The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
Johno said:
Could have done without the pedestrian interface, over the bars and resulting crash this morning. Fortunately a little road rash, bent K edge Garmin mount, scratched lever and general bruises are the worst of it.
Known part of my route, had slowed, shouted warning and oblivious to the world, headphones in, phone in hand, sails off pavement without so much as looking. Bang. Big heap on the floor.
I think she was astounded at how nice I was about it, I was generally fine but was much more concerned that having been hit by me she was OK.
The lady behind her who had done the same thing was visibly relieved that someone else had taken the hit!
Had that last night on the way home, three poxy students crossing when the red man was showing, the two lads ran, the girl started to run, I moved to go round the back of her................and she stopped.......dead when I was about 2ft from her. SMACK, both down like a sack o' shoite. I somehow landed on her but chin whacked the tarmac, she had ripped trousers and broken glasses and was quite shaken up.Known part of my route, had slowed, shouted warning and oblivious to the world, headphones in, phone in hand, sails off pavement without so much as looking. Bang. Big heap on the floor.
I think she was astounded at how nice I was about it, I was generally fine but was much more concerned that having been hit by me she was OK.
The lady behind her who had done the same thing was visibly relieved that someone else had taken the hit!
Helped her up and she was very apologetic, bit of 'advice' given and off we both went.
loudlashadjuster said:
Random lump to metal that I didn't identify in time nearly punted me out of the "cycle lane" (a once-green strip at the side of the road) on Oxford Road in Uxbridge and into the path of a cement mixer.
Looked like an exhaust bracket or something, whatever it was it made a clanging sound as my front wheel bounced off it and luckily somehow the sideways jolt it gave me wasn't quite enough to knock me clean off or into the main lane.
Who says commuting is boring?
Yesterday I was turning right from a side road onto Gower Street in the West End. The lights on Gower Street went red. The traffic stopped. Our lights went green. I set off with the other three cyclist who'd also been waiting at the lights. At that precise moment a Transit panel van came through hurtling through the red with the driver leaning on the horn, pedal to the metal. We were all a split second/no more than two metres from disaster.Looked like an exhaust bracket or something, whatever it was it made a clanging sound as my front wheel bounced off it and luckily somehow the sideways jolt it gave me wasn't quite enough to knock me clean off or into the main lane.
Who says commuting is boring?
I wondered if he'd just missed the light by accident but saw him continue down the road at 30-40mph, weaving from lane to lane and generelly being a tw*t. Eventally saw him turn right down a side road and get stuck behind a bin lorry.
I must be getting old as in the past I'd have followed him and would have had a little chat. But I just let it go. He was obviously such a knob that talking to him would have been pointless. Although, thinking about it, I should have got the reg number and the name of his company and given them a call......
AC43 said:
Yesterday I was turning right from a side road onto Gower Street in the West End. The lights on Gower Street went red. The traffic stopped. Our lights went green. I set off with the other three cyclist who'd also been waiting at the lights. At that precise moment a Transit panel van came through hurtling through the red with the driver leaning on the horn, pedal to the metal. We were all a split second/no more than two metres from disaster.
I wondered if he'd just missed the light by accident but saw him continue down the road at 30-40mph, weaving from lane to lane and generelly being a tw*t. Eventally saw him turn right down a side road and get stuck behind a bin lorry.
I must be getting old as in the past I'd have followed him and would have had a little chat. But I just let it go. He was obviously such a knob that talking to him would have been pointless. Although, thinking about it, I should have got the reg number and the name of his company and given them a call......
IMPOSSIBLE!I wondered if he'd just missed the light by accident but saw him continue down the road at 30-40mph, weaving from lane to lane and generelly being a tw*t. Eventally saw him turn right down a side road and get stuck behind a bin lorry.
I must be getting old as in the past I'd have followed him and would have had a little chat. But I just let it go. He was obviously such a knob that talking to him would have been pointless. Although, thinking about it, I should have got the reg number and the name of his company and given them a call......
Sorry, but I'm calling BS on that fairy story...
EverybodyKNOWS that it's only cyclists who ignore red traffic lights. Doubly impossible, actually, since everybodyKNOWS that no cyclist has EVER waited at a red traffic light, since the invention of traffic lights. All cyclists are ignorant of the very existence of the Highway Code, and even if we knew what it was we'd never read it anyway, 'cause none of us is drivers, innit!
Oh! And if it isn't on yet another GoPro/YouTube video, it didn't happen...
On a serious note, congratulations on your good fortune. You narrowly avoided "death by retard" - have you got a ticket on for tonight's lottery draw?
aclivity said:
I'm on my Brompton and it looks OK, cycled the last half mile to work OK.
I'm already in trouble with the wife (went on an 18 mile ride on Tuesday morning after dropping my car in for warranty work) so I will keep this one quiet!
In trouble for one ride !!!I'm already in trouble with the wife (went on an 18 mile ride on Tuesday morning after dropping my car in for warranty work) so I will keep this one quiet!
At least my wife's argument appears more valid about the daily 18 miles + each night, rather than the straight 3 miles home to walk the dogs while she is still at work.
Water and ducks back comes to mind. The only downside is clocks changing and worse weather. Some nights I may opt for the short route - but not many ! Although I don't plan to repeat last weeks effort for some weeks - 265 miles and 15 hours in the saddle - after work/ weekend.
aclivity said:
Fell off this morning.
Brain said "ooh, look they have cleaned off the leaves on the path. Oh, that's a bit quicker now. Ooh, the wheels are losing a bit of grip, oops, ouch, that hurt"
Used my face as a brake, hand also, think it is bruised. Helmet worked in one way (kept mt eyes out of the ground) but not stopping me falling!
Ouch! Sorry to hear that mate, but glad you're sort of ok! Brain said "ooh, look they have cleaned off the leaves on the path. Oh, that's a bit quicker now. Ooh, the wheels are losing a bit of grip, oops, ouch, that hurt"
Used my face as a brake, hand also, think it is bruised. Helmet worked in one way (kept mt eyes out of the ground) but not stopping me falling!
Back cycling again after surgery - torn tendons in left shoulder repaired, but multiple pies and beers during recovery have taken their toll.
Seriously slow on Friday, but then tbh I was not too bothered, just glad to be back. After a few weeks on the Hardtail, Fitness should start improving, and I can start shedding timber!
Seriously slow on Friday, but then tbh I was not too bothered, just glad to be back. After a few weeks on the Hardtail, Fitness should start improving, and I can start shedding timber!
110kms over last 2 days on the road bike, so thought I'd ride the trail into work tomorrow.
As soon as I pulled the bike from under the stairs, heavens opened for an hour long tropical storm, trails going to be muddy and horrible ..... Decisions decisions.
Weather will be about 28-30 degrees though
(Being smug now won't serve me well once I live in the Netherlands in 6wks )
As soon as I pulled the bike from under the stairs, heavens opened for an hour long tropical storm, trails going to be muddy and horrible ..... Decisions decisions.
Weather will be about 28-30 degrees though
(Being smug now won't serve me well once I live in the Netherlands in 6wks )
Edited by Johno on Tuesday 27th October 14:49
I had to have a couple of quick detours onto the pavement tonight through Cheetham Hill, and hated myself for it. Alternative was get squashed or stop in a really vulnerable position. Was travelling at snails pace, just enough to get around the usual van blocking half the road. Otherwise a good ride but after a 9 week absence my legs feel weak and rubbery. I'll see how it feels in a couple of weeks, strength should start to be noticeable then.
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