A day in the life.... (moan)
Discussion
I’ve been commuting for years to different parts of London and have always looked forward to jumping on the bike. I’ve never seen it as a chore, in fact more times than not it allowed me to plan my day ahead on the way, and gave me time to come down on the way home
Unfortunately I think I’m going to have to consider whether me and the commute are compatable. I’m certainly not enjoying it like I used to. The reason for this is the influx of riders taking to the road that have no idea of how to actually ride on the busy roads of London
So far this week, I have had 3 rows with w
kers at traffic lights over their consideration to other bikes.Monday – bloke on a Honda CB500F –terribly posh- couldn’t understand why I was so irate about him sat alongside a car when there was clear and safe filtering opportunities. 2 other riders also suggested that he should queue behind the other cars. If he had looked in his mirrors he would have seen 7 or 8 bikers all get frustrated
Tuesday – 2 lanes at the traffic lights. I am at the front in between 2 cars. A roundabout I know well and never ‘normally’ have issues with. Until that is, matey on his Ninja 300 pulls up at the front on the outside of the offside lane. The lights change and I pull away to go straight on only to see a green flash coming across me. The prick was turning first left across 2 lanes of traffic that was just about to pull away. Fortunately for him I shut off and missed his back wheel by no more than a foot. I was in two minds to hunt the stupid arse down. This was shortly followed by a cyclist filtering down the white line preventing another long queue of bikes from progressing. No amount of blipping from the bike in front had this lycra locust looking over his shoulder to see what a tailback he was causing. The inside was clear by the way!
Today – Yep, it had to happen…..the scooterist. Same place as Monday, same issue, same discussion. He got a wee bit angry though. Larger bikes don’t own the road I was told. I won’t repeat what I suggested he did, but it had nothing to do with additional training
I still have 2 more days to go, Christ knows what my blood pressure will be like by Friday, but I seem to be getting wound up more and more by people with so little understanding of how traffic ‘can’ easily flow if you are considerate of other road users and your own ability.
I’m making no suggestion that cars, lorries and cyclists should move aside like Moses parting the waves…..we don’t own the road, but these recurring issues weren’t as prevalent a decade ago. It used to be easy being able to progress without too much trouble – in fact the enemy 10 years ago was the taxi doing u-turns. This issue isn't adding that much time to my journey, but it becoming an everyday occurrence is starting to grate my tits
Maybe the dog has had it’s day….
I do day visits to London and have for many years and had to fight my way through rush hour. In all honesty, I don't know how the hell you guys do it daily, regardless of transport.
I have never commuted into London by bike, but it seems matter which form of transport you take and everyone is an utter to each other. I've literally held back groups of people to allow elderly access to escalators and trains. The startled, but always accepting, attitude is astonishing. It's like people have momentarily forgotten to be human.
So no help from me, I think you've have it culturally. Maybe it used to be better, maybe not, but there's fk all you can do about it. So there only solution is perhaps just chill out?
It's not worth stressing about mate. I get angry with bellends as well, and it's fking draining every day of your life.
That or build a time machine and go back ten years.
I have never commuted into London by bike, but it seems matter which form of transport you take and everyone is an utter
to each other. I've literally held back groups of people to allow elderly access to escalators and trains. The startled, but always accepting, attitude is astonishing. It's like people have momentarily forgotten to be human. So no help from me, I think you've have it culturally. Maybe it used to be better, maybe not, but there's f
k all you can do about it. So there only solution is perhaps just chill out?It's not worth stressing about mate. I get angry with bellends as well, and it's f
king draining every day of your life.That or build a time machine and go back ten years.
I'm having similar experiences, although not as often as you appear to be. :-)
This morning, Bloke on a 'big' scooter with pillion was driving like a pillock, way too fast, too close to cars and bikes, undertaking, wrong side of islands, etc etc.
His altercation with me came when I sped up to overtake some cars and get back in before the lights changed and before the traffic island.
He was determined to overtake me, this came as a surprise to me, as he threw his bike in front of me forcing me to hit the anchors otherwise I was going to smack into the back of him.
Yes there are two sides to every story, maybe I should have yielded to him, maybe he should have just backed off and let me get on with my manoeuvre. I certainly take partial blame. I should have known better.
We had words at the next set of lights, and it's all my fault. 'You've got to drive fast all the time', he came out with some other well chosen phrases too.
Some things just make you see red, no courtesy, everyone's just trying to get to work without being killed!
This morning, Bloke on a 'big' scooter with pillion was driving like a pillock, way too fast, too close to cars and bikes, undertaking, wrong side of islands, etc etc.
His altercation with me came when I sped up to overtake some cars and get back in before the lights changed and before the traffic island.
He was determined to overtake me, this came as a surprise to me, as he threw his bike in front of me forcing me to hit the anchors otherwise I was going to smack into the back of him.
Yes there are two sides to every story, maybe I should have yielded to him, maybe he should have just backed off and let me get on with my manoeuvre. I certainly take partial blame. I should have known better.
We had words at the next set of lights, and it's all my fault. 'You've got to drive fast all the time', he came out with some other well chosen phrases too.
Some things just make you see red, no courtesy, everyone's just trying to get to work without being killed!
I echo what you're getting at but what are the options? Taking a car in is 1000 times worse and when you get in there's nowhere to park. I suppose from your part of London you could get the tube but personally I'd rather eat my own vomit? Personally I think the bike makes the best of a bad job.
I fitted a Scala Rider to my helmet so now I have the radio on which helps me chill. But for fks sake don't go near the new cycle lanes otherwise your next post will be like War & Peace 
I fitted a Scala Rider to my helmet so now I have the radio on which helps me chill. But for f
ks sake don't go near the new cycle lanes otherwise your next post will be like War & Peace Andy XRV said:
I echo what you're getting at but what are the options? Taking a car in is 1000 times worse and when you get in there's nowhere to park. I suppose from your part of London you could get the tube but personally I'd rather eat my own vomit? Personally I think the bike makes the best of a bad job.
I fitted a Scala Rider to my helmet so now I have the radio on which helps me chill. But for fks sake don't go near the new cycle lanes otherwise your next post will be like War & Peace
Options - train and tube are actually really easy from where I live, but I wouldn't enjoy the journey as much as I used to on the bike (except for summer when the women start feeling the heat)I fitted a Scala Rider to my helmet so now I have the radio on which helps me chill. But for f
ks sake don't go near the new cycle lanes otherwise your next post will be like War & Peace The most frustrating part of all this is that it's other bikers that are becoming the main problem
Fleegle said:
Andy XRV said:
I echo what you're getting at but what are the options? Taking a car in is 1000 times worse and when you get in there's nowhere to park. I suppose from your part of London you could get the tube but personally I'd rather eat my own vomit? Personally I think the bike makes the best of a bad job.
I fitted a Scala Rider to my helmet so now I have the radio on which helps me chill. But for fks sake don't go near the new cycle lanes otherwise your next post will be like War & Peace
Options - train and tube are actually really easy from where I live, but I wouldn't enjoy the journey as much as I used to on the bike (except for summer when the women start feeling the heat)I fitted a Scala Rider to my helmet so now I have the radio on which helps me chill. But for f
ks sake don't go near the new cycle lanes otherwise your next post will be like War & Peace The most frustrating part of all this is that it's other bikers that are becoming the main problem
I see a lot of stty motorbike riding on my commute as well. As much as it annoys me I just have to remind myself that I could be on the tube, and that seems to help calm me down and bring whatever it is into perspective a little.
Of course then there are days where everything's going wrong and it's me riding like the dhead.
tty motorbike riding on my commute as well. As much as it annoys me I just have to remind myself that I could be on the tube, and that seems to help calm me down and bring whatever it is into perspective a little.Of course then there are days where everything's going wrong and it's me riding like the d
head.Can only agree and echo the challenges from certain other 2 wheeled London commuters. The L-plated brigade are out in force and some of their riding leaves a lot to be desired.
I had 2 t**ts on sport 125s with Lplates pull round and either side of me at the front of a set of lights waiting to turn right the other week.. they both stopped about 2 metres over the stop line and blocked me.. queue the lights changing and 2 pathetically slow PoS getting in my way. At the earliest opportunity they were passed very quickly and very close, I then demonstrated to them proper cornering and acceleration. Funny enough the message appeared to get through because at the next lights dumb and dumber sat back from me and for some strange reason I didn't see them again after that.
Additionally I am being plagued regularly stuck behind certain bike commuters in solid traffic who just won't filter (despite their being a gap a tank could fit through) but they will hold up myself and other bikes behind me who will and can easily fit through these huge gaps. I mean if you are that scared just use your mirrors spot a line of bikes behind you and get the hell out of the way.
I had 2 t**ts on sport 125s with Lplates pull round and either side of me at the front of a set of lights waiting to turn right the other week.. they both stopped about 2 metres over the stop line and blocked me.. queue the lights changing and 2 pathetically slow PoS getting in my way. At the earliest opportunity they were passed very quickly and very close, I then demonstrated to them proper cornering and acceleration. Funny enough the message appeared to get through because at the next lights dumb and dumber sat back from me and for some strange reason I didn't see them again after that.
Additionally I am being plagued regularly stuck behind certain bike commuters in solid traffic who just won't filter (despite their being a gap a tank could fit through) but they will hold up myself and other bikes behind me who will and can easily fit through these huge gaps. I mean if you are that scared just use your mirrors spot a line of bikes behind you and get the hell out of the way.
Fleegle said:
It's marginally quicker on the bike unless my kit gets wet
I don't often ride into Central London any more. All that slow speed wears out my clutch and it's just more stress. If you have to go to more than one place, then a bike is actually a PITA because parking is a problem. My train tends not to get jammed like a sardine can though, I can see how that would sway you towards a bike. Personally, I can't imagine any way to kill a passion for biking faster than a daily filtering commute through London in Feb. Add in a week of being unlucky with 'tards...
I enjoy my station commute for the same reasons, but blood pressure would be way to high riding all the way into London. I hated 15 years ago when I did it for a while before an accident caused by a U turner.
Get the train for a bit and see how you feel, or change your times, to dodge the worst of the traffic?
I enjoy my station commute for the same reasons, but blood pressure would be way to high riding all the way into London. I hated 15 years ago when I did it for a while before an accident caused by a U turner.
Get the train for a bit and see how you feel, or change your times, to dodge the worst of the traffic?
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