This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Slightly later commute after a docs appointment. Headed in via brixton road and Kennington. The later was almost completely clear. Wish I had taken a picture, never seen that much empty tarmac in broad daylight in that area.

10/10

I was nearly all the way to work this morning when I stopped at some lights and heard a metallic ping. Several spokes in my rear wheel seem to have loosened simultaneously. The wheel's a little out of true but not massively. I'm going to have to have a fettle before I ride home.

?/10 Will fettle again.

Rode in with my colleague who got the new road bike again this morning.

Had a bit of a run in with a complete arsehole in a BMW x5, but otherwise had a great ride in! I need to teach my mate to take a turn on the front, and he beat me on the sprint into work again (spun up to like 130rpm!) but it was so much fun.

9/10 would spin again

my fucking knees are packing in.

twingey pingey.

No rear wheel on my bike so walked to work carrying it. 5/10 would alternate carrying arms next time.

you weren't the person spotted carrying their bike through richmond park were you

From the car park to the road so I don't ruin my racing tubs?

No. Not me.

Could see my breath as I waited at the lights. I wasn't panting, I exhaled to see if I could see my breath as a sort of science experiment.

First commute home yesterday sporting the new forum jersey. Two punishment passes and every traffic light red. Fucking thing is cursed I tell you.

Well that was pleasant.

Everywhere was rammed and there was a persistently shitty headwind.

Was something going on central or was it just tourist season in full swing? In Trafalgar Square there was woman delightedly taking a picture of one of those shit "floating in mid air" blokes as if she was at a kid at Disneyland.

SE London was very quiet. Perhaps everyone was being tourists for the day - I note that the fine weather has caused a lot of sudden, unexplained post-easter illnesses at work

Got called a wanker this morning. No reason. Sat on red to turn right at a t junction whilst left was on green and cars were streaming by and one hollered abuse at me as he passed. Some peculiar folk about

-2 for that so 8/10 would errrrr wank again 👍

cycled to shopping centre in tottenham hale this morning for sausage and mash plus pick and mix sweets. flies get in your eyes and mouth when you cycle down a canal path, i thank lord for cars cause i can look in their side mirrors to get out a fly from my eye.

Sausage & mash followed by pick 'n' mix. Love it!

Overtook a guy last night by Cheyne Walk on a Dura Ace Di2 Parlee - crawling. What a ride!

Been some pretty epic commutes from the city to Clapham via the river.

Christ it was hard work this morning. I don't know if it's psychological but I feel like shite after this morning's ride. I heard all the news about the air quality but didn't realise how bad it was until I was well into my journey. If anyone hasn't left yet think twice or at least take it really easy.

Followed a go pro wearing bloke in a Fly V Australia kit. Lots of head shaking at anyone doing something slightly remiss, shouting "red light" at someone else when they jumped one, but, ironically, rode like an absolute whopper, undertaking, nearly getting wiped out by a motorcyclist when popping out from behind a bus without looking and generally making dick moves.

Pollution (threat) + Easter week + Friday = easy ride in. Wind was blowing from the north early on, so it felt like it was keeping the Pollution Cloud of Doom™ at bay. No breathing problems (yet). Would do again (at about 7pm).

loving the newly tarmac'd upper richmond road, before that section was full of depressions, and holes and badly repaired regions, now its just gorgeous. Will ride again.

There's a geezer /geezette can't tell for they wear a full face black downhill helmet with dark goggles, two big lights on the bike, one big light on the helmet, lights on no matter how light it is, bright flouro jacket and dark leggings to complete the outfit. Not quite sure what they are going to do as the weather turns warmer. Hoping they break out some flouro shorts...

on a warmer weather note, got the knees out for the first time this year, knees didn't ache, won't be back in the 3/4's until october, good times...

Tried fingerless mitts, fingers froze. It was bloody cold before sun up.

have you mowed your lawn yet ?

Yep, had a traditional BH weekend.
Mowed lawn, did some DIY, ran the strimmer over half the garden, got bored so went out on my bike into the forest.

Saw a little altercation on Loogabarooga road.

I'm behind a cyclist who's bombing up the cycle lane. Scooter in the "main" lane indicating left but it's hard to see his indication as the sun's quite bright. Scooter veers slowly left. I've seen the situation but the cycle in front obviously didn't, or chose to push on through and the pair clip each other gently. No real collision.

They follow each other up the road arguing. When I catch up at the lights I tell them they were both sort of wrong but sort of right. I think they both realised it too. I think the cycle has right of way there, but he should have seen the move and held back, and certainly not pushed through once the gap shrank.

Brilliant this morning. One of those days when I wished it were longer