Biking 2 Work

Morning Commute:
Total Time: 35m 35s
Total Distance: 8.68 miles
Max Speed: 30mph
Avg Speed: 15.1mph
Max H/Rate: 183bpm
Avg H/Rate: 150bpm
Cadence: 81bpm

I wasn’t sure what to expect after yesterdays ride… I thought my legs would be sore, as well as my knees and my wrists. They where last night! Lucky for me, I was able to jump on the bike and head into work at a reasonable speed.

I have an issue with the Muvi now as the helmet connector is broke, so the camera won’t stay on. Is a real shame after three incidents this morning, one life threatening, 1 just a driver being an asshole and one left hook.

The first incident happened where that lad was killed on his motorbike. I think the registration plate was T898 TGV but am unsure. Basically there was a car in front of him in a right hand filter lane, and they where waiting to turn right. The guy behind ignored the person in front and undercut them and shot through the junction.

I realised at the last second and applied my brakes… Despite my brakes being new and very grippy – I still ended up right in front of the van as he applied his brakes. He just stared at me and drove around me. What a fucking cunt. What a fucking moronic cunt. And the funny thing about it was, the road he travelled down – he had to sit at a red light there.

I decided after that to take the long cut to get me off the main road (the long cut that Gary introduced me to).

Kirkmanshulme Lane saw me sat in the middle of an ASL at red lights when some douchebag stopped a mere 2in from my back wheel rolling over half the ASL. I looked round and he had a child in the back seat – which is lucky for him. I just got my camera out and took a photo of the car.

The final stretch saw a group of young people in a car not knowing where they where going – a taxi parked in the cycle lane and me going round the taxi just as the “young uns” decided to turn left into me without indicating. Boom.

The passenger wound his window down and the driver shouted apologies. Checked if I was ok. He thought I’d hit his car… I hadn’t. I’d luckily seen what was happening and stopped and punched his back door hard.

Phew. What a morning. Now I need to locate a new helmet strap for my camera.

Evening Commute:
Total Time: 50m 38s
Total Distance: 10.00 miles
Max Speed: 23.9mph
Avg Speed: 11.8mph
Max H/Rate: 183bpm
Avg H/Rate: 148bpm
Cadence: 82bpm

I have to be quick at updating as my wife needs the computer.

I’m uploading a “special” video for you all to see, whereby a car jumps a red light as I am turning right – and the gentleman in the car calls me a “fucking cunt” through the window as I slow down so I don’t hit the side of his car.

Obviously it is I in the wrong as I “don’t pay road tax”, “wear lycra”, “ride on pavements” and”jump red lights” and I do apologise and take your wonderful constructive comments on board.

Video will have to be posted on tomorrows post as Louise needs to carry on working, and I want to watch Paul Merton.

Its funny – I was talking to a neighbour today and discussing the roads… Its amazing how many car drivers bully cyclists, but when you ask them out of the vehicle they ain’t interested in taking it further.

The quicker all the tosspots crash their cars and lose a leg the better.

Bit harsh? Yes – but I am sick of being bullied whilst out on my bike. The ride round Cheshire yesterday was good – patient drivers and cars giving plenty of space – the only issues I had was one with a taxi driver on the way out and one with a chap on the way back on Palatine Road who “applied” his brakes quickly to make me ride into the back of him.

Of course, I didn’t ride into the back of him, and he seemed a little worried 2 miles down the road when I was still only 200ft away from him

They obviously think that you can’t see them in their mirrors (you know – the ones they are supposed to be looking in).

Morning Commute:
Total Distance: 9.27 miles
Total Time:37m 5s
Max Speed: 27.6mph
Avg Speed: 15.0mph
Max H/Rate: 182bpm
Avg H/Rate: 153bpm
Cadence: 73rpm

Crikey. What a bloody commute in that was. A mile from home I was presented with this situation:

I am the thin black line. For some reason I did not think this situation through as, whilst the van at the side of me was turning, I went straight on – not realising that a van with blocked sight was pulling out. Queue a slam of my brakes – a very wobbly “oh my god I’m going to die” I missed the back of his van by mere cms. Lucky for me the driver was actually going quite fast out of his junction otherwise I would have been under the front of his van and probably dead.

