And today's commuting highlight is...

[kiethton]

Biker 1 said:

First time this year: I rode into work with a T shirt under a mesh jacket!!!!! Its only 6 miles, but I got here refreshed & not cold.

Been looking for one of those as it can get very sticky on my (slow) commute! Which do you have, recommended?

[Rawwr]

kiethton said:

Biker 1 said:

First time this year: I rode into work with a T shirt under a mesh jacket!!!!! Its only 6 miles, but I got here refreshed & not cold.

Been looking for one of those as it can get very sticky on my (slow) commute! Which do you have, recommended?

I use a Dainese Super Rider (amazing name, right?):

https://www.bikestop.co.uk/dainese-super-rider-d-d...

I had a day a couple of weeks ago when it was 4°c when I went to work and 20°c when I came home. With the D-Dry liner in on the way, it was totally windproof and warm enough to not be uncomfortable but it really excels when it's hot and you take the liner out. Fantastic piece of kit.

[epom]

Came in on mine today for the first time since last summer. Promised 25deg today :-)
Nothing spectacular to report, my legs are killing me though

[kiethton]

And for the third time this week somebody has left a car (same one, Audi A4 vert) parked in the motorbike bay on Moor Lane, although with space for a bike or 2 behind. Was tempted to put the bike behind (where it normally goes on the end of the row) but didn't want to risk them reversing into it!

Although it didn't impact me too much given the time I arrive if it's not gone by now some other riders will be rather annoyed!

[sjtscott]

GM182 said:

Some plank in a hired Fiesta blocked me and a chap on a Triumph Explorer on West Hill A3 this morning. Eventually I got alongside and asked him to budge over a bit (i.e. just be in his lane - not the white lines dividing the lanes).

"Why should I?" he asked - "Well because you're moving over to block me. What difference does is make to you if bikes and scooters filter through?"

No intelligible answer was forthcoming. There is no reason, just being petty really. I don't understand why people are so trivial. Miserable little lives I think.

It will be the mentality of that part of London mate whole of SW london road system is pure sh*ite for traffic and getting anywhere quickly on 4 wheels - I've been stuck in it in a car before on a Sunday evening. I spent 7 years commuting by bike from East to SW London to Wandsworth/Putney daily. I used to get it every now and again, generally they were pathetic blocking attempts which didn't hold you up.
In East london its driving incompetance/phone use that cause the majority of challenges like this - i.e. not done on purpose but equally irritating

[sjtscott]

tjlazer said:

I've been trialling an sc project exhaust without the baffle for my street triple, it had a magical effect on the traffic as I made my way down the a312 last night, the rumble seemed to part the cars like Moses before the Red Sea. I was sceptical about running a really loud exhaust but at this time of year when a lot of drivers have their windows down it certainly does help let them know you're coming!

I've got a low mount SC Project GP Evo (E marked road legal) on my Speed Triple - I've considered removing the baffle to test it out for the commute but was worried about being perceived/received the wrong way by everyone in the residential area where I live - we have enough summer idiots thrapping sports bikes round the area with race cans on way too fast - Zone 2 East London.

I even got as far as getting the cir-clip pliers too! lol

[sjtscott]

kiethton said:

And for the third time this week somebody has left a car (same one, Audi A4 vert) parked in the motorbike bay on Moor Lane, although with space for a bike or 2 behind. Was tempted to put the bike behind (where it normally goes on the end of the row) but didn't want to risk them reversing into it!

Although it didn't impact me too much given the time I arrive if it's not gone by now some other riders will be rather annoyed!

Another special person.
I bet there is never a parking enforcement officer around when you need one. They'll be the first to ticket you after being forced into leaving the bike outside of the bay by this moron.
We get the idiots parking cars in the bike space at my local big supermarket occasionally - this is nothing other than being a complete ignorant lazy c**t cos its nearest the supermarket entrance.

[Sea Demon]

Some idiot on the M20 last night trying to look like traffic police on a white Honda, done a pretty good job as nobody would pass him - I didn't pass him until I was sure!

1st part of the reg was MF51 & had a HIGHWAY sticker on his panniers with reflective tape, POLICIA OFFICIAL hi vis and lights/cameras mounted to his helmet and side of his bike

Looked pretty official with all the gear he was wearing but at the end of the day, just another dhead.

[epom]

Sea Demon said:

Some idiot on the M20 last night trying to look like traffic police on a white Honda, done a pretty good job as nobody would pass him - I didn't pass him until I was sure!

