Silly commuting racing

Gallywomack

Got slightly needlessly involved in a bit of aggro this morning. At the Bricklayers roundabout lights (which were red, not read!) heard some shouting behind - it was a cyclist having a go at a van driver, I heard him shout 'you had an empty lane on the right' or words to that effect, so the van had obviously close passed in the cyclist's lane even though he could have used the other lane to overtake - one of my absolute pet peeves. Once the lights went green, van roars off in aggressive post-argument fashion, right up a scooter's tail across the roundabout onto Great Dover St where he promptly joined the back of the usual queue of traffic. I couldn't resit a 'didn't get you very far, did it?' as I went past. That'll learn 'im. 8)

Otherwise uneventful, ride of two halves - bumped into a clubmate on Bromley Rd so rode with him as far as Lewisham catching greens all the way, then seemed to hit every *red* for the rest of the ride.

smokey_bacon

Pea Souper through Richmond Park this morning. Big glowing sun in the Sky. Lovely. Didn't catch Mercury last night perhaps I was slightly too early but did get the pins out for the first time this year. No SCR this morning or yesterday though a noticeable increase in choppers this week as fancy summer bikes start to be deployed.

hopkinb

Most invigorating spin into work. Nothing doing in terms of real effort, but still, a lovely morning to be on the bike.

rhodrich

rower63 wrote:

These clear evenings I'm doing Sawyers Hill in Richmond Park on my way home, to try to see an object I've only ever seen once, around this time last year, and which even seasoned astronomers are pleased to see. I'm talking about the planet Mercury. It's generally very close to the Sun, so only briefly visible if at all for a short while after sunset, or before sunrise, and even then only very low over the horizon.
These next few evenings, around 1820-30 ish, if you're riding towards Sheen Cross or Sawyers, you'll notice a single bright "star" above and to the left of where the Star & Garter Home is, i.e. just South of West. That's Mercury. It's only slightly less bright than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. By about 1840, it'll be too low, so it's not there for long.
I saw it last night, quite obvious.
The best time is 1820-1830: before then the sky's too bright, and after then the planet is too low.

Had a look last night while sharing the work with CJCP, but I think we went through too late. As I was saying to him, the last time I rode up Sawyers with you Rower, all I remember seeing was Uranus in front of me.....

poweredbyidris

joe_totale-2

Don't usually have much in the way of SCR on my commute to Croydon but had a bit this morning.
Was on The Ridge from Beddlestead Lane down to Warlingham, a bit of to and fro throughout with another rider, good fun.
BTW Beddlestead was looking incredible in the morning sun.

Unfortunately there was crazy amounts of traffic on Old Farleigh Road.

-Dash

rower63 wrote:

Kingstonian wrote:

New gates partially across the road near Pembroke Lodge? Thanks for the warning, will have to keep an eye out for them.

Interesting. When I went past tonight (after duly seeing Mercury) they were folded back off the road again, looking like fences. I wonder why they were out last night? I've never seen them before, they were just asking for Rhodrich to propel himself over them

I've seen the gates out quite a lot in the evenings after the park closes to cars. Not sure of their purpose as even in the dead of night they're only half closed.

rhodrich

-Dash wrote:

rower63 wrote:

Kingstonian wrote:

New gates partially across the road near Pembroke Lodge? Thanks for the warning, will have to keep an eye out for them.

Interesting. When I went past tonight (after duly seeing Mercury) they were folded back off the road again, looking like fences. I wonder why they were out last night? I've never seen them before, they were just asking for Rhodrich to propel himself over them

I've seen the gates out quite a lot in the evenings after the park closes to cars. Not sure of their purpose as even in the dead of night they're only half closed.

Very funny Rower! :roll:

My theory is that they're used when the park is closing. Richmond Gate is the last to close, so they close them just before locking up Kingston Gate, to guide cars coming out of the car park back towards Richmond Gate. Once all entrance gates are closed, they should put them back in place, but forget sometimes. Only a theory though!

kingstonian

Been feeling tired in the mornings, think it is a combination of a heavy cold that I'm still trying to shift and the thick cold gloopy air. Evening rides home are a delight though, slight tailwind and I was chugging along yesterday eve claiming scalps without much effort. Bloody hard to figure out what to wear thought when it is 1-2 degrees at 7am and 16 degrees in the eve.....

kingdav

Joe Totale wrote:

Don't usually have much in the way of SCR on my commute to Croydon but had a bit this morning.
Was on The Ridge from Beddlestead Lane down to Warlingham, a bit of to and fro throughout with another rider, good fun.
BTW Beddlestead was looking incredible in the morning sun.

Unfortunately there was crazy amounts of traffic on Old Farleigh Road.

I sometimes go that way in the summer between Lingfield and the city, but most days drive up to Purley and start there. I know one or two riders who cycle in from Oxted once in a while, but I'm not surprised you don't see many. I prefer not to do the lanes in the dark.

veronese68

Rhodrich wrote:

-Dash wrote:

rower63 wrote:

Kingstonian wrote:

New gates partially across the road near Pembroke Lodge? Thanks for the warning, will have to keep an eye out for them.

Interesting. When I went past tonight (after duly seeing Mercury) they were folded back off the road again, looking like fences. I wonder why they were out last night? I've never seen them before, they were just asking for Rhodrich to propel himself over them

I've seen the gates out quite a lot in the evenings after the park closes to cars. Not sure of their purpose as even in the dead of night they're only half closed.

Very funny Rower! :roll:

My theory is that they're used when the park is closing. Richmond Gate is the last to close, so they close them just before locking up Kingston Gate, to guide cars coming out of the car park back towards Richmond Gate. Once all entrance gates are closed, they should put them back in place, but forget sometimes. Only a theory though!

I think they were put up when Pembroke Lodge started being hired out for events. If there is an evening function on they close gates at the roundabout by Richmond Gate and by Pembroke Lodge to direct party goers in the right direction, or party leavers more appropriately as they are guiding them out of the park.
Glorious in RP this morning, unfortunately I was in the car.

tgotb

Veronese68 wrote:

I think they were put up when Pembroke Lodge started being hired out for events. If there is an evening function on they close gates at the roundabout by Richmond Gate and by Pembroke Lodge to direct party goers in the right direction, or party leavers more appropriately as they are guiding them out of the park.

Sounds highly plausible, and that would explain why there aren't others around the park.

I was once stopped near Roehampton Gate at ~9pm on a dark Saturday evening by two guys dressed for a wedding, asking for directions to Pembroke Lodge. They were somewhat disappointed when I estimated the distance at around 1.5 miles; even more so when I declined to give them a lift on my bike...

Gallywomack

Very heavy legged this week, not sure why exactly - still going fairly quick in patches and picking up the odd cup on Strava, but at other times it feels like hard work. However, with a full starting grid at the Waterloo roundabout lights and a couple of people who looked keen, instinct kicked in and I blasted clear of the bunch going onto the bridge. Yeaaah!

smokey_bacon

Impromptu photo-shoot last night. Got cut up badly by a driver turning into priory lane who then was turning 1st right. As they were waiting I rolled past and gave some strong constructive criticism. They didn't like that and caught me up and at 20mph proceeded to froth at the mouth about not doing anything wrong and that they hoped I got knocked off. Anyway we get to the roundabout at Roehampton Gate and the car just stops, holding everyone up. I go to pass and realise they stopped to get their phone out and try and take pictures of me. Called them crazy and rode off.

asprilla

Promuting with CJ this morning. Full on carbon aerofest. I suspect we'll both be washing bikes tomorrow.

hopkinb

Some poor sod had been left hooked in tooting last night. Must have only recently happened, as he was lying prone in the road with a big crowd of helpers, and the bike and offending car were still in situ. I saw 3 blue lit ambulances coming towards me shortly afterwards. Hopefully all worked out well.

Otherwise, I've strapped my mudguards back on. I didn't get excited and start wearing summer kit, so nothing to change there.

tgotb

Asprilla wrote:

Promuting with CJ this morning. Full on carbon aerofest. I suspect we'll both be washing bikes tomorrow.

Eh? When I passed him, he was going in the wrong direction...

anonymousblackfg

A latish commute with plenty of people on bikes out in zone 6 which was nice to see. Some competition from a jumpy little guy near Wimbledon but annoyingly he turned off before we hit a decent open stretch.

Had to lose the arm warmer at Oval, bloody odd this warm weather and make me very happy I live in a house on a hill.

asprilla

TGOTB wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Promuting with CJ this morning. Full on carbon aerofest. I suspect we'll both be washing bikes tomorrow.

Eh? When I passed him, he was going in the wrong direction...

Me too, but he slammed on the anchors and came back for a chat.

cjcp

Asprilla wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Promuting with CJ this morning. Full on carbon aerofest. I suspect we'll both be washing bikes tomorrow.

Eh? When I passed him, he was going in the wrong direction...

Me too, but he slammed on the anchors and came back for a chat.

TGOTB wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Promuting with CJ this morning. Full on carbon aerofest. I suspect we'll both be washing bikes tomorrow.

Eh? When I passed him, he was going in the wrong direction...

Yep, after I saw you, TGOTB. Came out of hyperspace and did a 180 to catch up with Asprilla.

cyclingprop

Quick pro fettle (ok I paid for some help) to un seize my RD and I've gained 1.5mph on average commute speeds. Now to up the mileage...

Gallywomack

After my mid-week moaning, seem to be finishing the week strongly. Last night had work drinks (sober ones for me) - thought I'd discovered a new high performance wonder-fuel in lime n' soda but I suspect it was probably just the NW wind already in effect. Whizzed home on nice empty roads anyway. Then this morning, into the self-same nor-wester, set my fastest Strava average for a long time - 17.1 moving av/10.5 miles, not mind-blowing but happy with that into the wind, and would have been quicker but for hitting every red once I neared Waterloo.

Not much SCR on either ride although at the old Vic lights this morning, I espied a guy built a bit like me on a Bianchi Pista and immediately pegged him as potential competition. He was in front of me on the grid for Waterloo bridge but I put in a big sprint from the line to go clear of the pack and opened up a decent gap. Eased off a bit once I'd crested the rise, but at about two-thirds of the way across a premonition made me look back and who should I see but Pista guy down in the drops gaining on me - so put in a final effort to stay clear across the de facto finishing line of the bus queue, passing another SSer in the process. Phew.

Looking at the forecast, the wind isn't supposed to shift until about 2. I'm planning to slope off just after lunch so should hopefully have it at my back for the final ride home - this is my first week doing the full five days on the bike since I started up commuting again last autumn, and it's been a bloomin' busy one, so I will most assuredly be a-pootlin' home.

hopkinb

A concerted effort into a headwind last night left me puffing and blowing a bit.

Saw clean orange-hubbed-bike guy again this morning, and either I've got slower, or he's got faster since earlier this week, though he was still in my wake, rather than me being in his. Was it also a cross-headwind this morning? Will it also be a headwind on the way home (albeit light)? Met office app certainly seems to think so. :roll:

AyBee

Arsey wrote:

AyBee wrote:

Help needed: just moved jobs and have been told I’m 11th on the waiting list for 30 bike spaces...i.e. that’s not going to happen in a long while. Are there any storage/changing spaces around Queen Victoria St? I have no idea where to start, but after 8 years of commuting daily, this is going to drive me insane getting the tube!!

Amateur, when they ask during the interview if you have any questions, top of the list should be "Do you have cycling facilities?"!

I've worked here previously - know they had facilities but stupidly didn't ask whether there were spaces. Don't mind leaving my bike locked up outside, but need solutions to kit hanging/drying during the day - they suggested I leave my kit in a sealed bag in the wardrobes on the office floor :roll:

I'm tempted to start looking for new jobs purely based on the inability to ride to this one :x

anonymousblackfg

Trainw4nkered in late which was very civilised. the cause was a scan for the dorris with ABFG 3 en route. Very calm given this was against my life plan but wholeheartedly in hers, maybe I should tell her I need that Van Nicholas Yukon Disc to help me cope with the change.

asprilla

Double puncture this morning. User error.

tgotb

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Trainw4nkered in late which was very civilised. the cause was a scan for the dorris with ABFG 3 en route. Very calm given this was against my life plan but wholeheartedly in hers, maybe I should tell her I need that Van Nicholas Yukon Disc to help me cope with the change.

There are precautions you can take to avoid this sort of mishap - we had special lessons on the subject at school; don't tell me you were too busy sniggering at the back to pay attention...

elbowloh

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Trainw4nkered in late which was very civilised. the cause was a scan for the dorris with ABFG 3 en route. Very calm given this was against my life plan but wholeheartedly in hers, maybe I should tell her I need that Van Nicholas Yukon Disc to help me cope with the change.

Our first is due in April. Would this tactic work for me also.

I have 5 bikes, but none (well apart from the MTB i never use) have disc breaks. I deffo need a "safer" bike for commuting.

hopkinb

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Trainw4nkered in late which was very civilised. the cause was a scan for the dorris with ABFG 3 en route. Very calm given this was against my life plan but wholeheartedly in hers, maybe I should tell her I need that Van Nicholas Yukon Disc to help me cope with the change.

Congrats! Good job you bought that big cargo bike!

mattsaw

You guys are making the mistake of entering into preemptive debate.