The daily "I cycled to work" thread
Discussion
I am absolutely fuming I could kill someone.
I'm coming along this junction (in the red), looking to exit at the right. I'm taking a good line, decent speed. Then this moron in a f
king silver zafira (yellow line) fails to stop and let me exit and cuts me up. I come within inches of smashing into the side of me. I'm leaned over, trying to slow down without locking my wheels or skidding. He forces me to move inwards and take the pink line as he shoots off intot he road I was coming out of. I'm absolutely furious. If there was a red light up ahead at the pedestrian crossing I would have caught him up and punched him. Happened half an hour ago and I'm still enraged.
I'm coming along this junction (in the red), looking to exit at the right. I'm taking a good line, decent speed. Then this moron in a f
king silver zafira (yellow line) fails to stop and let me exit and cuts me up. I come within inches of smashing into the side of me. I'm leaned over, trying to slow down without locking my wheels or skidding. He forces me to move inwards and take the pink line as he shoots off intot he road I was coming out of. I'm absolutely furious. If there was a red light up ahead at the pedestrian crossing I would have caught him up and punched him. Happened half an hour ago and I'm still enraged.ambuletz said:
I am absolutely fuming I could kill someone.
I'm coming along this junction (in the red), looking to exit at the right. I'm taking a good line, decent speed. Then this moron in a fking silver zafira (yellow line) fails to stop and let me exit and cuts me up. I come within inches of smashing into the side of me. I'm leaned over, trying to slow down without locking my wheels or skidding. He forces me to move inwards and take the pink line as he shoots off intot he road I was coming out of. I'm absolutely furious. If there was a red light up ahead at the pedestrian crossing I would have caught him up and punched him. Happened half an hour ago and I'm still enraged.
sI'm coming along this junction (in the red), looking to exit at the right. I'm taking a good line, decent speed. Then this moron in a f
king silver zafira (yellow line) fails to stop and let me exit and cuts me up. I come within inches of smashing into the side of me. I'm leaned over, trying to slow down without locking my wheels or skidding. He forces me to move inwards and take the pink line as he shoots off intot he road I was coming out of. I'm absolutely furious. If there was a red light up ahead at the pedestrian crossing I would have caught him up and punched him. Happened half an hour ago and I'm still enraged.t driving, but you just have to let it go. There are certain roads and junctions where you *know* people are going to screw it up and put you in a dangerous situation - there's no option but just to ride around them.Usget said:
ambuletz said:
I am absolutely fuming I could kill someone.
I'm coming along this junction (in the red), looking to exit at the right. I'm taking a good line, decent speed. Then this moron in a fking silver zafira (yellow line) fails to stop and let me exit and cuts me up. I come within inches of smashing into the side of me. I'm leaned over, trying to slow down without locking my wheels or skidding. He forces me to move inwards and take the pink line as he shoots off intot he road I was coming out of. I'm absolutely furious. If there was a red light up ahead at the pedestrian crossing I would have caught him up and punched him. Happened half an hour ago and I'm still enraged.
sI'm coming along this junction (in the red), looking to exit at the right. I'm taking a good line, decent speed. Then this moron in a f
king silver zafira (yellow line) fails to stop and let me exit and cuts me up. I come within inches of smashing into the side of me. I'm leaned over, trying to slow down without locking my wheels or skidding. He forces me to move inwards and take the pink line as he shoots off intot he road I was coming out of. I'm absolutely furious. If there was a red light up ahead at the pedestrian crossing I would have caught him up and punched him. Happened half an hour ago and I'm still enraged.t driving, but you just have to let it go. There are certain roads and junctions where you *know* people are going to screw it up and put you in a dangerous situation - there's no option but just to ride around them.
As Elsa says....
Edited by Rocksteadyeddie on Friday 31st October 21:26
The ride to work wasn't great - only 2.5km. The ride home - 14km via the woods was much better though.
It was muddier in the woods than I expected today! by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
It was muddier in the woods than I expected today! by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
marting said:
HereBeMonsters said:
I really should get a camera. Any suggestions?
new £99 gopro 
I'm looking for a low profile camera, one of those ones that just constantly records then if you want the last 5 mins you can press a button and it'll save it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/eSynic®-Camera--Water...
Are these cheapy cheap camera's worth a punt ?
Seems awfully cheap, surely there must be a downside to these.
Are these cheapy cheap camera's worth a punt ?
