This morning's commute and other commuting stories

London Bridge -> Bank -> Old Street -> City Road -> Vestry Street would be my choice. Then you can just bang on up the A1200 to Highbury and Islington.

I enjoy the big roundabouts like E&C and Old Street. If you don't, maybe not the route for you.

My front derailleur stopped shifting this morning, luckily it stuck on the middle ring. 5/10

However I think it's dead and I don't think I can fix it. 1/10

It does give me an excuse to buy a shiney, new Deore (maybe XT) groupset. 9/10

Maybe @andyp is on with Blackfriars but I would Derek Bailey around this.

http://youtu.be/Nm2hAFAZayk

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7122515

^ @Velocio why can this not be viewed embedded?

I don't understand the phrasing of the question.

It is embedded... what do you want?

this evening's commute, blackfriars road. a guy looking at his phone steps out then looks up, sees me and steps back onto the kerb. I'm slowing down to get left and in the bike lane coming up to the traffic lights and I'm closer to the kerb than he thinks I am. Without looking he steps back out as I pass and just touches his phone against my bag, drops it and presumably smashes it. he says fuck and I turn around, he's picked it up and is debating whether to shout at me or chase me, but the look in his face says he knows it's his fault, lights change and I'm gone. don't watch your phone when you cross the road!

Get this in lufguss but the link works in a new window.

1 Attachment

Then click the link.

The problem with YouTube is a problem with YouTube. I can't fix that bit, but because I always knew it was a risk that third party services could have issues I put the link above to ensure that you could always access the content.

Aha.

[im-pey-shuh ns]

1. Lack of patience
   
2. Drivers who overtake at all costs
   
   

Two incidents, first in the morning as I headed toward a roundabout, car on my shoulder anxious to overtake, oncoming traffic preventing, I'm turning right, start to move across the lane to go right, car tries to overtake, I wave him back, give him a dose of Blue Steel, and continue move, he goes past me on the roundabout on my left as I head right, beeping me as he goes straight on...into a car park. If I had the time I would have followed him and had a word.

Second on my way home after working late, two lane one way, one car passes me slowly, I must be going 25mph, then a van follows, only going 1 or 2 mph faster, pulls in directly in front of me, applies brakes, then applies indicator, pulls over to park. This boils my piss. I fucking scream at him, gesture, then turn to give him the full glory of Magnum. He looks surprised, the cunt CRAWLED past me, was alongside for several seconds, gets infront, hits brakes, pulls over. I should have stopped to have a word, pointed out to him the error of his ways. With a D-Lock.

I'm impatient when I ride, but this surpasses even the cuntery I am capable of. I seriously believe there needs to be government information films, the really scary type ones we used to watch as children about playing around on a farm and falling into a slurry pit and drowning in cow shit, about just trying to look beyond the next five seconds and judge whether you need to overtake the cyclist in front of you. Like overtake a cyclist unnecessarily, get your arm pulled off in an industrial accident. Job done.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I think Andy and Ludwig are on to the winner. I came back via St John St and it was a dream. Hardly any traffic at all. I'll try to seek out the old bailey bit tomorrow.

St John Street is freakishly quiet.

Yeah, I remember it being mentioned on a shortcuts thread way back in the vanilla days. I might see if I can dig it our for other forgotten hints.

Left on Percival straight Amwell Barnsbury Thornhill Westbourne right Sheringham Madras Place left Horsell for the scenic route. Leaving soon might spot you.

'I'm finishing my coffee' and enjoying your Lebowski quote @se1derful.

Terrible commute this morning. It was my first wearing my new shoes and I completely failed to set the cleats up well, and over-tightened the pedals to the point where I struggled to clip in when pulling away. Fortunately clipping out was still fine.

In a traffic queue on a steep decline in the middle of High Wycombe (next to the station) some shithead in a Rover decided to shunt into the back of me. Stayed upright, all fine, but it set the mood.

When I arrived at work it came to attention that my good friend from work was behind me. In a similar situation to @Jimmy_Fingers Just as we're pulling towards our LHS junction, he overtakes, then stops(!) to let the lorry who's waiting on the other side cross and pull into the junction. Firm words were had in the car-park. Fucking idiot.
2/10
I was so excited about my new shoes.

Sorry to join a little late but first thing is to take photos of the hole and of any damage sustained to you or yoyr bike. Note any medical issues.
Then find out exactly whom owns/maintains the particular stretch of Rd that your accident took place on (TfL or council?).
As I understand, if there are spray paint markings it means they have acknowledged the damage and are underway with its repair. This means you're very unlikely to get anything from them. If it is not marked, they do not know and will pay out for any damage.

Good luck

For the first incident, did you signal right?

I find doing so buys a lot more time/patience once they know your intentions. Also the look back when you do it humanists you from being problem to, there's someone there...

From @MultiGrooves

Sorry to join a little late but first thing is to take photos of the hole and of any damage sustained to you or yoyr bike. Note any medical issues.
Then find out exactly whom owns/maintains the particular stretch of Rd that your accident took place on (TfL or council?).
As I understand, if there are spray paint markings it means they have acknowledged the damage and are underway with its repair. This means you're very unlikely to get anything from them. If it is not marked, they do not know and will pay out for any damage.

Good luck

I have photos and there are no markings. I don't know which council has it - either Ealing or Hammersmith though I think. Oh actually it was in front of a bus stop so it's possibly TFL?

What's considered damage? Just damage to the bike? How do I cost up a broken collarbone? Lost gym membership, time off bike, time off work, taxis and public transport costs etc? Exposure to radiation, stress, um.. :)

I think TFL are responsible for red routes (look for red lines instead of yellow).

If you were to make a common law claim, the two broad categories are General Damages, described as 'Pain, Suffering and Loss of Amenity', and Special Damages, which would cover loss of earnings, other financial loss, equipment, rehabilitation costs such as private treatment etc.

Not a red section of road, just a yellow BUS STOP label on what I guess is normal road.

Think this one:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=galloway+road+shepherds+bush&hl=en&ll=51.506476,-0.23922&spn=0.00118,0.002064&sll=51.450252,-0.405534&sspn=0.855825,2.113495&hnear=Galloway+Rd,+London+W12+0PJ,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=51.506466,-0.239068&panoid=M-1mzbvfe2bnVVtFDzz6fg&cbp=12,249.58,,0,26.81

This is where I zone out and want someone else dealing with it. I've emailed a couple of lawyers types.

They are actually solicitors. That you calm you a bit in a first instance. Was told a story about some guys who were claiming damages from potholes for a living when I was sitting with Michael in the cafe.