How was your cycle commute?

[Onket]

Have you got an A-Z? That's what I did when I had a London cycle, just sat down with an A-Z and planned a route that went through residential areas.

From google maps it looks like there's loads of options through residential areas, just need to get over the railway line somewhere and you're laughing, no?

Yeah, this is what I did for my old London commute. Sometimes I use the TFL Journeyplanner on cycle mode.

 

[Orang Utan]

Once you're in Greenwich it's ok?

Deptford-Greenwich looks horrendous up close,

No, Greenwich-Woolwich is the shittest bit, unless you go on the Thames Path. Woolwich-Erith is more pleasant as it is all sidestreets.

 

[Orang Utan]

Yeah, this is what I did for my old London commute. Sometimes I use the TFL Journeyplanner on cycle mode.

Ooh I forgot about tfl journeyplanner. Thanks for the reminder! I shall see if I can find a better route on there

 

[stavros]

I finally got out today, after snow last week and yesterday (I'm a roadie remember). Only about 10 miles, the first half of which I went like a train,.... then I changed direction and realised why - a fucking lethal headwind.

Still, it felt good.

 

[ringo]

Great ride in today - first time on new bike when it's been dry, light and warm

 

[gentlegreen]

Yep, potentially a very nice ride in, but I'm feeling unusually tired at the moment - could have done with a day off ..
A bit on edge partly because of a terrible incident yesterday - very near to where I grew up - couple killed while riding their tandem on a Sunday afternoon. Who knows, I may have encountered them on the railway path.

Just one bit of crap driving - perhaps I over-reacted ...

 

[pissflaps]

it would appear the offending vehicle was being chased by the feds. just a tragic story from beginning to end - they never stood a chance.

 

[gentlegreen]

it would appear the offending vehicle was being chased by the feds. just a tragic story from beginning to end - they never stood a chance.

They're talking about a second driver now.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Coup...n-named-Ross/story-17985591-detail/story.html

Let's hope whoever was driving gets a lot more than 18 months and a few points.

 

[pissflaps]

if he was being chased he'll probably get sent down for resisting arrest or somesuch. But yeah, that £30 fine and 6 points for killing two people will really smart. Maybe it'll be &60 and 12 points, seeing as he got two for the price of one.

 

[joustmaster]

Just one bit of crap driving - perhaps I over-reacted ...

That doesn't seem like a fun roundabout.
You were quite far over to the left though. It might have seemed you were turning left. Can you position yourself further to the right? I think I would.

 

[pissflaps]

unless you are signalling to turn left, it should be presumed by any drivers that you are going straight or right. Positioning was fine. What's more fucking annoying is that cunt parked on the pavement at the beginning

 

[joustmaster]

unless you are signalling to turn left, it should be presumed by any drivers that you are going straight or right. Positioning was fine. What's more fucking annoying is that cunt parked on the pavement at the beginning

The law, and what drivers actually do are very far apart.
In this case the drive seems to assume he is turning left..

Try and get right in every ones way. I would rather be beeped at than hit.

 

[pissflaps]

presumably the rider was filtering to the roundabout, hence being on the left. Once again, the only twattery on display in that vid is coming from those cocooned in their air conditioned death-boxes.

 

[weepiper]

The law, and what drivers actually do are very far apart.
In this case the drive seems to assume he is turning left..

Try and get right in every ones way. I would rather be beeped at than hit.

Agreed. The problem with that roundabout is that the exit that gg takes is bikes-only, which means it is invisible to drivers. They don't see it because they can't use it. They assume that if you are not over to the right and indicating to turn right that you must be going to turn left because that is what a car would do.

 

[joustmaster]

Actually, if we are talking about visibility to other road users, I think a normal cyclist should be more over to the right...

Where as GG should stay where he is, unleash his thousand watts of light, sound his 'end-of-times' megahorn, whilst shouting imaginative swearwords in his fantastic accent.

 

[gentlegreen]

Before the path through the park was created and I was younger and fitter, I used to filter past cars on the right to then turn right at the roundabout.

Positioning myself where I do is indeed a bit more "riding in the gutter-y" than I ever would do normally, but most people are turning right so it usually works very well for me.

