Silly commuting racing

njee20

Norks74 wrote:

dekant wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Also saw full face helmet guy getting angry and spinning furiously. Its been a while and I was surprised he was still alive.

Is this the chap who shoals on the right at every single light, then sets off a second or two early, spinning furiously, before moving left across everyone's path and getting in the way?

What a tw@t he was.

Is this the very tall bloke with a red top with white chevrons on the back by any chance?

If it's the one I'm thinking of he's a little guy with cargo shorts and trainers, on a really haggard looking road bike, and a full face lid. See him on CS8 and down the Embankment quite a bit.

DrHaggis wrote:

Out of curiosity, what's the pace of a London nodder in the flat? 15 mph? 20 mph? 25 mph? I only very rarely see people doing over 20mph in Edinburgh.

There are literally hundreds of them, some doing 5mph, some doing 25+ mph. Over 20 is quick over any protracted period, but still plenty of people managing it who are a total disaster on a bike.

rower63

anonymousblackfg wrote:

... the pro nodder? has bought SPD's, deep sections (will have never have slammed the stem) and bibs, rides better than a chopper and has some pace but still makes from very naive filtering decisions? ...

You see a lot of them in the metamorphosis stage from full chopper to promuter, where they have much of the gear, as you say, and the bibs have emerged but the flappy nylon shorts haven't quite yet been shed.

dekant

Norks74 wrote:

Is this the very tall bloke with a red top with white chevrons on the back by any chance?

Dunno, I haven't seen him in years since I used to commute on the embankment. Bit hazy but I think he just wore a t-shirt, it was the full face MTB helmet that I remember most.

roger_merriman

DrHaggis wrote:

Out of curiosity, what's the pace of a London nodder in the flat? 15 mph? 20 mph? 25 mph? I only very rarely see people doing over 20mph in Edinburgh.

some roads are a lot faster, the Embankment is a quick road, vs others. equally nodder can mean various things I suspect to various people!

plus add in internet speed! ;-)

most folks are probably closer to 15 than 25mph there is the odd one or two but quite rare really.

5milestogo

dekant wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Also saw full face helmet guy getting angry and spinning furiously. Its been a while and I was surprised he was still alive.

Is this the chap who shoals on the right at every single light, then sets off a second or two early, spinning furiously, before moving left across everyone's path and getting in the way?

What a tw@t he was.

Did anyone see Goldie out there coming in from Putney? Gold helmet, gold bars, yellow (nr gold) wheels, on a SS SPEC several sizes too small. Scott cat suit and tunes blarring. Legs spinning like a food mixer. I slowed a few times to give myself some humour. What was he about?

rower63

Asprilla wrote:

Rower63 was about 10s ahead of me at Ham Cross where he went straight on and I went down to Kingston Gate. I think I arrived at the junction of Kings Road and Richmond Road about a minute before him.

I passed you after the lights on Kingston bridge, you got ahead on the bike-lane with perhaps 7 seconds advantage once it opened up, you pressed on I think and I just didn't have the legs lungs or motivation to chase (after 3-4 weeks of zero exercise through August).

asprilla

njee20 wrote:

Norks74 wrote:

dekant wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Also saw full face helmet guy getting angry and spinning furiously. Its been a while and I was surprised he was still alive.

Is this the chap who shoals on the right at every single light, then sets off a second or two early, spinning furiously, before moving left across everyone's path and getting in the way?

What a tw@t he was.

Is this the very tall bloke with a red top with white chevrons on the back by any chance?

If it's the one I'm thinking of he's a little guy with cargo shorts and trainers, on a really haggard looking road bike, and a full face lid. See him on CS8 and down the Embankment quite a bit.

That's him. Short, dangerous, legs spinning like an egg-beater, takes umbridge at anyone for minor infractions, generally tops out at about 15mph.

rower63 wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Rower63 was about 10s ahead of me at Ham Cross where he went straight on and I went down to Kingston Gate. I think I arrived at the junction of Kings Road and Richmond Road about a minute before him.

I passed you after the lights on Kingston bridge, you got ahead on the bike-lane with perhaps 7 seconds advantage once it opened up, you pressed on I think and I just didn't have the legs lungs or motivation to chase (after 3-4 weeks of zero exercise through August).

I was reeling you in on the way up to the ballet school, but then that other chap put in a little dig when you passed him and I noticed you upped the output a bit to put him back in his box, so I quit the chase. Once he headed off to Robin Hood you slowed and I was reeling you in again but you went straight at Ham Cross.

I saw you on Kingston Bridge and figured I had to put in some kind of effort if I was going to take the cycle lane, otherwise I'd just be holding you up given the queuing traffic.

dekant

Asprilla wrote:

That's him. Short, dangerous, legs spinning like an egg-beater, takes umbridge at anyone for minor infractions, generally tops out at about 15mph.

