Silly commuting racing

Gallywomack

2nd visit from the PF in the past week on the way home, this time a drawing pin on Q1. Hmmm, that raises my suspicions. Still, at least I didn't have to spend ages paranoidly checking for the cause of the puncture and as such had it sorted in no time. To add to the list of recent woe, came very close to being taken out by a Prius who'd been flashed across into Stones End St by the junction of Borough Rd and Borough High St, and I nearly took out a runner who 'came from nowhere' behind me as I turned left off the Strand. Would have had to say SMIDSY had he hung around to remonstrate but luckily he was as agile as he was quick and after hurdling my front wheel, disappeared in double time.

Edit: Also, going to have to go back to Jersey and arm warmers, chuffing boiling today in jacket. Right, that's all my news.

jamesco

cjcp wrote:

@Sgt Pepper - do you still have that crazy rule about giving way to drivers turning in front of you from the right? Or something like that.

Sgt. Pepper is probably too recent an arrival in the Shaky Isles to have come across this one. It got removed way back in 2012, but the new 'normal' rule still feels wrong.

smokey_bacon

Banter with a Beemer on the run up to priory lane this evening. Apparently I should be in the cycle lane...I was. Told him if he didn't like driving he should get the bus. Then the usual stream of being offered out etc etc. Told him he must like prison showers if he wants to do that. Said I was a mouthy SoB... he got one right at least! Have a thumbs up as I turned onto priory lane and he went straight on.

Then had a very spirited bit of scr down priory lane with a guy in a blue castelli jacket and panniers. Through and off at least twice before we got the park gates. He was quick. Honours even in the end.

sgt.pepper

jamesco wrote:

cjcp wrote:

@Sgt Pepper - do you still have that crazy rule about giving way to drivers turning in front of you from the right? Or something like that.

Sgt. Pepper is probably too recent an arrival in the Shaky Isles to have come across this one. It got removed way back in 2012, but the new 'normal' rule still feels wrong.

Been here on and off for a decade so remember that one. It was a really bizarre rule. Where are you based?

Bit of an incident this morning, not sure where the fault lies. Coming into town alongside the railway station the lights were red but about to turn green. https://www.google.com/maps/@-41.279438 ... 840!8i1920

I'm on the bike lane on the left, but need to get across three lanes to turn right at the next set. Keeping clipped in I maintained some momentum and swung across the lanes as the cars were pulling away, but got beeped/yelled at by a motorbiker who had clearly given it the beans and accelerated far faster than the cars were able to. Usually I move to the right at that set to avoid having to weave through 3 moving lanes, but was distracted and forgot to. I cleared the cars easily, but didn't notice/take into account the superior acceleration of a motorbike (combined with kiwi hazard perception of course). Was I wrong?

jamesco

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

Been here on and off for a decade so remember that one. It was a really bizarre rule. Where are you based?

Bit of an incident this morning ... got beeped/yelled at by a motorbiker who had clearly given it the beans and accelerated far faster than the cars were able to. ... Was I wrong?

I'm a kiwi from all over UnZud but doing my tour of duty in London as my wife is European. By the way, thanks for the pics you've been posting and congrats on cycling in the Wellington area; it takes some grit to get up those hills in the teeth of a nor'wester!

If you'd signalled and were keeping up with traffic then you were doing fine, IMHO. But even if you didn't signal, the motorbiker giving it the beans is being dickish and automatically disqualified from having any reason to complain. This is in the dead centre of town near where the ferries dock, right, full of confused drivers looking for Te Papa or the road to the coast? There's no excuse for practising drag starts there.

rhodrich

After a very pleasant chat with Kingstonian (it appears that we work across the river from each other - I might try and do some morse code with my bike light.....), faced grim reality with the aftermath of a Motorcycle RTA fatality on Upper Thames Street at Blackfriars. Evidence circled in the road, with numbers next to them, and the police taking photos. The biker's leathers still on the road, with the bike on one side next to them.

RIP biker.....

hopkinb

Rhodrich wrote:

After a very pleasant chat with Kingstonian (it appears that we work across the river from each other - I might try and do some morse code with my bike light.....), faced grim reality with the aftermath of a Motorcycle RTA fatality on Upper Thames Street at Blackfriars. Evidence circled in the road, with numbers next to them, and the police taking photos. The biker's leathers still on the road, with the bike on one side next to them.

RIP biker.....

Fatality was it? RIP indeed.

Bit further along than Blackfriars though? Upper Thames Street as you turn right off Southwark Bridge was closed, and it looked like there was a motorbike on the road about 50 metres past the junction? Unless there were 2 incidents.

vpnikolov

I am still lost as to how this one happened. Whatever scenario I play in my head, it still does not explain why the van is hit on the inside (left cargo door). Sad day...

And I am also still shaken by a nearest of misses this morning when I got cut up by a car changing lanes. My spidey senses kicked in for that one and I had already shaved off a bit of speed... had to swerve to avoid the car, was literally centimeters away from getting hooked.

It brought memories from my accident last year...

Stay safe out there, people.

rhodrich

hopkinb wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

After a very pleasant chat with Kingstonian (it appears that we work across the river from each other - I might try and do some morse code with my bike light.....), faced grim reality with the aftermath of a Motorcycle RTA fatality on Upper Thames Street at Blackfriars. Evidence circled in the road, with numbers next to them, and the police taking photos. The biker's leathers still on the road, with the bike on one side next to them.

RIP biker.....

Fatality was it? RIP indeed.

Bit further along than Blackfriars though? Upper Thames Street as you turn right off Southwark Bridge was closed, and it looked like there was a motorbike on the road about 50 metres past the junction? Unless there were 2 incidents.

You're right - I meant Cannon St, not Blackfriars.

I'm assuming it was a fatality - there's no way the police would not have closed the road and gone to so much trouble otherwise.

anonymousblackfg

Who let the Waterloo and City go on strike? Boris bike did me proud but I did pass the RTA on Lower Thames St. For that whole section to be shut you have to assume the worst.

vpnikolov

vpnikolov wrote:

I am still lost as to how this one happened. Whatever scenario I play in my head, it still does not explain why the van is hit on the inside (left cargo door). Sad day...

Unless the van changed lanes and the motorcycle was in the left one. :?

In which case - read my previous comment.

hopkinb

Rhodrich wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

After a very pleasant chat with Kingstonian (it appears that we work across the river from each other - I might try and do some morse code with my bike light.....), faced grim reality with the aftermath of a Motorcycle RTA fatality on Upper Thames Street at Blackfriars. Evidence circled in the road, with numbers next to them, and the police taking photos. The biker's leathers still on the road, with the bike on one side next to them.

RIP biker.....

Fatality was it? RIP indeed.

Bit further along than Blackfriars though? Upper Thames Street as you turn right off Southwark Bridge was closed, and it looked like there was a motorbike on the road about 50 metres past the junction? Unless there were 2 incidents.

You're right - I meant Cannon St, not Blackfriars.

I'm assuming it was a fatality - there's no way the police would not have closed the road and gone to so much trouble otherwise.

Yeah, last time I went through a closed road taped off like that was only last Friday - the aftermath of the stabbing at Clapham South.

ricky_h-2

I saw the van this morning and assumed the road was closed due to some sort of security incident, sad news if it was a fatal RTC.
There is way too much aggression on our roads at the moment. Last night I was driven at by some oik who took issue with me overtaking him. He caught up with me at the next lights and then proceeded to force his way past and try and drive me into the kerb (he failed) as my left turn came to the rescue. I didn't speak or communicate with him so it was utterly unprovoked but given the abuse he shouted after me, it would appear he had some sort of issue with "push bikes". No point arguing with an idiot, they tend to beat you with their experience.

anonymousblackfg

Ricky h wrote:

I saw the van this morning and assumed the road was closed due to some sort of security incident, sad news if it was a fatal RTC.
There is way too much aggression on our roads at the moment. Last night I was driven at by some oik who took issue with me overtaking him. He caught up with me at the next lights and then proceeded to force his way past and try and drive me into the kerb (he failed) as my left turn came to the rescue. I didn't speak or communicate with him so it was utterly unprovoked but given the abuse he shouted after me, it would appear he had some sort of issue with "push bikes". No point arguing with an idiot, they tend to beat you with their experience.

Yep, was screamed at to fvck off by scaffolders in a truck reeking of weed in DT yesterday morning, my crime, looking up at them.

drhaggis

Here in Edinburgh we've managed to avoid fatalities so far, but the roads are batshit crazy right now. After Halloween, all cockwombles have turned into motherlovers.

Today, within 100m, two incidents. First, a cab tried to overtake me while taking the tram lane, oblivious to the cars stopped 50 m ahead on a traffic light. A bit of gesturing brought him to his senses. On that very crossing (A8@Atholl Pl. with Torphichen St.), an Audi was stopped beyond the cars' line, the ASL, halfway between the pedestrian crossing and the hatched yellows. Well done, mate. But wait! Because after the light goes green, another cab cuts across my direction to get ahead, just as I'm dealing with the tramway. I mean, FFS. Abuse exchange while I wave past him at the next traffic light.

Somehow the cab managed to get to Lothian Road with me, at which point he wanted to get ahead. He did, by cutting across two lanes without using the indicator. Again, well done, mate. What a shame you were stuck at the next lights, with an ASL, so I could take my sweet sweet time to clip in. Waved him goodbye at the next jam. Good riddance.

This would have been enough for a normal day. But no. Not today. At the top of Marchmont road, while doing 17 mph and overtaking another bike, the car behind started to have a go. Never mind the traffic going the other way. Realising this, I take "more than primary", which is answered by honks and lights from this WV Lupo. Seeing his behaviour, there is no chance I'm leaving primary now, especially when doing 25 mph slightly downhill on a 20 mph zone. Didn't deter the WV from overtaking me with a car coming the opposite direction. Time he saved? Zero. Saw him waiting at a give way 300m ahead later on.

Had an unnecessarily close pass later on but, after all this, nothing remarkable.

smokey_bacon

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Who let the Waterloo and City go on strike? Boris bike did me proud but I did pass the RTA on Lower Thames St. For that whole section to be shut you have to assume the worst.

Bugger, why didnt I think of that! Copped a load of sweaty armpits for my troubles on the Jubilee line.

RIP Rider. I have seen some very ninja filtering moves from Motorbikers around the Upper/Lower Thames street so the unexpected is probably what happened.

W1

hopkinb wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

After a very pleasant chat with Kingstonian (it appears that we work across the river from each other - I might try and do some morse code with my bike light.....), faced grim reality with the aftermath of a Motorcycle RTA fatality on Upper Thames Street at Blackfriars. Evidence circled in the road, with numbers next to them, and the police taking photos. The biker's leathers still on the road, with the bike on one side next to them.

RIP biker.....

Fatality was it? RIP indeed.

Bit further along than Blackfriars though? Upper Thames Street as you turn right off Southwark Bridge was closed, and it looked like there was a motorbike on the road about 50 metres past the junction? Unless there were 2 incidents.

You're right - I meant Cannon St, not Blackfriars.

I'm assuming it was a fatality - there's no way the police would not have closed the road and gone to so much trouble otherwise.

Yeah, last time I went through a closed road taped off like that was only last Friday - the aftermath of the stabbing at Clapham South.

They would also close it if the rider suffered potentially fatal or life-changing injuries.

Didn't look good and the traffic was chaotic.

And the weather was filthy.

PS - is the "ass-saver" mudgard the mark of a totally selfish cretin? Look after yourself but screw everyone behind you.

cjcp

Christ . I had to detour around it, but saw the bike on its side with pieces of debris having been marked.

First ped strike in the bike lane by Southwark Bridge heading home last night. Motorcycle delivery guy steps out into the lane reading his phone (next delivery, I assume). Very nearly t-boned him; as it was, only my shoulder made contact, and he somehow managed to hold onto his phone.

EDIT: TFL reporting that the road is still closed.

jds_1981

W1 wrote:

PS - is the "ass-saver" mudgard the mark of a totally selfish cretin? Look after yourself but screw everyone behind you.

Well, I've got an arse saver, was quite happy running without one, but seeing as I got it free...

tgotb

jds_1981 wrote:

Well, I've got an ars* saver, was quite happy running without one, but seeing as I got it free...

I had one once; tried it, didn't seem to make the blindest bit of difference. Since water leaves the tyre at a tangent, that's hardly surprising; it probably just about protects your a*se, but certainly none of your back...

asprilla

TGOTB wrote:

jds_1981 wrote:

Well, I've got an ars* saver, was quite happy running without one, but seeing as I got it free...

I had one once; tried it, didn't seem to make the blindest bit of difference. Since water leaves the tyre at a tangent, that's hardly surprising; it probably just about protects your a*se, but certainly none of your back...

I find mine works well on both the road bike and the CX.

Not sure about selfish. None of my bikes have mudguard mounts and I'm not buying another so that folks can draft me in the wet.

Gallywomack

So would we say that an ass-saver is actually worse (from a moral perspective) than no mudguards at all?

