biking to work

Grudge-cycling is bad for all-concerned but it's so easy to get into that mindset.

I think I'me quite a good city cyclist but this morning I simply forgot to look when I turned into a road and, sure enough, the reason that other car had stopped was to let a car past. As it happened, I had enough space to look like a death-defying urban warrior rather than a broken, embarrassed heap in the middle of the road. But that's not the point. Idiot Mark.

So easy tho, all it takes is that level of permanent omniscient concentration to slip. That car stopping to let another one past is one of the most regular danger spots I think I have.

yeh jesus i hate that

i just try to remember that undertaking always = caution

i forgot to mention the dude that overtook me at speed, braked super hard and tried to turn left down a narrow road only to find another car coming up that road and not leaving enough room to get past (esp at the speed the dude that overtook me was going) so he kinda skidded forward and ended up infront of the other car waiting to pull out

this, judging by his body language, was my fault

i might come back here often to vent about these kind of things, my gf and housemates must be sick of hearing these stories

That overtaking plus left turn also happens a lot. And while I find a lot of bus drivers quite courteous, overtaking then pulling in to a bus stop, or similarly taxis suddenly pulling in for a fare also happens a lot.

BUT on the positive side I LOVE my morning and evening commute. I'm happiest when I'm on my bike at the moment, and I also know it's quicker and more pleasant than any other mode of transport.

oh and dude that got hit by a car was d@n at fitzr0vi@ cyc1es (used to be cavendish cycles before they took it over) if that's a shop anyone goes to often

Oh right, that's my main shop. Always found them really good down there. Damn.

yeh, they're a good bunch that lot.

i like buses and taxis. they're fairly predictable.

anyway home time. time for some pwnage! ride safe guys :)

had a wonderful ride to work today, just a great attitude adjustment.

at a SUPER busy 4 way intersection in the suburbs a few nights ago, i saw a cyclist pull a dipshit stunt that left me with an unprecedented reaction: i wished he'd gone down. tbh i don't know how he didnt. my two lane road intersected a very wide four lane arterial road with two turn lanes, and i had a red light, at which i stopped. fixie dude came down hill behind me and simply charged the intersection frogger style at about 30mph. when he realized he wouldn't have space to clear the intersection on the proper side of the road, he swerved hard to the shoulder of the opposite side of the road, however, that oncoming traffic lane had a car peforming a right on red. it missed him by inches.

to be all scoldy schoolmarmy, i imagine any witnesses would fucking hate cyclists at tthat moment.

Crackle Box, you tell your gf about your near misses etc? Mine is worried enough - I keep most of the negative experiences to myself, unless I actually do myself an owie.

i like to keep her worried.

"you really should get out of this stupid mood because you probably won't see me again"

n.b i tried this once and her reply was "good"

Like you Mark I tend to keep quiet, although sometimes I'm angry enough about a piece of stupidity on the road to blurt out an incident, which immediately after threats to hide my bike I have to downgrade to 'Oh it was fine really', making my anger look misplaced and foolish.

riding with a s.o, that's a whole other thing... have done it a few times and it's just too much stress in the city

as long as i wear a helmet and have disability insurance, i'm allowed to play in traffic

riding with a s.o, that's a whole other thing... have done it a few times and it's just too much stress in the city

oh man, whole 'nother can of woims.

haha oh yeah

my wife didn't learn to ride a bike until way late in life, and since she's learned, only done it a few times. we went on a group ride through easy city streets and she ran into poles and a bridge. she was a trooper though. seriously funny

mrs. shasta won't ride since our last time out and she ate it on a sidewalk apron right in front of our house. we lol about it but she would rather just run.