Silly commuting racing

DonDaddyD

Littigator wrote:

This is about the only throne you'll get from him mate

From what domicile is that horrid toiliet with ghastly strong-shade-of-pink wallpaper attached to!

attica

DonDaddyD wrote:

Sandwich and Ribena all over my key board! Thanks!

You'll never claim his throne drinking children's drinks like Ribena.

You need to swap over to one of the following:-

Espresso with the consistency of tar
Beer
Whisky
Sports drink, a proper one, none of this lucozade or red bull (bleurgh), something by SIS or Gatorade or somesuch.
A proper cup of strong "builders" tea
or
a combination of any of the above (somehow the word cocktail didn't seem appropriate in that sentence)

DonDaddyD

Attica wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Sandwich and Ribena all over my key board! Thanks!

You'll never claim his throne drinking children's drinks like Ribena.

You need to swap over to one of the following:-

Espresso with the consistency of tar
Beer
Whisky
Sports drink, a proper one, none of this lucozade or red bull (bleurgh), something by SIS or Gatorade or somesuch.
A proper cup of strong "builders" tea
or
a combination of any of the above (somehow the word cocktail didn't seem appropriate in that sentence)

Mmmm lets see

Espresso with the consistency of tar - No longer agrees with my metabolism

Beer - At work.

Whisky - At work.

Sports drink, a proper one, none of this lucozade or red bull (bleurgh), something by SIS or Gatorade or somesuch. - Gonna make a thread about this, need advice.

A proper cup of strong "builders" tea - Has less of an effect than coffee but effect none-the-less.

lost_in_thought

On topic? Of course not....

DonDaddyD

lost_in_thought wrote:

On topic? Of course not....

Your gonna need a whole lot of ribena to wash that down.

itboffin

lost_in_thought wrote:

On topic? Of course not....

- i'm afraid I'm on a very strict diet, BTW does that come with chilli sauce :twisted:

Littigator

itboffin wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

On topic? Of course not....

- i'm afraid I'm on a very strict diet, BTW does that come with chilli sauce :twisted:

My doctor said I needed more iron in my diet, but I'm not entirely sure that's what he meant....(groan) sorry

Jay dubbleU

Sympathy, Greg, I leapt off the bike too quickly on Thursday night, felt something go twang and Friday morning couldn't put my socks on - however quickly restored by a back massage from Mrs JW and ibropufen - Saturday I managed to walk 10 miles over High Peak - those who mock don't know how painful and frustrating a wrenched back can be

UnworthyPapaLazaru

Great ride home tonight! I didnt get lights till the weekend there so this was my first dusk/dark communte. A few things stood out, firstly I forgot that in winter the road round Arthur Seat closes to cars at dusk. So it was a carless hill climb, and was excellent. Second, there is nothing more beautiful than dusk whilst up the top of a hill, in every direction the view was breathtaking. Third. Wannabe fixie man. Scalped.

Loved it.

Cantdosleepy

Attica wrote:

You'll never claim his throne drinking children's drinks like Ribena.

You need to swap over to one of the following:-

Whisky. Neat. At room temperature. From the bottle. In the middle of a bar brawl. Whilst copulating with a woman who hates but can't resist you. In space. Fighting a dragon.

Fixed this for you.

Bassjunkieuk

I had fun on the way home and actually gave the wife a laugh when I recounted the story so I will share it here...........

On my way along the main road in Croydon I was coming up to a set of lights as the car in the lane to my right decides they want to move over in front of me. As they try to pull in to the lane the lights ahead change and the bus blocks the move. I filter through so I'm between this driver, who has since moved back into the right hand line and pulled up at the stop line, and the bus.

The lights went green and as I expected silly car driver goes off ahead and then pulls across not one but two lanes, without so much as an indicator signal being given. As it was rather dark out (around 17:40) and a bit damp I thought this was rather poor driving.

I caught up with him at the next set of lights and yelled "Not like your indicators!" as I passed, only to realize that he had his window up a tiny bit at the top and I got a rather confused stare back. The lights for his lane changed so I looked back and as he passed he came up with a wonderful comeback..........

