Morning Commute:
Total Distance: 13.35 miles
Total Time: 48m 50s
Max Speed: 28.5mph
Avg Speed: 16.4mph
Max H/Rate: 179bpm
Avg H/Rate: 156bpm
Cadence: 78rpm

Well – at least it wasn’t raining this morning when I set off – although 10 minutes from the end it started. This meant I had a chance to stick my helmet camera on and capture some bad cycling and bad driving, so at least Fight Bad Driving should be busy today IF the camera angles are right!

The usual race to nursery was completed in timely fashion, and, triumphant for the fourth day in a row, I held my head up high as I headed towards Ashton.

This part of the journey was manageable, with me progressing no problems to the big roundabout. I tried a new tactic today, rather than sticking to the left lane and signalling as the junction gets closer – I sat on the inside of the middle lane as I was going round the roundabout. This seemed to piss a few drivers off as “I shouldn’t be in their way” but they seemed surprised that I was able to keep up with traffic.

Unsurprisingly some geezer in a mini thought that he could try and ram into the side of me as he was going round the corner, rather than wait a second (people always seem to misjudge corners) and then smirked at me as I gave him the bird.

Ashton Old Road was packed again, so I made my way safely down. During my ride down, a van driver decided to double up on a single lane, then look through his mirror, saw me and closed the gap so I couldn’t get through. I had the pleasure again in unclipping, walking my bike round the outside car and saying “no point in doing that was there mate” as I then made about 3 miles before he could budge – tosser!

I tapped on a car window on Upper Brook Street which must have given the young girl in the passenger seat a fright. I was just letting them know they had a nail in their tyre and the tyre was very flat – how they didn’t know that I don’t know.

Oxford Road was full of its usual “I’ll push in front of you because I think I’m faster” cyclists, which, as in any other day, got put back in their place.

As I was coming round the sweeping corner to Cross Street I pulled up at the traffic lights. From the corner of my eye I spotted this cyclist bump up on the pavement “to beat the traffic”. Little did I know that as my lights where turning green, the asshole dropped his bike right in front of me leaving me stuck inbetween him and a lorry. I called him an #asshat of some description as I went past, to which he replied “fuck off”.

No wonder people hate cyclists so much.

On an amazingly good note – my wife has printed this for me for the back of my bike bag:

FBD

Evening Commute:
Total Distance: 9.61 miles
Total Time: 42m 51s
Max Speed: 28.6mph
Avg Speed: 13.46mph
Max H/Rate: 179bpm
Avg H/Rate: 157bpm
Cadence: 78rpm

That was an interesting journey home for sure! Raining like crazy, crazy traffic and only 3 incidents of note! Miracle I know. Such a shame that it was pissing it down, otherwise the Muvi could have got someone sacked – which would have been fun.

I was cycling down past where all the buses jump the red lights and a courier man, who had previously jumped the red, much like the buses, pulled up on the cycle lane I was in, so as I pulled out to overtake, he opened his door into me. It missed. Thankfully. And I said “watch what your fucking doing mate” to which he replied “fuck off”…

Wonder if his bosses would have appreciated video footage of a red light jump in a company van, pulling up without indicating, parking illegally blocking a cycle lane on a dangerous road, not looking as he opened his door, then, as the person he nearly hit said something – being told to Fuck Off. LOL.

Anyway, I proceeded with care and caution – as the rain seems to have warmed many a drivers mind this week, and got as far as Denton Roundabout safe and sound, whilst teaching a pavement jumper a lesson in cycling. Then, as if by cue – as I was crossing a road, this dickhead was texting as and his car rolled 3/4 of the way across the crossing. I tapped on his bonnet and he wound his window down and I said ” Watch what your doing mate – shouldn’t be using your phone in your car” and for the second time today I got told to “Fuck Off”. Not “Oh shit, sorry mate” for nearly rolling into me, but “Fuck Off”… Scally prick.

Then, as I was coming to the final turn to turn off, there was no traffic behind, so I was in the middle of the lane getting ready to signal and turn… I signalled… Out of the blue this stupid bitch of a cow ended up 2ft behind me and still didn’t fucking see me. As I swiftly pulled into the oncoming traffic lane, she pulled up at the side of me completely oblivious to what she had just done.

I asked her to pull over – politely (I know, surprising) and she blanked me and carried on… I don’t know what else to do. I have 4 very bright lights on the back, a bright orange back pack cover that lights up when car lights are shining on them. I have reflective strips on my boots, overshoes and coat and 1,347 other fucking driver saw me on the way home… WTF!

Total Commute Extras:
Total Ascent: 814ft