Silly commuting racing

anonymousblackfg

Only ride in this week due to illness (still in work though) then Rugby tomorrow night,

elbowloh

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Only ride in this week due to illness (still in work though) then Rugby tomorrow night,

Not ridden at all this week as i'm been travelling round the country for work and now I have man-flu. Like proper man-flu, but like you, still in work.

#keepingabraveface #workmartyr

veronese68

Had to deliver female child to school in Worcester Park this morning, had the bike in the back of the car if I couldn't get back home easily. Beached it a mile away from the school and rode in, bloody hell it was warm. Unfortunately I was in jeans as I thought I'd pootle, obviously I didn't. A chap in Bushy Park on a cross bike passed another rider as I was waiting to cross the road, they both turned in the direction I was heading so I put a bit of an effort in. Managed to pass them both fairly easily, but was rapidly overheating shortly afterwards.
Beware if you ride through Kingston in the evening, I think it's the Christmas lights turn on tonight so it will be more chaotic than usual.

hopkinb

Train w@nkering it. I expect I will have a filthy cold soon as a direct consequence of fellow commuters being lifting with unpleasantness and germs.

kingstonian

Quick blast home this eve, was too late to get through the park so had to head through Richmond and Petersham which was nice and quiet.

rhodrich

Veronese68 wrote:

Beware if you ride through Kingston in the evening, I think it's the Christmas lights turn on tonight so it will be more chaotic than usual.

I really wish I'd taken your advice on this. Riding through the Market Place was a disaster last night!

Gallywomack

Saw a most unedifying sight this morning. As I was approaching Bromley Hill from my side road, I saw a roadie zip past down the hill, with a cretin on an ebike following about a metre off his back wheel, spinning like mad. Drafting, downhill, on an ebike - I have now officially seen it all. :roll:

Anyway, my focus became beating the eebist, had a bit of bad luck but caught up at the Homebase lights. A few other roadies appeared around the same time so there was a little group for a time and a slight frisson of competition in the air, but alas none of them or the eebster were able to live with my pace. Which, in truth, neither was I. Hit every red possible so had to employ a lot of skin breathing every time that brought it back together. I applied the coup de grace along Brookmill Rd, then I turned off for Q1.

One final incident, I was following at what I thought was a safe distance behind another guy on the Surrey Canal Rd path on Q1 (I generally don't overtake anyone doing above a fast pootle on the shared path bits of Q1, it's just not worth it) when my attention wavered for a moment. He inexplicably stopped in front of me and I came within a hair of going into the back of him - had to swerve onto the grass. Turned out he'd punctured. Offered assistance/tube but he was OK. Figured that was enough excitement for one morning so took it easy the rest of the way in.

mtb-idle

Right, I haven't done one of these for a while; a commuting video

Country Roads

Hope you like it.

veronese68

Rhodrich wrote:

Veronese68 wrote:

Beware if you ride through Kingston in the evening, I think it's the Christmas lights turn on tonight so it will be more chaotic than usual.

I really wish I'd taken your advice on this. Riding through the Market Place was a disaster last night!

Aah, yes that would be dull. I stuck to the one way system and the traffic wasn’t too bad. But for the stupid bint that drove into the back of me at a red light it was quieter than I expected. Thankfully no damage as after asking wtf she was playing at I pulled over to check and she cleared off. Could have caught her if necessary I suppose.

hopkinb

Thought it seemed busy with cyclists for a cold headwind day. Seems that South Western trains are hardly running due to overrunning engineering work.
Broke out the winter jacket for the first time. Not cold enough yet.

london-red

hopkinb wrote:

Thought it seemed busy with cyclists for a cold headwind day. Seems that South Western trains are hardly running due to overrunning engineering work.

Yeah, I thought that too - was like the middle of summer with the crowds at times out there... Also, what was going down on Cheyne Walk? The whole road was closed off when I came through at around 08.10.

In other news, nearly saw a total wipe out as a cyclist pulled right without looking, forcing another cyclist over taking to swerve into the path of a black Merc. Good job the driver was taking notice as he swerved out the way just in time. Close one that. The two riders stopped for a 'chat' at the lights but I made it through, so didn't see the outcome.

kingstongraham

Riding up Priory Lane at about 33kmh, hear a car honking behind, which then catches me, honks, and gives me a close pass. Then obviously stops at the queue of traffic. I pull up alongside, he winds the window down and he tells me I should use the bike lane. I politely inform him that I don't have to, but that if he was obeying the 20 mph speed limit, it wouldn't matter to him.

It really pisses me off to be given a lecture on how to use the road from someone who a) doesn't understand the rules, b) broke the speed limit going past a school at 8:20am, c) drove past me dangerously and d) still thinks I'm the one slowing him down as I ride off into the distance leaving him stuck behind all the cars. And he undoubtedly thinks he's a good driver.

