Silly commuting racing

kingdav

Good luck in the race everyone!

hopkinb

Cx race done. Recce lap was dryish, then the heavens opened as we shivered on the start line. The course slowly turned into a layer of slime on top of quite firm ground. Great laugh. I think I was only lapped by the top 10 or 15 riders. Now, if i could only handle my bike better, dismount and remount properly, and was fitter, I could probably avoid being lapped at all. Maybe.

Slightly gutted I couldn't quite catch up with Asprilla, who was skating about the course like bambi on ice due to his dry weather tyres.

Thanks for putting on a great course and event TGOTB, that's a lot of effort. I'll be back next year I hope.

asprilla

It was the sound of your brakes spurring me on.

I'd argue that it turned slimy quite quickly considering I hit the deck the first time on lap two and by lap 3 I had to dismount and run up the hill.....

Cold, wet, muddy and brilliant fun. Can't recommend it enough and huge thanks to the sterling efforts of TGOTB and team.

veronese68

Completely agree with all of the above, especially the bit about being fitter. Did better than expected, I was second last of the finishers. At least I wasn’t last.
Excellent job done by TGOTB and the other organisers, and thanks to the Wheelers that turned out to assist.

cjcp

Yep, cracking event - a gem of a course, and great organisation.

Hopkin - good to meet you, and glad to see the beaming (albeit muddy) smile on your face afterwards.

Had a terrific battle with Matt J all race. Started in front of him, he came past easily on the first lap, reclaimed my scalp on lap 3 (maybe 4 - it's a little blurry), put about 20 seconds into him, but then he started to reel me in on lap 5 (I think - stars were beginning to appear before my eyes), got right up to my wheel half way through the last/7th lap, ready to pounce, before very cleverly nipping inside me on the last corner and beating me no problem to the line.

Very nicely done.

G!t.

Top effort by TGOTB and his two fellow KWers for putting it altogether.

I've had a glimpse of the effort they've put into organising this and last year's events, and the time commitment and thought which goes into doing something like is not for the faint hearted.

So, cheers, gents. *doffs hat*

My legs are cooked.

matt.j

cjcp wrote:

Yep, cracking event - a gem of a course, and great organisation.

Hopkin - good to meet you, and glad to see the beaming (albeit muddy) smile on your face afterwards.

Had a terrific battle with Matt J all race. Started in front of him, he came past easily on the first lap, reclaimed my scalp on lap 3 (maybe 4 - it's a little blurry), put about 20 seconds into him, but then he started to reel me in on lap 5 (I think - stars were beginning to appear before my eyes), got right up to my wheel half way through the last/7th lap, ready to pounce, before very cleverly nipping inside me on the last corner and beating me no problem to the line.

Very nicely done.

G!t.

Top effort by TGOTB and his two fellow KWers for putting it altogether.

I've had a glimpse of the effort they've put into organising this and last year's events, and the time commitment and thought which goes into doing something like is not for the faint hearted.

So, cheers, gents. *doffs hat*

My legs are cooked.

A big improvement for me CJ after last year when you’d got changed by the time I crossed the finish line.

Fantastic fun only made better by the weather. Awesome course which must have been challenging for those on afterwards.

Hope to see you guys at the TCC race on 9th December.

cjcp

TCC event details here: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/event ... e-Round-11

Matt - am planing to enter, but will know in a couple of weeks.

dekant

Staying in South Croydon for a bit so was wondering if anyone here has some good suggestions for a commuting route into the city? Pretty sure some of you come in from that way...

Today I basically took the A236 Roman Way flyover to avoid Croydon town centre then at the next roundabout turned onto Thornton Rd and followed the A23 all the way in to Oval (Norbury --> Streatham --> Streaham Hill --> Brixton --> Oval). From there I finished up with my usual route on CS7 and over Southwark bridge.

I thought it was pretty good on the whole apart from a few bottlenecks (particularly at Brixton) and a distinct lack of SCR. Anyone have any other suggestions or some pro commuting tips for avoiding the crap bits?

Some route planners suggest going via crystal palace and dulwich but that seems a bit hilly. Otherwise maybe head towards Tooting Bec and use more of CS7?

Gallywomack

Quite good fun this morning once I'd accepted I was soaked through (about a minute in). Even had a bit of a drag race over Vauxhall Bridge - sensed a guy coming past on the right on the approach to the barriers so put down some power and eased away - the bridge was nice and clear so it was a good clean battle. I learned my craft on the mighty slopes of London Bridge so this was fairly easy by comparison. The guy seemed quite surprised, we had a chat at the lights and he reckoned he'd never been beaten over there. Can only assume he's never encountered anyone properly quick (which I certainly am not), either that or all the fast bods use a different bridge.

smokey_bacon

dekant wrote:

Staying in South Croydon for a bit so was wondering if anyone here has some good suggestions for a commuting route into the city? Pretty sure some of you come in from that way...