As I said, what a tw@t.

Found that the best way to deal with him was to set off early with him, then match speeds to prevent him chopping in. After a couple of sets of lights he soon learnt.

njee20

Anyone who does that should be able to be swept under a bus. If you're not fast or at least going to get away fast then don't push right the front and put yourself on the RH side.

wolfsbane2k

rower63 wrote:

anonymousblackfg wrote:

... the pro nodder? has bought SPD's, deep sections (will have never have slammed the stem) and bibs, rides better than a chopper and has some pace but still makes from very naive filtering decisions? ...

You see a lot of them in the metamorphosis stage from full chopper to promuter, where they have much of the gear, as you say, and the bibs have emerged but the flappy nylon shorts haven't quite yet been shed.

Leave me and my nylon overshorts out of this.
And we've all made niave filtering choices, but i'll never move to deep sections.

whatleytom

dekant wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

That's him. Short, dangerous, legs spinning like an egg-beater, takes umbridge at anyone for minor infractions, generally tops out at about 15mph.

As I said, what a tw@t.

Found that the best way to deal with him was to set off early with him, then match speeds to prevent him chopping in. After a couple of sets of lights he soon learnt.

This the bloke on the green dawes with down tube shifters? Full face helmet, massive hi vis jacket and long trousers no matter what the weather. Never found him aggressive, just very very annoying.

asprilla

whatleytom wrote:

dekant wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

That's him. Short, dangerous, legs spinning like an egg-beater, takes umbridge at anyone for minor infractions, generally tops out at about 15mph.

As I said, what a tw@t.

Found that the best way to deal with him was to set off early with him, then match speeds to prevent him chopping in. After a couple of sets of lights he soon learnt.

This the bloke on the green dawes with down tube shifters? Full face helmet, massive hi vis jacket and long trousers no matter what the weather. Never found him aggressive, just very very annoying.

Having cut everyone up last night he got annoyed when someone cruised past him and positioned themselves in front. Full face guy immediately sped-up, overtook and then slowed to block the guy again.

Maybe passive aggressive is a better description.

cruff

Asprilla wrote:

whatleytom wrote:

dekant wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

That's him. Short, dangerous, legs spinning like an egg-beater, takes umbridge at anyone for minor infractions, generally tops out at about 15mph.

As I said, what a tw@t.

Found that the best way to deal with him was to set off early with him, then match speeds to prevent him chopping in. After a couple of sets of lights he soon learnt.

This the bloke on the green dawes with down tube shifters? Full face helmet, massive hi vis jacket and long trousers no matter what the weather. Never found him aggressive, just very very annoying.

Having cut everyone up last night he got annoyed when someone cruised past him and positioned themselves in front. Full face guy immediately sped-up, overtook and then slowed to block the guy again.

Maybe passive aggressive is a better description.

No sympathy. Should have dropped him like a stone

norks74

dekant wrote:

Norks74 wrote:

Is this the very tall bloke with a red top with white chevrons on the back by any chance?

Dunno, I haven't seen him in years since I used to commute on the embankment. Bit hazy but I think he just wore a t-shirt, it was the full face MTB helmet that I remember most.

Judging by the number of sightings and differing descriptions of this beast it seems that there may well be quite a few of them out and about in the wilds of London. The one I am most familiar with is the one described, with chevrons on the back, down in the SW of London. Also easily identifiable by the insanely long seat post. You will know what I am talking about when you spot this particular specimen. Quite remarkable.

rower63

Trying to get strength and CV-capacity back after 3 weeks in Ireland in August and nearly 4 weeks of zero exercise plus lots of Erdinger. Definitely started back with less than I had, though my weight went from from 82.0kg to 82.0kg. So last night I attempted a moderate effort from Priory Lane lights to Kingston Gate and was pleasantly surprised by how I coped. One chap, a chopper dressed as racer, had been bugging me all the way home, accelerating and changing line unpredictably whilst maintaining a posy snaky "I'm a racer" gait. It was satisfying to despatch him halfway up Sawyers.
In what should be in "rants", shortly after that, somewhere in Kingston, my rear mech suddenly started rattling and not changing except in a "two-up, one-down" sort of way. I soft-pedalled the remaining 5 miles, to discover when I got home that the internal freehub-body on my Eurus rear had cracked along its length, along one of the sprocket-alignment splines. Not too unhappy, as it's done 8,000 miles and had a rear derailleur through the spokes (rear mech lost that battle) and the rims are worn to the point of replacement anyway. Time for a new wheel methinks.

cjcp

*For those who commute through Richmond Park*

I rode in around midday today - late shift at Maccy D's - and had dug up the road around Kingston Gate roundabout at the bottom of Dark Hill and the approach from Ham Gate.