Seems awfully cheap, surely there must be a downside to these.
avoided a dog & lead on the way to work this morning. By "avoided" I mean "managed to stop as it was across the road". I think the guy walking it was a bit scared by it all - luckily it was me on a bike, not me in a car (or anyone else in a car) as it is a main road.
Dog looked happy though!
Dog looked happy though!
Winter jacket on this morning as I was too cold in jersey and arm-warmers last night.
Special shout out to the bin men who guffawed heartily and theatrically at the poor bloke who binned it on a diesel spill on Putney Bridge this morning. I definitely wouldn't be that cheerful if I had neglected my schooling to such an extent. Bloke was OK, just a bit shaken, and importantly his bike was fine.
Special shout out to the bin men who guffawed heartily and theatrically at the poor bloke who binned it on a diesel spill on Putney Bridge this morning. I definitely wouldn't be that cheerful if I had neglected my schooling to such an extent. Bloke was OK, just a bit shaken, and importantly his bike was fine.
I got run over by a van last Monday. It was the first ride home from work after the clocks went back, five minutes in. A white van came roaring up a side road, stopped and appeared to be waiting for me, then when I was in front of him then pinned it off the line knocking me off. He stopped after hitting me otherwise I would have gone right under the wheels.
I bought a new Lezyne Macro Drive bike light the day before and it was on 'Race' mode so 400 Lumens, I also had pair of flashing micro lights. I buckled my rear wheel and banged my knee pretty hard. He said...you've guessed it...I didn't see you.
In his defence, the two nearest streetlights were out so it was pitch black, I didn't have my cycling jacket on as it was warm and dry so only a grey t-shirt and dark jeans. I did have reflective bits on my shoes and backpack but on the back. I don't understand how he didn't see the huge beam of white light lighting up the whole road or how when in his headlights at a distance of 2 metres I was invisible, but still, this reasoning doesn't stop you being dead.
I've since bought a 5m roll of 3M reflective tape and it's all over my bike and helmet, and I've borrowed a high vis vest from work. I am also ordering some hideous fluoro yellow kit with lots of reflective bits. I'd rather look like the rest of the cyclonerds out there than leave my two young daughters without a dad.
I've had much faster and more injurious collisions in the past (mostly MTB) but this was easily the closest I've come to being killed, I had to climb out from under the front of the van, it was a fully loaded long wheelbase Sprinter so would have squished me pretty well I think.
Be careful out there people, if you haven't done so already try and make yourself as visible as possible.
I bought a new Lezyne Macro Drive bike light the day before and it was on 'Race' mode so 400 Lumens, I also had pair of flashing micro lights. I buckled my rear wheel and banged my knee pretty hard. He said...you've guessed it...I didn't see you.
In his defence, the two nearest streetlights were out so it was pitch black, I didn't have my cycling jacket on as it was warm and dry so only a grey t-shirt and dark jeans. I did have reflective bits on my shoes and backpack but on the back. I don't understand how he didn't see the huge beam of white light lighting up the whole road or how when in his headlights at a distance of 2 metres I was invisible, but still, this reasoning doesn't stop you being dead.
I've since bought a 5m roll of 3M reflective tape and it's all over my bike and helmet, and I've borrowed a high vis vest from work. I am also ordering some hideous fluoro yellow kit with lots of reflective bits. I'd rather look like the rest of the cyclonerds out there than leave my two young daughters without a dad.
I've had much faster and more injurious collisions in the past (mostly MTB) but this was easily the closest I've come to being killed, I had to climb out from under the front of the van, it was a fully loaded long wheelbase Sprinter so would have squished me pretty well I think.
Be careful out there people, if you haven't done so already try and make yourself as visible as possible.
Usget said:
Winter jacket on this morning as I was too cold in jersey and arm-warmers last night.
Special shout out to the bin men who guffawed heartily and theatrically at the poor bloke who binned it on a diesel spill on Putney Bridge this morning. I definitely wouldn't be that cheerful if I had neglected my schooling to such an extent. Bloke was OK, just a bit shaken, and importantly his bike was fine.
Not that dumb perhaps?Special shout out to the bin men who guffawed heartily and theatrically at the poor bloke who binned it on a diesel spill on Putney Bridge this morning. I definitely wouldn't be that cheerful if I had neglected my schooling to such an extent. Bloke was OK, just a bit shaken, and importantly his bike was fine.
World gone mad.