The rest of the journey was good after that. I moved myself out from the side of the road a little more than normal because I had no problems keeping up with the traffic.

Then I hit Oxford Road and was in the bus lane – around two and a half foot from the pavement. A bus overtook me and pulled in front of me quite safely and thoughtfully – he got a thumbs up and a wave. Then, another bus driver did the same thing (R757 DRJ – #16767). He gave enough room pulling out at the front, but unfortunately never calculated the speed I or he was travelling at and pulled in leaving his back end heading for me.

I punched the bus hard twice – shit up the passengers on the back seat. Driver didn’t even respond.

He pulled up at the lights further down and I pulled along side him. I banged on his window. He didn’t even respond. I did it again and he responded this time. He didn’t 0pen his window as we discussed what he had just done and signalled holding his arms as wide apart as he could that “this is how much space I gave you”.

Eventually he opened his window and still argued the point not listening to me at all. Unfortunately, due to rain, I had no camera on. I noted the registration and bus number down and carried on.

As he then drove past – he was pointing at his bus number to tell me where it was… Now I wish I had a video. Logic states (to me anyway) that he was too close otherwise how the fuck could I have punched his bus? I don’t have 7ft long arms. Why would I even punch it if he wasn’t close? I wouldn’t! I’d give him the fucking thumbs up and a wave like I did the driver in front.

Thats now set me up for a very shitty day.

Then again, on my lunch I might go out and film some buses jumping red lights and send them to the newspapers

Evening Commute:
Total Distance: 10.15 miles
Total Time:47m 13s
Max Speed: 26.2mph
Avg Speed: 12.9mph
Max H/Rate: 183bpm
Avg H/Rate: 157bpm
Cadence: 76rpm

My sole intention for tonights commute was to get home and get home safe. With the weather being quite stunning I decided that now was the time to test the new route that the snow destroyed any chance of trying on Wednesday.

This new route means that I use a few more side streets and do not travel all the way up Hyde Road, nor pass Denton Roundabout.

I didn’t know if it would work, as I tried a similar route on Monday and ended up travelling through Denton Golf Course as I came to a dead end!

Much to my surprise, this route worked perfectly. I travelled down Hyde Road for all of 100m, pulled off and headed up Garrat Way – through a few side streets and over to Wright Robinson College where the Fallowfield Loop hits. From here, I headed down over the reservoirs in Debdale Park and then across Kings Road up to Audenshaw, over a motorway bridge, up and down a few hills, across 2 mini roundabout and then to familiar territory.

On Hyde Road, in rush hour on the way home I probably meet around 1,000 cars on a stretch not more than 2 miles long – its nose to tail most nights, and very difficult to navigate through the gaps.

On this route, once I’d got of Garray Way, I passed 1 car (well, it actually passed me in the opposite direction) for 3 miles.

I didn’t expect two big hills, but I suppose I do live quite high up

All in all, a fantastic commute home and when the weather holds up, I’ll be doing this route more often.

I’m currently uploading the video so you can have a look. It would be better suited to a Hybrid / Mountain / Cyclo Cross bike, but my life is worth more to me to worry about things like that.

This is the first time this week I’ve actually felt positive about cycling!

Now if only I had some money for that Felt!

Morning Commute:
Total Distance: 9.38 miles
Total Time: 40m 17s
Max Speed: 27.1ph
Avg Speed: 14mph
Cadence: 74rpm

Firstly, we are having a ride Sunday morning. I think the aim is to complete the Manchester 100k route. Anyone interested then I will be setting off from my house at 8am and heading over to Parswood to meet up with @ChrisB112. @emmarush is joining too, but don’t know what she is doing regarding meeting at Parswood.