Today I basically took the A236 Roman Way flyover to avoid Croydon town centre then at the next roundabout turned onto Thornton Rd and followed the A23 all the way in to Oval (Norbury --> Streatham --> Streaham Hill --> Brixton --> Oval). From there I finished up with my usual route on CS7 and over Southwark bridge.

I thought it was pretty good on the whole apart from a few bottlenecks (particularly at Brixton) and a distinct lack of SCR. Anyone have any other suggestions or some pro commuting tips for avoiding the crap bits?

Some route planners suggest going via crystal palace and dulwich but that seems a bit hilly. Otherwise maybe head towards Tooting Bec and use more of CS7?

I think KingDav comes in that way If memory serves. Experience of CP & Dulwich is ok, hilly yes and also some bits are like a hyper rat run but on the whole ok.

Happy to see that the rain has washed away alot of the nodders from the summer. It has not however washed away idiot WVM like the guy who beeped and close passed me on Priory Lane as I was clearly overtaking another cyclist!

asprilla

Morning Rhodri. Nice chat.

hopkinb

cjcp wrote:

TCC event details here: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/event ... e-Round-11

Matt - am planing to enter, but will know in a couple of weeks.

Wot, more mud & grimacing?! Let me check the diary.

Public transport this morning. Left the house at the normal time - around 7.40, which on the bike gets me to the office at 8.20, leaving plenty of time for a shower etc. Taking a bus and a tube - I straggled in at 9.10, after sitting in a sweaty box full of people coughing and reeking of garlic & stale booze. Fark that. I suppose I should be grateful that all those b*ggers aren't on the roads in cars or wobbling about on bikes.

asprilla

Smokey Bacon wrote:

It has not however washed away idiot WVM like the guy who beeped and close passed me on Priory Lane as I was clearly overtaking another cyclist!

The problem with Priory Lane is that there simply aren't enough 20mph signs.

rhodrich

Asprilla wrote:

Morning Rhodri. Nice chat.

Morning morning - likewise. I'll try and recognise you next time!

tgotb

Great to see you all there yesterday, glad you all enjoyed it; sorry I didn't have more time to chat!

Matt.J wrote:

Hope to see you guys at the TCC race on 9th December.

I'm in, and I've already been volunteered for a bit of course building. I thought last year's course worked really well in the snow, please can we have the same again this year?

kingdav

Smokey Bacon wrote:

dekant wrote:

Staying in South Croydon for a bit so was wondering if anyone here has some good suggestions for a commuting route into the city? Pretty sure some of you come in from that way...

I think KingDav comes in that way If memory serves.

Yes, I normally start in Purley or thereabouts, head direct to South Croydon and on to the city from there. Some mates of mine do the flyover and then Thornton Rd, I tend to plough through Croydon's shopping streets but that's just habit really, either way works. Then I usually do the route dekant mentioned.

Brixton Hill has been a bit of a pain lately, with monster road works. It's always a bit stop/start anyway. There is an option to go left at Streatham Hill station and head up the B221 hitting CS7 at Clapham North which would cut that out. If you want to do more of CS7 you can take the flyover out of South Croydon and just keep going up to Collier's Wood but it's a long way round.

I enjoy the hillier route via Crystal Palace once in a while, but it's nice not to have to. The standard route up the A23 is generally pretty flat, well lit and has a decent amount of bus lane etc. so I do tend to stick to that. SCR is a bit sporadic, you do get some fast guys on there but you won't necessarily see one on any one day, just due to lower volume. By comparison CS7 seems to have way, way more allezmen types, some on quite flash kit, generally little power, appalling lane discipline and a penchant for RLJ.

cruff

dekant wrote:

Staying in South Croydon for a bit so was wondering if anyone here has some good suggestions for a commuting route into the city? Pretty sure some of you come in from that way...

Today I basically took the A236 Roman Way flyover to avoid Croydon town centre then at the next roundabout turned onto Thornton Rd and followed the A23 all the way in to Oval (Norbury --> Streatham --> Streaham Hill --> Brixton --> Oval). From there I finished up with my usual route on CS7 and over Southwark bridge.

I thought it was pretty good on the whole apart from a few bottlenecks (particularly at Brixton) and a distinct lack of SCR. Anyone have any other suggestions or some pro commuting tips for avoiding the crap bits?

Some route planners suggest going via crystal palace and dulwich but that seems a bit hilly. Otherwise maybe head towards Tooting Bec and use more of CS7?

I used to live in West Croydon, and Reigate. There are two main routes you can choose, but they're much of a muchness. A23 via Thornton Heath, Streatham, Brixton and Oval, or the A236 past Mitcham Common and Figges Marsh then pick up the A24 through Tooting, Clapham and Stockwell. The first bit of the latter route is a bit nicer (though lots of absolute pond life in Mitcham so the 'nice' bit past the common is often dangerous) but Tooting/Clapham are as much of a ballache as Streatham/Brixton and its further out of your way

asprilla

hopkinb wrote:

cjcp wrote:

TCC event details here: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/event ... e-Round-11

Matt - am planing to enter, but will know in a couple of weeks.

