Silly commuting racing

Wrath Rob

Quiet for me too this morning. Got caught napping by a 2 roadies (FCNs 4 & 5) on the Mall and while my heart was in it my legs weren't. I held the gap but only caught back up at Trafalgar square in the traffic. We all went separate ways so no chance to reclaim my scalp

I did pass a JCB though

biondino

CJ, I could maybe make it a touch later - 7 or so - but I have to go to a party in the a*se end of north London (i.e. all of it) in the evening and I'm escorting a colleague so I can't be late really. Does that work? Early tomorrow morning probably isn't ideal though if it's the only time you could do then I'll see what I can wangle.

cjcp

Wrath Rob wrote:

Quiet for me too this morning. Got caught napping by a 2 roadies (FCNs 4 & 5) on the Mall and while my heart was in it my legs weren't. I held the gap but only caught back up at Trafalgar square in the traffic. We all went separate ways so no chance to reclaim my scalp

I did pass a JCB though

Talking of JCB's, one did a u-turn on Embankment this morning. FFS! :roll:

DonDaddyD

Met the girlfriend at London Bridge yesterday after work. Took her to Evans Cycles (I am romantic) to show here the Bianchi I want and potential bikes she could get. Afterwards we went to a pub on the Thames (near Wagamama's), which does a lovely £7.50 fish and chips (I don't know about you but to me that seems expensive....).

Anywho, most important thing was the journey home. Firstly an Asain lad stopped me to ask me how much my bike was and where he could buy one, he said that he wanted a 'real bike' like a roadie, I felt a one-ness with him so referred him to www.wiggle.co.uk, www.devercycles.co.uk and Bianchi of course.

After buying batteries for my back light and hitting the journey home, London Bridge to Norbury, I picked up (well caught up to) a guy on a single speed Condor with bull horn bars. This guy was swift, could track stand and like me had all the gear.

From London Bridge to Clapham this guy pelted along at speeds I could barely fathom. Seriously, every man, women, and child got scalped he would not slow down and at no point was he unsafe, he was 'The Game' personified. Yet at every light, at every stop there was I on my SCR 3 pulling up next to him. I honestly didn’t know that I could maintain that level of speed so consistently and as I rode behind him I began to wonder how fit I truly was and how fast I could really go. I thought about that right up until he looked over his shoulder noticed I was still there and gunned it, I managed a Herculean effort to keep up but he was Hermes and impossible to catch. This must have been his maximum output as he wasn’t able to maintain it for any great length of time but my god it was fast.

Throughout the chase I didn't realise all the places we tore through I can barely remember Elephant and Castle, or Wandsworth road. Places that my mind normally has time to recall are simply not there within my memory of ’yesterdays journey home’ as all of me, my mind, body and soul was focused on the guy in front as he exploded through South London towards home.

Breathing heavy and visibly hurt he came up to me at a set of lights and asked where I was going "Clapham" He looked at the road ahead and with a smile simply replied "Cool" At every set of lights we had to stop at this conversation would continue and hurt a little more as I tried to catch my breath. Topics discussed were him not having time to ride for a club and not being into shaving his legs, how new my still shinny SCR3 was and at one set of lights I even apologised for drafting him I said I would take the lead but would probably slow him down. He laughed.

When we got to the Clapham High street, stopped at a set of lights, he said to me that this was like a little drag strip. The lights went green, I tried to keep up I really did, I wanted to make you guys proud, but whilst I may have been Superman and faster than a speeding locomotive he was clearly the Flash and empowered with the Speed Force.

I lost him before Clapham Common; it was the greatest ride home of my life.

Thank you.

Today I’m not sore but all my leg muscles are tight, as though tomorrow when everything settles in I’ll have new muscles on top of the old ones…..

greg66_tri_v2.0

DonDaddyD wrote:

From London Bridge to Clapham this guy pelted along at speeds I could barely fathom. Seriously, every man, women, and child got scalped he would not slow down and at no point was he unsafe, he was 'The Game' personified.

Ah, young padowan, truly have you been given an insight into The Game.

You know now what you must do...

cjcp

DonDaddyD wrote:

Met the girlfriend at London Bridge yesterday after work. Took her to Evans Cycles (I am romantic) to show here the Bianchi I want and potential bikes she could get. Afterwards we went to a pub on the Thames (near Wagamama's), which does a lovely £7.50 fish and chips (I don't know about you but to me that seems expensive....).

Anywho, most important thing was the journey home. Firstly an Asain lad stopped me to ask me how much my bike was and where he could buy one, he said that he wanted a 'real bike' like a roadie, I felt a one-ness with him so referred him to www.wiggle.co.uk, www.devercycles.co.uk and Bianchi of course.

After buying batteries for my back light and hitting the journey home, London Bridge to Norbury, I picked up (well caught up to) a guy on a single speed Condor with bull horn bars. This guy was swift, could track stand and like me had all the gear.

From London Bridge to Clapham this guy pelted along at speeds I could barely fathom. Seriously, every man, women, and child got scalped he would not slow down and at no point was he unsafe, he was 'The Game' personified. Yet at every light, at every stop there was I on my SCR 3 pulling up next to him. I honestly didn’t know that I could maintain that level of speed so consistently and as I rode behind him I began to wonder how fit I truly was and how fast I could really go. I thought about that right up until he looked over his shoulder noticed I was still there and gunned it, I managed a Herculean effort to keep up but he was Hermes and impossible to catch. This must have been his maximum output as he wasn’t able to maintain it for any great length of time but my god it was fast.

Throughout the chase I didn't realise all the places we tore through I can barely remember Elephant and Castle, or Wandsworth road. Places that my mind normally has time to recall are simply not there within my memory of ’yesterdays journey home’ as all of me, my mind, body and soul was focused on the guy in front as he exploded through South London towards home.

Breathing heavy and visibly hurt he came up to me at a set of lights and asked where I was going "Clapham" He looked at the road ahead and with a smile simply replied "Cool" At every set of lights we had to stop at this conversation would continue and hurt a little more as I tried to catch my breath. Topics discussed were him not having time to ride for a club and not being into shaving his legs, how new my still shinny SCR3 was and at one set of lights I even apologised for drafting him I said I would take the lead but would probably slow him down. He laughed.

When we got to the Clapham High street, stopped at a set of lights, he said to me that this was like a little drag strip. The lights went green, I tried to keep up I really did, I wanted to make you guys proud, but whilst I may have been Superman and faster than a speeding locomotive he was clearly the Flash and empowered with the Speed Force.

I lost him before Clapham Common; it was the greatest ride home of my life.

Thank you.

Today I’m not sore but all my leg muscles are tight, as though tomorrow when everything settles in I’ll have new muscles on top of the old ones…..

Awesome post, DDD.

cjcp

This has got me in the mood for the journey home. :twisted:

And, on that note, not sure I can make a beer, chaps. I have to put the monsters to bed.

Bassjunkieuk

Epic story DDD, it truly sounds like a fun ride and good that you actually got talking to him :-)
It's people like that who prove why proper SS are so high up the FCN

So had the missus given you the (Bianchi) green light to go ahead with your new purchase!
Speaking of which I nearly had to shot my team leader when walking through London the other day. A gorgeous Bianchi came down the road near Euston, in that typical green paint job. I said "That is a lovely bike" and stopped staring as I had to watch where I was going before I hit a lamp post. He replied "Don't like the colour much"..........Oh how little he knows :-)

Greg T

cjcp wrote:

And, on that note, not sure I can make a beer, chaps. I have to put the monsters to bed.

yes you can - it's got to be rapid fire fast action beer to get me home in that magic two hours after work zone before I'm officially "out" and "having fun".

Mrs T has been servicing Bianchi all day and mechanically speaking things are getting bent out of shape......

I "have" to be back on the road by 1900hrs......

DonDDYYDDYYaddy - Good work with the effort - the game makes you talk to people - it's amazing

GT

Bassjunkieuk

Greg T wrote:

DonDDYYDDYYaddy - Good work with the effort - the game makes you talk to people - it's amazing

GT

Also makes you go and have alcoholic beverages with other grown men (and so far one women) all dressed in lycra.......a slightly more worrying and but strangely entertaining side effect of the game!

il_principe

I'm on for a quick beer or two, should be at the Morpeth for 6ish, usual spot!

Citizen Smith

Seeing as the sun is out for once and I have to be out in Clapham this evening, I shall be doing my upmost to leave as feasibly early as possible. I reckon I could be at The Morpeth for 5.15pm... 8)

Coriander

Where is the Morpeth Arms...?

Wrath Rob

DDD, good work in holding him for so long! I bet you were secretly hoping each light was red, as opposed to the normal whish for a easy green journey

Greg T

Coriander wrote:

Where is the Morpeth Arms...?

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/41/4161/Morpeth_Arms/Pimlico

il_principe

Coriander wrote:

Where is the Morpeth Arms...?

58 Millbank, Westminster, London, SW1P 4RW http://tiny.cc/gyZFp

We're normally to be found on the aptly named Ponsonby terrace corner of the pub, outside if the weather holds!

cjcp

I am weak.

I'll be there for a pint.

il_principe

Dammit, for once Greg was quicker than me, oh well, that'll only ever be the case in the digital realm...

Coriander

Is Millbank two way traffic?

Bassjunkieuk

Coriander wrote:

Where is the Morpeth Arms...?

Tis here:

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?zoom=16&c ... qs=SW1P4RW

Just east of Vauxhall Bridge on Millbank. Park your bike up on one of the railings and come looking for the sexy guys in lycra :-)

UnworthyPapaLazaru

Coriander wrote:

Is Millbank two way traffic?

Who cares, just get up on the pavement... :shock:

il_principe

Coriander wrote:

Is Millbank two way traffic?

Yes but if you are coming from the East then your best bet is to approach via John Islip Street. Makes life easier!

Coriander

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Coriander wrote:

Where is the Morpeth Arms...?

Park your bike up on one of the railings and come looking for the sexy guys in lycra :-)

And if I can't find 'em, I'll come and talk to you lot...

il_principe

Coriander wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Coriander wrote:

Where is the Morpeth Arms...?

Park your bike up on one of the railings and come looking for the sexy guys in lycra :-)

And if I can't find 'em, I'll come and talk to you lot...

x'actly - i won't be in lycra!

Coriander

I'm only coming from the Duke of York steps on the Mall, but my chronic sense of direction will proably let me down as I navigate through Victoria.

Greg T

jashburnham wrote:

Dammit, for once Greg was quicker than me, oh well, that'll only ever be the case in the digital realm...

For once.....

JB, in fairness to you (and let's face it "fairness" is an elastic and inconstant concept hereabouts), I have stuff that lives in my fridge that thinks faster than you.

Take your time with a comeback - we've got until 1700 ish.

Bassjunkieuk

Coriander wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Coriander wrote:

Where is the Morpeth Arms...?

Park your bike up on one of the railings and come looking for the sexy guys in lycra :-)

And if I can't find 'em, I'll come and talk to you lot...

Well in all honesty it was someone's co-ordinated cycle jersey that gave the group away first time I was there! That along with all the SS's chained to the fence!

il_principe

I've been meaning to chat to you about your treatment of Mr Hawking. The fridge is no place for a man of his status.

Coriander

I think Jash won that one.

il_principe

Coriander wrote:

I think Jash won that one.

Faster than GregT: