Silly commuting racing

asprilla

I should have clarified 'adequate'.

One of my criteria is that it doesn't look like a total bodge. Surprised there isn't anything on the market, especially as you can get guard mounts that extend from the QR. I did find a nice clamp for the seat tube that provides a bolt hole, but my seat posts aren't round towards the BB; ok for steel frames, but not hydro-formed alu or carbon.

dekant

I'd also be interested if anyone has a good solution for frames without mudguards.

The best I've had by far have been the crud guard mk IIs, although they are super fiddly to fit. I think the mk IIIs have solved this but it does involve sticking a strip of velcro to your frame which is also not ideal.

I've tried race blades but find the coverage isn't as good around the BB area and they are much more likely to slip and then rub.

Considered trying p clips but am unsure about using them on carbon seat stays.

EDIT: yes, I'm aware there may not be one beyond "get a frame with mounts" but that's not an acceptable solution as I can't store another bike

tgotb

dekant wrote:

Considered trying p clips but am unsure about using them on carbon seat stays.

Serious answer this time: Put a few wraps of electrical tape around the frame first (you can do this quite neatly with a bit of care) and use the P-clips with a plastic coating on the bit that goes round the frame, and you should be fine. Make sure they're tight; if they can move around they'll eat their way through the tape and then scratch the frame.
If you need to bulk the frame tube out a bit, self-amalgamating tape works well, but it's much harder to make it look neat.

veronese68

Even better would be P clips with a rubber lining. Myriad P clips sold according to size of tube to fit round and size of screw hole.
Back on topic. Managed to ride in the last couple of days, good thing as traffic has been dreadful. Bit blowy today. Had to slow down today as a local knuckle dragger turned right across the front of me. That wasn’t too bad, it was the fact that he continued to do a U turn using the entrance of the side road and had another go at knocking me off as he rejoined the road in the space I should have been in. Luckily it was predictable enough. Got a load of abuse for looking at him as I passed him in traffic moments later.
Very dark in the evenings. Back to 5:30 finishes for the first time in a couple of years.

elbowloh

Asprilla wrote:

elbowloh wrote:

I don't have mounts on my commuter, so have fitted SKS race blades. Really easy to fit, really easy to take off in the summer and, imo, almost as good as a proper set of mudguards for both myself and the rider behind. approx. £30.

You can also buy some p-clips for about £5 and then be able to fit proper guards.

Used race blades one winter on my SS. Took them off in the summer and the paintwork was scratched to hell on the seat stays. That's put me off them.

As for p-clips, they don't solve the problem of attaching to the seat tube and my CX doesn't have a seat stay bridge either. I've been trying to come up with an adequate solution in recent weeks and none of them are adequate.

Did you not use the plastic sticker things?

inbike

Think I've cracked a rib because it hurts when I breathe. Might not be commuting for a bit. A touch inconvenient.

sgt.pepper

jamesco wrote:

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

Been here on and off for a decade so remember that one. It was a really bizarre rule. Where are you based?

Bit of an incident this morning ... got beeped/yelled at by a motorbiker who had clearly given it the beans and accelerated far faster than the cars were able to. ... Was I wrong?

I'm a kiwi from all over UnZud but doing my tour of duty in London as my wife is European. By the way, thanks for the pics you've been posting and congrats on cycling in the Wellington area; it takes some grit to get up those hills in the teeth of a nor'wester!

If you'd signalled and were keeping up with traffic then you were doing fine, IMHO. But even if you didn't signal, the motorbiker giving it the beans is being dickish and automatically disqualified from having any reason to complain. This is in the dead centre of town near where the ferries dock, right, full of confused drivers looking for Te Papa or the road to the coast? There's no excuse for practising drag starts there.

Ha thanks. It can be a bit brutal grinding at times, particularly on the 10 speed. Supposed to be an 140km/h headwind on the way home tonight.

Wasn't signalling as I prefer the extra control and didn't feel the need as with that level of momentum I was well clear of the cars (but not the aforementioned motorbike.). In hindsight I'd say the blame was probably 50/50, I was swinging across lanes, but he didn't need to cane it from the lights like that.

hopkinb

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

Supposed to be an 140km/h headwind on the way home tonight.

Bl00dy hell. Is it even possible to achieve forward motion in a 140kph headwind??

anonymousblackfg

Nice ride but the cycling gods were punishing me for something, so many red lights.

As for the mudguards debate, I could see an ass saver doing something but its the water/crap spraying around the BB/feet from both wheels which they'll never negate. I think if I was regularly riding a not mudguard mount frame in average to crap weather i'd go the pclip route, definitely function over form.

tgotb

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Nice ride but the cycling gods were punishing me for something, so many red lights.

As for the mudguards debate, I could see an ass saver doing something but its the water/crap spraying around the BB/feet from both wheels which they'll never negate. I think if I was regularly riding a not mudguard mount frame in average to crap weather i'd go the pclip route, definitely function over form.

I'm with you. If I could only have one bike, it would have to have mounts and clearances for proper mudguards. The 50mm wide mudguards on my commuting bike are awesome...

cjcp

Hello all,

I'm new to audaxes and touring. Great to finally find a specific forum on it!

In addition to this valuable advice about mudguards, I'm in the market for some cycling sandals. Any recommendations?

Also, do you pack your sandwiches inside some foil and then stuff them in ziplock bags? I find that they get a bit sweaty this way *confused face*.

Cheers in advance.

elbowloh

cjcp wrote:

Hello all,

I'm new to audaxes and touring. Great to finally find a specific forum on it!

In addition to this valuable advice about mudguards, I'm in the market for some cycling sandals. Any recommendations?

Also, do you pack your sandwiches inside some foil and then stuff them in ziplock bags? I find that they get a bit sweaty this way *confused face*.

Cheers in advance.

Wrong forum?

anonymousblackfg

If we're going Audax should we not at least get a bit of a Real Ale and which carradice to buy chit chat going as well.

elbowloh

anonymousblackfg wrote:

If we're going Audax should we not at least get a bit of a Real Ale and which carradice to buy chit chat going as well.

...and grow beards.

Although I do already have one.

martinc

Back to SCR. I left CJ for dust this morning.
(Although he may claim he was turning off at his workplace.)

dekant

I also achieved the Clapham Sex Panther again this morning which is the pro SCR approach of SCRing without actually having to SCR.

Twice in one week - I do hope this means the signal timings have been permanently put back

wolfsbane2k

anonymousblackfg wrote:

If we're going Audax should we not at least get a bit of a Real Ale and which carradice to buy chit chat going as well.

:oops:

jds_1981

elbowloh wrote:

Did you not use the plastic sticker things?

On my bike it quite through the plastic stickers and then the carbon fibre.

rower63

hopkinb wrote:

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

Supposed to be an 140km/h headwind on the way home tonight.

Bl00dy hell. Is it even possible to achieve forward motion in a 140kph headwind??

Sorry I couldn't resist taking the bait.

The formula for aero power consumed while cycling at “normal” speeds is (making some assumptions about scaling up to those speeds) RiderPower = 0.5*rho*CdA*(groundspeed+headwind)^2 * groundspeed . In other words if your groundspeed is 0, required power is 0, and from there you can make your groundspeed low enough to achieve any power number within your ability using that formula. So yes, in theory, it is possible. But in practice, you’ll probably get blown over as soon as you get a bit of sideways.

So a 82kg <sexist>man</sexist> rider on a normal roadbike in normal roadbike position putting out 300W will achieve about 2.3kph into that wind, so you'd need your child's stabilizers

Speaking of which, I rode my 6cm wheels in this morning and got a bloody great sideways gust 3/4 the way down Broomfield, I got a hell of a fright!

hopkinb

Pootled, then caught up with spinny single speed guy in the Tooting area, then went like the clappers where traffic allowed. I'm too old & knackered for going like the clappers. I might take up audax. Anyone got any mudguard/sandal/beard advice?

Also, I forgot/was too lazy to wipe down and relube my chain after yesterday's rain. My bike sounds like a bag of rusty cr@p being dragged down the road, with added dying mouse sound effects. I must smother my chain in wet lube for the winter, so that the resultant black gunge keeps everything running quietly.

I was asked if I was on a bike forum at Oval. It seems that a guy with a ti bike & deep wheels keeps getting asked if he's me. I think I remember kingdav mentioned this a while back, that he had thoroughly confused some guy.

If he's wearing a pink gilet and is on a litespeed, that's not me. If the bike has no decals and prime wheels, then it might be me.

hopkinb

rower63 wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

Supposed to be an 140km/h headwind on the way home tonight.

Bl00dy hell. Is it even possible to achieve forward motion in a 140kph headwind??

Sorry I couldn't resist taking the bait.

The formula for aero power consumed while cycling at “normal” speeds is (making some assumptions about scaling up to those speeds) RiderPower = 0.5*rho*CdA*(groundspeed+headwind)^2 * groundspeed . In other words if your groundspeed is 0, required power is 0, and from there you can make your groundspeed low enough to achieve any power number within your ability using that formula. So yes, in theory, it is possible. But in practice, you’ll probably get blown over as soon as you get a bit of sideways.

However, a 82kg man on a normal roadbike in normal roadbike position putting out 300W will achieve about 2.3kph into that wind, so you'd need your child's stabilizers

Speaking of which, I rode my 6cm wheels in this morning and got a bloody great sideways gust 3/4 the way down Broomfield, I got a hell of a fright!

And that, ladies and gents, is science!

Thanks Rower!

mtb-idle

dekant wrote:

I also achieved the Clapham Sex Panther again this morning which is the pro SCR approach of SCRing without actually having to SCR.

Twice in one week - I do hope this means the signal timings have been permanently put back

Me too! Always nice to get the old SP into a commute.

Since I started cycle commuting seriously in 2009 (after two summer only commutes in 2004 & 2005) i have ridden with an imaginary friend and last week I finally got to ride with this imaginary friend for real! #isthisblokemad

What is he on about you ask? Well my cycling buddy Graham lives around the corner from me and I have been trying to get him to join me on the commute since 2009 with no joy.

Irrespective of that I found that I was running a mental commentary during many of my commutes as if Graham was riding with me. You know; watch out for cars on this junction, this set of lights has a quick change, don't take that line etc.

An imaginary friend.

So Graham finally got around to actual cycle commuting this summer (he works in Risk, he doesn't like to rush into decisions) and now that I am back on the bike we hooked up last week and again this morning and I got a chance to finally impart all this hard acquired knowledge of CS7, South West London, the city and canary Wharf to my imaginary friend who was now drafting me into the Big Smoke.

mattsaw

How aero are beards?

mtb-idle

Mattsaw wrote:

How aero are beards?

Very, they act just like Team Sky's vortex skin suits by enhancing the air flow around the chin

warreng

I think I saw hopkinb on Clapham High St. I got a little giddy and squeaked "It's hopkinb". Reminded me of the time I bumped into John Barnes and got completely flustered

hopkinb

WarrenG wrote:

I think I saw hopkinb on Clapham High St. I got a little giddy and squeaked "It's hopkinb". Reminded me of the time I bumped into John Barnes and got completely flustered

I thought I was hearing things. I said "yep, that's me, who are you?", then pulled away from the lights slowly, expecting someone to catch up, but no-one pulled alongside, so I thought I'd been talking to some guy who i had misheard talking on the phone.

itboffin

MTB-Idle wrote:

Mattsaw wrote:

How aero are beards?

Very, they act just like Team Sky's vortex skin suits by enhancing the air flow around the chin

then the same must be true for not wearing a helmet

:roll:

sgt.pepper

hopkinb wrote:

rower63 wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

Supposed to be an 140km/h headwind on the way home tonight.

Bl00dy hell. Is it even possible to achieve forward motion in a 140kph headwind??

Sorry I couldn't resist taking the bait.

The formula for aero power consumed while cycling at “normal” speeds is (making some assumptions about scaling up to those speeds) RiderPower = 0.5*rho*CdA*(groundspeed+headwind)^2 * groundspeed . In other words if your groundspeed is 0, required power is 0, and from there you can make your groundspeed low enough to achieve any power number within your ability using that formula. So yes, in theory, it is possible. But in practice, you’ll probably get blown over as soon as you get a bit of sideways.

However, a 82kg man on a normal roadbike in normal roadbike position putting out 300W will achieve about 2.3kph into that wind, so you'd need your child's stabilizers

Speaking of which, I rode my 6cm wheels in this morning and got a bloody great sideways gust 3/4 the way down Broomfield, I got a hell of a fright!

And that, ladies and gents, is science!

Thanks Rower!

Yeah thanks for that, I have been wondering myself how wind resistance plays a part. Sometimes you can crest a hill or turn a corner in Wellington and the (utterly, utterly obnoxious) wind can virtually stop you dead in your tracks. Ended up a work event and threw the bike on the train last night anyway.

Had an interesting test of this on Wednesday on the 10 speed (panniers, mudguards). Dropped a guy on an aero bike/deep sections in the sheltered sections, but really noticed the difference as we turned the corner into the headwind and he re-passed me. Following behind him briefly the difference in effort levels was really noticeable.

Bit of a sketchy moment this morning, moron in a van had to slam on the brakes to avoid left hooking the wife after rushing past me. Threw the driver absolute daggers as we re-passed him. Glad my bikecam is on the way - got a polaroid cube as it was small/stylish enough to not clash with the Raleigh too much.

hopkinb

hopkinb wrote:

WarrenG wrote:

I think I saw hopkinb on Clapham High St. I got a little giddy and squeaked "It's hopkinb". Reminded me of the time I bumped into John Barnes and got completely flustered

I thought I was hearing things. I said "yep, that's me, who are you?", then pulled away from the lights slowly, expecting someone to catch up, but no-one pulled alongside, so I thought I'd been talking to some guy who i had misheard talking on the phone.

I didn't spot who said it though. Was it also you to whom I commented about the terrible traffic in tooting?

warreng

hopkinb wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

WarrenG wrote:

I think I saw hopkinb on Clapham High St. I got a little giddy and squeaked "It's hopkinb". Reminded me of the time I bumped into John Barnes and got completely flustered

I thought I was hearing things. I said "yep, that's me, who are you?", then pulled away from the lights slowly, expecting someone to catch up, but no-one pulled alongside, so I thought I'd been talking to some guy who i had misheard talking on the phone.

I didn't spot who said it though. Was it also you to whom I commented about the terrible traffic in tooting?

I was over your left shoulder and kept up with you until the roadworks at Balham Hill. I stopped off at the Barley Mow to celebrate the sighting and then got home, woke the kids up and told them all about it