Commuting

Hey,

I've just accepted a new job and plan to sell the car and cycle commute instead. It's a 20-mile round trip through the Leeds hinterland, so nothing too arduous if a little busy traffic-wise.

I've only ever ridden for leisure before so I'm looking for advice - kit tips, lights and any hard-earned knowledge.

My plan is to buy a trailer to take the baby to the childminder. That's only half a mile away so I'll ditch it and then ride to work. I'll be riding my Spesh Allez.

This is unbelievable - worst I've ever seen. Sadly it just confirms my highly unfair and stereotype laden ranking of the worst drivers: worst = bus drivers, followed closely by White van drivers and BMW drivers. Absolutely shocking.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17069235

While dragging the parents around the south island this week, I noticed a French Canadian guy folding up his bike helmet and putting it into his backpack. I remembered that ages ago Dahon had advertised their "Pango" so I said hello and had a look. Labelled "Biologic", it was indeed the Dahon folding helmet and very impressive it was too. If anyone's interested it's available from the Biologic site for about $130 and looked really sturdy. Great for commuting I'd imagine.

Being undertaken approaching traffic lights by a driving school car, I was surprised when he moved into the same lane as myself, I was even more surprised when the instructor was using a mobile phone. Question is, it goes without saying he has a duty of care to his pupil and other road users, but is he committing an offence? He was sitting in the passenger seat.

Should I report an idiot to Mr Plod or is it not worth it?

So I'm riding across London this evening, down Northumberland Avenue. All of a sudden I get a "beep, beep" from behind me, clearly some driver unimpressed that I'm not prepared to ride in the gutter for him. So anyway I flip him a finger, he overtakes anyway.

A hundred yards later he gets stopped at a red light, I pull up alongside him and knock on his window to ask why he was driving like a c**t. (These wouldn't have been far off my exact words.)

Afternoon everyone! Been reading Road.cc for a while now and finally decided to make the jump to commute via cycling a few weeks ago. Why I did it in winter I'll never know...

Anyone got either the Whyte Charing Cross of Kings Cross. Looking for a commuting/touring and general all round bike for the winter. Look great likes and decent spec but can't find many reviews of them online.

An anti-cyclist Adam is asked to ditch his car and travel to work by bike for a whole week.

http://www.confused.com/car-insurance/motorists-v-cyclists/cycling-issues-video

It's amazing how people seem to ignore cyclists; he nearly runs 2 of them over.