I wanted to try something different for this weeks Comment Friday. I want to invite you guys to share your best and worst moments of cycling this week.
I’ll start us off but I’m going to cheat a little as I’ve not been doing any cycling this week while I’m travelling so I’ll refer back to last week.
My best: First coming back from France I was so eager to jump on a bike. The opportunity came when my friend, who only lives less than 10 minutes cycling away, finished his work and invited me over. Hopping on my bike for the first time in over a week felt great. I’m always amazed at how fast it whizzes along on a smooth road surface and I couldn’t resist taking my hands off the bars and pedalling down the empty A road enjoying the cool post-rain breeze. If only all roads in London were as smooth as that one.
My worst: I don’t frequently cycle in rush hour and when I do it’s a very hit and miss experience. This time pedalling over to a meeting in Hyde Park was really not fun. It was one of those days where you get hit by all the red lights and each time a loud motorbike happened to be next to me. I felt like I really had to fight for my place in the road and I was glad to just finally get to the park and relax along the cycle lane and have a drink in the Serpentine Cafe which is one of my new favourite meeting places.
What was your best and worst cycling experiences this week?
See also:
- Insider tips from Boris Bikes pioneers
- What cyclists can be fined for
- London Cycle Hire Scheme – your thoughts?
- Bike lights definitive guide
- What is your uphill cycling strategy?
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As seen on The Guardian, BBC and The Independent.
Hi Andreas,
The best thing cycling for me this week, is that my training/commuting is still heading in the right direction, I can sprint for faster and longer and than I could say six months ago.
The worst thing was discovering that my local bike shop have done a bodge on fixing my rear hub, in fact the worst thing about cycling in London for me is the frequency with which I’ve been let down by cycling shops doing shoddy fixes using cheap components, if this doesn’t spur me on to better maintenance skills, I don’t know what will.
my best for the week was whilst cycling 17 miles around various locations in london, i chose the outer circle road to cross regents park for the first time and i got to see GIRAFFES!!!!!!
the worst think this week was having to leave my baby at the bike shop for 4 hours. But this could also be a good thing, as my bike is amazingly set up now.
Too be honest, i haven’t had any major bad experiences, but it has only been 6 weeks since i got my bike.
Best: breaking my record and averaging 16 MPH on the way into work.
Worst: 2 overnight flat tyres on consecutive days
For me the best thing in London cycling had to be this…
Federal BMX Dan Lacey testing the hell out of Boris’ cycle scheme bikes, absolutely awesome!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestylevideo/7949007/London-cycle-hire-test-Dan-Lacey-puts-the-Boris-bike-through-its-paces.html
That was awesome. I loved the ‘No Boris Bikes were harmed in the making of this video’ tag at the end.
Best: My first outing on a Barclays cycle hire bike. A real win. I’ve realised the low gearing stops you getting sweaty!
Worst: It’s been humid, so I’d have to say breathing in a ton of fumes along CS7 earlier in the week.
Best moment: My ride to work this morning. Left the house really annoyed for various reason. There was very little traffic around for some reason and I got a straight run into work in record time. Worked it all out of my system and arrived in a great mood, albeit dripping wet and staggering!
Worst moment: Strong winds on the way home on Monday, felt like riding through treacle and nearly got blown into the side of a lorry
My best for the week is being back on the bike after having a week to recover from finishing my solo End to End, cycling to work always makes me happier. I even managed to break 45 minutes for the 20km cross London, first time ever.
The worst is letting myself get so upset by the inconsiderate cyclists who push past at red lights just because they don’t feel like following the Highway Code and stopping for the red lights.
I completely agree on your worst, that gets me all the time… It’s not a choice whether you follow the highway code or not, it’s a law!
My worst is a driver on Commercial road in a BIG Audi Q7 reversing into me without checking his mirrors. The best dragging him out and getting an apology!
Best moment: Not having to ride all the way to Hammersmith as working from an office closer to home meaning I can enjoy my morning ride a bit more. But I love this everyday I ride is getting long stares at a guy riding with a moustache… Love it!
Worst moment: Don’t have many of these, but the joker who felt the need to lean out of his car to shout “bloody lycra wearing moron” at another cyclist, only to have me right next to him screaming “we don’t all wear lycra” followed with choice profanity and a smile!