There are actually bicycles painted on the road slightly to left of centre because it's an important cycle route - perhaps I should get them to paint something on the roundabout itself - much as I hate tackling a large roundabout using such a lane, but it might work there...



(this one's in Denmark where they drive on the right)

 

[Onket]

it would appear the offending vehicle was being chased by the feds. just a tragic story from beginning to end - they never stood a chance.

The police killed a 13 year old girl in Bermondsey earlier this month with their idiotic chasing of another vehicle. Eyewitnesses reckoned there were up to 3 police vehicles (at least one unmarked) tearing after the vehicle that hit the poor girl. I think they think it's a fucking game. Cunts.

 

[pissflaps]

gotta catch the villains, innit?

it amazes me how people think they can drive above 25 MpH on any road in london without putting other road users at considerable risk.

 

[a_chap]

I finally got out today, after snow last week and yesterday (I'm a roadie remember). Only about 10 miles, the first half of which I went like a train,.... then I changed direction and realised why - a fucking lethal headwind.

You poor bugger

I did 125 miles yesterday - the last 45 of which were into a head wind gale. I was properly knackered by the time I got home.

 

[pissflaps]

125 miles? christ's tits that's a bit of a spin. Club run? take the rest of the day off.

 

[ferrelhadley]

Question about chains. I am a touch on the beefy side (116kg) and find my chains stretch and need replacing every few months, will a persons weight seriously affect chainlife? And what is the typical mileage you should get out of a chain (I seem to get less than 1500miles.)

 

[ddraig]

well cold wind today
no snow sleet or much rain tho!

 

[joustmaster]

Question about chains. I am a touch on the beefy side (116kg) and find my chains stretch and need replacing every few months, will a persons weight seriously affect chainlife? And what is the typical mileage you should get out of a chain (I seem to get less than 1500miles.)

I have only ever changed a chain once in the last 4 years.
I weigh 125kg and cycle about 500 miles a month,

 

[gentlegreen]

I have only ever changed a chain once in the last 4 years.
I weigh 125kg and cycle about 500 miles a month,

It must surely be perpetually sunny where you are, with the roads being swept daily.
Perhaps you use fancy chains and keep them spotless ?

I tend to get through about 2 chains a year - which means about 1200 miles per chain. (mine are nearer a tenner a time.)
I ride on very rough roads and tracks.
My last order from November :-
Shimano HG40 6 - 8 Speed Chain X 3 @ 8.49 inc VAT = 25.47

 

[joustmaster]

It must surely be perpetually sunny where you are, with the roads being swept daily.
Perhaps you use fancy chains and keep them spotless ?

I tend to get through about 2 chains a year - which means about 1200 miles per chain. (mine are nearer a tenner a time.)
I ride on very rough roads and tracks.
My last order from November :-
Shimano HG40 6 - 8 Speed Chain X 3 @ 8.49 inc VAT = 25.47

London might have a protective layer of smog keeping it a bit warmer, but I wouldn't say it was dry..

I just use a standard chain. No the cheapest. But nothing expensive.
I use a park chain cleaning thing on it once every three or four weeks.

 

[a_chap]

I've never changed the chain on my 15 year old commuter. Although I'm considering replacing it and the gears as they have started to jump a bit too often.

Maybe I don't pedal hard enough

I snapped a chain on my six-month old recumbent a couple of years ago after I'd barely done a couple of thousand miles, so I changed it to be on the safe side.

Regularly getting though chains strikes me as being a tad expensive.

 

[DownwardDog]

Question about chains. I am a touch on the beefy side (116kg) and find my chains stretch and need replacing every few months, will a persons weight seriously affect chainlife? And what is the typical mileage you should get out of a chain (I seem to get less than 1500miles.)

I weigh 67kg and use a Shimano 6701 on my road bikes and generally get some measurable wear after 1,000km.

 

[Onket]

Wet!

Rain and lots of surface water. New waterproof trousers have not kept my arse dry.

 

[a_chap]

Mudguards?

 

[Onket]

I can only assume I'd be wetter without it.