How was your cycle commute?

[plurker]

Congrats on the impending arrival Dogsauce

I've been off the bike for three weeks with a broken toe, got back on the ride yesterday, but took it very easy, as still a bit fragile and worry that if I needed to put my foot down sharpish it'd refracture.

A bit of light rain this morning, so decided on the train. Regretting it though, so back full-time next week.

 

[tommers]

Saddle snapped off about 6 miles from home. Fucking tiring cycling stood up.

 

[Dogsauce]

Congrats on the impending arrival Dogsauce

Cheers, he's already here though, this is the shared parental leave where the Mrs is going back to work and I pick up the remaining 5mths of what used to be called Maternity Leave. I've already got the bike seat from Gumtree so my two-wheeled adventures will continue!



(this a trial run on a rental bike on holiday)

 

[plurker]

Gotcha. Well congrats anyway

I need to do some research on a childseat. Ideally ti clip on and off a racer, but I still have a hybrid kicking around. Think I'd prefer to be able to see my one sitting in front of me, I'd be worried he'd fallen out otherwise!

 

[Dogsauce]

Gotcha. Well congrats anyway

I need to do some research on a childseat. Ideally ti clip on and off a racer, but I still have a hybrid kicking around. Think I'd prefer to be able to see my one sitting in front of me, I'd be worried he'd fallen out otherwise!

I got a reclining Hamax one off Gumtree for £12, picked it up from somewhere near work and attached it to my road bike for the journey home, which looked slightly ridiculous and made the 15mph headwind for the 12 miles back a bit of a workout! I'll stick it on the shabby Pashley for low-speed shopping and towpath trips etc.

 

[Winot]

Gotcha. Well congrats anyway

I need to do some research on a childseat. Ideally ti clip on and off a racer, but I still have a hybrid kicking around. Think I'd prefer to be able to see my one sitting in front of me, I'd be worried he'd fallen out otherwise!

Copilot are ace but you need to fit a Blackburn rack.

 

[Pgd]

Knocked off by a fellow cyclist this morning :-(

Approaching the S Circular traffic lights from Kings Ave, going north. There are parked cars further back, then two lanes at the lights themselves, so a bit of lane-changing goes on and, since the lights are red anyway, I slow down. There's a van in the right-hand lane signalling to move into the left-hand lane, but is hesitant (presumably seeing cyclists in his mirror) so I slow further to let him manoeuvre. I then start to drift to the right (still moving slowly) to pass him, assuming he'll be turning left at the lights. Suddenly I'm clipped by a guy bombing along to my right, and down I go -- almost into the path of a following car, but they're going slowly enough to easily stop, thankfully.

Other guy stopped, and was very apologetic. He was wearing headphones, but I don't like judging these things too much, there's enough judging goes on as it is. He ought to have anticipated, given me more room and/or slowed down... but equally I wonder if I should have not drifted right *at all* without a proper check (I still reckon I was less at fault, but I always try to take something away from these things). Grazed legs & arms, but nothing affecting movement. "Best" one is a nice gouge in my lower arm with flappy skin. I must have looked a bloodied treat, cycling the rest of the way!

BUT the most annoying thing I find in any collision is the effect on the damned V-brakes. They're a bugger to set up, and mine were damn near perfect, and now everything's out of line and the wheel's slightly untrue and rubbing. Damnit.

 

[Virtual Blue]

Knocked off by a fellow cyclist this morning :-(

Approaching the S Circular traffic lights from Kings Ave, going north. There are parked cars further back, then two lanes at the lights themselves, so a bit of lane-changing goes on and, since the lights are red anyway, I slow down. There's a van in the right-hand lane signalling to move into the left-hand lane, but is hesitant (presumably seeing cyclists in his mirror) so I slow further to let him manoeuvre. I then start to drift to the right (still moving slowly) to pass him, assuming he'll be turning left at the lights. Suddenly I'm clipped by a guy bombing along to my right, and down I go -- almost into the path of a following car, but they're going slowly enough to easily stop, thankfully.

Other guy stopped, and was very apologetic. He was wearing headphones, but I don't like judging these things too much, there's enough judging goes on as it is. He ought to have anticipated, given me more room and/or slowed down... but equally I wonder if I should have not drifted right *at all* without a proper check (I still reckon I was less at fault, but I always try to take something away from these things). Grazed legs & arms, but nothing affecting movement. "Best" one is a nice gouge in my lower arm with flappy skin. I must have looked a bloodied treat, cycling the rest of the way!

BUT the most annoying thing I find in any collision is the effect on the damned V-brakes. They're a bugger to set up, and mine were damn near perfect, and now everything's out of line and the wheel's slightly untrue and rubbing. Damnit.

Kings Avenue/ Clapham Park?
Lucky you and your bike are okay - the V brakes can be aligned - it could had been much worse.

 

[Pgd]

Yeah, that's the one.
Thanks -- and quite right of course. Been cycling in London for 6 or 7 years now, and can count the number of incidents on one hand, so I know I've been lucky

 

[Virtual Blue]

Only thing I hate about getting rocked/ falling is that it takes a few rides to build that confidence again.
I recently learnt that other cyclists are more dangerous than cars or lorries - been riding as far away from them as possible.

 

[stavros]

I think it was the mugginess, but I half-bonked not far from home this morning. Going up a very slight incline which I do regularly I felt very heavy and had to go to a gear lower than normal. As I said, I blame the heat.

 

[stavros]

I had the day off today (mainly to watch the Mont Ventoux stage) and went for a ride at about 9:30 this morning. The traffic heading into the city was still very bad but once I got going I went really well, even into a head wind on the homeward stretch.

 

[Sea Star]

Cycled in for second day in row today. Finally feel I'm getting back to levels of fitness i enjoyed before i made the big changes.

Had an interesting experience this morning. A guy in a small white van had had to use his brake because a lorry had stopped in front of him. I was immediately behind the lorry and he was behind me. He was swearing his head off at the lorry to get out of his way for the whole minute and a half i think that he had to wait. So as the lorry moves I go forward and lorry pulls into opened up lane on left and i move to go round back end of lorry as he's pulling in but white van man tried to get there before me and at one point i thought he was just going to push me out of the way, but instead he pulls out wider to go round me and shouts, Get out of the way, love.

It was so obviously condescending. I caught him up at the lights and gave him the finger as I went past him and the look onhis stupid smug face was priceless!!

 

[Virtual Blue]

Lovely cycle this morning - managed to get 12 miles in by going through Elephant > Blackfriars > Smithsfields and coming out at Barbican and into Kings X. Will look at alternative routes on the commute home. ATM, Kings X is a safer option than Oxford Circus!!

 

[Sea Star]

I remember what I meant to say now. Well, I finally feel that my old cycle fitness is back. Managed three days in a row this week and could probably do two more if I had to.
What's notable is that I used to kind of keep up with the guys and would see the same guys at every set of lights along the old Kent road. But I've noticed this week I've been stopping with mostly women. And keeping up with other women but in no way able to keep up with men any more.
Well not unexpected, that's what's supposed to happen with HRT.

 

[Virtual Blue]

I had a major incident/ bike crash.
Farringdon Road. 5.17pm. It's busy. My right of way and a stationary Virgin van decided to pull out.
I swerved to avoid and ended up on his bumper.

Bike suffers instant death and I laid on the ground winded. Loadsa people took pictures and the bouncers from the bar opposite checked to see if I was alright. Van driver and passenger are clearly shocked.
I managed to get up, bruised, cuts and grazes - I don't think I have ever sworn so much in the space of 60 seconds. I was so vexed.

Long story short.
The incident was caught on the bar's CCTV (owner there was awesome, he came out to gave me his card, some water and said that if I needed anything, I can call him) and the police said that evidence proved that the Virgin van driver was in the wrong.

Now what?
When the police took a statement, they reckon two things could happen. That (a), the courts where I have to stand witness or (b), an out of court settlement as it was a Virgin van.

Any advice boys and girls?

I am lucky to be alive. Been cycling for 2 decades in this beautiful city.
The police and everyone who saw it don't know how I survived . Just ended up with a nasty cut and manky leg. Fuck. I still need to pick my bike up from station.

Wiggle Verenti Carbon. 2014-2016. RIP.

 

[The Boy]

Jesus, dude. Seeing where your bike went it's amazing that didn't end up worse for you.

No real advice, buy seeing the way two threads on a local cycling forum have gone whne the cyclists have gone down the out-of-court route*, and the fact it's a commercial vehicle, I'd be taking that through insurance. Ymmv, of course.

* eg, driver being super nice at the time, then refusing to pay for repairs on the ground that they could buy a new bike for then cost, and just generally being asshats.

 

[sleaterkinney]

Glad to hear you're ok.

 

[joustmaster]

I had a major incident/ bike crash.
Farringdon Road. 5.17pm. It's busy. My right of way and a stationary Virgin van decided to pull out.
I swerved to avoid and ended up on his bumper.

Bike suffers instant death and I laid on the ground winded. Loadsa people took pictures and the bouncers from the bar opposite checked to see if I was alright. Van driver and passenger are clearly shocked.
I managed to get up, bruised, cuts and grazes - I don't think I have ever sworn so much in the space of 60 seconds. I was so vexed.

Long story short.
The incident was caught on the bar's CCTV (owner there was awesome, he came out to gave me his card, some water and said that if I needed anything, I can call him) and the police said that evidence proved that the Virgin van driver was in the wrong.

Now what?
When the police took a statement, they reckon two things could happen. That (a), the courts where I have to stand witness or (b), an out of court settlement as it was a Virgin van.

Any advice boys and girls?

I am lucky to be alive. Been cycling for 2 decades in this beautiful city.
The police and everyone who saw it don't know how I survived . Just ended up with a nasty cut and manky leg. Fuck. I still need to pick my bike up from station.

