Motoconfort

Commuting delights Some years ago I used to work in central London and live in rural Essex, a ride of some 20 miles each way. I thought that forum members might like to hear of some of the events that befell me during my 3 years cycling this route to and from work. Missiles thrown at me from passing cars: Half house brick (missed) Half eaten pack of fish and chips (hit) Fireworks (lit) Beer cans (2 hits) Beer bottles (hit to helmet) Missiles thrown by pedestrians Snowballs with rocks inside them (hit) Litter bin (miss) Old training shoe (hit) Water bombs (containing fluid other than water) Various types of fruit (hit and miss) Other joys Pushed off bike by yobs in car Dog set on me by group of tramps (bit my leg) Lunatic in Mercedes drove into me dislocating one of my fingers The usual aggressive overtaking, cutting in front, to at once turn left I did not/do not offer rudeness or aggression to car drivers or any one else when I cycle; I think the kind of behaviour listed above stems from some peoples perception of the bike and rider as an easy, vulnerable target. Almost a hunter/prey reflex. Perhaps it was the fact that I used to travel at a fair pace (18mph average for the 20 miles) that used to wind people up? Or perhaps it was that special blend of East End/ urban Essex that was to blame? None of this diminished my desire to cycle because of the alternative; a rail journey which was quite simply a scene from Dante's 'Inferno'. I travelled by rail twice, that was enough. Hundreds of miserable people squashed into a railway carriages sneezing, coughing and farting over each other for the duration of their trip, and paying for the pleasure.