Silly commuting racing

kingstongraham

Why am I still always so amazed by the difference a new clean chain makes?

rower63

JonGinge wrote:

Good to see you, Rower. It has been a while. Was funny watching the shoaling horde scrabble for your wheel after chelsea bridge. You had about 10 by vauxhall

Likewise, good to see you Jon, it's been a while. As for the train, I'm always in trepidation one or more of them will expect me to sail through a red when they don't!

mtb-idle

Flanders next weekend and a group of sixteen of us riding have ordered a bespoke design kit from an Italian manufacturer.

It arrived yesterday and i was given my set at work which meant that like a kid with a new pair of shoes I had to wear it home.

I took Embankment purely for showing off purposes and after a quick chat with a nice guy who was cornering 'foot down' due to his winter of CX'ing I then bumped into another of the 16 Flanders riders. Weird as I have never seen him along there in ten years of commuting.

Is that the kit? Yup! Wow, that is hot was broadly how the convo went.

We separated at Big Ben and I headed back through Vauxhall and across to Stockwell.

I wasn't feeling particularly fast but as we hit the foot of the climb from Stockwell to North Balham there was a mass of fish shoaling around me and I opened the taps and blasted past them actually surprising myself with how impressively I dropped them all like they were hot #obscuresnoopdogreference

Must be the new kit...

poweredbyidris

Wore my Marmotte jersey for the commute this morning.

May as well have just painted a target on my back.

mtb-idle

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Wore my Marmotte jersey for the commute this morning.

May as well have just painted a target on my back.

LOL.

Here's our new kit design

And here's how it looks in the flesh, well the top only. Check out the low key Flanders lion on the chest, the cobbled design on the stomach and the Belgian flag on the inner collar.

All in 100% original (no far-eastern copy) SuperRoubaix material for spring/autumn and 100% original Mitie liner/pad as seen on top end kit

I'm dead excited

Ben6899

Road works at the northeast corner of Regent’s Park at the moment. So in peak morning traffic, it’s quite congested: pedestrian access only into the park (cyclists dismount, push along the pavement and join the Outer Circle); the right-turn filter lane disappears into one (for left-only into Albany Street) in a manner which catches out drivers who are not familiar with the road works.

On Tuesday morning, we (me, other cyclists and cars behind us) are held at a red outside The Albany. Ahead of us, across the junction in the road works – behind a temporary red light – is more traffic and a van patiently waiting and indicating left as the driver has been caught out by the disappearing right-turn filter lane. As we’re released, we roll up to the back of the traffic.

One fellow cyclist – a lady in a BITB hi-vis coat, if you happen to be reading this – heads down the inside of the van as the driver is attempting his well-signaled manoeuvre into the left-hand lane for Albany Street. The driver of the van brakes hard to avoid hitting her, she shouts with indignation and then continues down the inside before pulling across the front of the van to cut across the closed right-turn filter lane AND the opposite two lanes towards the footpath into Gloucester Gate.

We joined paths at Gloucester Gate and I pointed out “that was your fault, actually”. Predictably that was met with more indignation and a refusal to see anything other than “big bad van driver”. I lost my patience and left the scene with “if you can’t see what you could have done differently, I won’t waste my time explaining. Keep riding like that for all I care.”

poweredbyidris

MTB-Idle wrote:

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Wore my Marmotte jersey for the commute this morning.

May as well have just painted a target on my back.

LOL.

Here's our new kit design

And here's how it looks in the flesh, well the top only. Check out the low key Flanders lion on the chest, the cobbled design on the stomach and the Belgian flag on the inner collar.

All in 100% original (no far-eastern copy) SuperRoubaix material for spring/autumn and 100% original Mitie liner/pad as seen on top end kit

I'm dead excited

Ooh, that's a bit flash.

Wapping high street on the way home then?

mtb-idle

yup, you can't help some people.

I was somewhere like Tooting on CS7 yesterday morning and a rider on my inside is steaming up the inside of a van which is clearly indicating left.

I yelp 'look out' as the van starts to manouevre and matey just about avoids him.

No word of thanks but there you go, I'm not in this game for the praise.