What a week you’ve chosen for this particular topic! My best was collecting my brand new Marin Fairfax from Cycle Surgery on Sunday afternoon, which I’d ordered myself for my birthday before going on holidays. I took it for a tour of the tow paths from Stratford and along St. Katherine’s Docks on my way home to Elephant and Castle. It was such a beautiful ride except for the cobblestones! My worst? Going down to the underground parking lot of my block of flats on Monday afternoon (still on hols) where I’d left the bike locked up securely, only to find it gone. Police won’t look at the CCTV tapes and closed the case as soon as I opened it. Back on my 15 year old Specialized mountain bike for now; at least it’s better on the cobblestones. Not much of a consolation.
oh i’m so sorry! that’s really horrid – you have lots of sympathy from this end.
Best was getting out for a really good amble, 24 miles of it, for the first time in ages.
Pootled along the Grant Union Canal towpaths, and while I got a slightly sore bum (build in more stop-to-take-photo points next time), I had no issues with my legs whatsoever, despite their time off the bike.
Worst was managing to turn the very slooooow puncture in my front tyre into a total flat as a result of a bump too many on the towpath.
(which then gave me my next best bit, changing a tyre all by myself for the first time. So what if it took me close to an hour, I did it!)
Hey Sam
That sounds like the kind of thing I want to get into doing more of – I cycle to and from work but want to get out and pootle a bit more at the weekend. Where would you recommend & how do you plan your routes?!
thanks!
Best (1): getting a mate on one of my bikes and riding with him all day on the weekend. He had been SO SOSOOOOO scared of cycling (I don’t know why) but he ended up enjoying himself so much, he’s thinking g aout signing up for the Boris bikes!
Best (2): High Street Kensington to Kings Cross to catch train in 20minutes on a little folding bike w/out jumping any red lights!!!!!!!! WOHOOOOO!!!!!
Worst: seeing a dead squirrel in the curb and almost falling off my bike!
Best: Cycling along a bus with my girlfriend on making various cute and rude gestures to each other as we kept passing each other.
Worst: Near miss on the weekend, a bus was in the wrong lane and so crossed an asl in a red to get a head start, the car on its inside reciprocated by crossing the asl (presumably to undertake the bus before the parked cars on the other side of the junction). Cue green light, inside car dashes ahead of bus, bus comes left across me and nearly pins the guy in front between the bus and the pavement. Avoidable bad driving by even a little bit of patience on the buses part, stopped by the drivers window to congratulate him on scaring me and the other cyclist.
Well I just have a worst moment, 3 weeks ago I was knocked off my bike by a motorist when they opened their passenger door in the middle of the road – without indicating or pulling over, or in any way warning me of what they were about to do (and it was daylight and I was in hi-viz), i subsequently ended up in hospital with a ruptured ankle ligament and many bruises. 3 weeks later i still cant walk and i get a letter yesterday from the Met’s Traffic Criminal Justice dept informing me that no charges will be made against the offenders, but that they will be sent a letter “reminding them of their responsibilities as a road user”. Which is great comfort as Im unable to carry on with any activities or even get into work.
How is this fair, and what message does that send? How is this protecting and encouraging cyclists? Im fuming.
… Sarah — that’s terrible; I hope you are recovering well. So much for criminal justice! Have you thought about taking out a civil case against the driver?
… sorry — just read further and saw this advice already given!
best: riding with the folks, wife and son on the mamafiets (he sits on the front of one of these http://www.profileweijenborg.nl/imagehandler/product/Amazone-Classic-Black.jpg) always gets lots of looks and comments (in a good way)
worst: every time i’ve been shoaled (more here http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2009/10/indignity-of-commuting-by-bicycle.html) what’s wrong with you people?
That’s crazy that woman actually mounted the pavement to get in front of you – at least it’s not just motorists that are crazily impatient at lights
Best:
This morning I think. Nice tailwind and not much traffic for some reason – a lovely breezy commute from West Norwood to Waterloo.
