N8 to White city/ TVC, one including via regents.

It's tedious for commuting because of the amount of traffic lights, junctions and traffic. I tend to be use some of the back streets to the north of that stretch, which are far better for cycling.

Thanks, I will route accordingly. Not looking forward to the roundabout by Shepherds bush, West cross route really is a collosal POS for dividing holland park from shepherds bush

It was a steaming bag of dicks for the 16 odd years I used it. I can't imagine it has got any better. especially given the local council there are totally anti-bike and fuck up anything that would make cycle commuting better through there.

I can't even look forward to it being underwater because it's on a bloody hill. Stupid posh twats.

You might be able to make use of C27 which runs East-West north of bayswater road and Shebu

There's a cycle route under the roundabout. Brings you out at Shepherds Bush station. From there, I'd take the back streets to wood lane. Here's a route I put together from Paddington to she bu, with the aim of staying away from the shit roads/ driving hippy describes.

https://www.komoot.com/tour/978187279?ref=aso&share_token=aVp0d8Ngx64T9xpupDd2dvSZkIJ73AMjk3qgoJ6pGQ3mfREUmS

Nice, thank you. Were you commuting to TVC then?
@Jameo - thanks, looked it up and made a couple changes to follow that before picking up chris0's route.

@hippy yeah, fuck em, will take the side roads

I used to commute from nw3 to Hammersmith hospital which is just the other side of the westway from White City. After trial and error I found that the best route was round the north side of Primrose Hill, through St John’s Wood, down Elgin ave and across harrow rd and the canal, then down golborne road and through Ladbroke Grove. A bit further than the most direct route but much quieter roads and only 5 or 10 mins slower. Can draw it on the map for you if you need!