And today's commuting highlight is...
Discussion
I should have posted this on Monday, but apropos my thread in the Jobs section, my commuting highlight is - no more commuting 
Took early retirement, this is my first week.
So, Covid notwithstanding, I'm definitely looking forward to NOT doing another winter commute!
I will probably also change out the R1200RT, it was a good, if heavy, tool for the job but I can look at running something a bit more fun. It's pretty shabby now, I looked after it mechanically, it's in good order, but the wheels and some of the bodywork are a little tatty in places.
Took early retirement, this is my first week.So, Covid notwithstanding, I'm definitely looking forward to NOT doing another winter commute!
I will probably also change out the R1200RT, it was a good, if heavy, tool for the job but I can look at running something a bit more fun. It's pretty shabby now, I looked after it mechanically, it's in good order, but the wheels and some of the bodywork are a little tatty in places.
airsafari87 said:
What is it with Ibiza FR drivers?
Why do they get so angered about you filtering in front of them at red traffic lights?
Maybe it's driving a Spanish car - maybe the car comes with a built in machismo issue - the Spanish tend to be fairly poor drivers falling into two schools - the first being that "I am Fernando Alonso" and the second being "The limit says 90kph - how dare you exceed it". I see a lot of the latter when I head down to Barcelona airport even though I've been doing very little of that in the last 6 months.Why do they get so angered about you filtering in front of them at red traffic lights?
Noticed general driving standards have been pretty poor since lockdown, cars especially quite aggressive and unobservant. In a way I'm not surprised as my bike commute is 40 mins, I did it in the car the other day and it took 2 hours exactly (bought a car for my mum, so thankfully a one off journey).
Had someone attempt to hit me yesterday as they had decided to run out from behind a bus, and apparently it was my fault that I was filtering and not theirs for running out. Wasn't a serious threat though as they were still well over arms length away but bizarre nonetheless.
In other news the entire route from Morden to Hammersmith is now a 20mph zone, including the A219 which is a 3 lane section of dual carriageway
So now need to remain extra vigilant for the rozzers so that a speeding transgression doesn't see me in court.
Had someone attempt to hit me yesterday as they had decided to run out from behind a bus, and apparently it was my fault that I was filtering and not theirs for running out. Wasn't a serious threat though as they were still well over arms length away but bizarre nonetheless.
In other news the entire route from Morden to Hammersmith is now a 20mph zone, including the A219 which is a 3 lane section of dual carriageway
So now need to remain extra vigilant for the rozzers so that a speeding transgression doesn't see me in court.
Bumblebee7 said:
Noticed general driving standards have been pretty poor since lockdown, cars especially quite aggressive and unobservant.
Agreed - however I've also noticed a difference when I'm in a car to when I'm on my bike.When cornering in my car I can't remember ever having to move over to allow for someone else's mistake yet on my bike I've lost count how many times I've had to move over as a car is on my side of the road - it's not because I'm riding too fast, I corner faster in my car and I'm visible - KTM orange bike and jacket !
Whether I'm on bike or in a car I do feel it's got worse, the creeping on to roundabouts while you're still on there is annoying but more so on a bike where they're on your back wheel before you even exit. Tailgating seems to be happening more while in the car, this bothers me as usually I have my daughter in the car when I'm driving, anything that could potentially put her at risk annoys me.
CAPP0 said:
I should have posted this on Monday, but apropos my thread in the Jobs section, my commuting highlight is - no more commuting Took early retirement, this is my first week.
So, Covid notwithstanding, I'm definitely looking forward to NOT doing another winter commute!
I will probably also change out the R1200RT, it was a good, if heavy, tool for the job but I can look at running something a bit more fun. It's pretty shabby now, I looked after it mechanically, it's in good order, but the wheels and some of the bodywork are a little tatty in places.
Congrats! Took early retirement, this is my first week.So, Covid notwithstanding, I'm definitely looking forward to NOT doing another winter commute!
I will probably also change out the R1200RT, it was a good, if heavy, tool for the job but I can look at running something a bit more fun. It's pretty shabby now, I looked after it mechanically, it's in good order, but the wheels and some of the bodywork are a little tatty in places.
If it was 6 months later I may have been interested in the RT - currently in Beckenham but considering heading out to Kings Hill in the spring, not sure the CBF600 would be that great on the motorway...
Pete-mojsh said:
Whether I'm on bike or in a car I do feel it's got worse, the creeping on to roundabouts while you're still on there is annoying but more so on a bike where they're on your back wheel before you even exit. Tailgating seems to be happening more while in the car, this bothers me as usually I have my daughter in the car when I'm driving, anything that could potentially put her at risk annoys me.
In general, around where I live, the standard of driving and attitudes towards motorcyclists is pretty good. What I have begun to notice more and more though is that red lights mean absolutely f**k all to a lot of people now.Almost every set of traffic lights that I come to where I can see the light for another direction has at least 2 to 3 cars come through once the light has turned to red
kiethton said:
CAPP0 said:
I should have posted this on Monday, but apropos my thread in the Jobs section, my commuting highlight is - no more commuting Took early retirement, this is my first week.
