And today's commuting highlight is...
Discussion
dibblecorse said:
Dakkon said:
Toughen up buttercup, welcome to London 
In fairness he does have a point, I commuted SE London to Slough for a couple of years and it is honestly a whole different experience to my current Reading to Central London commute, there does seem to be a whole different level of mental going SE to West ...... DirtyHarley said:
dibblecorse said:
Dakkon said:
Toughen up buttercup, welcome to London
In fairness he does have a point, I commuted SE London to Slough for a couple of years and it is honestly a whole different experience to my current Reading to Central London commute, there does seem to be a whole different level of mental going SE to West ...... Dakkon said:
DirtyHarley said:
dibblecorse said:
Dakkon said:
Toughen up buttercup, welcome to London
In fairness he does have a point, I commuted SE London to Slough for a couple of years and it is honestly a whole different experience to my current Reading to Central London commute, there does seem to be a whole different level of mental going SE to West ...... London from the SE is really a whole different mental, I grew up in Lewisham and have only been out west a few years .... I still occasionally ride from work (Paddo) back to my parents (Lewisham) after work and it reminds me how lucky we are with our commute Dakkon .....
Not sure whether last night's events make me a bad person or not but I'll share anyway.
My route home takes me along the A20. For those who know it, after Clifton's roundabout (heading out of town) there's a long dual carriageway which used to be known as "the mad mile" as it was possible to hit rather large numbers along there. There are speed cameras about halfway along the mad mile now, and BiB are also very partial to lurking with a radar gun, so for the first half up to the camera I'm usually within my 10% + 2mph allowance, as I was last night.
As I approached the speed camera, two bikes came absolutely hammering up beside me then braked very hard for the camera. Now, everyone who rides a bike up there knows that once you're past the camera, it's a free for all speed-wise until you reach the traffic queuing for the lights. So all three of us roll on and pick up a few mph or ten. KTM boy pisses off into the distance, courier boy beside me hasn't really got enough oomph to pass me. Expecting him to try and chop my nose off as we dive into the filter for the stationary traffic, I wind it on a little more so I'm in front of him.
Not to be outdone, courier boy decides that he'll fly up the outside of all the cars and prove to us how much quicker he is through the traffic. He goes to the outside, between the cars and the central reservation with little if any reduction in speed.
Unfortunately for him, he clearly doesn't do deliveries on that route very often, so he doesn't realise that the central reservation kerb closes in as it approaches the pedestrian crossing. By the time he does spot that, it's too late, and next thing him and the bike are horizontal on the central reservation. Couldn't see whether he clipped the car beside him but unlikely he got away with that as there wouldn't have been any space.
I promise I didn't chuckle. And I haven't got my two fingers crossed as I type that. Ish.
My route home takes me along the A20. For those who know it, after Clifton's roundabout (heading out of town) there's a long dual carriageway which used to be known as "the mad mile" as it was possible to hit rather large numbers along there. There are speed cameras about halfway along the mad mile now, and BiB are also very partial to lurking with a radar gun, so for the first half up to the camera I'm usually within my 10% + 2mph allowance, as I was last night.
As I approached the speed camera, two bikes came absolutely hammering up beside me then braked very hard for the camera. Now, everyone who rides a bike up there knows that once you're past the camera, it's a free for all speed-wise until you reach the traffic queuing for the lights. So all three of us roll on and pick up a few mph or ten. KTM boy pisses off into the distance, courier boy beside me hasn't really got enough oomph to pass me. Expecting him to try and chop my nose off as we dive into the filter for the stationary traffic, I wind it on a little more so I'm in front of him.
Not to be outdone, courier boy decides that he'll fly up the outside of all the cars and prove to us how much quicker he is through the traffic. He goes to the outside, between the cars and the central reservation with little if any reduction in speed.
Unfortunately for him, he clearly doesn't do deliveries on that route very often, so he doesn't realise that the central reservation kerb closes in as it approaches the pedestrian crossing. By the time he does spot that, it's too late, and next thing him and the bike are horizontal on the central reservation. Couldn't see whether he clipped the car beside him but unlikely he got away with that as there wouldn't have been any space.
I promise I didn't chuckle. And I haven't got my two fingers crossed as I type that. Ish.
dibblecorse said:
Dakkon said:
Toughen up buttercup, welcome to London
In fairness he does have a point, I commuted SE London to Slough for a couple of years and it is honestly a whole different experience to my current Reading to Central London commute, there does seem to be a whole different level of mental going SE to West ...... DirtyHarley said:
First commute from my current temporary digs into London yesterday morning: what with the poor weather, slight issue with front tyre, and not being familiar with the route it felt like I was riding into bloody Mordor! It didn't help that I got a little lost around Peckham trying to get through to Westminster (coming in from Ashford, Kent). Then on the way home I ended up losing sight of the a20 and ending up on the a2.
