Nothing so special in that I agree, but for me it was a considered and thought out decision. I have been having physio on my ankle and it has become very painful and swollen, so much so I have been unable to get my boots on. Today it seemed settled and I did not get up hobbling, so despite the forecast of "showers early, clearing in the afternoon" I decided to take my Millie to work. I have good gear and dont get wet, I dont mind riding in the rain, all good you would think.
Well, I came upon a bit of a problem in the guise of a closed motorway and a detour in place. Also not a worry, that way is actually quite fun. Problems arose when the entire Norf commute traffic also got turned up the detourIt became a car park. And then it rained. Not just rained but absolutely fair chucked it down. Constant, steady, heavy rain while riding at 7 kmph or stationary makes for a very funny trip to work.
I am just sad enough to find that sort of thing funny. So much so at one point I was stopped and saw a grey wall of rain heading towards me. I put my head down and a huge torrent just ran into my lap. I had my visor open a bit and heard someone else laughing too. Looked to my left and here was a guy sitting in his car with the window down laughing like a drainWhen the "wall" had passed I talked to him, makes a commute nice on a bike. He found it very funny I had actually chosen to ride.
I did try the overtake option with some sucess, but I simply cant bring myself to ride over yellow lines, at a couple of points I undertook on the shoulder
So, I did about a million (few hundred) slow hillstarts, and got 2 hours, 2 HOURS, of slow speed manouvering practiceI am now very profficient at riding along at 6 kph. I tells yah that was excellent. I also got practice at hillstarting on terrible cambers and winning
What really surprised me though, was the number of bikes that thought it ok to ride the shoulder, so frigggen dangerous with all the side roads and cars turning in and out of them. I thought safety in numbers once and followed a couple out, but the hell with that. The wobblers between the cars gave me the complete shits, there was not a free run at all with cars pulling across to stop people from overtaking. Then there were the overtakers over yellow lines bikers.
This was a massive piss off commute for everyone today, I did not mind the ride, I was 2 1/2 hours late for work, would have been more if I was in the car. Many people were getting really pissed off, horns tooting and the like and to see bikes breaking common sense rules and road rules to get through in places they should not have would have wound up a few commuters this morning.
Sadly, when I finally got into work, I discovered that there had been a fatality on the motorway this morning. A motorcyclist.
I am sure there would have been more than a few car drivers commenting that it probably served him/her right if some of the riding witnessed, in appalling weather and terrible traffic was anything to go by.
I would like to thank all the car drivers this morning that were courteous and respectful of me and my Millie, I did wave to anyone that let me in, or hung back to give me space.
Originally Posted by Gubb
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and thermal top.
The manufacturers use the term "shower proof" or "water proof" ... not "fucking pissing down" proof. Nikwax spray on may help.
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