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My first spot of a forum jersey in the wild! Well, I didn't spot it, Butterfly did, even though I'd trailed the guy up Balham Hill, not noticing. d'Oh!

Aaaanyway, it was a chap on a largish unbadged burgundy bike at Clapham South junction. Butterfly called DAS, but I'm not sure he heard.

Ah well. Maybe he did. But I rode down Tooley out East this morning. Chap I saw riding up it was on an Omega.

What do I have to do to get spotted? This morning, I did half of my normal commute, turned off & rode through Clapham Junction then over Chelsea Bridge and along the Embankment. Crossing back south at Lambeth Bridge, I headed off to London Bridge, down Tooley St, where there was one - *one *- other fixed, then off down Jamaica Road to Greenwich, turned about and came back to E&C. Yesterday, I was off up to Putney on my commute.

I'm really putting myself about here, folks. Reward me with some spottage, will ya!

Wasn't me! Besides I was on the Roadrat today.

Oh. Maybe there's another Ellis Briggs on the route, but that seems unlikely.

Puzzled now. Still, at least that means I'm not going mad when I thought the rider looked rather different.

Hah! Just embarrassed myself with a complete stranger. Good one.

A terrible and untimely loss.

Every day, I ride through somewhere that has been improved by input from Barry. His dedication, understanding and unfailing energy were astonishing to witness.

I recall him saying with pride that an insider at either TfL or Southwark Council - I forget which - described him as a terrier, who got his teeth into an issue and just wouldn't let go. That persistence where others might have written one letter and just given up when rebuffed is what really made a difference for all of us, and I wish I had his resilience.

Not just in cycling, but in envirnmental issues generally, he was a source of ideas, inspiration and, most of all, action.

The best tribute to Barry would be to keep riding. And nothing less would do.

Cool. Means I'm more likely to spot & your shiny Ellis Briggs.

My Ridgeback has chrome envy.

As predicted, I did spot VeeVee at Newington Butts this morning. Didn't call DAS, because, what with the rain and the oil on the road, I'd seen enough involuntary skids this morning already, including several trucks.

You looked a bit bemused. Sorry if I caught you unawares.

And you! I am going to ride from Kennington to Tooting Bec a lot in the next few weeks so it's likely that we will meet again soon.

Cool. Means I'm more likely to spot you & your shiny Ellis Briggs.

My Ridgeback has chrome envy.

Remember Mint Sauce? Definitely. I remember reading the strips in Bicycle Action (which probably makes me seem very old).

Nah. Better things to do that day. Like ride my bike. I try not to expect anything from the Met, to avoid disappointment.

Couple of motorbike cops at Clapham Common this morning. I guess they were after RLJing, but I hope they were also after cars entering the ASL (bet they were ignoring that, though). I recognised, by his silvery beard, one of the cops involved as one who had been policing CS7 when it opened last summer, and who sat still when I pointed out some dangerous driving to him, waiting for an RLJ to catch.

Spot on, adroit. Many professional drivers seem to think that any time they are not driving on an open road (crawling along in a queue, stopped at lights etc) is time out from driving, and free for phone/map etc as you suggest. I understand that, in private cars, TV reception is allowed for the time a vehicle is not actually moving. I was gobsmacked by that one.

I spotted a cool looking rider this morning on the A3 up to E&C. I asked him about his frame, which is a sort of deep blue/purple, and looks like a classic steel frame. In fact, the seatstay cluster reminds me of my Woodrup Giro. I asked him what it was, but, being a bit deaf, I didn't catch the answer. I thought he said 'Eighteen', but they're an MTB outfit, aren't they? It had a headbadge, but I don't know any more.

I guess he's on here. I was in disguise, toting around 23 more gears than usual.

Hardly any of CS7 has a solid white line.

Another reason cars are dangerous.

I spotted a single solitary poloenger on the courts at Harper Road when I left work.

This next one's a bit of a dredge from last week but I've been grinning since I read it:

That is, with one little exception, a perfect description of me. The young bit isn't right, Unless you are in your 40s?!

Some of us are, you know!

And perfect as I've been thinking about being 'old' a lot recently!

Spinning that gear will keep you young.

Saw loads of nice fixed on the roads this morning - made me smile. Oh - and there was a dick on a yellow Condor who thought it was a good idea to barge into a line of ordinary commuter cyclists going through Stockwell gyratory. Prat. Bet he drives his BMW (3-series, natch) like that, too.

Offset by seeing someone on a Shorter. DAS? I never remember...

Yesterday morning, through E&C, I saw a chap (young, glasses, red cap, almost a beard*)) on a black polo bike with Campagnolo sticker. Carrying three mallets.

• I'm crap at descriptions.
  

I've seen a young woman a couple of times between Oval and Newington on a faded red old steel (kids?) bike called a Thunderbird. I think it's fixed rather than ss. Wonder if she's on here.

Thanks Clarion, that's helpful. I will try and do that. At least the Twitter one.

Do you have any links to research by any chance?

Here's something about it from Bikebiz (the ever-informative Carlton Reid):

http://www.bikebiz.com//news/read/study-downgrades-protective-effect-of-cycle-helmets

Here is the research, courtesy of cycle-helmets.com:

http://www.cycle-helmets.com/Elvik2011_helmet_reanalysis.pdf

It's worth telling the AA what you think. I did, and spoke to a young man who didn't know anything about the latest research or the public health arguments. You may wish to speak to them too,

Telephone numbers

Just in case it gets taken down (the normal call centre sounds overloaded) these numbers might be helpful:

Edmund King, President of the AA
Office (Basingstoke): 01256 492380
Twitter: @AAPresident

Sue Dodds, PA to Edmund King
Office (direct dial): 01256 491538

Here's the number I used:

Sue Beeson, Head of AA PR
AA brand and all AA products/services
Office: 01256 495969

Didn't get Sue Beeson, but one of her team.

There were a lot of numpties. But it were a great ride, even though I came through Vauxhall - my least favourite junction.

I met (camped next to) Joff at Knutsford last year. Awesome chap. One of five Penny riders I know in London, and the only chap I know who makes the machines. I want one. No idea if I could ever ride one, but I do want one.

Spokked silver Charge Plug in Balham. Double-toestrapped. Trackstand that trickled forward over the STOP line until a foot was put down.

Never mind.

This morning, in Balham, IIRC, I passed a chap on a large, deep deep blue Bob Jackson with a white headtube. Classy looking machine, sir!