Silly commuting racing

lost_in_thought

Going on the stupid choob last week has given me a cold, so my performance is down a little on usual levels. Nonetheless, I set off, pootled through ealing, got to Acton and saw the usual glut of cyclists, mostly pretty slow-moving.

I followed behind them to the lights at the railway bridge, where, due to hilarious circumstances already explained in the RP thread, a lady failed to unclip, her male friend tried to grab her, unclipped the wrong foot himself and they landed in a heap very slowly with much flailing.

They say laughter is the best medicine, so off I went. Told myself to MTFU and made good time in to work, never saw any of them again. One of them had one of those bikes with very few spokes. +1 for me!

All you 'man-flu' sufferers take note.

Out and about on the roadie this weekend, lovely ride in wonderful weather.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Clever Pun wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Ah, Jash, I was thinking about you on Sat. In GBCycles helping a mate choose a bike, and evidently a bit of chat had been made, which led to them wheeling out a tricked out £8k Prince. All black (matt) with shiny black decals you had to squint to read. Super Record 11 throughout (and the rear mech oozes cool on SR11) plus Lightweight Standards Gen III. Page 24 of the 09 catalogue. Really nice. And in my size too. :P

Croydon? what you doing over there chap? you local?

Relatively - SW18. My mate had selected GBCycles on the basis of proximity and range, and a couple of deals they were doing.

He's now running the Embankment gauntlet on a RED AND BLACK MERCKX LXM. He knows nothing of the SCR sub-culture, but he is quite competitive... keep an eye out for him :twisted:

Bassjunkieuk

Clever Pun wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Ah, Jash, I was thinking about you on Sat. In GBCycles helping a mate choose a bike, and evidently a bit of chat had been made, which led to them wheeling out a tricked out £8k Prince. All black (matt) with shiny black decals you had to squint to read. Super Record 11 throughout (and the rear mech oozes cool on SR11) plus Lightweight Standards Gen III. Page 24 of the 09 catalogue. Really nice. And in my size too. :P

Croydon? what you doing over there chap? you local?

Me thinks I might be popping down there for a look around :-)
Just had a looksy at the 09 catalogue on the website and had a play around with the other colors for the 09 Prince :-D

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Ah, Jash, I was thinking about you on Sat. In GBCycles helping a mate choose a bike, and evidently a bit of chat had been made, which led to them wheeling out a tricked out £8k Prince. All black (matt) with shiny black decals you had to squint to read. Super Record 11 throughout (and the rear mech oozes cool on SR11) plus Lightweight Standards Gen III. Page 24 of the 09 catalogue. Really nice. And in my size too. :P

Croydon? what you doing over there chap? you local?

Relatively - SW18. My mate had selected GBCycles on the basis of proximity and range, and a couple of deals they were doing.

He's now running the Embankment gauntlet on a RED AND BLACK MERCKX LXM. He knows nothing of the SCR sub-culture, but he is quite competitive... keep an eye out for him :twisted:

Times please! :twisted:

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

Of course I don't need it, I'm hardly Sastre/Valverde but's that's not really the point. I love riding that bike and as long as I remain childless I fully intend on chucking what disposable income I have at cycling; it keeps me fit and makes me happy and I can't ask for more than that.

That's a mindset that won't go away once kids come along. Trust me on this.

+1

However, the good lady places me strict time constraints when I go into Sigma Sports. I say, "I just want to pop into Sigma Sports", but she's no knows full well that one does not just "pop into Sigma Sports". Never attempt to be clever by drawing an analogy with the time the fairer sex spends shopping for clothes. Never.

il_principe

Greg66 wrote:

Ah, Jash, I was thinking about you on Sat. In GBCycles helping a mate choose a bike, and evidently a bit of chat had been made, which led to them wheeling out a tricked out £8k Prince. All black (matt) with shiny black decals you had to squint to read. Super Record 11 throughout (and the rear mech oozes cool on SR11) plus Lightweight Standards Gen III. Page 24 of the 09 catalogue. Really nice. And in my size too. :P

*Sigh I really do want Super Record. Not sure I'd want a Prince in black though, I don't like all black bikes and hate the look of the Storck. Lightweight wheels as well you say? You know you can get them custom painted now...

.......... daydreams.

Jen J

jashburnham wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Ah, Jash, I was thinking about you on Sat. In GBCycles helping a mate choose a bike, and evidently a bit of chat had been made, which led to them wheeling out a tricked out £8k Prince. All black (matt) with shiny black decals you had to squint to read. Super Record 11 throughout (and the rear mech oozes cool on SR11) plus Lightweight Standards Gen III. Page 24 of the 09 catalogue. Really nice. And in my size too. :P

*Sigh I really do want Super Record. Not sure I'd want a Prince in black though, I don't like all black bikes and hate the look of the Storck. Lightweight wheels as well you say? You know you can get them custom painted now...