"FOUR EYES"

I was honestly dumbstruck by this guys incredibly witty comeback, admittedly I was rather tactless about his driving style but I think his quip was rather unfair. After he can correct his driving with the simple usage of his fingers to work the indicator stalk. For me to rid myself of glasses I need to either get laser eye surgery or contact lenses and as we have discussed previously both of these can prove problematic for cycling!

Nothing else to report as I took it fairly easy on the way home as the horrid misty rain was playing havok with 2 out of my 4 eyes, meaning visibility was greatly reduced and I'm also riding in the sort of area that if I should knock someone's wing mirror I am quite likely to be run down or knifed.........

DiggingDeeper

cjcp wrote:

don_don wrote:

SCR
Winter is true scalping season, all the shiney bike people have resorted to using their car or public transport leaving only people who do not need to MTFU and just get on with scalping those they know to be worthy.

If I commute year round, come rain or shine, but don't particularly care about scalping or being scalped; does that mean I do not need to MTFU, or will I be roundly derided by all and sundry? Not that I would expect that, seeing as you are all such a genteel lot

STONE HIM!

Possibly a bit harsh, but it is the SCR......................SCALP him!!

Having returned from the lush scalping fields of Longleat Center Parcs (just for info they have 20% hills in that park - scalped this geezer whilst pushing my daughter alongside me on her bike up one of these bleeders one day, monster points!)

As regards the issue of the Off season, the Fakengers aren't quite off the scene yet. A true exponent of the art of fakengry sauntered past the red lights at Holloway. Change of lights and with nostrils flaring I set about aforemention chap. In my haste I forgot to notice the beardy chap on his tourer who I bombed past earlier do the same to me. Sloppy, very sloppy. I know I was only off for a week but this is amatuerish. Fakenger buggers off almost immediately so games off there, need to set about retaining my scalp.

It would be true to say I am not good on hills but I am about to be done by Ranulph Fiennes look alike here so sod it Holloway Hill,l lets have it.

I take him, then its have you got the bejesus to keep it. I didn't throw up...but I did him over the hill and then down again into Camden. We meandered through Camden on a uneasy truce.

My issue: he didn't look like a racer but you know he was playing me cos when I stopped to let some geezer do a left he stopped an inch of my back wheel. He was playing me. The face has been clocked for next time, will play a much better game next time. He looked like a 365 day geezer so I will battling him in mid Jan no doubt.

Could be time to get down the shops for some race blades. The neighbour most amused to watch me wringing out my socks tonight on the front door step.

cjcp

That awful drizzly rain put in an appearance tonight. Was wiping my glasses at every opportunity.Difficult to see manhole covers and what not in this weather. Very cautious ride home as a result.

snooks

Greg66 :- All I can recommend is Diazipam...sorted my back out a treat :shock: I had some sort of muscular spasm and the doctor gave me a load to take and made me take time off work! Never did get the chance to thank him!!!!!

CJCP :- Drizzle = Contacts, get them, try them, you'll never look back, but you'll have your peripheral vision, so you don't need to look back See about 60 pages ago..or search for Wang eyes!!! :shock:

DonDaddyD

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

I was honestly dumbstruck by this guys incredibly witty comeback, admittedly I was rather tactless about his driving style but I think his quip was rather unfair. After he can correct his driving with the simple usage of his fingers to work the indicator stalk. For me to rid myself of glasses I need to either get laser eye surgery or contact lenses and as we have discussed previously both of these can prove problematic for cycling!

Bass, I have a -5.5 prescription, I am terribly short sighted if I lost my glasses and didn't have contacts I just wouldn't go to work.

From experience I would and am actively encouraging you to wear (or at least try) contact lenses while riding. There are no drawbacks from wearing contact lenses when cycling that I've found. For starters the lens gives far greater periphery vision than glasses ever could. I find they are better for vision when it rains. Because glasses aren't wrap-arounds they may block stuff entering the eyes from head on but (with my glasses at least) give no protection and actually direct wind into the eye around the edge of the lens. Contacts actually protect your iris etc from dirt and stuff, which leads to this:

I also suffer bad hayfever so during the summer contact lenses weirdly help prevent my allergies :shock:

I get lenses in the post from D&A. Accuview Oasis, extended wear, which means I can sleep in them as they let a large amount of oxygen into the eye compared to other lenses. I get 2 pairs a month (I wear 1 pair every two weeks - this isn't an option that's how they come) and they cost £25 a month. I've slept in them and woken thinking that I can see! Sometimes I forget that I've got them in, they're that comfortable - just keep them clean.

m0scs

Discovered I had a warped front wheel yesterday while out on a ride. On closer inspection I discovered that there was a small tear in the side of tyre.

I seem to recall having an encounter with a large pot hole the other day but didnt realise it had caused any damage at the time.

Having not experienced this before and assumed the worst, i.e new wheel required. A quick search on internet suggest replacement DT Swiss wheel about £130.

Rang LBS, from whom bike purchased earlier this year, they said they would take a look and straighten if possible. Took it down 4pm expecting to hear nothing for a few days, got a call 5pm to say all sorted and come and collect.

By 6pm new tyre fitted and bike back in action for tomorrow.

There's nothing like a bit of first class service to keep you going back to your LBS.

Im running MTB with Conti Ultra Gator 1.25 in slicks at about 110 psi. LBS advised that this is not a great combination and they see a lot of buckled MTB wheels where the bikes are being used for road use. I assumed that MTB would be stronger. Seems that this is not the case.

cjcp

Discovered I had a warped front wheel yesterday while out on a ride. On closer inspection I discovered that there was a small tear in the side of tyre.

I seem to recall having an encounter with a large pot hole the other day but didnt realise it had caused any damage at the time.

Having not experienced this before and assumed the worst, i.e new wheel required. A quick search on internet suggest replacement DT Swiss wheel about £130.

Rang LBS, from whom bike purchased earlier this year, they said they would take a look and straighten if possible. Took it down 4pm expecting to hear nothing for a few days, got a call 5pm to say all sorted and come and collect.

By 6pm new tyre fitted and bike back in action for tomorrow.
There's nothing like a bit of first class service to keep you going back to your LBS.

Good stuff. I warped my rear open sport rim ooo, three months ago, and still need to get it sorted.

Im running MTB with Conti Ultra Gator 1.25 in slicks at about 110 psi. LBS advised that this is not a great combination and they see a lot of buckled MTB wheels where the bikes are being used for road use. I assumed that MTB would be stronger. Seems that this is not the case.

I've never trusted mtbs. On a serious note though, aren't the wheels designed to run on tyres at a lower psi?

Greg T

I found my first brakeless fixed last night.

A very Glam and cool looking all chrome affair, an old track bike by the look of it that had been rechromed. Looked very very nice, I almost shunted into the back of a cab eyeing it up......

The pilot was an Aussie, we had a chat about his bike.

I may have done him up Col De Putney but that was purely coincidental......

No brakes in town....... hardcore.

chromehoof

while going all out for a scooter yesterday (had him too), I got pulled in by the cops and 'warned' for my behaviour.

Does one get extra points for getting pulled in by the cops? Especially if you convince them they were wrong to pull you over?

I'm off to the rants thread..!!

Jen J

Greg T wrote:

I found my first brakeless fixed last night.

A very Glam and cool looking all chrome affair, an old track bike by the look of it that had been rechromed. Looked very very nice, I almost shunted into the back of a cab eyeing it up......

The pilot was an Aussie, we had a chat about his bike.

I may have done him up Col De Putney but that was purely coincidental......

No brakes in town....... hardcore.

I've hardly touched my brakes since going fixed at the weekend.

Of course on my stop/start mile long commute I rarely get over about 12mph, but hey...;) :oops:

Clever Pun

Couple of things happened today.. I’m on the fixed

My new ¾ shorts had adjusted themselves forward and it felt odd so I tried to tweak them on the fly and stopped peddlingright up in the air with only one hand on the handlebars I’m shifted left sharply and I really think I’m going to stack it on a nice big metal manhole cover managed to straighten and get up on the pavement where I stop for a small coronary

On the new part of my route there does seem to be a few roadies that need showing who’s boss…me. I binned one guy he then jumped a light and went off into the distance tut tut… I proceeded to chase him down and managed to take out another 2 roadies as well. Including where we were all lined up at a major junction and you could see they were desperate to kick off fast, I let them creep forward and start just that little bit early, I clip in and spin past heh heh.. winner

m0scs

Hi cjcp

Yes you are right of course, I should be using 2 in knobblies at 25psi but then I would be even slower than I am alrready!

I assumed that an mtb wheel would be stronger as it has to cope with off road conditions that a road bike does not. I guess if you hit a big enough hole its going to bend your wheel regardless of what type it is.

I also tend to ride with the front suspension locked out so it has no give at all.

Its all fixed now and only cost me £17.00 to have it straightened. A bit cheaper than a new wheel

girv73

@m0scs did your LBS give any indication of why MTB wheels fail this way?

I was thinking of running much the same setup myself but not if it's going to knacker my wheels. My MTB tyres are rated to 80PSI (embossed on the side) and I run them at 60PSI usually with the front suspension locked out. No problems so far...

No game on the way in this morning again. I think everyone is hiding or something. One lady shopper, complete with basket and in a full length wool coat hardly counts even at my FCN.

There was a Ranulph Fiennes-alike grinding up the hill in the opposite direction on a bike made from bits of old bridge - looked like he's been doing that every single day since he got back from WWII. Respect. I call him "The Major" on account of his moustache; he always gives the INR and I'm sure I'll actually salute back one day.

lost_in_thought

Coming in today saw a guy on a very tarty Bianchi - black and white frame with white bar tape, wheels, saddle and shoes.

Tart.

'Ooooh', I thought, 'this guy will be good, he looks pretty sporty and everything'. Followed (my) SCR protocol, let him get ahead of me, and tailed well behind him, waiting until he got up to speed, tick followed tock and all that.

Only he never did.

If I'd been on a bloomin' spacehopper I'd still have passed him.

Uxbridge road, MTFU.

Oh and I've gone on before about the relative benefits of braking with hands vs legs on a fixed, brakeless fixed is neither big nor clever, even if you are Australian.

Chrome bike though? Tasty!

jedster

To be honest I reckon running tyres at 120 psi is a bit OTT for commuting, even on a road bike - makes the ride pretty unforgiving and costs you some grip.

I have spec nimbus armadillo 1.5" on my mTB conversion and I like to run them at about 80 psi - still feel quite nippy.

I have 28mm conti ultragators on my crossbike which I like to keep at about 100psi front and 110 psi rear although I have run them at 120psi. I find the improvement in perceived rolling resistance is small and the ride comfort noticeably worse.

J

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

That awful drizzly rain put in an appearance tonight. Was wiping my glasses at every opportunity.Difficult to see manhole covers and what not in this weather. Very cautious ride home as a result.

*** Dispatch from M*A*S*H Unit follows ***

Yes, the ride home last night wsa sh!t. Very nervy, very slow, and a closed road meant I was diverted onto the Strand and Whitehall with a bunch of wet ironwork in the road that I'm not familiar with and couldn't see.

So, the ol' back seemed to sort itself out yesterday. By which I mean I gingerly lowered myself down into the chair in pain, and an hour later got up able to do cartwheels (relatively). Hmm.

Ride home and the familiar ache and tension comes back. By the time I get home, I can hardly dismount, walk, move the bike etc. Two steps forward, two steps back. Most irritating.

Go to the cupboard where the HW cylinder is to hand up shoes, gloves etc and there's the smallest possible pop in my lower back. No more dramatic than a light tap of the pads of your thumb and forefinger. And that's it - the back is back in play.

Get up this morning, and it's suffering the usual overnight tightness. Getting socks/shoes on is not ideal but not as bad as yesterday. During the ride* in it tightens up again. Sure enough, by the time I get to work I can hardly dismount, can't carry the bike up stairs (have to push it and cling to the bannister for dear life - fun!) etc, etc.

Do some stretches on the floor and there's that pop again. Get up, and it's as if nothing's ever been wrong.

So frustrating and cause for hope at the same time. It's pretty clearly a mechanical displacement, it's pretty clearly being exacerbated by cycling, and it's (the soft tissue surrounding whatever's displaced) pretty clearly stretched to sh!t and unstable as a result. I *may* have to abandon the bike for a week to let it settle down and drive in. If so, I'll be sure to mow down any SCR-ers I see. Must remember to top up the screen wash.

*ride. Almost. I stuck it on the 39 to stop myself overdoing it and attained (briefly) 25kmh max. Most of the time I was in the low 20s. Not really a ride by any objective measure.

*** Dispatch ends ***

m0scs

girv73 wrote:

@m0scs did your LBS give any indication of why MTB wheels fail this way?

I was thinking of running much the same setup myself but not if it's going to knacker my wheels. My MTB tyres are rated to 80PSI (embossed on the side) and I run them at 60PSI usually with the front suspension locked out. No problems so far...

No game on the way in this morning again. I think everyone is hiding or something. One lady shopper, complete with basket and in a full length wool coat hardly counts even at my FCN.

There was a Ranulph Fiennes-alike grinding up the hill in the opposite direction on a bike made from bits of old bridge - looked like he's been doing that every single day since he got back from WWII. Respect. I call him "The Major" on account of his moustache; he always gives the INR and I'm sure I'll actually salute back one day.

All I was told was that they see a lot of warped MTB wheels ridden on road tyres and that they are not designed for this use.

Having said that it seems that all that was required to straighten the wheel was too tighten the spokes to pull it back into shape. He found one spoke that was faulty and needed to be replaced as well.

Ive done about 1600 miles on this bike since March, all on the road with road tyres and loads more last year on my earlier bike and this is the first problem Ive had.

I guess Im asking for trouble running a 1.2 in tyre at 110psi all the time but hey makes a big difference to rolling resistance.

I do have some larger volume Spec Nimbus Armadillo which give a more comfortable ride and better grip in the wet and I may put these on the bike for the winter. I'll see how twitchy the bike gets in the wet.

cjcp

Greg66 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

That awful drizzly rain put in an app I stuck it on the 39

Surely not! :shock: There must be something wrong with the front mech cable tension (note: giving you a way out here)

cjcp

m0scs wrote:

All I was told was that they see a lot of warped MTB wheels ridden on road tyres and that they are not designed for this use.

Having said that it seems that all that was required to straighten the wheel was too tighten the spokes to pull it back into shape. He found one spoke that was faulty and needed to be replaced as well.

Ive done about 1600 miles on this bike since March, all on the road with road tyres and loads more last year on my earlier bike and this is the first problem Ive had.

Did they say whether the wheel was now more likely to have problems?

Oh, and MTFU and roll with lower psi/higher resistance!

Totalnewbie

Re the glasses/contacts thing:

That fine drizzle is downright dangerous on specs. I was passed by every man and his dog last night, because I could see sod all. I vowed to always make sure I had my contacts in after that...I was cursing myself all the way home, could barely see a thing. My vision is -7.5 in my worst eye, so removing the glasses was not an option.

My boyfriend also wears glasses, but did not take my precaution of slowing right down, and crashed into a roadworks sign in a bus lane as he merrily continued at 20mph despite the fact he couldn't see a whole lot (separate journeys, but he rang me to tell me, didn't get a lot of sympathy because I know what he's like). Anyway, he only skinned his knee...I broke my elbow last time I came off and he tried to tell me I hadn't :roll:

So I've put the contacts in for now. I am currently trialling ones like DDD that you can sleep in, it's a bit weird though.