So, Covid notwithstanding, I'm definitely looking forward to NOT doing another winter commute!
I will probably also change out the R1200RT, it was a good, if heavy, tool for the job but I can look at running something a bit more fun. It's pretty shabby now, I looked after it mechanically, it's in good order, but the wheels and some of the bodywork are a little tatty in places.
Congrats! Took early retirement, this is my first week.So, Covid notwithstanding, I'm definitely looking forward to NOT doing another winter commute!
I will probably also change out the R1200RT, it was a good, if heavy, tool for the job but I can look at running something a bit more fun. It's pretty shabby now, I looked after it mechanically, it's in good order, but the wheels and some of the bodywork are a little tatty in places.
If it was 6 months later I may have been interested in the RT - currently in Beckenham but considering heading out to Kings Hill in the spring, not sure the CBF600 would be that great on the motorway...
If you do move to KH you'll be almost replicating my commute, I'm 2 miles from there (WM), into EC2A. It's not a bad run from this end but you need to eat those motorway miles from here up to Sidcup/Fiveways, which the RT was great at, shakes off the winter weather very well.
CAPP0 said:
I should have posted this on Monday, but apropos my thread in the Jobs section, my commuting highlight is - no more commuting Took early retirement, this is my first week.
So, Covid notwithstanding, I'm definitely looking forward to NOT doing another winter commute!
I will probably also change out the R1200RT, it was a good, if heavy, tool for the job but I can look at running something a bit more fun. It's pretty shabby now, I looked after it mechanically, it's in good order, but the wheels and some of the bodywork are a little tatty in places.
Congratulations! I didn't know you were local. I'm just down Severn Mile Lane. Took early retirement, this is my first week.So, Covid notwithstanding, I'm definitely looking forward to NOT doing another winter commute!
I will probably also change out the R1200RT, it was a good, if heavy, tool for the job but I can look at running something a bit more fun. It's pretty shabby now, I looked after it mechanically, it's in good order, but the wheels and some of the bodywork are a little tatty in places.
Ive not commuted in since March and I don't think I will anytime soon. Somehow still managed to do 4000 miles on the versys this year. Normally do about 11k.
airsafari87 said:
What I have begun to notice more and more though is that red lights mean absolutely f**k all to a lot of people now.
Too many sets of bloody lights is a big part of this problem, combined with the over-abundance of temporary lights for road works.With temp. lights a red light seems to mean only that oncoming traffic has priority a lot of the time.
Miserable journey this morning.
Wet arms, legs, bum, feet, neck, stomach and hands.
Bunged a hi-vis on and used my hazards filtering on the M25 for the first time ever.
Was pleased to be on the bike though as yet another accident meant 3/4 lanes were shut just before J10 ACW on the M25.
Pretty grim.
Wet arms, legs, bum, feet, neck, stomach and hands.
Bunged a hi-vis on and used my hazards filtering on the M25 for the first time ever.
Was pleased to be on the bike though as yet another accident meant 3/4 lanes were shut just before J10 ACW on the M25.
Pretty grim.
My padlock seized last night, so after faffing around with WD-40 the grinder came out and it was swiftly removed. Disappointingly no one challenged me as I happily ground through the chain 
The padlock only resisted the grinder for 30s, but it was only a cheap oxford chain&lock. Hopefully it would have stopped an opportunist, but probably not anyone out with tools.
(Also, I was promised dry weather by google but the roads were distinctly wet in the morning and it rained on my way home, so the bike is now filthy)
The padlock only resisted the grinder for 30s, but it was only a cheap oxford chain&lock. Hopefully it would have stopped an opportunist, but probably not anyone out with tools.
(Also, I was promised dry weather by google but the roads were distinctly wet in the morning and it rained on my way home, so the bike is now filthy)
Not sure if it's just me but I think since I added some spot lights to the bike, then last week added a hi viz overjacket to help some more with zombies seeing me... I think they are seeing me too much!
I'm sure... really sure that 4 times now I've had a car try to accelerate when I go to overtake them...
It's like they can see me coming from further back, and their ego gets in the way of someone going by them...rather than a couple of weeks ago where I was mostly surprising them when I went by...
Obviously being in a car they aren't quick enough (looking at you d
head in the farty RS3) but it's a strange feeling none the less....
Anyway... thankfully this morning I was reminded why I use the bike for the daily slog... on my usual A road and there was a large trailer with heavy plant equipment doing around 15/20 mph... 19 cars following, none tried to overtake... they'll probably still be trying to get to work!
I'm sure... really sure that 4 times now I've had a car try to accelerate when I go to overtake them...
It's like they can see me coming from further back, and their ego gets in the way of someone going by them...rather than a couple of weeks ago where I was mostly surprising them when I went by...
Obviously being in a car they aren't quick enough (looking at you d
head in the farty RS3) but it's a strange feeling none the less....Anyway... thankfully this morning I was reminded why I use the bike for the daily slog... on my usual A road and there was a large trailer with heavy plant equipment doing around 15/20 mph... 19 cars following, none tried to overtake... they'll probably still be trying to get to work!
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