How was your cycle commute?

[Boris Sprinkler]

plus learning that kind of control and balance of your bike will only improve your bike handling skills. Having seen how sketchy alot of cyclists are, some of them need to know how to handle their machines properly.

 

[Orang Utan]

Hmm, it makes you look like a prick - you could say that doing a handbrake turn makes you a better driver, but you'd still be a prick

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

well for someone who sweats alot you must like making an effort for yourself , unclip, put foot down, wait for lights, start cycling, clip back in (whilst watching traffic), start cadence again.

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

how does having better control over your bike make you look like a prick? A prick is someone I saw last time in london who almost got flattened by a bus because they didn't know how to ride their fucking bike and wobbled into the middle of the road as they took off.

 

[Orang Utan]

Nah, you don't clip your left in til you're on a proper staight, otherwise you just keep your unclipped foot on the left pedal as you ride away as fast as you can. It's annoying seeing these wobbly riders who are just looking at their wheels and nothing else, cos I invariable overtake them later on.

 

[sir.clip]

Trackstanding is a great skill at the track..

But in the bus lane its really not a great skill.. Its like wheel spining in a ford escort.. Its just naff. Wheel spinning a robin reliant is another story.
So track standing a Raleigh shopper is cool. Trackstanding a fluro bob jackson is naff.

I Dont belive that anyone who can balance standing still has a greater control of their bicycle whist traveling along.. Thats crazy science..

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

Trackstanding is a great skill at the track..

But in the bus lane its really not a great skill.. Its like wheel spining in a ford escort.. Its just naff. Wheel spinning a robin reliant is another story.
So track standing a Raleigh shopper is cool. Trackstanding a fluro bob jackson is naff.

I Dont belive that anyone who can balance standing still has a greater control of their bicycle whist traveling along.. Thats crazy science..

What, understanding where your centre of gravity is. Learning how to shift and control your weight of course improves your handling. Wheelies are naff, not havng to put your feet down at lights just makes sense to me. Smoother riding.

Of course I have never commuted by cycle in London. I think that why there may be so much difference between what i am saying and what the stories from you guys are. Cycling here is a joy. Bike lanes are everywhere, everyone cycles so car drivers are instinctive about looking. It has it's own culture. But is not a snobbish sublculture or holier than thou attitude.

It's just fun.

 

[100% masahiko]

Do any of you say 'Good Morning' to fellow cyclists?


was delayed slightly this morning - think there was a murder on Brixton Hill.

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

This sums up my commute pretty well.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

i like trying to get to work with no stops or foot downs (and i do that balancing thing as well )

i got told off yesterday by a copper near moorgate for cycling on the pavement - the fact that it was a sign-posted cycle lane didn't seem to bother them

 

[gentlegreen]

Do any of you say 'Good Morning' to fellow cyclists?

Nope - and I reckon I'll have punched one or more of 'em before the year's out - there are some right selfish w*n&ers taking to two wheels ...for the moment I content myself with getting in their way.

 

[han]

I love mine - Brixton Hill to Euston - easy peasy, 6.7 miles, takes me 30 mins.

The nicest bit is going over Waterloo bridge which I love, then to Euston through the back streets (Drury Lane, British Museum, SOAS, Gordon Square) and voila!

I always wear a bicycle-specific heart rate monitor - one of the Polar ones, so I can measure distance/speed/calories/heart rate. It's very very motivating actually cos you can see your fitness improve very quickly. I'm hoping to shift quite a lot of lard by the summer and am going to be looking for some longer circular rides (1hr +) that incorporate hills if anyone knows any good ones. Central Hill up to Crystal Palace is a corker. I can do that one without stopping now.

 

[100% masahiko]

Nope - and I reckon I'll have punched one or more of 'em before the year's out - there are some right selfish w*n&ers taking to two wheels ...for the moment I content myself with getting in their way.

Remember that god-awful film Pay It Forward with that annoying kid from Sixth Sense?
Some old dude said "Good Morning" to me at the lights - and I ended saying it two other cyclists.
And now I'm feeling giddy.

Does that mean you're one of those cyclists that cycle 5mph in low gear on a flat? Cos you gotta catch 'em if you wanna punch 'em

 

[Biddlybee]

I love mine - Brixton Hill to Euston - easy peasy, 6.7 miles, takes me 30 mins.

I must be a really slow cyclist mine's just over 5 miles and takes about 40 mins (there are about 15 sets of traffic lights and the joys of elephant, but still seems really slow ).