A few things from my commute: I thought riding through west London and on the a40/m40 was bad.... but there was some truly terrible riding from both L plate warriors and 'big boy' bikers who were incredibly wobbly/filtering at 2mph/ blocking gaps big enough to get my harley through/ or one the thing that gets on my goat: filtering with hazard lights on! Although nothing could have prepared me for the amount of pedal-powered-people! Holy s
t thre are hordes of them! Even at 0630 there were hordes of them darting all over the place with little concern for road discpline, lights, or common sense - then the ride back - WOW how there aren't more cyclist fatalities in London I have no idea! Very, very different experience coming in from the east rather than west - its like an entirely different city!
I'll be commuting in from the M20 for the next few months until the divorce is all sorted and I buy new digs along the M2 route, so if anyone seems a blue, fairly dirty, Harley sportster about: Hi!
Welcome to (part of) my commute. I join the M20 at J4. I'll keep an eye out.A few things from my commute: I thought riding through west London and on the a40/m40 was bad.... but there was some truly terrible riding from both L plate warriors and 'big boy' bikers who were incredibly wobbly/filtering at 2mph/ blocking gaps big enough to get my harley through/ or one the thing that gets on my goat: filtering with hazard lights on! Although nothing could have prepared me for the amount of pedal-powered-people! Holy s
t thre are hordes of them! Even at 0630 there were hordes of them darting all over the place with little concern for road discpline, lights, or common sense - then the ride back - WOW how there aren't more cyclist fatalities in London I have no idea! Very, very different experience coming in from the east rather than west - its like an entirely different city!I'll be commuting in from the M20 for the next few months until the divorce is all sorted and I buy new digs along the M2 route, so if anyone seems a blue, fairly dirty, Harley sportster about: Hi!
For a while I was using the Lewisham/OKR route but it's lethal up there. The one time I've been knocked off in over 20 years commuting was in Lewisham.
Probably too much of a diverson for you to go through the Blackwall but worth looking at. It can be a lot of filtering but it takes away the London madness.
CAPP0 said:
Not sure whether last night's events make me a bad person or not but I'll share anyway.
My route home takes me along the A20. For those who know it, after Clifton's roundabout (heading out of town) there's a long dual carriageway which used to be known as "the mad mile" as it was possible to hit rather large numbers along there. There are speed cameras about halfway along the mad mile now, and BiB are also very partial to lurking with a radar gun, so for the first half up to the camera I'm usually within my 10% + 2mph allowance, as I was last night.
As I approached the speed camera, two bikes came absolutely hammering up beside me then braked very hard for the camera. Now, everyone who rides a bike up there knows that once you're past the camera, it's a free for all speed-wise until you reach the traffic queuing for the lights. So all three of us roll on and pick up a few mph or ten. KTM boy pisses off into the distance, courier boy beside me hasn't really got enough oomph to pass me. Expecting him to try and chop my nose off as we dive into the filter for the stationary traffic, I wind it on a little more so I'm in front of him.
Not to be outdone, courier boy decides that he'll fly up the outside of all the cars and prove to us how much quicker he is through the traffic. He goes to the outside, between the cars and the central reservation with little if any reduction in speed.
Unfortunately for him, he clearly doesn't do deliveries on that route very often, so he doesn't realise that the central reservation kerb closes in as it approaches the pedestrian crossing. By the time he does spot that, it's too late, and next thing him and the bike are horizontal on the central reservation. Couldn't see whether he clipped the car beside him but unlikely he got away with that as there wouldn't have been any space.
I promise I didn't chuckle. And I haven't got my two fingers crossed as I type that. Ish.
Standard tMy route home takes me along the A20. For those who know it, after Clifton's roundabout (heading out of town) there's a long dual carriageway which used to be known as "the mad mile" as it was possible to hit rather large numbers along there. There are speed cameras about halfway along the mad mile now, and BiB are also very partial to lurking with a radar gun, so for the first half up to the camera I'm usually within my 10% + 2mph allowance, as I was last night.
As I approached the speed camera, two bikes came absolutely hammering up beside me then braked very hard for the camera. Now, everyone who rides a bike up there knows that once you're past the camera, it's a free for all speed-wise until you reach the traffic queuing for the lights. So all three of us roll on and pick up a few mph or ten. KTM boy pisses off into the distance, courier boy beside me hasn't really got enough oomph to pass me. Expecting him to try and chop my nose off as we dive into the filter for the stationary traffic, I wind it on a little more so I'm in front of him.
Not to be outdone, courier boy decides that he'll fly up the outside of all the cars and prove to us how much quicker he is through the traffic. He goes to the outside, between the cars and the central reservation with little if any reduction in speed.
Unfortunately for him, he clearly doesn't do deliveries on that route very often, so he doesn't realise that the central reservation kerb closes in as it approaches the pedestrian crossing. By the time he does spot that, it's too late, and next thing him and the bike are horizontal on the central reservation. Couldn't see whether he clipped the car beside him but unlikely he got away with that as there wouldn't have been any space.
