That has to be a new record. For the simple fact that it’s the first time I bothered timing the new commute. I think it’s also the first timed commute on the Ribble.

I haven’t timed a ride for months now. Very unlike me to be so uncaring about my ride data but there’s a reason. More than one reason actually:

Traffic lights: My 12.5k W5 to NW1 commute has me hitting 64 traffic lights. That’s a set of lights every 200m!!

How the hell are you supposed to obey the law (which I tend to do) AND set a good time?

It also puts into perspective Melbourne red light jumpers – damn, if ONLY I had the luxury of 1k or more between traffic lights.

Pedestrians: Someone seems to have trained London pedestrians to be dumber than the sheep I often refer to them as. As if the traffic lights weren’t bad enough peds without a coffee under their belt wander out onto the road, forgetting that cars/buses/trucks/bikes use the same area of black tarmac. Of course, these peds, gifted with the spacial awareness not dissimilar to that of a tin of mushy peas, increase the premiums on their life insurance policies by stepping out from behind the unlit trees 50m from the pedestrian crossing (which has lights of course!). Layered in black, save for the “I’m a total cock – look at me” ipod headphones jammed in their heads to kill the noise of the horns and swearing cyclists. My personal favourite are the individuals within the crowd that look at you as you approach and decide to ‘go for it’ anyway, forcing you out into the heavier traffic.

Cars: “I’ll run you over. I don’t give a shit!”. That comment from a female driver was aimed at me and pretty much sums up the attitude of some of the drivers here. I really thought I’d got away from all that attitude when I moved to cycling-mad Europe. It seems that you need to cross the channel before the “cycling-mad” kicks in. Here it is often “cycling? mad!”. For some reason, stopping in the middle of the road, blocking mad woman’s path and retorting with “Go on, do it then!” wasn’t enough encouragement for her to complete the threat.

Can you tell I’m a bit frustrated with cycling in London right now?

Perhaps it’s the change from fixie to the geared Ribble that brought this on (I’m working to replace the rear cartridge bearings on the Raleigh’s System-Ex hubs)?

Perhaps it’s the weather (this morning was lovely though, so I threw in a few laps of Regent’s Park to stretch the ride out).

Perhaps it’s the lack of more fulfilling rides on weekends (replaced with drinking to excess either Belgian beer or Polish vodka depending on the occasion)?

Silver Lining: I can put toe-warmers on my SPD-SLs without having to take them on and off every ride. I’m going to buy a Dinotte front light.