I'm in a slight moral quandary about mudguards atm, I don't have any and am baulking at the cost of getting a decent pair. My current plan is to spend as little as possible on the current set-up, get to xmas, then use the time off and any bonus to build up a SS commuter, which will have full guards & rack. In the meantime I can cope with getting soaked myself when it rains, but I am cognisant that (potentially) spraying others is rather anti-social.

My view is that as long as I'm aware of my big tail of spray and don't move across in front of people too early when I overtake, it's not a huge issue. I don't want other commuters drafting me anyway so I don't see it as a huge problem as it would be on a club ride, say. Views?

tgotb

Gallywomack wrote:

My view is that as long as I'm aware of my big tail of spray and don't move across in front of people too early when I overtake, it's not a huge issue. I don't want other commuters drafting me anyway so I don't see it as a huge problem as it would be on a club ride, say. Views?

The only thing that annoys me about other riders without mudguards is the overtake and pull-in manoeuvre, and you have that covered. You have to allow a fairly significant gap, but tbh it's probably similar to the 2-second reacting/stopping distance, so we should probably be doing that regardless of rain/mudguards...

elbowloh

I don't have mounts on my commuter, so have fitted SKS race blades. Really easy to fit, really easy to take off in the summer and, imo, almost as good as a proper set of mudguards for both myself and the rider behind. approx. £30.

You can also buy some p-clips for about £5 and then be able to fit proper guards.

cjcp

No issues for me not using them on the commute. I would on a club run, but club runs are like hen's teeth for me, so don't have that issue.

cookeeemonster

Gallywomack wrote:

So would we say that an ass-saver is actually worse (from a moral perspective) than no mudguards at all?

Yes..yes yes yes!!

Ok in the summer or for emergencies when rain wasn't expected/forecast but for winter...nah, not cool.

No people shouldn't draft you but in my experience you get can sprayed just pulling away from lights. And if you're stuck behind someone filtering even slowly then again, you can get sprayed. Clip ons are pretty crap at speed for the rider behind but will stop lower speed spray

jds_1981

elbowloh wrote:

I don't have mounts on my commuter, so have fitted SKS race blades. Really easy to fit, really easy to take off in the summer and, imo, almost as good as a proper set of mudguards for both myself and the rider behind. approx. £30.

You can also buy some p-clips for about £5 and then be able to fit proper guards.

I previously had some raceblades on this bike. Unfortunately over a season they managed to wear all the way through one of the carbon fibre seatstays in under a year...
Decided occasional dampness was acceptable when the alternative was my frame collapsing under me.

kingstonian

Rhodrich wrote:

After a very pleasant chat with Kingstonian (it appears that we work across the river from each other - I might try and do some morse code with my bike light.....), faced grim reality with the aftermath of a Motorcycle RTA fatality on Upper Thames Street at Blackfriars. Evidence circled in the road, with numbers next to them, and the police taking photos. The biker's leathers still on the road, with the bike on one side next to them.

RIP biker.....

Yep, nice to chat.

Was sad to see the aftermath of the RTA, the crash appeared to be in a strange position on the road but who knows to what extent the bike slid along the tarmac etc.

asprilla

elbowloh wrote:

I don't have mounts on my commuter, so have fitted SKS race blades. Really easy to fit, really easy to take off in the summer and, imo, almost as good as a proper set of mudguards for both myself and the rider behind. approx. £30.

You can also buy some p-clips for about £5 and then be able to fit proper guards.

Used race blades one winter on my SS. Took them off in the summer and the paintwork was scratched to hell on the seat stays. That's put me off them.

As for p-clips, they don't solve the problem of attaching to the seat tube and my CX doesn't have a seat stay bridge either. I've been trying to come up with an adequate solution in recent weeks and none of them are adequate.

tgotb

Asprilla wrote:

As for p-clips, they don't solve the problem of attaching to the seat tube and my CX doesn't have a seat stay bridge either. I've been trying to come up with an adequate solution in recent weeks and none of them are adequate.

That's easy. 2 home-made P-clips, correct length so the holes just meet in the middle, single bolt through the mudguard fitting and both P-clips to secure the mudguard.
Because the P-clips won't grip the seatstays very securely, you then need to take a cable tie (or, more likely, several cable ties chained together) around the seatpost to hold it up. If it rattles, a big blob of Araldite at the point where they all meet will keep everything nice and secure, but might be worth adding a few wraps of duct tape just to be on the safe side. Then a couple of cable ties round the duct tape to keep everything neat and tidy, and you're good to go. actually, you might want a bit of electrical tape where the cable ties go around the seatpost, but you could probably get away without it.