Gallywomack

Spent the weekend mountain biking at Forest of Dean and Bike Park Wales. As ever, great fun but I come away wishing my general fitness is better - absolutely shattered and stiff all over this morning. Pootled in today, just a cursory dispatching of the only fastish rider I encountered on Tabard St. He then jumped the red on Pilgrimage St rather than face round 2 - disgraceful. Not liking this easterly wind, cold and somehow not that helpful for much of the route - and I'm guessing it won't provide much assistance on the way home either. Ah well.

poweredbyidris

MTB-Idle wrote:

Right, I haven't done one of these for a while; a commuting video

Country Roads

Hope you like it.

Nice one - good to see you back on the roads!

martinc

Diverted up the Kings Road. Haven't done that route in about 8 years. Forgotten how rich that part of town is. Quite good for avoiding the headwind too.

ricky_h-2

"Riding up Priory Lane at about 33kmh, hear a car honking behind, which then catches me, honks, and gives me a close pass".

Priory Lane is the embodiment of how crap infrastructure actually worsens behavior and safety. It is a road range magnet for entitled drivers. I appreciate for some it's just on their route but where possible, I use Dover House road in the alternative as I have had enough of tedious exchanges like this. The only other way of sorting it out would be an average speed camera to deal with persistent rat runners speeding or close Roehampton gate.

cruff

Ricky h wrote:

"Riding up Priory Lane at about 33kmh, hear a car honking behind, which then catches me, honks, and gives me a close pass".

Priory Lane is the embodiment of how crap infrastructure actually worsens behavior and safety. It is a road range magnet for entitled drivers. I appreciate for some it's just on their route but where possible, I use Dover House road in the alternative as I have had enough of tedious exchanges like this. The only other way of sorting it out would be an average speed camera to deal with persistent rat runners speeding or close Roehampton gate.

Speeding down there isn't the main issue. It's the sh1t cycle path causing all the gammons to scream "Gettinthefakkincycorlaneyoucaaarnt" as they go past in their massively oversized Range Rovers. Been the same since that pillock cafe owner a few years ago entered social media folklore. Closing the gate to traffic would be a massive, massive win - but the goodly folk of Richmond would never permit that

smokey_bacon

hopkinb wrote:

Thought it seemed busy with cyclists for a cold headwind day. Seems that South Western trains are hardly running due to overrunning engineering work.
Broke out the winter jacket for the first time. Not cold enough yet.

This is my life at the moment, this morning was apocalypticly bad. Work moved offices but have not finished the showers and changing rooms so no riding for me at the moment. Seriously considering a wet wipe shower to get back on the road.

tgotb

Smokey Bacon wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

Thought it seemed busy with cyclists for a cold headwind day. Seems that South Western trains are hardly running due to overrunning engineering work.
Broke out the winter jacket for the first time. Not cold enough yet.

This is my life at the moment, this morning was apocalypticly bad. Work moved offices but have not finished the showers and changing rooms so no riding for me at the moment. Seriously considering a wet wipe shower to get back on the road.

It takes quite a lot of self-control, but you don't have to slow down a huge amount to avoid getting sweaty, especially at this time of year. I'd rather pootle than take the train (and on my route it would probably still be quicker).

Gallywomack

Yeah I can pootle in and get away without showering, did that for a few days last month when the one shower in my building was out of action. Just wash face and head to get rid of sweaty helmet smell (fnarr) and job's a good'un. Merino base layer is a good bet for reducing stinkiness compared with synthetics. I would definitely do that in preference to getting the train. Helps that I'm on a fairly pootly route though so there is little scope for SCR even if I wanted to.

kingstongraham

Cruff wrote:

Ricky h wrote:

"Riding up Priory Lane at about 33kmh, hear a car honking behind, which then catches me, honks, and gives me a close pass".

Priory Lane is the embodiment of how crap infrastructure actually worsens behavior and safety. It is a road range magnet for entitled drivers. I appreciate for some it's just on their route but where possible, I use Dover House road in the alternative as I have had enough of tedious exchanges like this. The only other way of sorting it out would be an average speed camera to deal with persistent rat runners speeding or close Roehampton gate.

Speeding down there isn't the main issue. It's the sh1t cycle path causing all the gammons to scream "Gettinthefakkincycorlaneyoucaaarnt" as they go past in their massively oversized Range Rovers. Been the same since that pillock cafe owner a few years ago entered social media folklore. Closing the gate to traffic would be a massive, massive win - but the goodly folk of Richmond would never permit that

Anyone know what the result of the consultation was about the bike lanes there?

tgotb

KingstonGraham wrote:

Anyone know what the result of the consultation was about the bike lanes there?

No, but there's another consultation underway about lowering speed limits to 20mph across the borough. If that goes ahead, I'm guessing people will be more conscious of the existing 20mph limit on Priory Lane; I'm guessing a good proportion of the speedy overtakers haven't actually realised it's not 30.