.......... daydreams.

I must have been thinking about you too, as somehow found myself on wiggle buying a complete new biking outfit all in black and white to co-ordinate with my road bike.

Although I forgot to buy new shoes, which was the only thing I actually needed... :?

il_principe

Well Greg and I can both attest to the importance of co-coordinating kit. Although Greg loses points for not adequately matching bike and kit. However the full "red" kit is really something to behold, something drinkers at the Morpeth can attest to.

cjcp

Jen J wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Ah, Jash, I was thinking about you on Sat. In GBCycles helping a mate choose a bike, and evidently a bit of chat had been made, which led to them wheeling out a tricked out £8k Prince. All black (matt) with shiny black decals you had to squint to read. Super Record 11 throughout (and the rear mech oozes cool on SR11) plus Lightweight Standards Gen III. Page 24 of the 09 catalogue. Really nice. And in my size too. :P

*Sigh I really do want Super Record. Not sure I'd want a Prince in black though, I don't like all black bikes and hate the look of the Storck. Lightweight wheels as well you say? You know you can get them custom painted now...

.......... daydreams.

I must have been thinking about you too, as somehow found myself on wiggle buying a complete new biking outfit all in black and white to co-ordinate with my road bike.

Although I forgot to buy new shoes, which was the only thing I actually needed... :?

Whenever I hear "Lightweights", all I think about is Sinkewitz's front wheel (an Obermeyer, I think it was) buckling as he turned to avoid a labrador during last year's Tour. If you watch the slo-mo, I think it buckles before he hits the wandering mutt.

snooks

Is that with your red glasses?

Bassjunkieuk

jashburnham wrote:

Well Greg and I can both attest to the importance of co-coordinating kit. Although Greg loses points for not adequately matching bike and kit. However the full "red" kit is really something to behold, something drinkers at the Morpeth can attest to.

I think it was a cry for attention.....and yes it was quite a sight to behold at first but it did mean if we all got separated inside the pub we had somewhere handy to meet up!

The best I've managed so far is black and red gloves to co-ordinate with my bike, although I was trying to get hold of some black/red Michelin Pro 2 Races before I decided on the Marathon+'s

tailwindhome

First scalp claimed on Saturday!!

Its been 44 hours but the smell of battle still lingers.

The women folk and young uns were left at home while your brave warrior ventured out on an epic quest. Never before had 25 miles been attempted.

Your brave hero was wounded, yes wounded badly from the previous voyages *

Mid way through the odessy the wind calmed and the birds arose from the trees. A dark sense of foreboding hung in the air.

Suddenly the battle was on as it rose from the fields more beast than man.

To know is to act!

The race was over in seconds and there was only going to be one winner.

In generations to come fathers will bring their sons to this place and tell in hushed tone of the legend that was born here.


(My FCN 10 MTB, Nobblies, Flats)

(The fallen warrior - Tandem (I saw four legs), Clipless, Black & White team colour, Skinsuit, On board rehydration system and race number)

* Pumping the tyres to 80psi did compromise comfort somewhat

Stevehall00

First post, thought id get in on the action.

My mate departs for the Americas tomorrow and has given me his MTB to sell. I ride a £30 no name MTB with flats and Speciaized nimbus so I though id give the £800 Trek a whirl on the commute. BIG mistake. Those of you on nobblies on the commute, you are brave, brave men to whom efficiency is for nancies, I salute you.

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Whenever I hear "Lightweights", all I think about is Sinkewitz's front wheel (an Obermeyer, I think it was) buckling as he turned to avoid a labrador during last year's Tour. If you watch the slo-mo, I think it buckles before he hits the wandering mutt.

I agree. Although by then it was at 90 degrees to his direction of travel. Not sure many carbon rims would survive that.

I had a (second hand) pair of LW Standards last year. Nice to try them out, but frankly they just didn't provide the "WOW" factor that I'd hoped for from a pair of wheels that cost that much. My Campag wheels are right porkers in comparison, but it's pretty hard to justify the improvement in performance for the extra £££.

Jay dubbleU

At last - a proper report - I thought for a moment that I'd strayed onto the fashion show by mistake - congrats McChubby - team colour and race number - chapeau sir!

Still haven't found a worthy target even though I'm only FCN 10 - place seems to be overun with creaky full suspension MTBs

biondino

You sure the person you scalped was commuting? On a Saturday? And you were commuting, right? Sorry to rain on your parade

ansbaradigeidfran

What if I drive the missus to work on the weekend, then get my bike out of the car and ride home? Am I commuting?

It's immaterial, really: Not many cyclists on the country lane I take. My three rides along the route so far have turned up three cars, a tractor, and a bloke taking two dogs for a walk.

Newbury chap

We should call it the "ideal bike price point" IBPP.

I like that, the other one that I find really interesting is when someone asks what we paid for the bike. When faced with, how much was that?!?! From your partner or loved one, its best to look at your shoes and take half off....

Can anyone think of a better acronym for RRP?

tailwindhome

Sorry

I have a weird sense of humour

(The fallen warrior - Tandem (I saw four legs), Clipless, Black & White team colour, Skinsuit, On board rehydration system and race number)

I may have been racing a cow

I did win however!

greg66_tri_v2.0

snooks wrote:

Is that with your red glasses?

Ahem. I think we've been up that hill and down that dale quite enough. All I'll say now is (a) trying SCR'ing in all red-kit. No one gives you any breaks; and (b) the glasses are now yellow frames + yellow lenses until spring comes back. Better vis at night (although at the price of a co-ordination calamity!).

Kieran_Burns

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

Sorry

I have a weird sense of humour

(The fallen warrior - Tandem (I saw four legs), Clipless, Black & White team colour, Skinsuit, On board rehydration system and race number)

I may have been racing a cow

I did win however!

and the prize for "daftest post of the month" goes to...

il_principe

On another note - this morning i received a salient lesson in the importance of maintaining good chain tension, put on a little spurt to get in front of a bus on Lambeth bridge only for my chain to jump off the rear and then front ring, no damage done thank God, but I'll be tightening the tension before setting off this evening.

linsen

I passed every single bike today and scalped a street cleaning thingy

Got to work very pleased with myself.

Got out of the car ....

Oh b*gger I've given it away

Bassjunkieuk

Greg66 wrote:

snooks wrote:

Is that with your red glasses?

Ahem. I think we've been up that hill and down that dale quite enough. All I'll say now is (a) trying SCR'ing in all red-kit. No one gives you any breaks; and (b) the glasses are now yellow frames + yellow lenses until spring comes back. Better vis at night (although at the price of a co-ordination calamity!).

Just to be clear the lenses are yellow, not a "dark shade of orange" right
Besides @ FCN 0 you shouldn't expect many breaks, but then at least it might reduce the cases of SMIDSY!

biondino

jashburnham wrote:

On another note - this morning i received a salient lesson in the importance of maintaining good chain tension, put on a little spurt to get in front of a bus on Lambeth bridge only for my chain to jump off the rear and then front ring, no damage done thank God, but I'll be tightening the tension before setting off this evening.

How do you do this?

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

snooks wrote:

Is that with your red glasses?

Ahem. I think we've been up that hill and down that dale quite enough. All I'll say now is (a) trying SCR'ing in all red-kit. No one gives you any breaks; and (b) the glasses are now yellow frames + yellow lenses until spring comes back. Better vis at night (although at the price of a co-ordination calamity!).

I propose the following poll: "Who is the biggest tart: Greg66 or Jash?"

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

snooks wrote:

Is that with your red glasses?

Ahem. I think we've been up that hill and down that dale quite enough. All I'll say now is (a) trying SCR'ing in all red-kit. No one gives you any breaks; and (b) the glasses are now yellow frames + yellow lenses until spring comes back. Better vis at night (although at the price of a co-ordination calamity!).

I propose the following poll: "Who is the biggest tart: Greg66 or Jash?"

Jash rides an Italian frame. He wins. No question. 8)

greg66_tri_v2.0

biondino wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

On another note - this morning i received a salient lesson in the importance of maintaining good chain tension, put on a little spurt to get in front of a bus on Lambeth bridge only for my chain to jump off the rear and then front ring, no damage done thank God, but I'll be tightening the tension before setting off this evening.

How do you do this?

Assuming this is the Pearson rather than the Prince (I think) you set the back wheel further back in the drop outs; presumably there are some screws in the drop outs that you can tighten to shorten their depth.

Jay dubbleU

I'm worried about riding home now - eveyone is going to point at me and shout "fashion disaster" :oops:

lost_in_thought

Greg66 wrote:

biondino wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

On another note - this morning i received a salient lesson in the importance of maintaining good chain tension, put on a little spurt to get in front of a bus on Lambeth bridge only for my chain to jump off the rear and then front ring, no damage done thank God, but I'll be tightening the tension before setting off this evening.

How do you do this?

Assuming this is the Pearson rather than the Prince (I think) you set the back wheel further back in the drop outs; presumably there are some screws in the drop outs that you can tighten to shorten their depth.

Indeedy - on a SS it's very easy - pull the wheel back and re-tension the bolts, or tighten up the chain tugs.

On the prince I'd have NO IDEA. :shock: