Ponder's Blog

Last cycle video of the decade!

Not as much going on as I expected given the time of year and extra 2 days of footage, but plenty to see and make fun of.

It’s clear to see that this time of the year brings heavy traffic and a lot of impatience. In some cases it makes you wonder why they bother with road markings at all, especially box junctions!

Anyway, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy New Decade from all the team responsible for bringing you these videos (even those that don’t know it) 😉

I’m surprised at how few clips I have this time around. Only 20, which is very low for this time of year when traffic is normally chaotic. It’s very busy, of course, but not much happening worth showing!

I still have a few corkers though, including a very, very close pass and 2 bus drivers not giving Cardiff Bus a good name at all!

For a change I’m happy to end this video on a lighter note too.

The next video will be my last cycle video before Christmas, and will be 9 days worth of footage so may be rather large. We shall see. Watch this space!

Rain.

This time of year isn’t good for my state of mind, but the almost constant rain is making my, normally mild, S.A.D. a bit more severe. What’s normally a minor irritant is causing major stress. I should be happy, my outlook on life is better than it has ever been, but I’m not, and that’s down to the weather and long, dark nights.

In this video we can clearly see that Christmas is approaching, because traffic levels go up, and driving standards go down. I let my frustrations and stresses begin to show through in the captions towards the end. No apologies, these videos aren’t meant for kids anyway, and what I say is heard on a daily basis, so there.

There will be two more videos before Christmas. The next one will be normal but the last I’m expecting to be rather large, so take heed, there’s a monster approaching 😉

Back with another compilation of clips from my regular commute rides.

Not quite so much rain this time but still more than enough. We also see the return of the paint scrapers. Otherwise quite short with a couple of new features, including a short clip of me “singing”, so ear plugs may be advisable 😉

Rain, rain and more rain feature heavily in this video.

I’ve been playing with more effects in the video editor I use (kdenlive) while creating videos for my retro channel, so added a few here. Nothing over the top, but enough that I hope you enjoy.

I was surprised that there was only the one close pass this time, but that was more than made up for by impatient bastards who hate cycles being in front of them in traffic. Most of the time they don’t have anywhere to go, but they still have to get in front, and some are so close as to warrant a change of underwear to a less wary cyclist.

I’ve finally figured out freeze frame in Kdenlive. I used it twice in this video. I may be called evil in certain circles for the second occurrence 😉

Rain.

Rain, rain and more rain.

No shortage of paint scrapers again. One I can’t show because it really was too close for comfort and I’m taking it further. I still don’t know how he missed my handlebar with his wing mirror!

Otherwise, quite a mixed bag this time. Plenty of impatience, a motor cyclist taking chances jumping a red 2 vehicles behind a police van, a totally clueless pedestrian, and darkness becoming more a theme.

Did I mention the rain?

As a driver, I’ve passed 5 driving tests, 4 of those in a professional capacity.

As a cyclist I follow the Highway Code, which I know quite well due to the above, and my desire to do the right thing on the roads.

The trouble is, there are too many idiots on bikes (I refuse to call them cyclists) who give those of us who follow the rules a bad reputation. There are a few examples in this video.

Just remember, we’re unprotected. Give us room and treat us with respect, especially those of us keeping to the rules. We’re not just objects in the way, we’re still someone’s father, son, brother, mother, daughter, sister or (finally becoming recognised in a more knowledgeable 21st century) non-binary relation or friend.

Speaking for myself, I give courtesy to others on the road and so quite often see it returned, but impatience is the real problem. Nobody has time these days, everyone’s in a rush. Slow down and enjoy the scenery. It’s less stressful that way too!