Not sure what the impact on interactions between cars and bikes of a borough-wide 20mph limit would be. For slower cyclists probably no change, but will people riding at 20mph be able to slot into traffic? Or will we just get silly scenarios with drivers speeding up to overtake cyclists "because they're there" and then slowing back down to 20mph?

Gallywomack

Lewisham Borough (amongst others in S/SE) is borough-wide 20mph other than red routes which are TFL-managed. It doesn't really change much in terms of driver behaviour around cyclists as far as I can tell, I still get MGIF stuff on similar roads to Priory Lane even though I'm generally doing 20+ mph. I think it depends on the road and drivers' perception of how fast it seems they should be able to go (as opposed to what the limit actually is). That said, we must remember a majority of motorists do drive decently around cyclists even though it may not seem like that sometimes.

hopkinb

TGOTB wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

Anyone know what the result of the consultation was about the bike lanes there?

No, but there's another consultation underway about lowering speed limits to 20mph across the borough. If that goes ahead, I'm guessing people will be more conscious of the existing 20mph limit on Priory Lane; I'm guessing a good proportion of the speedy overtakers haven't actually realised it's not 30.

Not sure what the impact on interactions between cars and bikes of a borough-wide 20mph limit would be. For slower cyclists probably no change, but will people riding at 20mph be able to slot into traffic? Or will we just get silly scenarios with drivers speeding up to overtake cyclists "because they're there" and then slowing back down to 20mph?

I was driving down Church Road in Wimbledon yesterday - alongside the All England Club, it's a 20 limit, very well signposted - I was going 23 mph at one point, so got a red sad face from the advisory "speed camera" thing and slowed down. I was overtaken by 2 cars, and tailgated by another. All in the space of a mile or so. One of the overtakers must have been doing 40. 20 mph limits will only be adhered to by most of the persecuted, yet highly skilled, capable & law abiding drivers on Britain's roads if there are massive speed bumps that physically stop you going faster, or with average speed cameras.

smokey_bacon

Gallywomack wrote:

Yeah I can pootle in and get away without showering, did that for a few days last month when the one shower in my building was out of action. Just wash face and head to get rid of sweaty helmet smell (fnarr) and job's a good'un. Merino base layer is a good bet for reducing stinkiness compared with synthetics. I would definitely do that in preference to getting the train. Helps that I'm on a fairly pootly route though so there is little scope for SCR even if I wanted to.

Going to give it a go tomorrow, my route's fairly flat so shouldnt have too many issues. Today has cracked me on PT to be honest.

Priory lane is a nightmare. If its to be speedbumps SCR will become like the grand national! roll on autonomus cars I say.

mtb-idle

PoweredByIdris wrote:

MTB-Idle wrote:

Right, I haven't done one of these for a while; a commuting video

Country Roads

Hope you like it.

Nice one - good to see you back on the roads!

Cheers, glad you liked it and it's good to be back. Surprised no-one commented on me getting roasted by TGOTB

kingstongraham

hopkinb wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

Anyone know what the result of the consultation was about the bike lanes there?

No, but there's another consultation underway about lowering speed limits to 20mph across the borough. If that goes ahead, I'm guessing people will be more conscious of the existing 20mph limit on Priory Lane; I'm guessing a good proportion of the speedy overtakers haven't actually realised it's not 30.

Not sure what the impact on interactions between cars and bikes of a borough-wide 20mph limit would be. For slower cyclists probably no change, but will people riding at 20mph be able to slot into traffic? Or will we just get silly scenarios with drivers speeding up to overtake cyclists "because they're there" and then slowing back down to 20mph?

I was driving down Church Road in Wimbledon yesterday - alongside the All England Club, it's a 20 limit, very well signposted - I was going 23 mph at one point, so got a red sad face from the advisory "speed camera" thing and slowed down. I was overtaken by 2 cars, and tailgated by another. All in the space of a mile or so. One of the overtakers must have been doing 40. 20 mph limits will only be adhered to by most of the persecuted, yet highly skilled, capable & law abiding drivers on Britain's roads if there are massive speed bumps that physically stop you going faster, or with average speed cameras.

It's true. Priory Lane doesn't "feel" like a 20mph road, so practically no drivers keep to 20mph, despite the fact it has four schools and a nursery on (or by) it.

anonymousblackfg

KingstonGraham wrote:

It's true. Priory Lane doesn't "feel" like a 20mph road, so practically no drivers keep to 20mph, despite the fact it has four schools and a nursery on (or by) it.

I think a fair chunk of the traffic are those coming and going from any of those 5 establishments!

God I hope I have a tail wind home.

hopkinb

anonymousblackfg wrote:

God I hope I have a tail wind home.

11 mph North Easterly and p!ssing with rain from 6 o clock says the met office. So yes, but you'll get wet.

rhodrich

Glad I looked at the weather forecast this morning that said it wasn't going to rain until 10pm, and so brought the bike that doesn't have any mudguards......

Still, at least I can warm up at home, once I've lit the fire, as the boiler has decided to break down.