After yesterdays disastrous commute home I was expecting much of the same this morning due to a few reasons. My hours have changed at work as I’ve supposedly been doing the wrong hours (but looking at it logically, thats impossible so I need to bring that back up) so have to go the old way to work now to make sure I am in on time, and, because of the time setting off, traffic is always going to be an issue.

I wasn’t disappointed – not 100m from my house a BMW nearly rode into me by trying to cut a corner. Not the best thing on ice. And as I came to an abrupt stop – he thanked me and carried on. WTF?

Plymouth Grove came – doing approximately 24mph down towards Upper Brook Street when some tard of the re variety followed another car out of a junction right into my path. Queue brakes. He didn’t see me? Course he did because the second I gave him the V he wound his window down and shouted “wanker”.

Mmmm.

I managed to navigate round most of the traffic into town without issue after that (about 1/2 mile) – which was good until I arrived on Oxford Road. I was merrily pedalling down the bus lane when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a taxi trying to pull into me. I had to apply brakes to make sure he didn’t hit me.

I pulled up to him 2 seconds later at the lights (??) and he wound down his window. I mentioned that he was heading for me and he said that he was pulling into the lane – what was my point? Grrrrrrr. I explained that nearly hitting me wasn’t the best thing for him to be doing whilst sat in a car with a big taxi plate on the back of the taxi, and that, doing things like that would mean that I wouldn’t get home to see my child.

After last night I decided the best way forward was to be calm, plus, today its on camera, so I have stuff to back up my actions.

Who would commute in rush hour? After last night I debated with myself whether to give it up as my life is more important to me and my family than my weight and fitness. I can cover 100 miles once a week in one big ride.

Evening Commute:
Total Distance: 8.78 miles
Total Time: 58m 56s
Max Speed: 20.7ph
Avg Speed: 8.9mph
Cadence: 65rpm

Here is the taxi driver thingymibob from this morning:

And now the journey home… mmmm… For those that don’t know – its been snowing like crazy up here since 3:30ish. This made the whole world panic and try and escape Manchester.

Of course this didn’t work and within 5 minutes of me leaving work I hit traffic jams. Tonight wasn’t the night to be filtering, so I just sat patiently in the traffic, dead centre in the lane – taking in the fact that all cyclists cause is traffic jams… Its not the cars on the road that cause it… Despite me taking 50+ minutes to get home and had a pause time of 40 minutes.

I sat there and inched forward. Sat there and inched forward. Slowly and safely making my way home. Cars around me where excellent.

As I was coming down towards Denton a woman signalled and pulled out into the lane slowly. She had seen me and I know she had seen me. She pulled out slowly and safely. I pulled up at the side of her and her window came down. We chatted. I asked if she’d looked in her mirror (knowing she had) just to hear her response.

I thanked her when she’d finished for actually taking care and consideration for a cyclist and complemented that there aren’t many people like her on the roads.

I approached the situation in the wrong way – but just wanted to hear what a sensible person says in response to being questioned. If she got the wrong end of the stick – sorry – didn’t mean it like that. I did appreciate it.

Home now – happy that I cycled. Unfortunate that I couldn’t try out my new route with the snow coming down, but hopefully the weather will pick up over the next couple of decades and I’ll get to try it

Time for sausage, mash and beans.

Weight
Weekly Weigh-In day, and despite all the snacking, junk food and beer I’ve managed to lose a pound. Only five more of those bastards to go and I can relax.

Morning Commute:
Total Distance: 12.24 miles
Total Time: 46m 14s
Max Speed: 29.9mph
Avg Speed: 15.9mph
Max H/Rate: 174bpm
Avg H/Rate: 142bpm
Cadence: 89rpm

Have to be brief today as work beckons.

Commute was excellent this morning. Every single motorist gave me every opportunity to do what I needed to do and every motorist gave me the space to do it – excellent news – excellent people – many thanks.

