And today's commuting highlight is...
Discussion
Hope the damage to the Lotus is not serious Keithton! Sounds like the bike definitely needs some TLC.
Commute into southwest London was noticeably quieter today than last week. Having thought Lockdown 2 was not having much effect, it was a lot easier on the roads today. Almost pleasant at times.
Commute into southwest London was noticeably quieter today than last week. Having thought Lockdown 2 was not having much effect, it was a lot easier on the roads today. Almost pleasant at times.
GM182 said:
Hope the damage to the Lotus is not serious Keithton! Sounds like the bike definitely needs some TLC.
Commute into southwest London was noticeably quieter today than last week. Having thought Lockdown 2 was not having much effect, it was a lot easier on the roads today. Almost pleasant at times.
Thanks, lotus is 100% fine - just caught the under-lip of the fibreglass splitter (already needs a spray for chips) but any mark would be invisible unless looking which is less of a concern.Commute into southwest London was noticeably quieter today than last week. Having thought Lockdown 2 was not having much effect, it was a lot easier on the roads today. Almost pleasant at times.
Indeed, the bike need some love, I say I'll do it if it passes the MOT each year - last year it was treated to brakes/tyres so this year will be those bits. Some thinking is that it could be a slightly loose battery connection (was replaced 3 months ago so may have worked loose) - only really wanting the bike to last another 6 months - owes me nothing (bought for £800 3 years ago from a salvage yard) and I'm likely moving out to Kent next year, necessitating an upgrade for something better suited to a motorway commute.
HairyMaclary said:
Thanks Keith. Knocked the beer and wine on the head last December. Who knew there was a s
t tonne of calories in alcohol? 
Not eating out every day in central London and exercise has certainly helped.
May take a gamble on that oxford kit. I've been using hand me downs for year's too but fancy treating myself. Just not a 1500 quid treat!
I've got the Oxford Mondial jacket and absolutely love it, miles better than the Alpinestars stuff I upgraded from. I bought a Belstaff jacket last year and haven't even worn it once as I like the Oxford so much. Looking to upgrade my trousers and will definitely get the Oxford ones. Had an off a few months ago, scraped about 7m down the road after being knocked off and there was barely a mark on the jacket. Factory fit armour did it's job too as no pain in the shoulder or elbow I subsequently landed on.t tonne of calories in alcohol? Not eating out every day in central London and exercise has certainly helped. May take a gamble on that oxford kit. I've been using hand me downs for year's too but fancy treating myself. Just not a 1500 quid treat!
I ride year round from near Croydon to Zone 1 and use that jacket for all 4 seasons, do about 8k a year and had the jacket about 1.5 years. I do need to give it a wash and reproof it but generally been very impressed. Has a 3 year warranty too.
Lockdown lunacy seems to have returned to commuters. Having had mostly pleasant and quiet journeys recently it all seemed to be going on today. First incident was me pulling off my drive between two cars, loads of space between them and both slowing for the T junction just metres away. Bloke behind me gets (genuinely) within an inch of my numberplate, I turn around and he has his hand firmly on the horn all while I wait for the car in front to turn left. On the next road over he overtakes me (between parked cars on a 20mph residential street) and shouts 'What the fk is wrong with you Bruv! Why did you cut me up!!??'. I notice the two primary school aged children in the back seat so all I say in response is: 'There's clearly something wrong with you'.
Next I nearly get wiped out whilst filtering as a woman decided to overtake about 20 cars to take a right hand side road far up ahead, obviously without checking her mirrors or bothering to indicate. Fortunately I was on the ball enough that I hung a quick right with her to stop myself riding straight into her.
I'm sure there was something else as well but generally wasn't overly impressed with the standard of driving this morning.
k is wrong with you Bruv! Why did you cut me up!!??'. I notice the two primary school aged children in the back seat so all I say in response is: 'There's clearly something wrong with you'.Next I nearly get wiped out whilst filtering as a woman decided to overtake about 20 cars to take a right hand side road far up ahead, obviously without checking her mirrors or bothering to indicate. Fortunately I was on the ball enough that I hung a quick right with her to stop myself riding straight into her.
I'm sure there was something else as well but generally wasn't overly impressed with the standard of driving this morning.
