Silly commuting racing

dekant

Coming onto Southwark bridge road and as I round the corner I can see the light has turned green.

Look to engage SCR mode but there's a nodder ahead in the narrowing by the roadworks at Gaunt street so I have to play it cool before engaging the after burners once space opens out. Absolutely destroy the competition but of course, just as I get going the light turns red and it's full anchors to stop in time.

Would have looked awesome had I got away with it (honest), but no, I probably just looked silly. Next thing I hear is someone call my name out and KingDav is behind me, presumably filming the whole thing.

Have to claim and IDST before a nice chat to the north side of the "col" du Southwark Bridge.

smokey_bacon

Enjoy your SCR retirement Shirley!

Had a stand up row with a taxi driver this morning for having the temerity to go the right of a speed hump and not the left. For those SCR'ers that use CS7 and the E&C avoid will know Elliot row, its narrow and has speed humps and the gutter is well bumpy. Anyway Id gone round the speed hump got back left and past the Taxi no problem....cue all sort of abuse. I gave him the standard international acknowledgement. So he pulls in to continue his diatribe, I roll over and ask what his problem is. Apparently Im all sorts for being in the centre of the road in a 30 mph zone. Should be on the left etc etc. Tried to explain to him that the gutter is awful but apparently thats not his problem and he can go where he wants at 30. Pointed out to him that he shouldnt be doing 30 because narrow street, other road users and speed humps but apparently that is irrelevant. At this point id got bored so told him I was not surprised Uber was so successful given his attitude and action. He didnt take too kindly to that and I rolled off.

Also saw a cyclist take out a ped at the left turn before trinity gardens/tower hill. He properly bombed it in to the corner unaware or uncaring of the peds in the middle of the road. Poor woman just froze and took the hit. Both of us stopped and she seemed ok with just a cut on her arm but the cyclist was unapologetic. Really bad riding on his part.

I need a drink!

smokey_bacon

kingdav wrote:

Nice spin and chat with dekant this morning in the E&C/Southwark Bridge Panther zone.

edited to add: Unfortunately we bypassed Smokey Bacon who took the back roads round Elephant.

Ha! our paths would have crossed if Id not encountered that Taxi driver ! *shakes fist*

hopkinb

Coming out of the end of Elliot Row, cyclist on the segregated lane I have to turn onto staring at his phone, who suddenly looks up and realises there are other people in the world, panics, brakes one handed, falls off. He was fine, but we have to share the road with all sorts of idiots.

https://youtu.be/m83uB4xD03Y

Earlier on in Colliers Wood, had words with some bloke at a ped crossing. He was almost run over by a van jumping the red, which he didnt react to, other than jumping backwards, then some witless idiot on a bike also jumped the light, in the middle of the road, yards away from the pedestrian. Obviously a dick move from the cyclist. The pedestrian went nuts at the cyclist. I asked him why he hadn't also gone nuts at the van, which had jumped a red, actually made him jump back on the pavement, and which would have killed him if he hadn't. He said he liked van drivers, as he was one, but hated fcuking cyclists, who all jump red lights. The light went green, so I just carried on my way without the chance to debate with this intellectual giant of South West London.

smokey_bacon

^ wow thats pretty special by that rider!

anonymousblackfg

Sounds like everyone was encountering london's finest this morning. For got to ask if anyone else spotted the barney the other night on CS7 by E&C where a brommie rider kicked a car and then went for it. I over took him further up the road and told him he either needed speed up or take the back roads.

You have to remember with black cabbies that their jobs began to be mechanised in 2002 once you could buy a satnav, who of decent quality is left 16 years on?

cjcp

Rear freehub started to separate from the hub on this morning's commute.

Apologies to all who had to suffer the squeaking and creaking, and to those who'll have to put up with it on the way home. I think I found a sprocket which doesn't cause it to squeal too much.

Bugger, bugger, bugger.

rower63

cjcp wrote:

Rear freehub started to separate from the hub on this morning's commute.

Apologies to all who had to suffer the squeaking and creaking, and to those who'll have to put up with it on the way home. I think I found a sprocket which doesn't cause it to squeal too much...

just be careful it or a bit of it doesn't detach completely and make its way into the rear cage and carry everything into the spokes...

cjcp

rower63 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Rear freehub started to separate from the hub on this morning's commute.

Apologies to all who had to suffer the squeaking and creaking, and to those who'll have to put up with it on the way home. I think I found a sprocket which doesn't cause it to squeal too much...

just be careful it or a bit of it doesn't detach completely and make its way into the rear cage and carry everything into the spokes...

That would be terrific...

It's happened before, to previous wheels, so I'm hopeful it'll hold for the journey home.

It's when the pawls go completely, and your legs are spinning away whilst you're going nowhere, is also a bit of a bugger.

j_mcd

cjcp wrote:

rower63 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Rear freehub started to separate from the hub on this morning's commute.

Apologies to all who had to suffer the squeaking and creaking, and to those who'll have to put up with it on the way home. I think I found a sprocket which doesn't cause it to squeal too much...

just be careful it or a bit of it doesn't detach completely and make its way into the rear cage and carry everything into the spokes...

That would be terrific...

It's happened before, to previous wheels, so I'm hopeful it'll hold for the journey home.

It's when the pawls go completely, and your legs are spinning away whilst you're going nowhere, is also a bit of a bugger.

For someone who is technically inept (in bike terms), how does this manifest itself? How would I know that it's not my bottom bracket that is creaking and that it might be the free hub?

cjcp

J_MCD wrote:

cjcp wrote:

rower63 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Rear freehub started to separate from the hub on this morning's commute.

Apologies to all who had to suffer the squeaking and creaking, and to those who'll have to put up with it on the way home. I think I found a sprocket which doesn't cause it to squeal too much...

just be careful it or a bit of it doesn't detach completely and make its way into the rear cage and carry everything into the spokes...

That would be terrific...

It's happened before, to previous wheels, so I'm hopeful it'll hold for the journey home.

It's when the pawls go completely, and your legs are spinning away whilst you're going nowhere, is also a bit of a bugger.

For someone who is technically inept (in bike terms), how does this manifest itself? How would I know that it's not my bottom bracket that is creaking and that it might be the free hub?

I initially thought it was my BB, but it developed into something a bit more screechy than a BB, which made me think "hold on..."; and then the gears suddenly started to jump, which is when I thought "oh fiddlesticks"; and then I couldn't spin the cassette backwards at VB lights, which is what clinched it, and escalated the situation to a full on "FFS!!!!", because that's what happened in the past --- the pawls are rogered.

When I arrived at work, I had a closer look and saw that there was play in the freehub.

EDIT: given the need to get home quickly tonight, I was a little irritable.

mamil314

Here's to deserted Richmond Park tonight, can't wait for kickball to kick off. Headwind - you and me, buddy, you and me.

mr_ribble

Got a rare thank you at the lights from a guy that I towed up through Balham, oe'r the hill, and down Clapham HS.

Later on in the ride .. I'd expected the KW with saved legs and deep sections to put up more of a fight

cjcp

mamil314 wrote:

Here's to deserted Richmond Park tonight, can't wait for kickball to kick off. Headwind - you and me, buddy, you and me.

Would've been a much better idea...

rower63

I overtook and was overtaken a good few times by cjcp last night on the way home, though he may not have been aware. I did try to find an opportunity to abuse him especially along Priory Lane, but never found the right moment. I was in a blue Subaru (gold rims, quad exhaust, throaty thrum). It's quite interesting being in a car especially along that stretch - there were a LOT of cyclists. I can see how a driver with a different temperament and attitude from mine might get frustrated...

smokey_bacon

rower63 wrote:

I was in a blue Subaru (gold rims, quad exhaust, throaty thrum).

Which Subaru, im a sucker for blue Impreza WRX's!

Much much less controversial commute today. Got done by Rhodrich at the lights for the Millbank Sprint. I had a standing start in the group and he timed it perfectley for a rolling flying start. You cant underestimate how much of an impact good momentum has! Never seen again after that.

dhope

Velopark this evening to get some time in aero position.
So shiny new bike. Clipless, deep sections with shouty hub, tri bars, power meter, Di2, garmin, roadie kit. FCN likely negative and that's without shaving my legs. Definitely was 'that guy' / prommuting / all the gear etc.
Fortunately only one chap on a Bianchi who was quite quick and we both just put in a token effort

I miss commuting. Been faffing around with more structured stuff for a while but Ironman should be done soon and I can get back to enjoying the 'junk' miles

tgotb

dhope wrote:

Velopark this evening to get some time in aero position.
So shiny new bike. Clipless, deep sections with shouty hub, tri bars, power meter, Di2, garmin, roadie kit. FCN likely negative and that's without shaving my legs. Definitely was 'that guy' / prommuting / all the gear etc.

I rode up to Hillingdon and back last night on the TT bike. Crikey, that bike is seriously unpleasant to ride in traffic. It's fast though; averaged 20mph on the way back, on deserted roads, despite never touching the aero bars or hitting 200W.

hopkinb

Talking of TT bikes, there was some tool on a TT bike on CS7 this morning wearing a New Zealand jersey. Weaving about all over the shop, jumping onto the pavement at red lights.

j_mcd

cjcp wrote:

I initially thought it was my BB, but it developed into something a bit more screechy than a BB, which made me think "hold on..."; and then the gears suddenly started to jump, which is when I thought "oh fiddlesticks"; and then I couldn't spin the cassette backwards at VB lights, which is what clinched it, and escalated the situation to a full on "FFS!!!!", because that's what happened in the past --- the pawls are rogered.

When I arrived at work, I had a closer look and saw that there was play in the freehub.

EDIT: given the need to get home quickly tonight, I was a little irritable.

I think that your problem might have helped me out. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the BB on mine (no play or anything) and the creaking comes on when under cornering pressure, hard acceleration. I hadn't even considered the hub/freewheel.

So thanks! And sorry for your misfortune!!

mr_ribble

hopkinb wrote:

Talking of TT bikes, there was some tool on a TT bike on CS7 this morning wearing a New Zealand jersey. Weaving about all over the shop, jumping onto the pavement at red lights.

Ah the antipodal antagonist.

He's got previous. I'm sure if you go back 50 pages you'll see talk of him returning to his motherland in an silver fern liveried coffin. I also saw him this am. I waited 2 minutes to let him get out of sight ..

njee20

J_MCD wrote:

I think that your problem might have helped me out. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the BB on mine (no play or anything) and the creaking comes on when under cornering pressure, hard acceleration. I hadn't even considered the hub/freewheel.

So thanks! And sorry for your misfortune!!

Fairly unlikely to be the freehub in that instance - skewer/thru-axle is more likely, just check that first; disassemble, clean and lube the moving surfaces. Could be hub bearings as you're side loading them more when cornering, but it's not the normal symptom of worn hub bearings. Grab the rim and rock the tyre side to side to see if there's any play, twiddle the axle to check it's smooth. Take the wheel off and spin the cassette by hand, if it spins for a long time and/or sounds gritty then the freehub bearings have probably gone.

cjcp

Yeah, if there's no play in the freehub, it could just be a case of needing to clean the drop outs and skewers. A couple of times I've gotten out of the saddle, heard a squeak, taken the wheels out, cleaned the skewers or even just tightened them up, and no squeak after that.

As for my wheel, its had it: last night's journey home was cringe-worthy, and I might even have scared a few people with the noise.

One classic moment in the cycle lane on Thames St heading home: a guy in Milram kit with a chap stuck to his wheel all the way from Tower Hill overtakes another chap on a gravel/CX bike. No big deal, looked fine, but, at the lights by Southwark Bridge, gravel bike guy tries to undertake Milram guy by trying to squeeze between him and a female rider on shopping-style bike, making contact with both. Words were exchanged, which presumably involved gravel bike guy trying to justify why his manoeuvres were spot on...

Gravel bike guy later seen on Millbank, glued to the wheel of the chap who'd previously been glued to Milram guy's wheel. In a tailwind.

kingstonian

cjcp wrote:

J_MCD wrote:

cjcp wrote:

rower63 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Rear freehub started to separate from the hub on this morning's commute.

Apologies to all who had to suffer the squeaking and creaking, and to those who'll have to put up with it on the way home. I think I found a sprocket which doesn't cause it to squeal too much...

just be careful it or a bit of it doesn't detach completely and make its way into the rear cage and carry everything into the spokes...

That would be terrific...

It's happened before, to previous wheels, so I'm hopeful it'll hold for the journey home.

It's when the pawls go completely, and your legs are spinning away whilst you're going nowhere, is also a bit of a bugger.

For someone who is technically inept (in bike terms), how does this manifest itself? How would I know that it's not my bottom bracket that is creaking and that it might be the free hub?

I initially thought it was my BB, but it developed into something a bit more screechy than a BB, which made me think "hold on..."; and then the gears suddenly started to jump, which is when I thought "oh fiddlesticks"; and then I couldn't spin the cassette backwards at VB lights, which is what clinched it, and escalated the situation to a full on "FFS!!!!", because that's what happened in the past --- the pawls are rogered.

When I arrived at work, I had a closer look and saw that there was play in the freehub.

EDIT: given the need to get home quickly tonight, I was a little irritable.

EVEN more irritable than usual, eh ?!?!?!

anonymousblackfg

Mr_Ribble wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

Talking of TT bikes, there was some tool on a TT bike on CS7 this morning wearing a New Zealand jersey. Weaving about all over the shop, jumping onto the pavement at red lights.

Ah the antipodal antagonist.

He's got previous. I'm sure if you go back 50 pages you'll see talk of him returning to his motherland in an silver fern liveried coffin. I also saw him this am. I waited 2 minutes to let him get out of sight ..

Might have been the one previously that i've complimented on his keeness to get inside a coffin.

Tons of rozzers, a nice pack of 5 on motorbikes all the way up the hell of the south. Good to see road policing means you just beep your horn when you see an issue, nothing else.

vpnikolov

Is it just me or this morning was quieter than usual? Leisurely ride in and not a lot of cyclists around, just the occasional chopper.

cjcp

Yeah, was lovely. Definitely less car and bike traffic.

Even bumped into GregT for the first time in a while.

cjcp

And there's another Molesey RC rider.

@rower63 - are you cloning yourself?

greg66_tri_v2.0

Two things this morning.

First, pulled up at the lights on Clapham Common Northside at the junction with Cedars Road. The last thing to happen before the east bound lights go green is that cyclists come off the common going straight down Cedars Road.

One guy on a roadie came flying off the common and then for no obvious reason went down very hard in a clattering skidding mess of bike and rider right in the middle of CC Northside. Seemed angry (at himself), in pain, and shaken up. I really couldn't work out what had caused it. Best guess was he'd caught a wheel in a rut in the road and got unlucky. But nasty to see happen.

Secondly, this popped up on my FB feed when I got in.

https://www.ceramicspeed.com/en/driven/

Now IME ceramicspeed stuff is generally the most expensive stuff you'll find for at best incredibly marginal gains (ie no real world gains). But this looks bloody cool, I must admit. And that means I have a bit of "want" building in my loins.

anonymousblackfg

Fully agree with that being pretty cool but I do share other people thoughts of how well it performs with someone mashing 1500 watts through it compared to the security of a chain wrapped around sprockets.