1st part of the reg was MF51 & had a HIGHWAY sticker on his panniers with reflective tape, POLICIA OFFICIAL hi vis and lights/cameras mounted to his helmet and side of his bike

Looked pretty official with all the gear he was wearing but at the end of the day, just another dhead.

That must be approaching being illegal ? Impersonating a police officer an all that.

[Biker 1]

kiethton said:

Biker 1 said:

First time this year: I rode into work with a T shirt under a mesh jacket!!!!! Its only 6 miles, but I got here refreshed & not cold.

Been looking for one of those as it can get very sticky on my (slow) commute! Which do you have, recommended?

I've got one of these: http://www.motosport.com/dainese-shotgun-textile-j...

I think its been superseded since I bought it some 4(??) years ago, but excellent fit & finish for £200. I guess there is a newer, fancier version available....

[308mate]

epom said:

Sea Demon said:

Some idiot on the M20 last night trying to look like traffic police on a white Honda, done a pretty good job as nobody would pass him - I didn't pass him until I was sure!

1st part of the reg was MF51 & had a HIGHWAY sticker on his panniers with reflective tape, POLICIA OFFICIAL hi vis and lights/cameras mounted to his helmet and side of his bike

Looked pretty official with all the gear he was wearing but at the end of the day, just another dhead.

That must be approaching being illegal ? Impersonating a police officer an all that.

There is a muppet discussed on here before who does that. Deliberately dresses up like a copper, dripping with cameras, proper wally.

[supercommuter]

308mate said:

epom said:

Sea Demon said:

Some idiot on the M20 last night trying to look like traffic police on a white Honda, done a pretty good job as nobody would pass him - I didn't pass him until I was sure!

1st part of the reg was MF51 & had a HIGHWAY sticker on his panniers with reflective tape, POLICIA OFFICIAL hi vis and lights/cameras mounted to his helmet and side of his bike

Looked pretty official with all the gear he was wearing but at the end of the day, just another dhead.

That must be approaching being illegal ? Impersonating a police officer an all that.

There is a muppet discussed on here before who does that. Deliberately dresses up like a copper, dripping with cameras, proper wally.

I don't get it! What is the point? What do you actually get from it?

[CAPP0]

GM182 said:

Some plank in a hired Fiesta blocked me and a chap on a Triumph Explorer on West Hill A3 this morning. Eventually I got alongside and asked him to budge over a bit (i.e. just be in his lane - not the white lines dividing the lanes).

"Why should I?" he asked - "Well because you're moving over to block me. What difference does is make to you if bikes and scooters filter through?"

No intelligible answer was forthcoming. There is no reason, just being petty really. I don't understand why people are so trivial. Miserable little lives I think.

I actually got blocked in three times on the way home last night - BY BIKES! Twice on Commercial Road where bikes just sat there wondering why nobody had left them a bus-sized gap to go through, and then at the bottom of the slip into the Blackwall approach. There was a police horsebox blocking the main part of the carriageway but of the 8 bikes in front of me, none of them wanted to ride round the back of it but all preferred sitting still waiting for the lights to go red again so they could melt a bit more. Shuffled my way between the cars and left them all there melting. Dunderheads.

[sjtscott]

CAPP0 said:

GM182 said:

Some plank in a hired Fiesta blocked me and a chap on a Triumph Explorer on West Hill A3 this morning. Eventually I got alongside and asked him to budge over a bit (i.e. just be in his lane - not the white lines dividing the lanes).

"Why should I?" he asked - "Well because you're moving over to block me. What difference does is make to you if bikes and scooters filter through?"

No intelligible answer was forthcoming. There is no reason, just being petty really. I don't understand why people are so trivial. Miserable little lives I think.

I actually got blocked in three times on the way home last night - BY BIKES! Twice on Commercial Road where bikes just sat there wondering why nobody had left them a bus-sized gap to go through, and then at the bottom of the slip into the Blackwall approach. There was a police horsebox blocking the main part of the carriageway but of the 8 bikes in front of me, none of them wanted to ride round the back of it but all preferred sitting still waiting for the lights to go red again so they could melt a bit more. Shuffled my way between the cars and left them all there melting. Dunderheads.

Being blocked in by bikes.. the curious case of the incompetent/scared/pansy summer commuting bikers - seriously some of them need the clue stick adminstering to educate them about observation, spacial awareness and use of mirrors beside understanding the width of their bikes.

[creampuff]

tdm34 said:

Rawwr said:

Fiesta ST not quicker than a Fireblade SP, despite what the Fiesta driver may try to prove. Educational.

