How was your cycle commute?

[stavros]

Normally I have a clear picture of where I want to go, but I was a bit aimless this afternoon, making it up as I went along. Yesterday was better, as I went down one of the rare hills in East Anglia pushing at full pelt in my top gear. I could've gone higher too.

 

[weepiper]

I have been a bit cooped up all weekend so once I got on my bike after work I got home and thought 'I don't want to go home yet' so I kept going. Ended up doing 16 miles instead of my normal 1.5 commute. Followed a heron all the way up the valley on the way home

 

[plurker]

The junction works at Oval are starting to bear fruit. It's still hell to get in lane coming off Brixton Road by the church, but once you're on the raised lane on the triangle island by the park, you're segregated all the way past the horrible junction and emerge grinning into the bus lane beyond. Love it.

turns out, from my commute this morning, that the segregated raised cyclelane, with its nice sloped access up onto it, is perfect for vehicles to drive onto and park, completely blocking it.

if it happens again I'm stopping to take a pic but who the fook should we report that to?? Met won't care, TFL have no legal power of enforcement - do they?

 

[BigTom]

Keep sending pictures to your local councillors, eventually they'll get pissed off with you emailing them every day and get some ticket wardens or police down there for a bit of enforcement that'll help for a few days at least. Sort of works in Birmingham anyway, although there are plenty of places where they still park.
Or knock off their wing mirrors

 

[The Boy]

I've often been tempted by the latter. We have a fancy new cycle lane going up one of the busier roads in the city, much trumpeted by the council as being part of the new generation of quality cycling infrastructure.

On one block last night, I counted nine cars double parked on said cycle lane. That's about standard most times of day.

 

[iamwithnail]

Traffic in the city was unbelievably horrendous today. All from Angel down to Southwark bridge was nose to tail the whole way.

 

[joustmaster]

Or knock off their wing mirrors

 

[HerneHillBilly]

Annoying traffic light incident.

Every evening I commute home along Grosvenor Road (alongside the Thames) and turn right to go over Vauxhall Bridge in a southwards direction. When the lights are on red I position myself some way ahead of the traffic, this is a) for my own safety as I have 4 lanes of traffic behind me and placing myself just ahead of the cars (in the cycle box) seems to me a little risky and b) I am well clear of the cars so not in their way as they set off from the lights.

Last night a pedestrian decides to have a go at me, “You’re supposed to stop at the lights…… the line is back there….you’re the kind of wanker who…..”. I beckoned him over to explain to him (that it was not particularly safe to be between 4 lanes hoping that drivers don’t suddenly change their mind and change direction) but he started walking away, leaving me fuming and trying to get some insult back at him (“don’t be an idiot…”).

Anyone familiar with this crossroads and ways to turn right on it?

 

[sleaterkinney]

Okay, I used the cycle path - cause the traffic going towards E&C was backed right up and affecting it.. My impressions:

1/ bit lumpy for a newly-laid bit of tarmac

Up near Elephant there's a big puddle with nowhere for the water to go and the green light just puts you into traffic. It was better the old way.

 

[joustmaster]

I've just bought some new layers for the coming winter.

 

[plurker]

And I'm off.

Heavy traffic on Kings Avenue heading down towards Clapham North. Filtering on the outside, so riding pretty slow (for me), around 13mph.

Clocked a Fiesta pulling out of Crescent Lane, slowly. The driver was looking - but only the the other way, so I knew he'd not seen me.

Tried to slow enough to avoid him, but he came out at a really acute angle, still not looking, so I couldn't avoid him.

I've learnt my lesson from last year when I broke my wrist, so I'd lifted my arm off the bars. Bars smashed his wing mirror off, I bounced my hip off the door. He's all "where the fuck did you come from" and I'm 'you weren't looking both ways" and he's " yes I was you twat" and I'm "if you were you'd have seen me" - this conversation is going nowhere and he's aggro so I'm away. Cock.

Bruised hip and elbow. Not too bad. Stiffening up now though. Apex Cycles fixed my bars up, just needed straightening out.
Un/Lucky.

 

[Winot]

And I'm off.

Heavy traffic on Kings Avenue heading down towards Clapham North. Filtering on the outside, so riding pretty slow (for me), around 13mph.

Clocked a Fiesta pulling out of Crescent Lane, slowly. The driver was looking - but only the the other way, so I knew he'd not seen me.

Tried to slow enough to avoid him, but he came out at a really acute angle, still not looking, so I couldn't avoid him.

I've learnt my lesson from last year when I broke my wrist, so I'd lifted my arm off the bars. Bars smashed his wing mirror off, I bounced my hip off the door. He's all "where the fuck did you come from" and I'm 'you weren't looking both ways" and he's " yes I was you twat" and I'm "if you were you'd have seen me" - this conversation is going nowhere and he's aggro so I'm away. Cock.

Bruised hip and elbow. Not too bad. Stiffening up now though. Apex Cycles fixed my bars up, just needed straightening out.
Un/Lucky.

Ouch
Aren't there lights at that junction though? I take the kids through it on the way to school and it's always mash-up.

 

[plurker]

Ouch
Aren't there lights at that junction though?

There are lights right by Clapham North tube, but this was earlier coming down Kings Ave - looking at googlemaps not it's not Crescent Lane - it's Aristotle Road where this happened.

There are temp traffic lights in place, so it's a nightmare currently!

 

[Winot]

There are lights right by Clapham North tube, but this was earlier coming down Kings Ave - looking at googlemaps not it's not Crescent Lane - it's Aristotle Road where this happened.