Twas also a perfect morning for cycling – a little chilly, a little damp and roads quite empty

Really wish I could start work this early every day!

A quick good luck to D today too!

Sorry for the short update – shall type more laters.

Ta-ra for now chucks.

Evening Commute:
Total Distance: 9.54 miles
Total Time: 43m 04s
Max Speed: 26.3mph
Avg Speed: 13.3mph
Max H/Rate: 176bpm
Avg H/Rate: 146bpm
Cadence: 83rpm

Tonight I did something I’m not proud of, but more of that later…

I set off tonight hoping for a similar sort of experience to that of this morning. Unfortunately that wasn’t meant to be.

On Hyde Road I was confronted with a huge looming pot hole – around a foot in length and width and about 4 inches deep. I was also presented at the same time with a Picasso driven by some lady. Her wing mirror missed me by mere CMs as I had to swerve towards the pothole to make sure she missed me.

I caught up with her and she wound down her window..

“Do you realise how close you where then?”
“Yes”
“And you thought that was safe”
“You where nowhere near my wing mirror”
“That doesn’t make sense. You need to be giving me at least three foot”
“I couldn’t drive around you as there was a car in the other lane”
“That doesn’t matter. In that case you should have slowed down and allowed me to go. Did you see that pothole.”

Not a nasty converstation, but the fact that she thought that because I wasn’t near her wing mirror meant she was passing me at safe distance (you know – a wing mirror thats about 8in long) is quite worrying. Saying that, about a mile up the road she passed me with ample distance after being behind me for a while – I gave the the thumbs up as an acknowledgement. Was she looking in her mirror to see that? I don’t know. No harm done. Lesson learned? I hope so.

Then I had to ride down Manchester Road in Denton where this happened yesterday.

Now – after witnessing the taxi driver incident the other week I’m beginning to think that this road should be renamed. I’m not here to cast doubt on the incident or point the finger. I’m sure that much of that will be done over the coming weeks BUT to have to sit at the side of 15 mourning teenagers with dozens and dozens of flowers attached to the post where the incident happened is a deeply saddening thing. I couldn’t look at them. I bowed my head and muttered some words as I went passed.

I arrived at my opening statement of the commute home. Sitting in my ASL I looked round and some looney tosspot was coming up the road too fast. He didn’t apply his brakes quick enough and came to an abrupt halt about 1 1/2ft into the ASL that I was sat in.

This wasn’t funny.

I signalled that, and he started pointing and being a complete tosspot. I tried to reason with him, to which he just carried on doing the same.

I unclipped, put my bike down on the floor and went over and knocked on the window to ask him to wind his window down – all I wanted to say was that “that wasn’t funny, it wasn’t clever, and put me in a rather frightening position”.

He gave me the V and told me to go away.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Now – let me just explain that this “gentleman” who would not look me in the eye and suddenly stopped giving me pathetic jip through his window is a very lucky person. I held back the punch as I went to smash his window as I didn’t really want to sever an artery in my arm nor break his window. He’s also lucky that he didn’t wind his window down or open his door, and I am very lucky that he didn’t too. I do not condone violence and I shouldn’t of done what I did, but sit in my position. The road was empty. The lights where on red. Coming up to an ASL at speed then braking at the last minute. Might have given his pathetic little penis the jolt that it needed for him to get an erection – but me… I value my life.

Now he will go home and discuss this with his reflection in the mirror (I saw him – believe me… There’s no one waiting at home for him) and not contemplate that he was in the wrong.

I on the other hand know I shouldn’t rise to the occasion and it will play on my mind for the rest of the night but I am not being bullied whilst out on the road in a vunerable position. I wouldn’t let anyone come through my front door and bully me – it isn’t going to happen on the road.

And, to top it all off, I believe its snowing heavily in Rochdale according to @RooleyMoor AND I don’t have the pleasure of cycling in early for the rest of the week now – back to normaly rush hour hell!