Worst:
Yesterday evening. Labouring up the short but steep hill on the way to my girlfriend’s, overheating and weighed down with a bag full of work clothes and shopping… and someone throws gravel at me from an upstairs window. Pesky kids.
oh dear, I’m sorry Mr Richie but I had to laugh. Gravel! the final straw.
Best: riding home through Richmond park at dusk, a fat yellow moon, deer, the first leaves starting to turn, and not a car in sight.
Worst: this morning, doing my usual right turn on autopilot, and not seeing the massive black beemer heading straight towards me, out of the Road Where No Cars Ever Come From. He braked and leaned on the horn, and I rode off knowing that it was completely my fault, he had me bang to rights. Fortunately that was the only bang, thank God for German brake engineering.
Best: managing to lash my friends suitcase that I’d borrowed to the bike with bungees to get it back to her, thereby avoiding public transport!
Worst: other cyclists trying to race / compete with me, grow up – I’m just riding!
Sarah, people have been saying to me this week, since my bike was stolen, that at least I wasn’t hurt or killed. That really didn’t make me feel much better, until I read your ‘worst”. Hope you heal quickly! Thumbs down to the police on your part and mine!
Thanks, obviously it doesnt help me heal if they go to court, but it sends a stronger message about watching out for cyclists – had i been a motorcyclist they would have probably been in hospital themselves!
Sarah: That’s awful, but even if the police decline to take any action, you can still pursue a civil claim yourself. If you compile a schedule of loss (loss of earnings, bike repairs, taxi fares etc) it would be an easy enough DIY small claims court job. (Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor is this legal advice!)
Thanks James, Im looking at that with a solicitor, at the time I was interviewed by the police in the ambulance, and they suggested it was nailed on that it would go to court – I just think when the Mayor is working so hard to get people out of cars and onto bikes this sends a highly contradictory message.
Best
Setting a new PB on morning commute (tailwind may have contributed somewhat)
Worst
1. A parked car’s door opened on me while I was going through traffic – don’t know how I avoided it but reading Sarah’s comment made me shudder.
2. Cut up by an Audi who couldn’t be bothered to wait behind me
3. HGV turned left across me (he overtook me so no way he hadn’t seen me)
4. Woman pulled out in front of me when I was doing 20mph
Just another normal week commuting to Heathrow really.
Best: ordering new bike through our cycle2work scheme,
Worst: getting my front wheel caught in a deep ridge and tipping over in front of a queue of traffic.
Worst: Fitting a set of Vittoria Open Pave; took me three hours since my wheelset (Easton EA50) is one of the most troublesome to fit tyres to.
Best: Riding a set of Vittoria Open Pave; 320TPI make British roads feels smooth even when inflated at 120PSI!
Best this week: pootling along the nice and wide, properly separate, cycle lane in Bloomsbury, on Tuesday. Admittedly, I do this every day but it’s always good.
Worst this week: This was easily my commute in this morning. I took a hire bike in. First, I had to walk ten minutes to find a point that worked. Then, on Gower Street, a black taxi objected to my presence in the middle of the road, hooting his horn at me. I needed to give the bus, on my left, plenty of space. I also know if I get too close, the taxi will only try to squeeze past anyway. Once he’d overtaken me, he proudly hooted his horn. I easily overtook him at the next set of lights. Idiot #1.
Finally, at Trafalgar Square, coming down the hill from Charing Cross Road, I had a nearly identical set of circumstances, only this time it was worse. Once again, I was overtaking a bus. Only this time, it started pulling out away. This would not normally be a problem, as once again, I have left it plenty of space. However, a taxi driver thought it would be wise to try to overtake me – at the same time. Cue a fairly scary moment when a bus and a taxi are squeezing me at the same time. I’ve no idea why the taxi thought he could overtake me at that point. He continued to pull away until I banged on his window. I overtook him and demonstrated to him, with simple hand gestures he hopefully understood, my displeasure and why he couldn’t overtook me where he did. Idiot #2
It’s interesting that this was on a Boris Bike. Perhaps taxi drivers assume they’re all slow newbie cyclists and can overtake and intimidate them which ever they wish?
Either way, stuff like this really annoys me. There’s the personal bit: it scared me but that’s kind of okay. What makes it worse is it more people of cycling because it reinforces the belief that cycling is ‘dangerous’. It’s not. Most of journeys are fine. More importantly, all of my journeys would be fine were it not for idiots like these.