There are temp traffic lights in place, so it's a nightmare currently!

I know it well. It's my route to work from my kids' school (King's Avenue). It's been a nightmare for a while with the building work going on. Sorry about your tumble.

 

[Dogsauce]

Hope you're not too sore plurker and that you left a nice dent.

 

[plurker]

Thanks. Oddly got a clutch of PB times riding home last night with a sore hip!

Today was nuts - in the run up to our big event of the year, we start to have early meetings- 9am start rather than 10, and that difference in traffic levels is horrid. Do not like that at all.

 

[The Boy]

Had to nip back inside this morning to grab some stuff from my other bag. While I was in there I spotted my spare tube and pump, but thought "nah, i'll grab them another time".

You can see where this story is going...

Anyway, turns out the spare is itself an unrepaired puncture so I'm having to slum it on public transport tomorrow. :grr:

 

[Pgd]

Nipped over to Mitcham (from Croydon) this morning on the way in to pick up a parcel from the Yodel depot, and got my first bit of road aggro (from a WVM as it goes) in, I dunno, over 2 years? Classic "get in the cycle lane!" as I was navigating the junctions around Merantun Way (in a strong secondary). He then rolled forward while the lights were red to get alongside me & shout out the window, and inadvertently touched the back of the moped in front, whose rider then joined in the fun. Nothing serious or owt, but enough to Raise My Hackles.

(Strava thread aside: unfortunately, I don't know whether my Raised Hackles resulted in any good times, as the package I was picking up was a new 'phone...)

P.S. As I usually just bomb straight up the A23 from Croydon, I often forget how shit much of the road system is around outer South London, especially for cycling.

 

[Crispy]

Slept poorly, so took the tube. Train broke down and we were all turfed out at Pimlico. Took a Boris bike along the embankment to Farringdon. You sure get a lot of disrespect from other cyclists when you're riding one of those things Lots of aggressive close passes and undertaking.

 

[a_chap]

Worst traffic queues I've seen since moving to Worcester twelve years. Oh how I grinned as I rode past them all

 

[joustmaster]

I've had to get my thin gloves out

 

[Dogsauce]

In the thermal bibs yesterday which proved to be overkill, think I got it right today - base layer t-shirt, club race jersey, Aldi arm-warmers and long socks, lobster gloves and thin knock-off buff up over the nose and ears (pulled down later). I need to make a note somewhere that this is appropriate for 5-8 degrees, for 8-10 lose the base layer & go back to fingerless gloves. Bit of sprinting to keep me warm too.

 

[joustmaster]

In the thermal bibs yesterday which proved to be overkill, think I got it right today - base layer t-shirt, club race jersey, Aldi arm-warmers and long socks, lobster gloves and thin knock-off buff up over the nose and ears (pulled down later). I need to make a note somewhere that this is appropriate for 5-8 degrees, for 8-10 lose the base layer & go back to fingerless gloves. Bit of sprinting to keep me warm too.

are you up north?

 

[plurker]

are you up north?

Near the Pole, p'raps?

Thin gloves out today, but still in teeshirt n shorts. Saw someone today with the same kraftwerk TDF top I normally wear, but mine's in the wash.

Uneventful rides this week.

 

[Dogsauce]

are you up north?

Yes. I'm also on the road before the sun comes up, it was a chilly 4 degrees on Monday.

 

[iamwithnail]

Jee. Sus. My normally 27ish minute commute took 42 today. Roads shut at minories (after having a partial closure so you couldn't cross from Minories to Dukes Place, they removed it last week), barrier across the road all the way back past Aldgate, Dukes Place past the new construction shut, construction trucks blocking Primrose Street and Worship street. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. Need to find a new route over the river.

 

[Virtual Blue]

My 1st crash of the year.
Cycling through Westminster in static traffic and all of a sudden a tourist flung taxi car door open.
I smash straight into it and chest into handlebars.
I land on the ground, next to the pavement. Got up and swore at tourist who remained in car.
Surprised with passerbys, loads a people asked if I was okay.
Bike is a bit fucked but feel lucky nothing was fucked (handlebars out of line but easily fixed).

Fucker.

 

[steeeve]

My 1st crash of the year.
Cycling through Westminster in static traffic and all of a sudden a tourist flung taxi car door open.
I smash straight into it and chest into handlebars.
I land on the ground, next to the pavement. Got up and swore at tourist who remained in car.
Surprised with passerbys, loads a people asked if I was okay.
Bike is a bit fucked but feel lucky nothing was fucked (handlebars out of line but easily fixed).

Fucker.

Opening a door into danger is a criminal offence, I'd have got their details!

 

[Virtual Blue]

Opening a door into danger is a criminal offence, I'd have got their details!

the stupid thing was that it happened in Parliament Square and not a copper in sight!
I was swearing at the twat and he just hid in taxi.
If it wasn't for the calming presence of total stangers helping me up and checking if i was okay, i would have done something very normal - (like kicking the taxi door to get a reaction/ demand some sort of compensation).

once i got home, i checked my bike.
the front brake lever is totally fucked, bearings in mechanism broke.
arrgh!

 

[Dogsauce]

Sure you can trace the vehicle and still get insurance to cover damage to you and the bike, there will be CCTV all over the place there.

You were probably in a bit of shock and didn't know what to do at the time, which is understandable, and doesn't stop you getting some recompense retrospectively. Someone damaged your bike, they need to make amends.