Riding in the Rain

I don't know what it was, but the other night while there was a bit of drizzle in the air, my journey seemed a lot faster. It felt like the bit of rain on the roads made the surface like a smooth track and it was as if I was flowing across the tarmac.

As others walked home shielding themselves from above, I sliced my way through the moist air without a care that as getting hit by rain drops.

So instead of battling against the weather, cycling uses it to it's advantage.

Let's see how it goes as it gets colder.

Good Value Cycling Accessories at Sports Direct

Cycle stuff can be expensive, so In the spirit of posting deals on cheap cycling gear from fellow bloggers, I thought I'd do my bit by telling you good people of the deals at sports direct ( I am not an employee, or related to anybody there, blah blah blah).

As the weather has now decided to act it's season, I was in need of a pair of cycling gloves. Instead of shelling out at least 20 quid at Evans, a friend pointed me down to sports direct where they have great deals on cycling gear. I picked up a pair of Dunlop gloves for £7.99, bargain really.

All their goods are not 5 star quality, but how can you go wrong with a floor pump for £3.99 ?

They have a decent range of cycling clothing too, with long sleeve cycling shirts for £10.99 looking like a good deal.

Take a further look at the following sections:
http://www.sportsdirect.com/cycling/cycling-accessories
http://www.sportsdirect.com/cycling/cycling-clothing

Police Cycle Marking - Today at Blackfriars

If you have cycled to the city today, get down to Blackfriars Bridge between 4 and 7pm. The Met Police are offering free cycle security marking and are giving advice on bike registration. This helps if your cycle is stolen, and the police recover it, they are then able to trace it back to you.

More info : http://www.met.police.uk/transport/cycle_marking.html

Following the rules

Last month I was not a cyclist and like a lot of the general public I didn't really understand why so many cyclists jump red lights and ignore other rules of the road. But over the last few days I seem to have acquired the urge to cross red lights, and ride across pedestrian crossings and other road rule breaking behaviour.

When I'm at a traffic light junction , I start thinking if I can see that no cars are coming from either side and I feel it is safe to jump the red,  which will give me a bit of a headstart over white man van who thinks he's playing mario kart and wants to knock me over with a red shell, why not do it?

It's kind of the feeling when you're driving on the motorway, you know the speed limit is 70 mph, but you don't see any harm in doing 80. Everybody else seems to be doing it and you don't feel any unsafer by going this little bit faster.

Yes both things are wrong and you are putting your own and other peoples safety at risk by basically breaking the rules. But I want to make the point that it's not just cyclists who think they can circumvent the highway code on occasions,  those on four wheels do the same but just in different ways.

Also read:
Respecting the Red on The Trusty Steed.
the myth of the red light jumping cyclist on ibikelondon
The Highway Code : Rules for cyclists 

What Tube Strike?

Today was my first experience of riding in whilst a tube strike was going on. It felt so good not working out how to get in via Bus or Overground trains and then have to experience the ensuing crush. Only downer is that I don't have an excuse to work from home.

The roads in North London didn't seem any busier this morning, but this was around 7.15 before the real rush. But when I did get closer to the city there seem to be a lot of traffic on certain roads. Luckily my route was free flowing and largely unaffected. I heard from others that it was a lot more difficult on the bigger roads in town.

There were probably a few more bikes on the road too, but not a noticeable number. Maybe as I'm still a newbie, it doesn't make much difference to me.

Hope all your journeys were fine too.