Coming back from Buxton last night and a Focus ST had a go, CB1300F maybe a big heavy old brute, but with 138bhp at the wheel
courtesy of a Full Akrapovic and a PCV, soon put straight, hilarious!

I had a Golf GTI have a go when I was on a Pan European with a pillion. I found out that with a pillion, the center of gravity is further torwards the rear so it wheelies really easily

[black-k1]

supercommuter said:

308mate said:

epom said:

Sea Demon said:

Some idiot on the M20 last night trying to look like traffic police on a white Honda, done a pretty good job as nobody would pass him - I didn't pass him until I was sure!

1st part of the reg was MF51 & had a HIGHWAY sticker on his panniers with reflective tape, POLICIA OFFICIAL hi vis and lights/cameras mounted to his helmet and side of his bike

Looked pretty official with all the gear he was wearing but at the end of the day, just another dhead.

That must be approaching being illegal ? Impersonating a police officer an all that.

There is a muppet discussed on here before who does that. Deliberately dresses up like a copper, dripping with cameras, proper wally.

I don't get it! What is the point? What do you actually get from it?

Many (and I mean very many) years ago I had a bike with a white full fairing, white panniers and I wore a white helmet with black leathers. There was not attempt on my part to look like plod it was just that Rickman "add-ons" only came in white. Riding that through traffic was like Moses and the Red Sea, pretty much everyone moved out of your way. If that's still the case then I can understand why people do it.

[Angrybiker]

sjtscott said:

CAPP0 said:

GM182 said:

Some plank in a hired Fiesta blocked me and a chap on a Triumph Explorer on West Hill A3 this morning. Eventually I got alongside and asked him to budge over a bit (i.e. just be in his lane - not the white lines dividing the lanes).

"Why should I?" he asked - "Well because you're moving over to block me. What difference does is make to you if bikes and scooters filter through?"

No intelligible answer was forthcoming. There is no reason, just being petty really. I don't understand why people are so trivial. Miserable little lives I think.

I actually got blocked in three times on the way home last night - BY BIKES! Twice on Commercial Road where bikes just sat there wondering why nobody had left them a bus-sized gap to go through, and then at the bottom of the slip into the Blackwall approach. There was a police horsebox blocking the main part of the carriageway but of the 8 bikes in front of me, none of them wanted to ride round the back of it but all preferred sitting still waiting for the lights to go red again so they could melt a bit more. Shuffled my way between the cars and left them all there melting. Dunderheads.

Being blocked in by bikes.. the curious case of the incompetent/scared/pansy summer commuting bikers - seriously some of them need the clue stick adminstering to educate them about observation, spacial awareness and use of mirrors beside understanding the width of their bikes.

Seriously, and they were out in force today. Must have passed about 6 groups this morning.

What I love though is how they instinctively move to block passes. There were two this morning saw me in their left mirror and drifted left; saw me in right and drifted right. Time for the trusted 'one-two' dummy move - drift all the way to the left, watch them move over, plan ahead and blat past them on the now huge space on the right taking the car in front too.
Like shooting fish in a barrel.

[sjtscott]

Angrybiker said:

Seriously, and they were out in force today. Must have passed about 6 groups this morning.

What I love though is how they instinctively move to block passes. There were two this morning saw me in their left mirror and drifted left; saw me in right and drifted right. Time for the trusted 'one-two' dummy move - drift all the way to the left, watch them move over, plan ahead and blat past them on the now huge space on the right taking the car in front too.
Like shooting fish in a barrel.

Yer I don't get the repeated attempts to by some block you passing or those that then pull the illegal move the wrong side of a traffic island or worse large pelican crossing island or even overtake you on a zebra (I've had them all multiple times) once you have dummied them to actually get ahead of you again to get in your way. FFS! That last part winds me up - the fact I caught you up because you are useless has completely escaped you - the clueless is strong there.

[supercommuter]

Riding my track bike in two days on the bounce is damn uncomfortable but my god I have missed slipping through traffic on a sports bike. No wing mirrors and slim fairing the widest point of the bike is me. I must of knocked 15 minutes off my journey out of London yesterday.!

[Dakkon]

supercommuter said:

Riding my track bike in two days on the bounce is damn uncomfortable but my god I have missed slipping through traffic on a sports bike. No wing mirrors and slim fairing the widest point of the bike is me. I must of knocked 15 minutes off my journey out of London yesterday.!

Is your R1 blue and black?