Just in case they hadn't started when I was still in my PJs, eating Nutella on toast, and everyone else was making their way to the salt mines.

cjcp

rower63 wrote:

Trying to get strength and CV-capacity back after 3 weeks in Ireland in August and nearly 4 weeks of zero exercise plus lots of Erdinger. Definitely started back with less than I had, though my weight went from from 82.0kg to 82.0kg. So last night I attempted a moderate effort from Priory Lane lights to Kingston Gate and was pleasantly surprised by how I coped. One chap, a chopper dressed as racer, had been bugging me all the way home, accelerating and changing line unpredictably whilst maintaining a posy snaky "I'm a racer" gait. It was satisfying to despatch him halfway up Sawyers.
In what should be in "rants", shortly after that, somewhere in Kingston, my rear mech suddenly started rattling and not changing except in a "two-up, one-down" sort of way. I soft-pedalled the remaining 5 miles, to discover when I got home that the internal freehub-body on my Eurus rear had cracked along its length, along one of the sprocket-alignment splines. Not too unhappy, as it's done 8,000 miles and had a rear derailleur through the spokes (rear mech lost that battle) and the rims are worn to the point of replacement anyway. Time for a new wheel methinks.

My rear mech is changing in a sort of "one down, five up" kind of way, so, not being @rsed to change it, it's remained in the 15 for the last three weeks. Don't have the crack issue, mind.

8,000 miles carrying an 82kg cargo, in iffy weather, with 70-plus stopping points each way? Not bad going.

kingstonian

cjcp wrote:

*For those who commute through Richmond Park*

I rode in around midday today - late shift at Maccy D's - and had dug up the road around Kingston Gate roundabout at the bottom of Dark Hill and the approach from Ham Gate.

Just in case they hadn't started when I was still in my PJs, eating Nutella on toast, and everyone else was making their way to the salt mines.

I read your post as saying that you had dug up the road. So not only a chief burger-flipper but also head honcho of a road surfacing gang - an impressive repertoire of jobs.

kingstonian

Last night one of those young spritely deer nearly wiped me out in RP, it was after dusk when they must get a bit more twitchy. Need to be a bit more careful now it is getting dark in the evenings......

roger_merriman

cjcp wrote:

rower63 wrote:

Trying to get strength and CV-capacity back after 3 weeks in Ireland in August and nearly 4 weeks of zero exercise plus lots of Erdinger. Definitely started back with less than I had, though my weight went from from 82.0kg to 82.0kg. So last night I attempted a moderate effort from Priory Lane lights to Kingston Gate and was pleasantly surprised by how I coped. One chap, a chopper dressed as racer, had been bugging me all the way home, accelerating and changing line unpredictably whilst maintaining a posy snaky "I'm a racer" gait. It was satisfying to despatch him halfway up Sawyers.
In what should be in "rants", shortly after that, somewhere in Kingston, my rear mech suddenly started rattling and not changing except in a "two-up, one-down" sort of way. I soft-pedalled the remaining 5 miles, to discover when I got home that the internal freehub-body on my Eurus rear had cracked along its length, along one of the sprocket-alignment splines. Not too unhappy, as it's done 8,000 miles and had a rear derailleur through the spokes (rear mech lost that battle) and the rims are worn to the point of replacement anyway. Time for a new wheel methinks.

My rear mech is changing in a sort of "one down, five up" kind of way, so, not being @rsed to change it, it's remained in the 15 for the last three weeks. Don't have the crack issue, mind.

8,000 miles carrying an 82kg cargo, in iffy weather, with 70-plus stopping points each way? Not bad going.

Only recently I’ve started commuting higher distances, in that it’s a 24mile (ish) round trip, what sort of mileage’s do folks get out of mechs and wheels and what not?

Admittedly I have many fewer stops, 11 on normal route, 6 on deer cull route though that route is fairly rough, even has Northshore! Ie old wooden walkways.

One thing I did notice is the sheer number of bolts that sheared, such as on the saddle post and so on, bike is a mildly old MTB 13 years old. Equally due to its age it’s something of my grandfathers axe/broom.

Have noticed the pannier rack is showing wear so have to do something with that at some point I guess.

norks74

/quote] Only recently I’ve started commuting higher distances, in that it’s a 24mile (ish) round trip, what sort of mileage’s do folks get out of mechs and wheels and what not?

Admittedly I have many fewer stops, 11 on normal route, 6 on deer cull route though that route is fairly rough, even has Northshore! Ie old wooden walkways.

One thing I did notice is the sheer number of bolts that sheared, such as on the saddle post and so on, bike is a mildly old MTB 13 years old. Equally due to its age it’s something of my grandfathers axe/broom.

Have noticed the pannier rack is showing wear so have to do something with that at some point I guess.[/quote]

Current bike is from 2012 I think, nearing 18,000 km only London commuting. Currently doing ~52km (~32 miles) to work and back. Have gone through several chains and cassettes and am now on second set of wheels. First pair of wheels were stock un-namable but they did 14,000 km with only one re-grease of front hub. Had to replace them as the rims were starting to wear down. A couple of spokes on the back wheel went along the way too. One bent hanger and smashed rear mech due to sliding on my side on a slippy day in Stockwell was one other replacement I might not have needed but for fate. I won't know how far they would have gone without the wipeout right side down. And at the same time I put the new wheels on (Shimano RS11's) I replaced the entire chainring/cranks, so they did 14,000 km too before being of questionable use. (Shimano 105 - 5800). No sheared bolts and no pannier racks to contend with in that time though.

Not sure it adds to the discussion but it is what I can remember right now...

hopkinb

Back at it. Spirit willing. Flesh weak.

New work has fresh towels daily. Downside, I have to lock up the bike to a semi outdoor rack. I might leave the carbon wheels at home in future...

smokey_bacon

Game of two halves for me last night. First up got punishment passed at speed by a coach on the bend by the Lots Rd turn off, had probably less than an inch to spare. To boot I saw him looking in his mirrors while going past me. Followed him to the next set of lights by the Shell garage and banged on the door and asked him what the hell he was playing at and got a nonchalant shrug. Now seriously considering getting a camera for stuff like this. 2nd half actually involved some SCR for a change. Guy on a Boardman and I going the same way from the temp lights at Kingston Gate till Villiers Avenue. He didnt seem to be impressed that I beat him off every set of lights and came steaming through with a glance at me but never more than a couple of bike lengths in front. This continues till the foot of the Mont du Villiers where he starts to struggle and goes for the Rower ring. Thats my cue, big ring, out of the saddle and dispatch him convincingly by the top. Strava PB was an added bonus.

dekant

Smokey Bacon wrote:

Now seriously considering getting a camera for stuff like this.

If it's not on camera, it didn't happen.
If it didn't happen, they can't get in trouble for it.
If they can't get in trouble for it, things will never get better.

At least that's my logic.

anonymousblackfg

Good to know Hopkins is back and I know where his new office is, will bring a hack saw and set of spanners and have those prime wheels on ebay by 11am saturday.

Cracking heart in mouth moment this morning with old geezer walking between slowing transit vans straight into my path, sailed past his back with 10mm to spare while grabbing a lot of brake.

Finally, a spot of the hive mind. Friday night I need ride from City - Heathrow - Riseley (due south of reading) Any thoughts on route for either leg would help. First leg can be fairly industrial a) embankment, north of hyde park, uxbridge road, Hillingdon then south or b) Hammersmith, Chiswick, Hounslow

tgotb

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Finally, a spot of the hive mind. Friday night I need ride from City - Heathrow - Riseley (due south of reading) Any thoughts on route for either leg would help. First leg can be fairly industrial a) embankment, north of hyde park, uxbridge road, Hillingdon then south or b) Hammersmith, Chiswick, Hounslow

Whereabouts in Heathrow? The bike tunnel to Terminals 1/2/3 is closed; I'm not sure what the alternate provision is...

anonymousblackfg

TGOTB wrote:

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Finally, a spot of the hive mind. Friday night I need ride from City - Heathrow - Riseley (due south of reading) Any thoughts on route for either leg would help. First leg can be fairly industrial a) embankment, north of hyde park, uxbridge road, Hillingdon then south or b) Hammersmith, Chiswick, Hounslow

Whereabouts in Heathrow? The bike tunnel to Terminals 1/2/3 is closed; I'm not sure what the alternate provision is...

Meeting someone who works there so I am assuming they need make it out the northern side, I think they've said the tunnel is back open for them.

cjcp

How about Embankment - Putney - Sheen - Richmond - St Margaret's - Hounslow - North Feltham?

njee20

What are people doing to wear rear mechs out in 8,000 miles!? I think the last (and only) one I've genuinely worn out was after at least 20,000 miles. I get crashes and what not, but not in 'normal' use.

Came in a bit later this morning, traffic was even worse, horrendous! Slightly fewer choppers than Tuesday. Resurfacing work between Epsom and Chessington and in RP was a pain - clearly trying to punish me for being on the 'nice' bike still.

tgotb

cjcp wrote:

How about Embankment - Putney - Sheen - Richmond - St Margaret's - Hounslow - North Feltham?

That's what I was going to suggest. After Heathrow, Horton - Datchet - Windsor should be a good start; after that, it's probably hard to go too wrong...