Bumblebee7 said:
I've got the Oxford Mondial jacket and absolutely love it, miles better than the Alpinestars stuff I upgraded from. I bought a Belstaff jacket last year and haven't even worn it once as I like the Oxford so much. Looking to upgrade my trousers and will definitely get the Oxford ones. Had an off a few months ago, scraped about 7m down the road after being knocked off and there was barely a mark on the jacket. Factory fit armour did it's job too as no pain in the shoulder or elbow I subsequently landed on.
I ride year round from near Croydon to Zone 1 and use that jacket for all 4 seasons, do about 8k a year and had the jacket about 1.5 years. I do need to give it a wash and reproof it but generally been very impressed. Has a 3 year warranty too.
Thanks for the review. I'll think I will pick some kit up. I ride year round from near Croydon to Zone 1 and use that jacket for all 4 seasons, do about 8k a year and had the jacket about 1.5 years. I do need to give it a wash and reproof it but generally been very impressed. Has a 3 year warranty too.
Sorry you've had a beast today. On my commute into central London I can go weeks without incident. No use of the horn then will get one morning were something happens then 5 mins down the road someone else tries to kill me. Sometimes I think it's me! Lol
Bumblebee7 said:
Lockdown lunacy seems to have returned to commuters. Having had mostly pleasant and quiet journeys recently it all seemed to be going on today. First incident was me pulling off my drive between two cars, loads of space between them and both slowing for the T junction just metres away. Bloke behind me gets (genuinely) within an inch of my numberplate, I turn around and he has his hand firmly on the horn all while I wait for the car in front to turn left. On the next road over he overtakes me (between parked cars on a 20mph residential street) and shouts 'What the fk is wrong with you Bruv! Why did you cut me up!!??'. I notice the two primary school aged children in the back seat so all I say in response is: 'There's clearly something wrong with you'.
Next I nearly get wiped out whilst filtering as a woman decided to overtake about 20 cars to take a right hand side road far up ahead, obviously without checking her mirrors or bothering to indicate. Fortunately I was on the ball enough that I hung a quick right with her to stop myself riding straight into her.
I'm sure there was something else as well but generally wasn't overly impressed with the standard of driving this morning.
Don't filter past a turning on your right.k is wrong with you Bruv! Why did you cut me up!!??'. I notice the two primary school aged children in the back seat so all I say in response is: 'There's clearly something wrong with you'.Next I nearly get wiped out whilst filtering as a woman decided to overtake about 20 cars to take a right hand side road far up ahead, obviously without checking her mirrors or bothering to indicate. Fortunately I was on the ball enough that I hung a quick right with her to stop myself riding straight into her.
I'm sure there was something else as well but generally wasn't overly impressed with the standard of driving this morning.
My commute is a bit different to most, 40 Km first 30 along a B road between secondary jungle and the South China Sea. Most morning there is a school of monkeys, often wild boar, and birds such as sea eagles and horn bills, Last few weeks there have been several snakes, I assume they are moving to drier ground with the start of the monsoon, few days ago what I thought was a stick in the road was a viper that scurried away.
This morning stood prone in the middle of the road, was a Sumatran Hooded Cobra, gave it a very wide berth.
This morning stood prone in the middle of the road, was a Sumatran Hooded Cobra, gave it a very wide berth.
the cueball said:
My highlight today was not taking the bike and using the car instead... then getting stuck in a traffic jam and being late in the office...
FFS....
It's always good to take the train/car occasionally to remind yourself why you commute by bike. FFS....
A dark, wet, heavy traffic and cold winters evening is not particularly the most pleasant bike commute but it only takes me one trip on public transport to remind me why I choose motorcycling.
