Silly commuting racing

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  • vimfuego
    vimfuego Posts: 1,783
    Brrrrrrr
    Anyway - some superb kit choice menat it wasn't at all bad once I got going.
    pretty quiet on CS7 eary on. Only one challenger - Giant with a squeaky chain (I DQ'd him on the spot just for that) - who held my wheel from the Balham escape & through Clapham. Then RLJ'd at Clapham Norf never to be seen again.
    Other than that nothing to report.
    CS7
    Surrey Hills
    What's a Zwift?
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    If you commute on Edco wheels and still need to jump on every wheel or draft trucks to get in, you probably need to work on your bike speed.

    EDIT: and also learn to say "thanks".
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Climate protest at the end of Tower Bridge northbound this morning. Complete block.

    What I found funny though, was the policeman, who was circling the crowd and explaining to each single participant (in a very polite way) how f*cked they are.

    In other news: Cycling awareness plan could lead to cheaper insurance for drivers
    The DfT also wants to create a new police unit to analyse evidence of dangerous driving that has been caught on camera by other road users.

    Grab your cameras, boys!
  • I seem to keep missing these protests. I presume the absolute standstill I saw whilst changing my puncture on Borough Rd yesterday morning must have been linked to it. Presumably they are waving cyclists through, with high fives and pats on the back?
  • Presumably they are waving cyclists through, with high fives and pats on the back?
    No high fives, no pats :|
  • kingdav
    kingdav Posts: 417
    edited November 2018
    The climate protesters at Elephant gave me a hearty welcome

    - just noticed the below post citing a garmin temp of -4 this morning. Mine reported -5 for the section going through Kenley!
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    Well impressed with the Sportful R&D jacket I got for £36 after someone posted it on the bargains thread. Light enough to be comfortable as soon as it's too chilly for just a jersey, coped perfectly well with Tuesday's downpour, and was still keeping me warm this morning with the Garmin claiming -4 degrees...
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • inbike
    inbike Posts: 264
    Left my winter gloves on the radiator last night.

    Toasty warm fingers all the way in.

    Didn't see any ice on the roads but assume the RP crowd will warn us before central London is at risk.
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    inbike wrote:
    Didn't see any ice on the roads but assume the RP crowd will warn us before central London is at risk.
    There was a bit of ice around in the Richmond area, including the odd frozen puddle, but only on minor roads that didn't look like they'd been salted.
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    Witnessed a bike on car collision this morning in Tooting. Chap coming down the hill on his bike, totally clear road, not up the inside of traffic or anything, when someone going up the hill just turned right across him, and he went over the bonnet and smashed into the windscreen. Thankfully he seemed OK, he got up straight away, had a few cuts to the shoulder from the shattered windscreen, and his front wheel was only slightly pringled. He was on his way to work at St George's, and didn't seem bothered about an ambulance, so I hung around for a few minutes, gave him my number as a witness and carried on.

    I've checked my front camera, and it hasn't recorded anything since last night, and even that isn't the complete commute. It also has a load of stuff on there from years ago. Very weird, as the light was on, which means that it's meant to be recording, and it has recorded the underside of my desk just now with the correct date and time, which would suggest that it's working. Maybe I should get a new memory card, or at least format the one I already have to clear the junk off there.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,920
    kingdav wrote:
    ...a garmin temp of -4.
    It should be recorded as Garmin temp, mine seems to read 3-4 below reality. I'm off today but was in the car at 8am and that showed 0'C in Kingston. Then had to drive the Mini in to work as I'm using our workshop to fix that for the daughter to start learning to drive next month :shock: Had to scrape the ice off both sides of the windows. :lol:
  • j_mcd
    j_mcd Posts: 473
    An actual temperature of -2, a 'feels like' temperature of -5 for me.

    Brisk.

    Yet once I was the City side of RP it wasn't cold at all. Did feel for the chap I saw in the park on a BSO wearing shorts and a thin jacket though.
    Giant Defy Advanced 0 - Best
    Planet X London Road - Wet
    Montague Fit - Foldy thing that rarely gets used these days
  • rower63
    rower63 Posts: 1,991
    By the time I got out of Richmond Park, my Garmin was showing -6 degrees, which means it was actually -4 .
    Dolan Titanium ADX 2016
    Ridley Noah FAST 2013
    Bottecchia/Campagnolo 1990
    Carrera Parva Hybrid 2016
    Hoy Sa Calobra 002 2014 [off duty]
    Storck Absolutist 2011 [off duty]
    http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html
  • hopkinb wrote:
    Witnessed a bike on car collision this morning in Tooting. Chap coming down the hill on his bike, totally clear road, not up the inside of traffic or anything, when someone going up the hill just turned right across him, and he went over the bonnet and smashed into the windscreen. Thankfully he seemed OK, he got up straight away, had a few cuts to the shoulder from the shattered windscreen, and his front wheel was only slightly pringled. He was on his way to work at St George's, and didn't seem bothered about an ambulance, so I hung around for a few minutes, gave him my number as a witness and carried on.