I promise I didn't chuckle. And I haven't got my two fingers crossed as I type that. Ish.
t, you’re fine Just seems the standard I will get ahead type, don’t stress yourself
Was on my route for a few years and had to do the same last night myself to go to my Parents way for a haircut - wasn’t me on the deck thankfully!
CAPP0 said:
Welcome to (part of) my commute. I join the M20 at J4. I'll keep an eye out.
For a while I was using the Lewisham/OKR route but it's lethal up there. The one time I've been knocked off in over 20 years commuting was in Lewisham.
Probably too much of a diverson for you to go through the Blackwall but worth looking at. It can be a lot of filtering but it takes away the London madness.
Agree my dad was knocked off on loampit vale about 7 years ago now, a week in intensive care and he’s never been the same unfortunately.For a while I was using the Lewisham/OKR route but it's lethal up there. The one time I've been knocked off in over 20 years commuting was in Lewisham.
Probably too much of a diverson for you to go through the Blackwall but worth looking at. It can be a lot of filtering but it takes away the London madness.
The OKR is my route however (from lewisham, I’m from Beckenham) as I have no other real choice besides Jamaica road which I try to take home, if you see a black CB600F with full beams on (for the rest of the week - dipped bulbs blown) give me a wave. Normally heading in between 06:10 and 06:50 to be at my desk before 7 and home somewhere between 18:00 and 22:00 depending on workload
fergus said:
Mac. said:
fergus said:
PS Looks like you missed some lagging 
I don't get it, sorry 
Not much chance of any heat escaping there.Nearly rear ended a commuter on the slip road on as instead of merging they panic'd and stop. Made the assumption that they'd go, head to the right looking for my gap, accelerated to match speed and OH fk!!! Fortunately missed them by a whisker. Lesson learned... assume nothing.
Rest of it was a really nice commute, much warmer than late and generally clear roads thanks to leaving late. Easy bit of filtering and glad I took the bike or I'd still be on the A34.
k!!! Fortunately missed them by a whisker. Lesson learned... assume nothing.Rest of it was a really nice commute, much warmer than late and generally clear roads thanks to leaving late. Easy bit of filtering and glad I took the bike or I'd still be on the A34.
Past couple of days have been grim. Mega traffic (like I've never seen before) and idiots to the power of 10. People swapping lanes without looking, and I also had a car today trying to forcibly block me from filtering (on a slip road joining a motorway where he had zero to gain or lose from my presence). It's been adding 15 minutes or more to a 50 minute commute. Lovely.
Riding home tonight on the M20, motorway speed, when this tremendous noise started, the bike started vibrating, there was just this incredible knocking and banging going on. Tried to work out which wheel was going to fall off first, what else might follow it, where I might end up - and then the noise started to reduce slightly............as the Chinook flying overhead peeled off to my right 
CAPP0 said:
Riding home tonight on the M20, motorway speed, when this tremendous noise started, the bike started vibrating, there was just this incredible knocking and banging going on. Tried to work out which wheel was going to fall off first, what else might follow it, where I might end up - and then the noise started to reduce slightly............as the Chinook flying overhead peeled off to my right
Haha. Some are stationed near us and have had similar situations. So yesterday evening’s ride home wasn’t great
The big Deptford crossroads, I’m going straight over from the high street bypass from Jamaica road, heading toward lewisham.
Waiting at the red light, they go green...a few stragglers from blackheath direction turning toward Jamaica road on the previous green so not a particularly hard start....but as I’m going across another comes from this direction, going through the red by a good 5-10 seconds. See it so slow and the fker keeps on going, clips me broadside on my rear wheel, very slowly/gently thankfully.....couldn’t even be bothered to stop and go after the either considering: I ride a stter anyway, I kept it upright, was slow enough to likely cause no visible damage and I knew if I did catch up I had no idea of the level of damage I’d inflict to their face/car should they have a go (as they started to while driving off).
To top it off I was then nearly sideswiped by a car changing lanes without looking/caring in the new lewisham traffic system a few minutes later...at least they apologised and the emergency stop prevented the collision.
Need to get loud pipes again!
The big Deptford crossroads, I’m going straight over from the high street bypass from Jamaica road, heading toward lewisham.
Waiting at the red light, they go green...a few stragglers from blackheath direction turning toward Jamaica road on the previous green so not a particularly hard start....but as I’m going across another comes from this direction, going through the red by a good 5-10 seconds. See it so slow and the f
ker keeps on going, clips me broadside on my rear wheel, very slowly/gently thankfully.....couldn’t even be bothered to stop and go after the either considering: I ride a stter anyway, I kept it upright, was slow enough to likely cause no visible damage and I knew if I did catch up I had no idea of the level of damage I’d inflict to their face/car should they have a go (as they started to while driving off).To top it off I was then nearly sideswiped by a car changing lanes without looking/caring in the new lewisham traffic system a few minutes later...at least they apologised and the emergency stop prevented the collision.
Need to get loud pipes again!
Edited by kiethton on Thursday 8th November 13:25
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