Hoping spinning will help me with hills, need to change my route and do more hills, just can't bring myself to go up dog kennel hill in the first 5mins of my commute

 

[gentlegreen]

Does that mean you're one of those cyclists that cycle 5mph in low gear on a flat? Cos you gotta catch 'em if you wanna punch 'em

No, but I give way to pedestrians and don't double overtake women with pushchairs just because I'm "in the zone"

 

[Hellsbells]

They're doing work along the canals this week, so i had to find an alternative route. And got lost

 

[fredfelt]

I always wear a bicycle-specific heart rate monitor - one of the Polar ones, so I can measure distance/speed/calories/heart rate. It's very very motivating actually cos you can see your fitness improve very quickly. I'm hoping to shift quite a lot of lard by the summer and am going to be looking for some longer circular rides (1hr +) that incorporate hills if anyone knows any good ones. Central Hill up to Crystal Palace is a corker. I can do that one without stopping now.

They sound like fun! How much do you need to spend to get a decent one? Can you recommend one? Do they work when off the bike as well, say for when you go for a run?

 

[100% masahiko]

No, but I give way to pedestrians and don't double overtake women with pushchairs just because I'm "in the zone"

Can't agree with you more.

My only cycle-crime is that I run red lights (if traffic is clear).

 

[matt m]

Someone really needs to do something about the state of the road underneath the dark bridge before the roundabout on the south side of Westminster Bridge. It's almost like a deliberate trap for cyclists. There I was thinking "this is just the sort of place where you get a puncture cos it's too dark to see the ground" and immediately go over about 18 bastard potholes and wooooosh, a puncture the size of a crevice.

 

[Biddlybee]

My only cycle-crime is that I run red lights (if traffic is clear).

And my only one is that I can't help calling people like you 'cunt' Not you personally, but I get a bit too angry when I cycle and it pisses me off when people run red lights, or worse go over pedestrian crossings, when someone is crossing (but that's a different thread ).

 

[100% masahiko]

And my only one is that I can't help calling people like you 'cunt' Not you personally, but I get a bit too angry when I cycle and it pisses me off when people run red lights, or worse go over pedestrian crossings, when someone is crossing (but that's a different thread ).

When I run red lights, I often see other cyclists shaking their heads in disgrace. I do want to say 'sorry' but what's the point of waiting at a red light when there's no danger? I do ride passively when pedestrians are about. If anything, I'm more paranoid and scared of pedestrians than big lorries (there's more of them and some don't pay that much attention when crossing roads).

 

[Crispy]

The thing is, your asessment of 'no danger' may be different to other people's, or even wrong. Your senses are not perfect and neither are other road users. You only have to be wrong once. Best to play it safe and be a few minutes late eh?

Oh yeah, and the 'giving us a bad name thing' too. I reckon there's something to that.

 

[Biddlybee]

When I run red lights, I often see other cyclists shaking their heads in disgrace. I do want to say 'sorry' but what's the point of waiting at a red light when there's no danger? I do ride passively when pedestrians are about. If anything, I'm more paranoid and scared of pedestrians than big lorries (there's more of them and some don't pay that much attention when crossing roads).

...because it's not your right of way, even if it is clear, and I reckon it's what gives cyclists a bad name with motorists, it's a can of worms.

To be fair I probably shout at more pedestrians than I do cyclists

 

[snowy_again]

Morning, I've been reading this thread and hoping it wasn't going to turn into a red light jumping argument... pretty please?

I've taken to singing loudly at pedestrians who get step out with out looking. Mr Boombastic being the tune of choice last week. Having said that I've just been in Glasgow and the highlands for a week, and have realised that London drivers are actually much better than I credit them.

 

[Crispy]

Actually you're right. No more of this! Back to day-to-day reports

 

[Biddlybee]

Bit off-topic, but is it worth complaining to anyone about the state of some of the roads? I know you can report potholes, but some roads I go down are really cracked and bumpy

 

[100% masahiko]

No more redlight talk - from now on, I shall protect the good name of cyclists in not running them on busy main roads.

Bit off-topic, but is it worth complaining to anyone about the state of some of the roads? I know you can report potholes, but some roads I go down are really cracked and bumpy

It's not just bikes they effect - can damage car wheels as well.
Must be able to complain...maybe something online?

 

[gentlegreen]

Yep, pedestrians are becoming a pain.

It's easier when it's dark and you have very bright lights aimed at them from all angles ...

 

[Biddlybee]

It's not just bikes they effect - can damage car wheels as well.
Must be able to complain...maybe something online?

True.

Found a form on their website, worth a go https://securesite.southwark.gov.uk/ShowForm.asp?fm_fid=276

 

[Spark]

I had my first proper accident a few weeks ago when a pedestrian walked in front of me from behind a parked car. She was so close i had to jam on the breaks really hard to miss her and I went flying landing chin first.

I increasingly am concerned by how invisible some are in the dark too - maybe they should be encouraged to wear high visibility stuff