My commute includes that stretch past Trafalgar Sq, and i have to agree its a pretty hairy one with buses/taxis, had a few scary moments despite generally being patient and careful!
Haven’t got any worse. None at all.
The best? Each and every time I slip into my velomobile Quest.
Dealing with traffic? I take the lane. The motorists don’t know what I am as they can’t see me pedaling and at the speed I’m capable of doing the cars can’t just fly past me with wild abandon. I’ve been pulled over by 5 different police departments in the 8 months I’ve had my Quest. No tickets.
One PD has told me that they know when I’m on the road as their phone starts to ring reporting a small, bright yellow, high speed motorized vehicle with no license plate.
I am traffic and the road is mine.
I want one!!!
Me two!
http://www.recumbent-gallery.eu/duo-quest-velomobile/
Filippo.
The Duo Quest is a piece of art. As far as I know, there is only one in existence.
And your legend grows. :`)
Best is the school holidays that leads both to less traffic and more considerate behaviour of those that are on the road. Except for pedestrians of course who treat red lights as something that does not apply to them.
Worst is the state of the roads, especially the misguidedness and inconsideration of Croydon Council in laying a succession of 3 metre slabs of rough green coloured gravel over potholes and drains and calling it a cycle lane.
Hi Andreas,
Best: a ride through the Sussex downs singletrack last night, finishing up on Brighton seafront with a cup of tea and hot donuts!
Worst: getting all ready for the long ride to work this morning on my new road bike and about 2 miles in the bottom bracket made horrible grinding noises, so I had to abandon the idea. I was really quite distraught!
This is of course small beans compared to those who have their bikes stolen, or worse, been injured recently by irresponsible drivers.
Will
best – riding up the strand on sunday evening about half eight. would never bother with it normally but it was nice and quiet coming over the bridge and riding down to charing x.
not the worst so much as incredibly stupid was the idiot this morning who had his little girl sat on his crossbar with her legs over his handlebars. sometimes i’m surprised that people’s stupidity surprises me.
Best: Dithering looking out of window at the grey sky but deciding to ride anyway and LOVING it as always. Having a laugh at traffic lights . Riding home with a mate last week!
Worst: Its always the city traffic and the HGV cutting me up.
Best: ride to Windsor on Monday night – lovely weather, lovely ride.
Worst: on the way home from Windsor, in central London, having two drivers attempt to left-hook me within ten minutes of each other.
WORST: I had my first accident this week. It’s bound to happen I think and I’ve been lucky for years.
Guess what? It was the van driver’s fault, turning left without indicating or looking in the mirror. He knocked me off my bike and almost another cyclist too, then shouted at me. He didn’t even apologise.
Best: A little girl on the pavement smiling and waving at me. Aaww
Best: getting on my Airnimal for my commute after nearly a week where logistics meant it wasn’t sensible to use it. I love that bike.
Worst: This morning, as I was cycling south along St John St (EC1) towards the traffic lights at Clerkenwell Rd. The lights had been green for a while and an artic, travelling in the opposite direction, turned right: quite safely, there was loads of room. But as I entered the junction at some speed – ’cause I was trying to ensure I’d get through on green – the white transit behind the artic decided to follow the artic and turn across my path!
I’d guessed what he was going to do, so was able to slam on the brakes in the middle of the junction – he spotted me at the last second, hit the brakes, then changed his mind and hit the accelerator. At least he waved his hand in apology. And I was unhurt – it could have been much worse.
Worst – colliding with a pedestrian – and most of it was MY fault. Felt terrible. Hope I learn from that.
Best – getting back on my bike after just under 2 weeks away.
Best: just found out my new bike (’11 Ridgeback Voyage in sexy black) is on its way!!
Worst: gotta wait until Monday for delivery/collection
Worst: Finding out my helmet cam had not worked on my way in to work on tuesday. Having almost been sideswiped by a impatient white van and seen several motorbikes jumping red lights.
Best: Getting my first pair of prope cycling shoes delivered this morning to work. I can now tak my new road bike out for a test at the weekend (as it has clipless pedals).