    I've checked my front camera, and it hasn't recorded anything since last night, and even that isn't the complete commute. It also has a load of stuff on there from years ago. Very weird, as the light was on, which means that it's meant to be recording, and it has recorded the underside of my desk just now with the correct date and time, which would suggest that it's working. Maybe I should get a new memory card, or at least format the one I already have to clear the junk off there.

    Sounds like textbook Hell of the South. Not helpful your camera packed in, am back to thinking it's time to buy one after yesterday's incident.

    G
    If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Nice spin this morning, quite nippy but have to say my Sportful jacket is brilliant in the cold.

    Saw one girl on a bike with no gloves, had to ask her whether she had any fingers left and she replied that she had only just left her house so it was ok. I'm guessing that within 5 minutes she'd be suffering from fairly major frostbite.

    Felt a bit peckish just now, must be a result of the colder than usual ride, so smashed back a cinnamon swirl and large latte from Starbucks. Feel great now !!!
  • rower63 wrote:
    By the time I got out of Richmond Park, my Garmin was showing -6 degrees, which means it was actually -4 .

    Just a touch lower according to my Garmin which showed -7.5 in frosty/misty Donkey Woods attually felt warmer than yesterday, will be glad when Bushy Park is open again as the woods is quite wet, in fact yesterday I ended up with a very soggy foot as I ground to a halt as I’d not realised one of the muddy trough was so deep, was hub deep....
  • london-red
    london-red Posts: 1,266
    Damn gravel bikes... Took the opportunity for a sneaky pint in the Queen of RIchmond Hill on the way home as I had time to spare (recommend the Wimbledon Copper Leaf).

    This obviously gave me courage, so took the off-road route back to Kingston from Richmond Gate in the darkness. This was great, but how I didn't come off after hitting a stealth tree root near Pembroke Lodge I have no idea. Rear spoke blown after my right heel somehow got caught back there. Pita, but good fun :D

    It's also cool to be so close to the deer when you get off the road - at points i was riding past them with no more than 2 or 4 feet between us and they just lay there, glassy eyed, chewing.
  • All this talk of cold is a reminder to bring adequate clothing for the Christmas UK trip. Wellington rarely gets below 10 degrees year round - I've probably gone a bit soft.

    Gentle ride in this morning after gym with a colleague. Don't understand the appeal personally, extremely loud and humid from other people's sweat. Give me a peaceful road and the fresh air any day...
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Quiet road this morning - presume most cyclists and drivers have taken the sensible approach and are WFH'ing.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Quiet road this morning - presume most cyclists and drivers have taken the sensible approach and are WFH'ing.

    YUP :mrgreen:
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Climate protesters were at it again - this time at the Tower Hill junction completely blocking off access to Lower Thames St westbound.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    London-Red wrote:
    Damn gravel bikes... Took the opportunity for a sneaky pint in the Queen of RIchmond Hill on the way home as I had time to spare (recommend the Wimbledon Copper Leaf).

    This obviously gave me courage, so took the off-road route back to Kingston from Richmond Gate in the darkness. This was great, but how I didn't come off after hitting a stealth tree root near Pembroke Lodge I have no idea. Rear spoke blown after my right heel somehow got caught back there. Pita, but good fun :D

    It's also cool to be so close to the deer when you get off the road - at points i was riding past them with no more than 2 or 4 feet between us and they just lay there, glassy eyed, chewing.

    Twickenham CC are hosting their CX race at Hillingdon on 9 December. Always a great event.

    Just sayin' :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • rhodrich
    rhodrich Posts: 867
    Quiet road this morning - presume most cyclists and drivers have taken the sensible approach and are WFH'ing.

    Indeed - WFH here, waiting for plumber. Currently 9 degrees in my living room.....
    1938 Hobbs Tandem
    1956 Carlton Flyer Path/Track
    1960 Mercian Superlight Track
    1974 Pete Luxton Path/Track*
    1980 Harry Hall
    1986 Dawes Galaxy
    1988 Jack Taylor Tourer
    1988 Pearson
    1989 Condor
    1993 Dawes Hybrid
    2016 Ridley Helium SL
    *Currently on this
  • mtb-idle
    mtb-idle Posts: 2,179
    hopkinb wrote:
    Witnessed a bike on car collision this morning in Tooting. Chap coming down the hill on his bike, totally clear road, not up the inside of traffic or anything, when someone going up the hill just turned right across him, and he went over the bonnet and smashed into the windscreen. <snip>

    Sounds like textbook Hell of the South. Not helpful your camera packed in, am back to thinking it's time to buy one after yesterday's incident.

    G

    Agree, sounds like the car driver was doing the typical 'Tooting Shuffle' as those of us heading from Epsom refer to it i.e. coming out of one side road, driving less than 100 metres and going into the next side road on the opposite side of the main road i.e. trying to gain an advantage by using the side streets to go across the flow rather than with it but in reality delaying everyone by pulling out, stopping, turning across the traffic etc.
    FCN = 4
  • Bit of SCR for once, picked up a couple of roadies around Downham/Homebase lights, one in orange one in red with a facemask (sorry, I don't do noticing bikes, wheels and that). At first orange was setting the pace and I thought red couldn't handle it, but he came back strong as we neared Catford and took the lead. I opened up the taps going through Catford and got a gap on them both, but had to stop for a red light near Lewisham and it all came back together. I was working quite hard and hadn't completely lost them.

    Orange took the cut through the park in Lewisham at what I considered an unsafe & anti-social pace so I let him go, but was able to get onto Brookmill with him in sight. Red had (I thought) been dropped by this point. Orange was drafting another guy in black who was also doing a decent pace, I reeled them both in but there was no point passing by the time I caught them near the Deptford Bridge lights. While waiting at the lights, red reappears too. So we now had four riders of decentish pace, all going the same way. I was sorely tempted to carry on with them onto the Evelyn St/Jamaica road route rather than my usual turn off for Q1, but in the end decided I didn't want to risk problems with climate protestors at Tower Bridge (seems that was a good decision, reading vpnikolov's post above). Enlivened the first half of my ride, anyway. Orange in particular had good pace but was a bit of a drafting fairy and as I say, a bit reckless with his speed on shared-use paths IMO.
  • vimfuego
    vimfuego Posts: 1,783
    Right hooked on my way back last night. Between Dirty Tooting & Colliers Wood (turning for Trevelyan Rd?).

    Standard car turning right through traffic and blasting across the CL without thought or recognition of all that blue paint he's got to cross. Anyway, it's a downhill section with a nice wide bus/cycle lane down the left side, but since my acrobatic escape in a similar situation at Clapham earlier in the year I'm uber sensitive near side roads, so I wasn't going as rapidly as I might have been at the time & clocked the gap in the line of traffic as it crept along to the lights a bit further on. Only saw the car as it emerged at some tilt from between the traffic just as I was approaching the scene. Grabbed a handful of brake, fishtailed in a very unceremonious manner (no time for modulation here) and convinced as was going to end up across his windscreen, so my face must have been one of dawning dread and wide-eyed panic, much like the passenger who was clearly mouthing "ooooh f*ck" as she clocked what was about to happen.

    Anyway, the brakes (hydro's for the commute kids) did just enough in the end, my front wheel thumped into his front passenger side wheel (well tyre thankfully) as he screeched to something approaching a stop. I sort of bounced back a smidge and started a slow mo fall to the right, thankfully unclipping just in time to rescue it. No damage to me, bike or the car somehow. Driver in the car behind asked if I was OK rather than giving me the usual "Tooting Hello" then looked at the other driver and called him a "tw@t" so I guess he probably wasn't letting him out when he made his right hook move....

    The offending driver stopped & apologised anyway & didn't even use the SMIDSY line. Couldn't be ar5sed to get into an argument (he actually looked a bit more shaken than me) given the lack of injury or damage so I bade him farewell with a somewhat black countenance & pootled back without further incident.

    #Tootingshuffle
    CS7
    Surrey Hills
    What's a Zwift?
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    I got a text from the guy I saw nearly go through a windscreen yesterday - he is totally ok. A very lucky man.

    Phew, glad you're OK vim. The turning you describe is bad for right hooks through stationary traffic. 90% of the time I ignore the bus/cycle lane and go with, or up the outside of the traffic for that very reason. You still have to be careful of people coming out of Trevelyan road to turn right towards tooting broadway, but the risk is lower I reckon.
  • london-red
    london-red Posts: 1,266
    cjcp wrote:
    London-Red wrote:
    Damn gravel bikes... Took the opportunity for a sneaky pint in the Queen of RIchmond Hill on the way home as I had time to spare (recommend the Wimbledon Copper Leaf).

    This obviously gave me courage, so took the off-road route back to Kingston from Richmond Gate in the darkness. This was great, but how I didn't come off after hitting a stealth tree root near Pembroke Lodge I have no idea. Rear spoke blown after my right heel somehow got caught back there. Pita, but good fun :D

    It's also cool to be so close to the deer when you get off the road - at points i was riding past them with no more than 2 or 4 feet between us and they just lay there, glassy eyed, chewing.

    Twickenham CC are hosting their CX race at Hillingdon on 9 December. Always a great event.

    Just sayin' :)

    Nice. Gives me plenty of time to think up a suitable excuse :D
  • mtb-idle
    mtb-idle Posts: 2,179
    vimfuego wrote:
    Right hooked on my way back last night. Between Dirty Tooting & Colliers Wood (turning for Trevelyan Rd?) <snip>

    #Tootingshuffle

    Know it well, loving the hashtag, I will have to use that on my insta. Glad you are ok.

    speaking of Instagram here's the Extinction Rebellion group I encountered at Elephant & Castle yesterday morning prior to seeing their colleagues at the north side of Tower Bridge later on during the commute.

    There were 25 buses queued up/held at E&C, I counted 'em!
    FCN = 4
  • Utter sh1t show that stretch (which bit of CS7 near Tooting isn't) hence my route home through Wimbledon these days but I do need swing by Screwfix Metro tonight... It sounds like you did well to avoid injury but I do wonder what speed you have to hit a passenger door to cause a reasonable dent while not damaging your fork/wheel?

    Nice group of 4 of us keeping a nice bit of speed through Balham onwards this morning though traffic stopped most efforts.
    If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.