500 metres further on the lights at Balham and they are just about to turn green and he pulls the same move, piling up the inside of a van that has been sat there for the whole light phase indicating left.

He squeezes through causing the van to slam on the brakes and honk him, another car to pull an avoiding move and general bad feeling towards cyclists.

Twunt

kingstonian

Darwinism will catch up with them eventually

elbowloh

MTB-Idle wrote:

yup, you can't help some people.

I was somewhere like Tooting on CS7 yesterday morning and a rider on my inside is steaming up the inside of a van which is clearly indicating left.

I yelp 'look out' as the van starts to manouevre and matey just about avoids him.

No word of thanks but there you go, I'm not in this game for the praise.

500 metres further on the lights at Balham and they are just about to turn green and he pulls the same move, piling up the inside of a van that has been sat there for the whole light phase indicating left.

He squeezes through causing the van to slam on the brakes and honk him, another car to pull an avoiding move and general bad feeling towards cyclists.

Twunt

This kind of thing really winds me up, because it's other cyclists who get a share of the grief.

It's like when I'm sat at a red light and a twatty cyclist jumps the light. It's the guys like me, obeying the law, who are getting all the evil eye looks from the drivers and, occasionally, the verbal abuse about bloody cyclists.

Tashman

elbowloh wrote:

This kind of thing really winds me up, because it's other cyclists who get a share of the grief.

It's like when I'm sat at a red light and a twatty cyclist jumps the light. It's the guys like me, obeying the law, who are getting all the evil eye looks from the drivers and, occasionally, the verbal abuse about bloody cyclists.

I had one last week who then told me the cyclist light was green. Wasn't until yesterday that I saw the cyclist light was only seen by traffic approaching the lights. When sat at the line in the ASL you couldn't see it, the only visible light was the "normal" ones!

mtb-idle

elbowloh wrote:

<snip>

It's like when I'm sat at a red light and a twatty cyclist jumps the light. It's the guys like me, obeying the law, who are getting all the evil eye looks from the drivers and, occasionally, the verbal abuse about bloody cyclists.

yeah, my usual response is "just cos we both ride bikes doesn't mean he's my friend"

mattsaw

Nasty incident in the Portsmouth Road cycle lane tonight. Did anyone see what happened?

I arrived just before 5, heading towards Esher and there was an older chap lying on the ped crossing, unconscious, looking like he had taken a particularly large blow to the head. Large cut, quite a lot of blood around. Just downhill from Harts Boatyard.

There didn't seem to be anyone else involved so it was difficult to work out what happened since it wasn't at one of the junctions.

There were plenty of people in attendance so I didn't hang around.

Hope he's okay, but it did look particularly nasty.

elbowloh

Almost wiped out / got wiped out by 6 or 7 Peds on the CS7 just after Tooting Broadway. Traffic had just stopped so they all just launched themselves from both sides across without looking, literally none of them looked to see if it was clear. I was anticipating it a bit, so had scrubbed a lot of speed and shouted out something like "whoaaaa" and they all looked round startled like a cyclist isn't expected to be on the bright blue cycle super highway. I still feel kind of guilty that I shouted, but what are you expected to do?

On another note, I had to signal to two drivers on the way back that they had not put their headlights on, even though it was clearly dusk and the streetlights were on. One have an appreciative little honk of his horn, at least it sounded appreciative rather than aggressive.

drhaggis

Today, within a km, I almost got hit by a yoof decided not to give way to the incoming lane while turning right, almost got sandwiched by a minicab changing lanes and then needed to do an emergency brake to avoid hitting a lady pushing her bike across the road while looking the other way. Maybe I should reconsider my life.

But the worst bit was being passed by a chap leisrely pedalling on an electric dutch bike, on a 1-2% false flat, with >15mph headwind, while doing 18 mph. Fark I must get fitter.

rhodrich

Surprisingly quiet this morning for some reason. Perhaps everyone was up late last night watching the shenanigans in parliament.

Heads up for tomorrow, for those that aren't aware. There's going to be a pro-Brexit demonstration in Parliament Square from about 4pm onwards. I'd avoid the area completely. There may be dragons south of the river, but at least they don't all wear yellow vests.

Suggestions for avoidance routes are most welcome.

hopkinb

Props off a scooterist delivery driver type last night at Tooting Bec lights after I'd overtaken him on the stretch from Balham to Bec. Lifted his visor and asked if I knew how fast I was going, I said said yes, I've got a bike computer. He seemed tickled pink/high as a kite and kept telling me and the scooterist next to him I must have some legs on me. Gave him a wide berth down tooting high street though, just in case.

Not much doing this morning - some guy on a knackered old Peugeot frame giving it beans, and failing to skin breathe at traffic lights - sounded like he was going into respiratory arrest.

frogonabike

With it being spoken about recently, has someone made a new "Balham sans lights" segment? Either way I got a rare PR up there this morning Unfortunately there were other cyclists so I had to stay in the saddle to keep the illusion of not trying, might have gotten a bit closer than about 200th on the overall if I'd bothered to get my ass out of the saddle.... or not

hopkinb

frogonabike wrote:

With it being spoken about recently, has someone made a new "Balham sans lights" segment? Either way I got a rare PR up there this morning Unfortunately there were other cyclists so I had to stay in the saddle to keep the illusion of not trying, might have gotten a bit closer than about 200th on the overall if I'd bothered to get my ass out of the saddle.... or not

Dunno if it's all that new. It seems I am joint 12th, but it picks up old rides. There are times from 2014 on the leaderboard. I guess even if you create a new segment - it will trawl back to see who has ridden it the quickest in the past.

kingstonian

Saw a bloke on the floor being tended to on Embankment close to the New Scotland Yard building. Think he had stepped in front of a bike, the cyclist was checking he was ok and a couple of police officers were there too (can't remember if there was an ambulance or not).

Quite frankly, if you step into the cycle lane and get whacked it can't/shouldn't be viewed any differently as stepping blindly into the road and being hit by a car. But I suspect most peds who do it wouldn't be viewing it that way........

smokey_bacon

Rhodrich wrote:

Heads up for tomorrow, for those that aren't aware. There's going to be a pro-Brexit demonstration in Parliament Square from about 4pm onwards. I'd avoid the area completely. There may be dragons south of the river, but at least they don't all wear yellow vests.

Suggestions for avoidance routes are most welcome.

Thanks for the heads up! Might rehash old times and go down CS7 then right at Clapham and head towards RP.

shamrock134

So I was in a Magistrates' court on Tuesday morning as a witness for a case that came about from a video I uploaded to the Met Police (Cycliq Fly12 camera). A charge of "driving without reasonable consideration to other road users" was brought against the defendant.

I was pretty anxious and had been stressing about it for a while as I thought I was going to be portrayed as a Lycra lout by the defence. Luckily, in the end the guy represented himself and didn't really understand how the courts worked so I managed to avoid a proper cross-examination!

After I answered the prosecution's questions I hastily left but was informed of the verdict today. The defendant was found guilty, the result being a £200 fine, £230 costs and 3 penalty points.

For interest, here is the video I sent to the police: https://youtu.be/WOfsQL8qd9Y?t=155

If the guy had simply apologised I would not have reported him at all!

poweredbyidris

Kingstonian wrote:

Saw a bloke on the floor being tended to on Embankment close to the New Scotland Yard building. Think he had stepped in front of a bike, the cyclist was checking he was ok and a couple of police officers were there too (can't remember if there was an ambulance or not).

Quite frankly, if you step into the cycle lane and get whacked it can't/shouldn't be viewed any differently as stepping blindly into the road and being hit by a car. But I suspect most peds who do it wouldn't be viewing it that way........

How this isn't a daily occurrence on Lower Thames St every evening is some kind of miracle

smokey_bacon

shamrock134 wrote:

So I was in a Magistrates' court on Tuesday morning as a witness for a case that came about from a video I uploaded to the Met Police (Cycliq Fly12 camera). A charge of "driving without reasonable consideration to other road users" was brought against the defendant.

I was pretty anxious and had been stressing about it for a while as I thought I was going to be portrayed as a Lycra lout by the defence. Luckily, in the end the guy represented himself and didn't really understand how the courts worked so I managed to avoid a proper cross-examination!

After I answered the prosecution's questions I hastily left but was informed of the verdict today. The defendant was found guilty, the result being a £200 fine, £230 costs and 3 penalty points.

For interest, here is the video I sent to the police: https://youtu.be/WOfsQL8qd9Y?t=155

If the guy had simply apologised I would not have reported him at all!

Good work! What was his defence if you don't mind me asking?

Is it me or did the Golf towards the end of the clip totally blow through the red light to turn left?

shamrock134

Smokey Bacon wrote:

Good work! What was his defence if you don't mind me asking?

Is it me or did the Golf towards the end of the clip totally blow through the red light to turn left?

It did and I mentioned it in my report but I'm not sure if they issued a NIP for that one.

I didn't stay for his actual defence case but when he attempted to cross-examine me the court had to stop him because he just told his side of the story rather than question me. He said I scared him by hitting his car with my hand and that I threatened to report him.

smokey_bacon

shamrock134 wrote:

It did and I mentioned it in my report but I'm not sure if they issued a NIP for that one.

I didn't stay for his actual defence case but when he attempted to cross-examine me the court had to stop him because he just told his side of the story rather than question me. He said I scared him by hitting his car with my hand and that I threatened to report him.

Oh man....you absolute rascal!!!

You'd think even a quick google of defence's would have occurred to him. Apparently not! :roll:

cruff

shamrock134 wrote:

So I was in a Magistrates' court on Tuesday morning as a witness for a case that came about from a video I uploaded to the Met Police (Cycliq Fly12 camera). A charge of "driving without reasonable consideration to other road users" was brought against the defendant.

I was pretty anxious and had been stressing about it for a while as I thought I was going to be portrayed as a Lycra lout by the defence. Luckily, in the end the guy represented himself and didn't really understand how the courts worked so I managed to avoid a proper cross-examination!

After I answered the prosecution's questions I hastily left but was informed of the verdict today. The defendant was found guilty, the result being a £200 fine, £230 costs and 3 penalty points.

For interest, here is the video I sent to the police: https://youtu.be/WOfsQL8qd9Y?t=155

If the guy had simply apologised I would not have reported him at all!

Know that junction well - just coming up to Stockwell on the A3. Horrendous driving round there in general, lost count of the number of times that exact same thing happened to me when I used to commute that way. It's just before the place the video that went viral last year of that lunatic driving at cyclists was taken. Definitely a nasty part of any commute on the A3 - probably third only to Tooting High St and Balham Hill

hopkinb

Cruff wrote:

Know that junction well - just coming up to Stockwell on the A3. Horrendous driving round there in general, lost count of the number of times that exact same thing happened to me when I used to commute that way. It's just before the place the video that went viral last year of that lunatic driving at cyclists was taken. Definitely a nasty part of any commute on the A3 - probably third only to Tooting High St and Balham Hill

There is actually a fully segregated cycle lane there now, which you can see away to the left, so if you are minded, you can avoid most of the unpleasantness. However, the light phasing for the cycle lane is not as favourable as for the road, and the cycle lane gives out into a bus lane/bus stop, where the buses drift left without looking much, so I, and a lot of other cyclists, tend to take the road.

shamrock134

hopkinb wrote:

There is actually a fully segregated cycle lane there now, which you can see away to the left, so if you are minded, you can avoid most of the unpleasantness. However, the light phasing for the cycle lane is not as favourable as for the road, and the cycle lane gives out into a bus lane/bus stop, where the buses drift left without looking much, so I, and a lot of other cyclists, tend to take the road.

I specifically avoid that segregated cycle lane. As you say, the straight-on traffic lanes get a longer green phase and also I don't want to get stuck behind errr, less SCR-focused cyclists.

kingstonian

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Kingstonian wrote:

Saw a bloke on the floor being tended to on Embankment close to the New Scotland Yard building. Think he had stepped in front of a bike, the cyclist was checking he was ok and a couple of police officers were there too (can't remember if there was an ambulance or not).

Quite frankly, if you step into the cycle lane and get whacked it can't/shouldn't be viewed any differently as stepping blindly into the road and being hit by a car. But I suspect most peds who do it wouldn't be viewing it that way........

How this isn't a daily occurrence on Lower Thames St every evening is some kind of miracle

Agreed