London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

So I felt really down when I got up. I was procrastinating getting up, having an imaginary discussion between my little part of the soul that is lazy, and the other part that wants me to shave my legs. The lazy part won. What followed was the deity responsible for all traffic and commuting demonstrating its non-approval:

Train late, tube too crowded to get on, long wait for next one, being stuck inside the next one with my head shoved into some afro look haircut, while being elbowed by some fat fuck all the way from London Bridge to Bond Street.

By that time I gave up on being angry at the world, but instead acknowledge that it serves me right for being a lazy bum. I hereby promise: "Yes, I will cycle next time".

You shave your legs?????

No, but there's this part of my soul that wants me to ... the one that wants to be like Lance and tells me to HTFU.

Just go with your heart, man. And why stop at the legs...?

I used to go through the same pain in the morning. Should I shave my legs, put on make-up and try to turn a trick? But cycling to work always wins out.

TBH I was hit last week and my back wheel broke. I have now been bikeless for a week and the commute has been horrible, not just the tubes but the walking on busy pavements.

As the late great Freddy says "Get on your bikes and ride"

Exactly - He could shave everybody's legs.

What a weird post.

i think he's just punishing you for shaving your legs
ya big girls blouse

you clearly think to much

shave your legs - enjoy feeling like a pro - and then realise its only hair and it doesnt make fuck all difference

Except when you're having a rub down afterwards. Then the hair makes a difference.

yeah i get a rub down everytime i get home after a ride

even when i go down the shops for a bottle of thunderbird

12. dicki

So you felt down and decided to take the tube instead of ride your bike on a lovely Friday morning? Fail. My job can be seriously crap sometimes. If it wasn't for my ride into work every morning I doubt I could tear myself away from my bed.

Good for you, cycling to work is for uptight, paranoid, middle-class tories who pretend to be socialists. Cycling is a sport, FFS not a serious mode of transport, be a man.

+1 @wools.

at Pascalo
I sympathise with the dharmic atonement of this post. And, more fool you, you missed the first proper cool autumn morning we've had, yet. It was a beautiful day to ride a bike, the 'gods' were smiling on us out there.

There are no "Gods" only the certainty of Death, bow before me, humankind, and be humble, for thy time is short...

'Pie', 'Love', 'Mudguard', 'god' and 'death' are interchangeble terms in my pantheist pantheon.

Thing is, every time I take the tube I am angered by how shit it is, every time I swear I'll always cycle in. Until I forget, and have a crappy day. Then I take the tube and while I'm stuck in there and it's too late to turn around and get on the bike, because I'd run really late otherwise, I instantly remember why I hate it so much ... sucks!

wools, you are right. Complete fail!

Even more gutted now that you rubbed in how nice the morning was, Skully ...

Also, lets be clear about one thing: There's only ONE relevant god in this universe. The Flying Spaghetti Monster. May you be touched by His Noodly Appendage!

cant stand the tube, being crushed by the great unwashed having to push yuor way onto the train because people wont move down the carrage in fear that they will miss there stop, i much prefer to ride the 10 miles into work and you have lots of fun dodging peds, RLJ, being almost run off the road by cab drivers or white van man, oh deep joy of the east south commute... Happy days..

+1

"cycling to work is for uptight, paranoid, middle-class tories who pretend to be socialists"

+1

But I have never pretended to be a socialist.... bastards.... they gave us Blair & Brown, who aren't even socialists

I felt down this morning and, contrary to Ed's wishes in another thread, the old fella was still there.

I have to confess to being a little concerned about the syntax and punctuation of the statements above.

I cycle to work. I am middle class. By some definitions, everyone on here, apart from WiganWill, is middle class. I hope I am not a Tory. I don't pretend to be a socialist.

Cycling is many things; exercise, sport, transport, recreation and more.

Am I middle class now?

I'm afraid it hasn't shown itself to be reflected in my income!

What about the Commuting Cup? And the Alreadylateforworktwicethisweek TT?

What a lovely day it is today.

I shave my balls to make me ride better. And wax my asshole. It all helps to reduce weight and increase smooth airflow.

thanks for sharing

That's not real sharing. I could email/fax some pubic hairs if you like? They are quite wonderful. Sort of "lion" coloured.

thanks, but no thanks ...

cycling is the closest thing i have ever done to real zen.......oneness with the bike, road, traffic and nature. harmony in motion, flowing through the route...... i can lose myself in cycling in london....... shame i moved out !

It was nice and crisp - ahh the sign of things to come. I actually had to wear sleeves this morning. Is it possible to cycle year round in London in shorts (including snow days)? I'm thinking of setting myself a challenge.

I'll soon start reverting to long BIBs and two layers plus windproof on top, the way things go. Cannot stand feeling cold.

Not sure about the god of commuting, but the rain gods certainly have me in their sights at the mo :(

Five-day Outlook

Friday

• Heavy Rain Shower

Saturday day weather

• Heavy Rain

Sunday day weather

• Heavy Rain Shower

Monday day weather

• Light Rain Shower

Tuesday day weather

• Heavy Rain

Where do you live, Mid Wales?

@ smallfurry; I'd be unhappy about that.

I don't mind cycling in rain. One of the benefits of commuting in lycra is that it dries quickly in the office and before one has to ride home.

Smallfurry has made his bed- now he must don his Macintosh and lie in it.

Living in Norway comes with the expectation of heavy repeated rain and rather chilly winters.

On the upside the government do give you £6,000 for bringing a new Norwegian into the world.

That can be split between nappies and bicycle parts.

1 nappy cleans a lot of bicycle parts..

Middle class is a state of mind.

Indian summer in Norway then? ;p

I had to go in on the tube on Monday due to starting a new job, it was horrible. Was back on the bike on Tuesday.

I did the reverse today, I'd decided I was taking the tube to work which means I have to get up earlier than riding. Lay and bed and thought fuck it i'm going to ride.
Got to my bike and then remembered that I had decided to take the tube because I'd taken my front wheel off to replace some spokes and rebuild it.

Tis hell. Duress = pubes for breakfast on the tube
sounds like a hairy morning
and a free floss

I totally ride bikeless. Gnarly.

Fixed.

That's exactly the kind of thing I'd do. Doh!

As long as you're not riding bikeless with a single speed. That's just dangerous.

£6000 ???????

*calls Mrs Smallfurry for a chat*

Srsly, its been raining non-stop for 1 1/2 months, I mean srsly. I'm with Cliveo on the cycling in the rain thing though, I actually quite enjoy it.
Seems weird that motorists stare solomly out of their dry cars, at the horrendous wet weather. While I grin in from my monsoon swept bike :)

On the plus side, quick measurements tell me that my cycloX frame has clearance for these..

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..

today was the second round of punishment ... a nice puncture in the middle of the rain ... grrrrr