How was your cycle commute?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Cyclist killed on Victoria Street this morning. Hit by a lorry by the looks of it

 

[gentlegreen]

Grey and drizzly and just cold enough to make my left fingers a bit numb - as if to say "that's just in case Saturday made you think it was spring" ...

 

[gentlegreen]

Cyclist killed on Victoria Street this morning. Hit by a lorry by the looks of it

On the inside of a left turning lorry again - apparently.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Sad. My sister was walking up Victoria Street just after it had happened. Said the lorry driver was visibly shaking as well

 

[gentlegreen]

It is just not safe for a cyclist and a lorry to be turning together in that situation.
Sadly, the onus has to be largely on the cyclist because the lorry driver simply cannot see them - assuming the cyclist wasn't ahead of them on the approach

 

[ddraig]

widest audience here
recycling bits of cars into a bike and attempting to match the mileage on it that the car did

carma

 

[gentlegreen]

The fastest bit of my morning commute is on a hill where in ideal conditions I can hit 30MPH and get a significant push up the next one.
But cars have always driven dangerously on it and before they built a raised kerb/crash barrier, cars were always going over the edge and through the railings.

I've recently started getting very annoyed with cars tailgating me down there. I videoed this the other day.
I maxed out at over 25 on that occasion.



This morning I pulled out onto a clear road and proceeded to build up speed, when I heard a car accelerating towards me until it was half a car's length behind me at 15MPH.
I managed, by slowing to a crawl, giving the "back off" signal and shouting, to get the driver to behave a little better.
After rounding the bottom of the hill at 28MPH, I sarcastically beckoned it past - whereupon the driver rolled down the passenger window and shouted "I was nowhere near you" - which annoyed me somewhat.
A young voice too - 30-ish - as if they might have done the modern test ....

 

[Orang Utan]

It was very wet today. Wet enough to remind me not to wear underwear on a commute. Pants drying on a radiator next to my desk. Good job there are no kids in today!

 

[joustmaster]

It was very wet today. Wet enough to remind me not to wear underwear on a commute. Pants drying on a radiator next to my desk. Good job there are no kids in today!

For me, it was proper driving rain. They type that hurts your face a little bit.
Then I got to work and it stopped.
I am taking it personally.

 

[gentlegreen]

Wet enough to remind me not to wear underwear on a commute.

 

[a_chap]

No rain for me this morning, but misty and damp nonetheless.

Have signed up to Strava.com and recorded my ride in today. A completely pointless exercise really.

 

[joustmaster]

No rain for me this morning, but misty and damp nonetheless.

Have signed up to Strava.com and recorded my ride in today. A completely pointless exercise really.

The record speeds on the roads I commute on are up to 70mph. People with motorbikes have spoiled my fun.

 

[Orang Utan]

They get wet!
Tis best to wear no pants with padded shorts

 

[gentlegreen]

Oh I see.
I don't wear padded shorts - my two pairs of cotton pants are the padding under my combats.
I find it takes a lot of rain to cause me any problems.

 

[Orang Utan]

I have no mudguard. I get wet.

 

[a_chap]

*all* my bikes have mudguards. Barking mad not to have them in this country.

 

[Orang Utan]

I don't want to mess up my lovely lines on my racer though. Would rather have a wet arse.
Can't say it made much difference when I had a hybrid tbh, I still got a wet arse and wet legs

 

[a_chap]

Annoys the fuck out of me when it's wet and there's someone in front who hasn't got mudguards. I ought to have a spare bottle full of muddy water to spray them with as I overtake

 

[gentlegreen]

I have to say I've had cause to consider the hazards of fitting full mudguards (at least one person I know was hospitalised), so I'll be sticking with my somewhat imperfect MTB shortie and crud-catcher.
As for the rear - that's a doddle. Everyone needs a rack and panniers.

 

[joustmaster]

I don't want to mess up my lovely lines on my racer though. Would rather have a wet arse.
Can't say it made much difference when I had a hybrid tbh, I still got a wet arse and wet legs

I know what you mean..
But I clip one on to the back in bad weather. Don't have one for the front though

 

[gentlegreen]

I know what you mean..
But I clip one on to the back in bad weather. Don't have one for the front though

Don't you worry what it is that's spraying in your face. ?
In my case, living as I do in the sticks, it's quite often farm slurry.

 

[Orang Utan]

It never sprays in my face!

 

[Crispy]

It never sprays in my face!

It gets the rider behind you though.

 

[Orang Utan]

If they are too close!

 

[gentlegreen]

Which reminds me I need to take some white leatherette home to make a rear mudflap.
I also promised myself I would cut up some inner tube to protect my front mech.

 

[joustmaster]

Don't you worry what it is that's spraying in your face. ?
In my case, living as I do in the sticks, it's quite often farm slurry.

I don't think I get an face spray.. Maybe i'm not sitting on the thing correctly

 

[gentlegreen]

Mind you I've always had mudguards so I don't know why that came to mind ... except my chunky tyre does sometimes defeat my shortie front mudguard...

 

[a_chap]

If they are too close!

You haven't a lot of choice but to get pretty close when overtaking slow riders.

I have to say I'm looking forward to getting my new bike and overtaking a few roadies on it

 

[gentlegreen]

So many complete idiots on the road today.
I was very nearly witness to a tragedy on the way home.
My only hope is that this dangerous idiot's solitary braincell registered what he very nearly did.



(That was me sounding my horn as a warning.)

Gained a whole 20 yards on me.

 

[a_chap]

Filmed in 2008?