Wot, more mud & grimacing?! Let me check the diary.

Public transport this morning. Left the house at the normal time - around 7.40, which on the bike gets me to the office at 8.20, leaving plenty of time for a shower etc. Taking a bus and a tube - I straggled in at 9.10, after sitting in a sweaty box full of people coughing and reeking of garlic & stale booze. Fark that. I suppose I should be grateful that all those b*ggers aren't on the roads in cars or wobbling about on bikes.

Tonight I will mainly be removing Vittoria Terreno Drys and fitting Clement PDXs......

veronese68

Asprilla wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

cjcp wrote:

TCC event details here: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/event ... e-Round-11
Matt - am planing to enter, but will know in a couple of weeks.

Wot, more mud & grimacing?! Let me check the diary.
Tonight I will mainly be removing Vittoria Terreno Drys and fitting Clement PDXs......

My bike still has the XGs on it, mainly because it's still in the garage as I had to drive the invalid into work this morning. Tonight I will be fitting road tyres and mudguards.
Got a pair of Schwalbe Rapid Rob's in 35mm flavour that are like new. Might try them next time, if I get another pass.

dekant

Thanks for the advice Smokey / KingDav / Cruff - sounds like I got it about right while the variants you mention will help mix it up a bit.

kingstonian

Rhodrich wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Morning Rhodri. Nice chat.

Morning morning - likewise. I'll try and recognise you next time!

Pretty sure you guys were behind me while waiting at the lights outside the Houses of Parliament. Was going to say hi but the lights changed........

sgt.pepper

Back on the bike after a week recovery and a week sick. Legs are like jelly and seem to have lost all my power - not sure if that's down to still being a bit ill or just not riding for a fortnight. Also need to upgrade the wife's motor, driving me mad getting passed on all the flat sections :x Also not really sure what wattage motor she needs to cruise at 20-30 on the flat.

asprilla

Kingstonian wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Morning Rhodri. Nice chat.

Morning morning - likewise. I'll try and recognise you next time!

Pretty sure you guys were behind me while waiting at the lights outside the Houses of Parliament. Was going to say hi but the lights changed........

You should say hello. I'm terrible for introducing myself as it just seems weird.

Fun ride home tonight. Was there a tail wind? Left over legs from the weekend and a pulled neck muscle meant it was supposed to be easy but I got talking to a chap about his lovely Mercian frame as we waited at HoP. When the lights changed was off, exposing my poor filtering, and leading the peleton. Didn't really get close again or see him until turning into Priory Ln where he was playing Pied Piper to a group of about six. I cruised up the outside to go for the overtake but some galloping bumblewank decides to pull out of the side road meaning heavy braking. Just before the park gate and a scooter decides to stop dead in the middle of the road so more evasive action. Mercian has about 15m going right but I close the gap (now towing the group) making sure to stay wide as I don't want to be accused taking the draft. Heading up to the Ballet School and I'm happy leaving a gap but one of the tail comes through to fill it on the way down to Pen Ponds so I back off again. Right turn onto the straight and I spin up, cruising past and leaving my remaining tail. The third chap swaps wheels from the Mercian to me and the Mercian latches onto him as we head to Ham Cross (new PB for me). Left down to Kingston and the Mercian briefly comes through again before I come back. We finish level at the gate with waves and thanks while the third wheel and I go right.

Legs cooked so I plan on following the other guy to Hampton Court, but on the way out of Hampton Wick my Garmin ejects and I have to stop, run back and retrieve it from traffic.

Slow run home. Power meter won't connect with the Garmin in my jersey pocket.

Edit; apparently it was Hot Spanners, occasionally of this parish.

cjcp

That was indeed Hot Spanners, a keen TTer.

kingstonian

I'm loving the word "bumblewank", will have to add that to my vocabulary

rhodrich

Rhodrich wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Morning Rhodri. Nice chat.

Morning morning - likewise. I'll try and recognise you next time!

Fail! It appears that we crossed paths again today at Priory lane without me seeing you!

hopkinb

Back on the bike. Nasty grinding intermittently coming from the front brake, I think this weekend's application of mud has gummed up a piston. Still warm out there.

asprilla

Rhodrich wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Morning Rhodri. Nice chat.

Morning morning - likewise. I'll try and recognise you next time!

Fail! It appears that we crossed paths again today at Priory lane without me seeing you!

You went up the right hand side of traffic while I went up the left and it appears you were more successful.

martinc

Jelly legs. I was scalped by people on mountain bikes. With baskets. And stabilisers.

dekant

martinc wrote:

Jelly legs. I was scalped by people on mountain bikes. With baskets. And stabilisers.

Happens to the best of us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-eQ2nzURIQ