Wiggle Verenti Carbon. 2014-2016. RIP.

I bet you're stiff today.
And feeling lucky.

Glad you are OK.

Make sure you get lots of money from Virgin. For the bike and for your poorly ways.

Try and cycle it home from the station

 

[Virtual Blue]

Jesus, dude. Seeing where your bike went it's amazing that didn't end up worse for you.

No real advice, buy seeing the way two threads on a local cycling forum have gone whne the cyclists have gone down the out-of-court route*, and the fact it's a commercial vehicle, I'd be taking that through insurance. Ymmv, of course.

* eg, driver being super nice at the time, then refusing to pay for repairs on the ground that they could buy a new bike for then cost, and just generally being asshats.

I just realised that my bike is only covered under Home Insurance

Also remembered the conversation I had with the copper - where he said they were going to charge the driver with a criminal offence and that they would be in touch, that I was not to do anything. Does this sound right?

The bar owner and bouncers said that they (police) burned a copy of the CCTV footage.

I have the driver's details, DoB (he's only 26!!) - feel like calling him and try to reach an agreement.
Am in no state to cycle atm but at some point would like to get a replacement bike.

 

[Pgd]

Holy shit Virtual Blue, what a mess! Glad you're ok, and hope you end up well-compensated.

On an infinitely more prosaic note, this morning I managed to turn up to work without any (non-cycling) clothes. (I thought I'd left some in my locker.) I'm mainly just amazed it was only the first time. Thank fuck for New Oxford Street Primark (dodgy though they may be).

 

[Crispy]

If the cops are going to charge him, you shouldn't make contact, IMO.

 

[The Boy]

If the cops are going to charge him, you shouldn't make contact, IMO.

This. Do make sure you get a crime reference number (or whatever they call it) though. And maybe contact your insurer/have a close read of your policy anyways, see what they can do.

Did you swap deets with any witnesses? If so keep those safe in case you need them in future.

 

[Virtual Blue]

Thanks all.

Swapped details with the bar owners/ bouncers.
Some pedestrians took my details and said they will be in contact (I was too angry with the driver to take notes at the time).

Apparently the footage was very good...

Good point on the crime reference number. Forgot about them.

 

[Winot]

Glad you're OK Virtual Blue.

Hope the watch wasn't scratched!

 

[plurker]

Fucking hell, that could've been a lot worse.
Hope you're okay now

 

[BigTom]

I just realised that my bike is only covered under Home Insurance

Also remembered the conversation I had with the copper - where he said they were going to charge the driver with a criminal offence and that they would be in touch, that I was not to do anything. Does this sound right?

The bar owner and bouncers said that they (police) burned a copy of the CCTV footage.

I have the driver's details, DoB (he's only 26!!) - feel like calling him and try to reach an agreement.
Am in no state to cycle atm but at some point would like to get a replacement bike.

Levene's have cycling specialist solicitors, maybe give them a call, you can probably get some free consultation, no experience myself but seen them recommended elsewhere. Specialists in No Win No Fee Injury Claims | Levenes Solicitors

Glad you're ok as others have said those photos look like it could have been much worse.

 

[Virtual Blue]

Glad you're OK Virtual Blue.

Hope the watch wasn't scratched!

you're the 2nd person to ask that and annoyingly, it was one of the first things I checked - and then my legs.

Fucking hell, that could've been a lot worse.
Hope you're okay now

Okay but the incident has damaged my confidence. I mean it's my 2nd crash this year - not had any for ages...
Am grateful that the impact was so hard I flew off my bike. If it hadn't been for my SPD pedals, I'd have lost a leg - easily.

Levene's have cycling specialist solicitors, maybe give them a call, you can probably get some free consultation, no experience myself but seen them recommended elsewhere. Specialists in No Win No Fee Injury Claims | Levenes Solicitors

Glad you're ok as others have said those photos look like it could have been much worse.

I'll think about this and get an opinion from the police. I'm planning to see them on Monday.

Cheers and stay safe all.

 

[Dogsauce]

I have the driver's details, DoB (he's only 26!!) - feel like calling him and try to reach an agreement.
Am in no state to cycle atm but at some point would like to get a replacement bike.

It'll go through the company insurance so the driver won't have any say (and unlikely to want to contribute).

Keep hold of any travel receipts in the meantime - get taxis if you have to, the insurers will pay. Make a list of all damage including clothing and note any pain or anything you miss out on due to your injuries. You want to be as comprehensive as you can to make sure all your costs are covered - it's what insurance is for.

Hope you heal fast and get back to riding. It'll take a while for the fear to disappear, I'm still apprehensive of certain situations after a crash 18 months ago, but it's not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Hope you're recovering OK Virtual Blue. Looks like quite a smash and from your description there was nothing you could have done.

Looking at the CCTV evidence in the Bank cycle fatality reveals something else. Hate to say it but the lady who died was in the wrong position. She should either have been way ahead or behind. Obviously the driver was at fault in the main. Always treat tipper trucks with utmost caution.