MiseryStreak said:
I got run over by a van last Monday. It was the first ride home from work after the clocks went back, five minutes in. A white van came roaring up a side road, stopped and appeared to be waiting for me, then when I was in front of him then pinned it off the line knocking me off. He stopped after hitting me otherwise I would have gone right under the wheels.
I bought a new Lezyne Macro Drive bike light the day before and it was on 'Race' mode so 400 Lumens, I also had pair of flashing micro lights. I buckled my rear wheel and banged my knee pretty hard. He said...you've guessed it...I didn't see you.
In his defence, the two nearest streetlights were out so it was pitch black, I didn't have my cycling jacket on as it was warm and dry so only a grey t-shirt and dark jeans. I did have reflective bits on my shoes and backpack but on the back. I don't understand how he didn't see the huge beam of white light lighting up the whole road or how when in his headlights at a distance of 2 metres I was invisible, but still, this reasoning doesn't stop you being dead.
I've since bought a 5m roll of 3M reflective tape and it's all over my bike and helmet, and I've borrowed a high vis vest from work. I am also ordering some hideous fluoro yellow kit with lots of reflective bits. I'd rather look like the rest of the cyclonerds out there than leave my two young daughters without a dad.
I've had much faster and more injurious collisions in the past (mostly MTB) but this was easily the closest I've come to being killed, I had to climb out from under the front of the van, it was a fully loaded long wheelbase Sprinter so would have squished me pretty well I think.
Be careful out there people, if you haven't done so already try and make yourself as visible as possible.
Firstly, glad you're OK (ish), could have been much worse.I bought a new Lezyne Macro Drive bike light the day before and it was on 'Race' mode so 400 Lumens, I also had pair of flashing micro lights. I buckled my rear wheel and banged my knee pretty hard. He said...you've guessed it...I didn't see you.
In his defence, the two nearest streetlights were out so it was pitch black, I didn't have my cycling jacket on as it was warm and dry so only a grey t-shirt and dark jeans. I did have reflective bits on my shoes and backpack but on the back. I don't understand how he didn't see the huge beam of white light lighting up the whole road or how when in his headlights at a distance of 2 metres I was invisible, but still, this reasoning doesn't stop you being dead.
I've since bought a 5m roll of 3M reflective tape and it's all over my bike and helmet, and I've borrowed a high vis vest from work. I am also ordering some hideous fluoro yellow kit with lots of reflective bits. I'd rather look like the rest of the cyclonerds out there than leave my two young daughters without a dad.
I've had much faster and more injurious collisions in the past (mostly MTB) but this was easily the closest I've come to being killed, I had to climb out from under the front of the van, it was a fully loaded long wheelbase Sprinter so would have squished me pretty well I think.
Be careful out there people, if you haven't done so already try and make yourself as visible as possible.
Secondly on my daily commute in London I use lights, lights and more lights to be seen. I feel like a bit of a tool but what the hell, I'd rather be seen than not. I use a myriad of lights:
Front - Knog blinder road 2 on my bars
Helmet - A 1000lm 18650 battery torch (usually on reduced setting)
Rear of Bike - Knog blinder road 2 rear light
Lezyne Hecto Drive
Rucksack - Kong Blinder v4 facing rear
- 2 skull led mini lights, 1 on either side of my rucksack for side visibility
My biggest fear is being hit from behind as I feel like it's the one thing I can't mitigate against so that's why I have 2 lights on the back of my bike and one higher up on the back of my rucksack.
Black can man said:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/eSynic®-Camera--Water...
Are these cheapy cheap camera's worth a punt ?
Seems awfully cheap, surely there must be a downside to these.
A friend of mine has bought one of these and, having seen the quality of video it produces and the fact that he's secured it to his helmet with velcro tape so it doesn't stick out, I'm about to order one.Are these cheapy cheap camera's worth a punt ?
Seems awfully cheap, surely there must be a downside to these.
My first ride this morning since being hit by a car two weeks ago (hence the decision to buy a camera!), though that was mostly because I've been working away). Felt really good to be back on two wheels but it's a damn sight colder than the last time I rode to work!
RobbyJ said:
Secondly on my daily commute in London I use lights, lights and more lights to be seen. I feel like a bit of a tool but what the hell, I'd rather be seen than not.
I agree, totally forgot to mention that these are on my Christmas list:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/739603000/the...
$239 (£150) for front and rear including international postage. Goes up to around $280 after kickstarter finishes.
Edited by MiseryStreak on Tuesday 4th November 12:58
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