Respect

meanredspider

I'm a country boy up (down?) in the Big Smoke (Birdcage Walk) and just wanted to show my respect to those of you who commute by bike up here. I can't imagine a more different commute to mine! Also helps me understand the paradigm a lot of you have of "commuting" which, obviously, couldn't be more different than mine.

RESPECT!

iPete

Go for a walk along Embankment and admire SCR in action.

rubertoe

I am just over looking Birdcage walk as I type, the band is marching up and down!

Its a (urban) Jungle out there.

notsoblue

Right back at you! I find riding around London where the traffic is slower and there are more cyclists far more relaxing than being on open roads in places like the Peak district.

Tricycleboy

I'm desperate to get out of london and wish my commute was in the country.

Its not the traffic i mind. Its the nodderpocalypse.

veronese68

I must admit whilst I don't often ride into central London it doesn't bother me in the slightest. A country commute with cars passing at 60mph would probably scare me more. As for the MRS commute with big hills, wind and a ridiculous bridge. Sod that for a game of soldiers, and that's before you factor in the cold for being within the Arctic Circle.

optimisticbiker

Its horses for courses... I don't find my 12 mile commute difficult, yes there's some traffic but its manageable on the whole. Its nice to know if there's a problem you'd have access to people/support/etc. I'd rate MRS' commute as much more admirable, not least because you're on your own in the middle of nowhere for much of it (and the climb!). Thats fine on a Sunday club ride with a few others... but its when it all goes pear shaped I'd be concerned about. So kudos to you...

EKE_38BPM

Has this thread turned into a circle jerk?

I'm with Veronese68 and OptimisticBiker though. I guess that means we are city boys rather than country bumpkins.
I've said before, I don't feel safe breathing air I can't see!

My cousin from Yorkshire came to London last weekend and was amazed at how few stars we could see. She said it felt like the beginning of the apocolypse.

roger_merriman

have to admit my commute is very easy, short and pretty.

Bushy Park with some quiet back roads, get to see loads of deer, foxes etc.

can't say I mind central london traffic (on a bike) or the area around my folks place in the country, though I normally take the MTB there.

iPete

Not sure I could mentally cope with nothing but open road and my own mind for 22miles. I'd save 20 minutes each way but hell, riding into town is like mountain biking with metal trees that move and bears listening to iPods that jump into the trail at random. Keeps the mind occupied, that or I need to stop sprinkling acid on my weetabix.

rick_chasey

iPete wrote:

Not sure I could mentally cope with nothing but open road and my own mind for 22miles.

It's very good for you.

I miss my commute being a kind of mental limbo from home to work. Was a good way to gently slide into the work/home mental state (depending on which way you were going!)

I don't really get that calm sensation in London till I get under the shower.

itboffin

I'm a city boy living deep in the countryside and riding in both I know which one I prefer that's for sure, in case there's any doubt it aint London.

If my only commuter cycling was in London i'd have stopped by now, in fact I pretty much have save the odd couple of trips to the 'Peth.

Sooooooo how many other peeps on here work in and around bird cage walk?

iPete

Typical, I post about how much I enjoy my ride and some knuckle dragger nearly intentionally takes me out.

Heading through an estate with speeds bumps and travelling at the same speed as the car in front I moved into primary, knuckle dragger behind objected, pulled up on the other side of the road and squeezed me out. Without even thinking I unclipped and punted the side of his car as hard as I could. Turns out the red mist can get to the most Zen riders!! Took the sensible option and stayed behind, blew him a kiss and shouted through the driver window if he f**king liked his wing mirrors before dropping back, not worth trying to pick a fight with a tonne of metal.

Countryside commute anyone?

meanredspider

I walked along the Embankment - holy cow - it looks like fun. But I do have a better appreciation for the SS and all that malarky - which would be a complete nonsense on my ride.

And then, this evening, I sampled the joys of Windsor Great Park - I even got told off for riding down the Great Walk or whatever it's called :oops: I played the "Black Isle" card with the old ladies (that one of you thoughtless people had previously hit ) and all was ok.

I am looking forward to getting back up north though - clean air and clear roads

iPete

Road rage aside, this is tonight's Embankment run, mucho fun and absolutely flying

rick_chasey

meanredspider wrote:

I walked along the Embankment - holy cow - it looks like fun. But I do have a better appreciation for the SS and all that malarky - which would be a complete nonsense on my ride.

And then, this evening, I sampled the joys of Windsor Great Park - I even got told off for riding down the Great Walk or whatever it's called :oops: I played the "Black Isle" card with the old ladies (that one of you thoughtless people had previously hit ) and all was ok.

I am looking forward to getting back up north though - clean air and clear roads

Either way, you're probably faster over a 10 minute effort.

Riding in London is just very short interval training.

dhope

iPete wrote:

Road rage aside, this is tonight's Embankment run, mucho fun and absolutely flying

Huh, you hit about 37mph down Embankment?

Sharkyssurfers

itboffin wrote:

Sooooooo how many other peeps on here work in and around bird cage walk?

im near there

iPete

dhope wrote:

iPete wrote:

Road rage aside, this is tonight's Embankment run, mucho fun and absolutely flying

Huh, you hit about 37mph down Embankment?

hmmm, wouldn't trust that spike, speedo said 30-32!

Wrath Rob

iPete wrote:

dhope wrote:

iPete wrote:

Road rage aside, this is tonight's Embankment run, mucho fun and absolutely flying

Huh, you hit about 37mph down Embankment?

hmmm, wouldn't trust that spike, speedo said 30-32!

Following in his wake, I was doing 30 and watching him slowing pull away. 37 sounds a might high though!

mudcow007

i do enjoy city commuting, but countryside riding has its dangers too, like NSL roads with trucks flying past at 57mph - trucks push a whole lotta air as they pass you

at least in citys cars are travelling a wee bit slower

Kieran_Burns

iPete wrote:

Road rage aside, this is tonight's Embankment run, mucho fun and absolutely flying

and there is the entire difference between City and Country commuting:



The 3 dips are junctions where I turn right or a crossroads...

rubertoe

It wont be as much fun when the Olympics gets into full swing.

I am already seeing the diversions causing problems and it is going to descend into chaos.

bigmat

Wrath Rob wrote:

iPete wrote:

dhope wrote:

iPete wrote:

Road rage aside, this is tonight's Embankment run, mucho fun and absolutely flying

Huh, you hit about 37mph down Embankment?

hmmm, wouldn't trust that spike, speedo said 30-32!

Following in his wake, I was doing 30 and watching him slowing pull away. 37 sounds a might high though!

Apparently I hit 43 on the Embankment last night. Not convinced! Conditions were faaaast though!

http://app.strava.com/rides/9649360#172050143

Kieran_Burns

I would not give up my commute for any inner city lunacy...

http://youtu.be/GCtHmrDU8YE?hd=1

You simply don't get mornings like this when you cycle around London....

roger_merriman

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I would not give up my commute for any inner city lunacy...

http://youtu.be/GCtHmrDU8YE?hd=1

You simply don't get mornings like this when you cycle around London....

inner london, maybe but outer london has rivers and canals, and big royal parks.