First time I've ridden into the city for several months this week, only to be faced with all of the "innovative" road modifications the ing mayor and TFL have pushed through whilst taking advantage of the pandemic. Simple journey in to Threadneedle street from the east side is now a fking ordeal seemingly designed with nothing else in mind than making it as awkward and infuriating as possible for motorised transport to get where it needs to. fk TFL and fk Khan 
ing mayor and TFL have pushed through whilst taking advantage of the pandemic. Simple journey in to Threadneedle street from the east side is now a fking ordeal seemingly designed with nothing else in mind than making it as awkward and infuriating as possible for motorised transport to get where it needs to. fk TFL and fk Khan BigMacDaddy said:
First time I've ridden into the city for several months this week, only to be faced with all of the "innovative" road modifications the ing mayor and TFL have pushed through whilst taking advantage of the pandemic. Simple journey in to Threadneedle street from the east side is now a fking ordeal seemingly designed with nothing else in mind than making it as awkward and infuriating as possible for motorised transport to get where it needs to. fk TFL and fk Khan
I did similar in September, coming down the A10 to London Bridge. What a monumental balls up! ing mayor and TFL have pushed through whilst taking advantage of the pandemic. Simple journey in to Threadneedle street from the east side is now a fking ordeal seemingly designed with nothing else in mind than making it as awkward and infuriating as possible for motorised transport to get where it needs to. fk TFL and fk Khan BigMacDaddy said:
First time I've ridden into the city for several months this week, only to be faced with all of the "innovative" road modifications the ing mayor and TFL have pushed through whilst taking advantage of the pandemic. Simple journey in to Threadneedle street from the east side is now a fking ordeal seemingly designed with nothing else in mind than making it as awkward and infuriating as possible for motorised transport to get where it needs to. fk TFL and fk Khan
Every mayor we’ve had has made the roads progressively worse, not just Khan.ing mayor and TFL have pushed through whilst taking advantage of the pandemic. Simple journey in to Threadneedle street from the east side is now a fking ordeal seemingly designed with nothing else in mind than making it as awkward and infuriating as possible for motorised transport to get where it needs to. fk TFL and fk Khan I don’t care about motorised transport per se, but I do care about bikes and how many, many measures are making life harder unnecessarily harder for us, but we never do anything about it.
I’m sure a few big ride outs around Westminster and the posh bit of RBKC would help, particularly if they became a bit of a regular occurrence.
Tribal Chestnut said:
Every mayor we’ve had has made the roads progressively worse, not just Khan.
Yeah it's definitely been a steady progression downhill (although the opening up of the bus lanes on red routes for motorbikes was a much appreciated improvement for once!) but this has been my first real WTAF moment in ten years of biking into London, I can't believe it's through incompetence rather than malice as nobody could be that thick surely, you just get fked over at every turn, and then when you think you're finally going to get a bit closer to your destination there's another no-entry or forced redirection away from the center, with huge swathes of pedestrian/cyclist-designated space and not a soul to be seen occupying it 
The thing that always does it for me are the traffic islands. Especially the ones that run the length of a road.
No good to man nor beast, yet they still spend fortunes installing them.
The only ones affected are us, the poor sods trying to reduce congestion, when we try and filter.
If it gets much worse then we all need to be on plate-less SMs and just ride over what we fking like.
No good to man nor beast, yet they still spend fortunes installing them.
The only ones affected are us, the poor sods trying to reduce congestion, when we try and filter.
If it gets much worse then we all need to be on plate-less SMs and just ride over what we f
king like.Put the helmet in its box the other night and somehow the whole lot tumbled onto the paddock stand ending up on the floor: not a mark on the lid, consider myself very lucky but her ladyship suggested getting a spare lid.... like I'm going to say no! AGV K3-SV in some kinda Vale colour scheme, that'll do for a commuter lid ta.
I rode in this morning as having IT issues that need me to be on-site to resolve. Only the second time I've ridden in since Lockdown 1.0 in March.
The roads were surprisingly busy with London, just north of the City in chaos, I suspect, resulting from the "temporary" traffic cock-up Khan has introduced. Interestingly, once I got over the river the traffic disappeared and York Rd in particular was as deserted as I expected it all to be.
Weather was mild and the rain we've had have washed the roads so it was a good ride for most of the journey. Just a shaem most of it, and the return this evening, will be in the dark.
The roads were surprisingly busy with London, just north of the City in chaos, I suspect, resulting from the "temporary" traffic cock-up Khan has introduced. Interestingly, once I got over the river the traffic disappeared and York Rd in particular was as deserted as I expected it all to be.
Weather was mild and the rain we've had have washed the roads so it was a good ride for most of the journey. Just a shaem most of it, and the return this evening, will be in the dark.
thankfully just about kept the bike shiny side up.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff