Silly commuting racing

anonymousblackfg

More direct would be across the green lane rec into New Malden, towards Raynes Park then pick up what becomes CS7. It does still mean the misery of DT.

ryan_w-2

cjcp wrote:

Ryan_W wrote:

rower63 wrote:

Object lesson this morning in why not to draft close while commuting in traffic. Going fast from Chelsea bridge, I’d just passed Claverton Street in the blue lane. There was a stream of slower-moving bikes, 18-20mph, on the left hand side of that lane, and at least a couple of us doing 25mph on the right side. Steady car and van traffic going faster than us in the black lane. I was following a guy at about 1-2 clear bike-lengths: he was pushing it and I was waiting for a chance to pass him. Suddenly he shouted and slammed on his brakes, followed immediately by me doing the same. There was nowhere to go either side, nothing for it but pure straight-line emergency braking. I JUST managed to slow down maintaining grip and avoided rear-ending him. One of the slow-lane riders had simply decided to pull out from the left without looking, directly into his path. He too barely managed to avoid a collision, I don’t know how. Cue much shouting, as I went past the perp I said “shoulder-check, shoulder check”. If I’d been “properly” drafting the guy in front, I’d have smashed into him without doubt.

I wrote off the back of a Citroen Picasso last year due to the same scenario as above yet trying to bend around the guy in front. Not fun.

Glad you stayed upright mate.

Given your weight, you'd probably write off most things short of a HGV.

I've come into contact with the rear of an Aston Martin in the past. It's one reason why I have BC insurance.

Prick.... I'm up from 84.5 to 88.5kg after 4 weeks in Maui getting hitched

smokey_bacon

Ryan_W wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Ryan_W wrote:

rower63 wrote:

Object lesson this morning in why not to draft close while commuting in traffic. Going fast from Chelsea bridge, I’d just passed Claverton Street in the blue lane. There was a stream of slower-moving bikes, 18-20mph, on the left hand side of that lane, and at least a couple of us doing 25mph on the right side. Steady car and van traffic going faster than us in the black lane. I was following a guy at about 1-2 clear bike-lengths: he was pushing it and I was waiting for a chance to pass him. Suddenly he shouted and slammed on his brakes, followed immediately by me doing the same. There was nowhere to go either side, nothing for it but pure straight-line emergency braking. I JUST managed to slow down maintaining grip and avoided rear-ending him. One of the slow-lane riders had simply decided to pull out from the left without looking, directly into his path. He too barely managed to avoid a collision, I don’t know how. Cue much shouting, as I went past the perp I said “shoulder-check, shoulder check”. If I’d been “properly” drafting the guy in front, I’d have smashed into him without doubt.

I wrote off the back of a Citroen Picasso last year due to the same scenario as above yet trying to bend around the guy in front. Not fun.

Glad you stayed upright mate.

Given your weight, you'd probably write off most things short of a HGV.

I've come into contact with the rear of an Aston Martin in the past. It's one reason why I have BC insurance.

Prick.... I'm up from 84.5 to 88.5kg after 4 weeks in Maui getting hitched

Congrats on the nuptials. For clarity you didnt marry CJ did you?

cjcp

Hell, no! I have taste, for Heaven's sake!

kingstonian

Ryan_W wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Ryan_W wrote:

rower63 wrote:

Object lesson this morning in why not to draft close while commuting in traffic. Going fast from Chelsea bridge, I’d just passed Claverton Street in the blue lane. There was a stream of slower-moving bikes, 18-20mph, on the left hand side of that lane, and at least a couple of us doing 25mph on the right side. Steady car and van traffic going faster than us in the black lane. I was following a guy at about 1-2 clear bike-lengths: he was pushing it and I was waiting for a chance to pass him. Suddenly he shouted and slammed on his brakes, followed immediately by me doing the same. There was nowhere to go either side, nothing for it but pure straight-line emergency braking. I JUST managed to slow down maintaining grip and avoided rear-ending him. One of the slow-lane riders had simply decided to pull out from the left without looking, directly into his path. He too barely managed to avoid a collision, I don’t know how. Cue much shouting, as I went past the perp I said “shoulder-check, shoulder check”. If I’d been “properly” drafting the guy in front, I’d have smashed into him without doubt.

I wrote off the back of a Citroen Picasso last year due to the same scenario as above yet trying to bend around the guy in front. Not fun.

Glad you stayed upright mate.

Given your weight, you'd probably write off most things short of a HGV.

I've come into contact with the rear of an Aston Martin in the past. It's one reason why I have BC insurance.

Prick.... I'm up from 84.5 to 88.5kg after 4 weeks in Maui getting hitched

haha, CJ can't talk, this morning he pointedly didn't try to squeeze through a gap that I got through with ease.......!!!!

itboffin

cjcp wrote:

Hell, no! I have taste, for Heaven's sake!

not in music that's for sure :shock:

kingstonian

Just checked the weather forecast, expected to be 8 degrees at 7am so will need to dig out the knee warmers.

cjcp

itboffin wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Hell, no! I have taste, for Heaven's sake!

not in music that's for sure :shock:

Aren't they into banjo music and chewing tobacco out where you live?

roger_merriman

So the embankment is it still snarled up/being dug up? I’m off to to Old Street on Friday, it’s too early to risk the rush hour public transport.

cjcp

Kingstonian wrote:

Ryan_W wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Ryan_W wrote:

rower63 wrote:

Object lesson this morning in why not to draft close while commuting in traffic. Going fast from Chelsea bridge, I’d just passed Claverton Street in the blue lane. There was a stream of slower-moving bikes, 18-20mph, on the left hand side of that lane, and at least a couple of us doing 25mph on the right side. Steady car and van traffic going faster than us in the black lane. I was following a guy at about 1-2 clear bike-lengths: he was pushing it and I was waiting for a chance to pass him. Suddenly he shouted and slammed on his brakes, followed immediately by me doing the same. There was nowhere to go either side, nothing for it but pure straight-line emergency braking. I JUST managed to slow down maintaining grip and avoided rear-ending him. One of the slow-lane riders had simply decided to pull out from the left without looking, directly into his path. He too barely managed to avoid a collision, I don’t know how. Cue much shouting, as I went past the perp I said “shoulder-check, shoulder check”. If I’d been “properly” drafting the guy in front, I’d have smashed into him without doubt.

I wrote off the back of a Citroen Picasso last year due to the same scenario as above yet trying to bend around the guy in front. Not fun.

Glad you stayed upright mate.

Given your weight, you'd probably write off most things short of a HGV.

I've come into contact with the rear of an Aston Martin in the past. It's one reason why I have BC insurance.

Prick.... I'm up from 84.5 to 88.5kg after 4 weeks in Maui getting hitched

haha, CJ can't talk, this morning he pointedly didn't try to squeeze through a gap that I got through with ease.......!!!!

I blame the larger backpack I had this morning. Ahem...

cjcp

roger merriman wrote:

So the embankment is it still snarled up/being dug up? I’m off to to Old Street on Friday, it’s too early to risk the rush hour public transport.

Yep, just before Chelsea Bridge, but it's fine that early.

roger_merriman

cjcp wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

So the embankment is it still snarled up/being dug up? I’m off to to Old Street on Friday, it’s too early to risk the rush hour public transport.

Yep, just before Chelsea Bridge, but it's fine that early.

Cheers!

asprilla

cjcp wrote:

I blame the lager backpack I had this morning. Ahem...

Where do I get one of these for commuting?

cjcp

Asprilla wrote:

cjcp wrote:

I blame the lager backpack I had this morning. Ahem...

Where do I get one of these for commuting?

TYR on proswimwear.co.uk: https://www.proswimwear.co.uk/tyr-allia ... kpack.html

anonymousblackfg

Absolute choppergeddon out there this morning, nearly taken out by some southern European on an MTB who after me overtaking his prolific RLJ'ing went around the outside of a car to cut back in between two cars into the side of me. Bring on the freezing rain to sink these idiots.

poweredbyidris

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Absolute choppergeddon out there this morning, nearly taken out by some southern European on an MTB who after me overtaking his prolific RLJ'ing went around the outside of a car to cut back in between two cars into the side of me. Bring on the freezing rain to sink these idiots.

Nearly got wiped out in Hyde Park by some 'market-tracksuited' boris biker who swung wide on joining the cyclepath as they were too busy fixating on the behind of the female jogger that had just crossed ahead of them.

hopkinb

I could not find my warmers therefore knees felt like they were fashioned from very brittle glass.

martinc

Not SCR but related... dug out my lights for oncoming Autumn. 2x Lezyne and a 2x Moons. None of them will recharge? Tried various plugs and cables and laptops but nothing. Anyone else had this and knows a fix? Apart from going and spending £100 on another 2 sets.
Oh and a bit nippy out in RP this morn. In the cold not quick way.

ryan_w-2

No SCR but f-me it was cold in the park this morning. Average of 4 degrees with a low of 1... Is winter here already?!

errorist

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Absolute choppergeddon out there this morning, nearly taken out by some southern European on an MTB who after me overtaking his prolific RLJ'ing went around the outside of a car to cut back in between two cars into the side of me. Bring on the freezing rain to sink these idiots.

Had a similar experience this morning. So many choppers taking unnecessary risks. London Bridge was also at almost a complete standstill too so took ages to get across.

asprilla

Possibly should have dug out arm and knee warmers today, but couldn't be bothered to find them. Bit chilly, eh?

tgotb

martinc wrote:

Not SCR but related... dug out my lights for oncoming Autumn. 2x Lezyne and a 2x Moons. None of them will recharge? Tried various plugs and cables and laptops but nothing. Anyone else had this and knows a fix? Apart from going and spending £100 on another 2 sets.
Oh and a bit nippy out in RP this morn. In the cold not quick way.

You can get replacement batteries for Lezyne lights - I find they only last a couple of seasons. Plenty of instructions on the web for how to change them.

cjcp

Asprilla wrote:

Possibly should have dug out arm and knee warmers today, but couldn't be bothered to find them. Bit chilly, eh?

Arm-warmers, yes, but trying to keep the knees out until October. Could be a struggle.

tgotb

cjcp wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Possibly should have dug out arm and knee warmers today, but couldn't be bothered to find them. Bit chilly, eh?

Arm-warmers, yes, but trying to keep the knees out until October. Could be a struggle.

Jacket and long-fingered gloves for me; very impressed, so far, with the Sportful R&D jacket I got off the bargains thread. No knee warmers; we were racing in the snow, in shorts, last Winter, so I think the knees can cope with 8 degrees.

Looks like it'll be a nice ride home :-)

anonymousblackfg

TGOTB wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Possibly should have dug out arm and knee warmers today, but couldn't be bothered to find them. Bit chilly, eh?

Arm-warmers, yes, but trying to keep the knees out until October. Could be a struggle.

Jacket and long-fingered gloves for me; very impressed, so far, with the Sportful R&D jacket I got off the bargains thread. No knee warmers; we were racing in the snow, in shorts, last Winter, so I think the knees can cope with 8 degrees.

Looks like it'll be a nice ride home :-)

I thought the thinking behind knee warmers was that you have no blood running through the cartilage so it prevents long term damage, not just my knees felt a touch chilly.

cjcp

Abfg - spotted you traversing the bike lane, heading up to Cannon St this morning. I hadn't appreciated just how massive that frame bag of yours is!

tgotb

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I thought the thinking behind knee warmers was that you have no blood running through the cartilage so it prevents long term damage, not just my knees felt a touch chilly.

Ah. I wasn't aware of that; quite like the idea of retaining full use of my knees into old age. Will do some research.

veronese68

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I thought the thinking behind knee warmers was that you have no blood running through the cartilage so it prevents long term damage, not just my knees felt a touch chilly.

I'm aware that cold is supposed to be particularly bad for knees, but I didn't know why. My knees are rubbish anyway so I try to look after them.

cjcp

Yep, that's the reason I generally wear leg warmers before arm warmers, but they're in need of some needlework, and the only other options are the too-toasty-for-now 3/4 bibs or full length leg warmers.

rower63

cjcp wrote:

Yep, that's the reason I generally wear leg warmers before arm warmers, but they're in need of some needlework, and the only other options are the too-toasty-for-now 3/4 bibs or full length leg warmers.

Surely the tremendous amount of, er, insulation you already have is enough to protect your knees?