Silly commuting racing

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Comments

  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    inbike wrote:
    London-Red wrote:
    rower63 wrote:
    i suggested the big parks, bushy and richmond, only open their gates to motor vehicles at 0930 and close them at 1600, to exclude commuter traffic

    I'm not sure that's the best solution though as it will just clog up surrounding residential areas, increase pollution in the streets where we and our kids live and potentially lead to accidents.

    Removing traffic from the parks will make cycle commuting look more attractive (as it'll be much faster than driving) encouraging more people out of their cars onto bikes or PT and lowering overall pollution.

    The solution to the problem you raise (traffic diverted onto unsuitable residential streets) is to filter or slow those as well so that through-drivers stick to trunk roads where they belong.

    I'd be inclined to make it a toll road based on the duration of stay, so that those who use it to park at the likes of Roehampton Gate, Pembroke Lodge or Pen Ponds to walk their dogs etc can still do without charge, and without the cafes run at those locations suffering.

    Same on the weekend.

    No perfect solution, unfortunately, because it's linked to the sheer volume of traffic passing around either side of the park; Richmond Park essentially acts as a relief road, and the queues of traffic through Petersham in the winter when RP is closed is an example of this.

    We can but hope that the development of the cycling infrastructure in Kingston will encourage people to make shorter journeys by bike rather than car.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • rower63
    rower63 Posts: 1,991
    TGOTB wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    The roundabout under the flyover, even on a Sunday, wasn't to my liking,
    OT - I once rode over the flyover; it was about midnight, there was a bit of a tailwind, and it's 2 lanes each way with a 30mph speed limit. I was probably doing 25mph, so I figured it would be quicker and safer than the gyratory system. What I didn't account for was the lack of speed cameras, which meant that most of the cars were actually doing 60+mph. Combined with poor sight lines and drivers using the full width of both lanes to take a "racing line", it was an experience I don't wish to repeat...
    On Tuesday evening I was overtaken by a car doing what I estimated to be 70 on the Kingston Bridge-Hampton Court bridge stretch. It was slightly weaving from side to side in his available space too, bloody terrifying. If I'd caught him up later I wouldn't have been fully in control of my actions...
    Dolan Titanium ADX 2016
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  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    rower63 wrote:
    TGOTB wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    The roundabout under the flyover, even on a Sunday, wasn't to my liking,
    OT - I once rode over the flyover; it was about midnight, there was a bit of a tailwind, and it's 2 lanes each way with a 30mph speed limit. I was probably doing 25mph, so I figured it would be quicker and safer than the gyratory system. What I didn't account for was the lack of speed cameras, which meant that most of the cars were actually doing 60+mph. Combined with poor sight lines and drivers using the full width of both lanes to take a "racing line", it was an experience I don't wish to repeat...
    On Tuesday evening I was overtaken by a car doing what I estimated to be 70 on the Kingston Bridge-Hampton Court bridge stretch. It was slightly weaving from side to side in his available space too, bloody terrifying. If I'd caught him up later I wouldn't have been fully in control of my actions...

    JFC :evil:
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,152
    cjcp wrote:
    BergGG wrote:
    J_MCD wrote:
    On a less happy note, I get the feeling I'm going to be VERY annoyed by the Barnes Bridge delays before 3 years is out. The traffic down LRR was horrific today.

    [SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION - LONGTIME LURKER CURIOSITY POST]
    Out of interest for all those suffering with LRR, have you thought about taking advantage and switching the route to go over Hammersmith Bridge instead? The main road up to it now on Castlenau is a good long stretch, w. bus lane & traffic free and then there's the joy of crossing the bridge itself sans cars and pedestrians.

    How bad it would be from there to re-join your various routes? The road east via High Street Ken and Knightsbridge is not great but you do go past Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall etc and then looks kind of fun, maybe.. to re-join the velo autobahn at Westminster via Consitution hill & Regents Park, or Trafalgar Sq via the Mall. Guess it's longer and more fiddly but could be a bit of occasional light relief to the LRR grind.

    Last went up Castlenau and over Hammersmith Bridge as a trial-run the day before they shut Putney Bridge back in, what, 2014 or 2015.

    The roundabout under the flyover, even on a Sunday, wasn't to my liking, but, given the shambles along Chelsea Embankment too, I'm considering a route... *shudders*... south of the river, all the way to Vauxhaull Bridge.

    But this represents change. And we all know that change is bad.

    If you mean the Hammersmith gyratory, it's not great but you can avoid it by going in front of the Apollo and using shared pavement and the pedestrian crossings, then cycle path alongside Talgarth Road to get to Colet Gardens and onto Hammersmith Road.

    I use that cycle path if the traffic looks a bit angry when going home, as the gyratory can get a bit hairy with people suddenly changing lanes etc.
  • berggg
    berggg Posts: 4
    cjcp wrote:

    The roundabout under the flyover, even on a Sunday, wasn't to my liking, but, given the shambles along Chelsea Embankment too, I'm considering a route... *shudders*... south of the river, all the way to Vauxhaull Bridge.

    But this represents change. And we all know that change is bad.

    Yeah, south of the river commute... is that along the south circ? Eugh.

    Once accustomed to the ways of the fearsome Hammersmith Gyratory it's actually rather exciting. Don't want to be responsible for anyone getting squashed though, so go with your instinct!

    As for going over the flyover.... now that's a scary thought! :shock:
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    KingstonGraham wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    BergGG wrote:
    J_MCD wrote:
    On a less happy note, I get the feeling I'm going to be VERY annoyed by the Barnes Bridge delays before 3 years is out. The traffic down LRR was horrific today.

    [SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION - LONGTIME LURKER CURIOSITY POST]
    Out of interest for all those suffering with LRR, have you thought about taking advantage and switching the route to go over Hammersmith Bridge instead? The main road up to it now on Castlenau is a good long stretch, w. bus lane & traffic free and then there's the joy of crossing the bridge itself sans cars and pedestrians.

    How bad it would be from there to re-join your various routes? The road east via High Street Ken and Knightsbridge is not great but you do go past Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall etc and then looks kind of fun, maybe.. to re-join the velo autobahn at Westminster via Consitution hill & Regents Park, or Trafalgar Sq via the Mall. Guess it's longer and more fiddly but could be a bit of occasional light relief to the LRR grind.

    Last went up Castlenau and over Hammersmith Bridge as a trial-run the day before they shut Putney Bridge back in, what, 2014 or 2015.

    The roundabout under the flyover, even on a Sunday, wasn't to my liking, but, given the shambles along Chelsea Embankment too, I'm considering a route... *shudders*... south of the river, all the way to Vauxhaull Bridge.

    But this represents change. And we all know that change is bad.

    If you mean the Hammersmith gyratory, it's not great but you can avoid it by going in front of the Apollo and using shared pavement and the pedestrian crossings, then cycle path alongside Talgarth Road to get to Colet Gardens and onto Hammersmith Road.

    I use that cycle path if the traffic looks a bit angry when going home, as the gyratory can get a bit hairy with people suddenly changing lanes etc.

    *dismisses altogether the idea of going up Castlenau and over Hammersmith Bridge* :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    BergGG wrote:
    cjcp wrote:

    The roundabout under the flyover, even on a Sunday, wasn't to my liking, but, given the shambles along Chelsea Embankment too, I'm considering a route... *shudders*... south of the river, all the way to Vauxhaull Bridge.

    But this represents change. And we all know that change is bad.

    Yeah, south of the river commute... is that along the south circ? Eugh.

    Once accustomed to the ways of the fearsome Hammersmith Gyratory it's actually rather exciting. Don't want to be responsible for anyone getting squashed though, so go with your instinct!

    As for going over the flyover.... now that's a scary thought! :shock:

    Yeah, through Wandsworth, then Battersea, avoiding the dragon, through Battersea Park perhaps, then left over Vauxhall Bridge.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • mr_ribble
    mr_ribble Posts: 1,068
    TGOTB wrote:
    Following the introduction of a 20p charge to use the loos,
    inbike wrote:
    The royal parks are putting together a movent strategy.

    Even the bears? Where do they go
  • Bikequin
    Bikequin Posts: 402
    cjcp wrote:
    BergGG wrote:
    cjcp wrote:

    The roundabout under the flyover, even on a Sunday, wasn't to my liking, but, given the shambles along Chelsea Embankment too, I'm considering a route... *shudders*... south of the river, all the way to Vauxhaull Bridge.

    But this represents change. And we all know that change is bad.

    Yeah, south of the river commute... is that along the south circ? Eugh.

    Once accustomed to the ways of the fearsome Hammersmith Gyratory it's actually rather exciting. Don't want to be responsible for anyone getting squashed though, so go with your instinct!

    As for going over the flyover.... now that's a scary thought! :shock:

    Yeah, through Wandsworth, then Battersea, avoiding the dragon, through Battersea Park perhaps, then left over Vauxhall Bridge.

    I've started going that way occasionally when the traffics bad, if you leave Battersea Park and go over Chelsea Bridge then you get a decent run up to VB along the northside of the river which is normally quite traffic lite.
    You'll not see nothing like the mighty Quin.
  • wolfsbane2k
    wolfsbane2k Posts: 3,056
    Absolutely annihilated up a steep hill by a racing snake who just zipped past and didn't look to be even trying.

    One of those "I didn't even know you were there, and it's not worth trying as I wave you goodbye into the distance" type annihilations.

    Still, nice day for it.
    Intent on Cycling Commuting on a budget, but keep on breaking/crashing/finding nice stuff to buy.
    Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...
  • sgt.pepper
    sgt.pepper Posts: 300
    mamil314 wrote:
    Sgt.Pepper wrote:
    What score does my dynamo add to the 10 speed's FCN?

    Do you ride a lot in the dark or just got fed up with the charging?

    Bit of both, but it's also because Wellington is apparently overdue a massive earthquake and I want that self-sufficiency.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Sgt.Pepper wrote:
    mamil314 wrote:
    Sgt.Pepper wrote:
    What score does my dynamo add to the 10 speed's FCN?

    Do you ride a lot in the dark or just got fed up with the charging?

    Bit of both, but it's also because Wellington is apparently overdue a massive earthquake and I want that self-sufficiency.

    :shock:
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • mr_ribble
    mr_ribble Posts: 1,068
    cjcp wrote:
    Sgt.Pepper wrote:
    mamil314 wrote:
    Sgt.Pepper wrote:
    What score does my dynamo add to the 10 speed's FCN?

    Do you ride a lot in the dark or just got fed up with the charging?

    Bit of both, but it's also because Wellington is apparently overdue a massive earthquake and I want that self-sufficiency.

    :shock:

    On this basis I'm moving to California to start a business selling dynamos....
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,152
    TGOTB wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    The roundabout under the flyover, even on a Sunday, wasn't to my liking,
    OT - I once rode over the flyover; it was about midnight, there was a bit of a tailwind, and it's 2 lanes each way with a 30mph speed limit. I was probably doing 25mph, so I figured it would be quicker and safer than the gyratory system. What I didn't account for was the lack of speed cameras, which meant that most of the cars were actually doing 60+mph. Combined with poor sight lines and drivers using the full width of both lanes to take a "racing line", it was an experience I don't wish to repeat...

    Weird that this was posted yesterday... Today the flyover is closed and the whole of Hammersmith is at a standstill because of a fatal three car crash westbound overnight. Three men arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

    https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ ... 61681.html
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    Mr_Ribble wrote:
    On this basis I'm moving to California to start a business selling dynamos....
    I think earthquake preparation in that part of the World is more about filling your basement with a year's worth of food and water, and then making sure you have enough weapons and ammunition to defend it.
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • sgt.pepper
    sgt.pepper Posts: 300
    TGOTB wrote:
    Mr_Ribble wrote:
    On this basis I'm moving to California to start a business selling dynamos....
    I think earthquake preparation in that part of the World is more about filling your basement with a year's worth of food and water, and then making sure you have enough weapons and ammunition to defend it.

    Yeah Kiwis are far too laid back to do any looting.

    And we've already got a decent water source, canned food and a generator sorted - the dynamo is more to get supplies and check on family if the phones are down. These are genuine considerations over here - you really do have to pay attention to health and safety info!
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    Sgt.Pepper wrote:
    These are genuine considerations over here - you really do have to pay attention to health and safety info!
    In the UK it's easy to forget these things are real. I work for a global company, and our mandatory annual training includes online courses on how to respond to earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes and "active shooters", none of feel any more real than a zombie apocalypse...
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • dizzydane
    dizzydane Posts: 322
    KingstonGraham wrote:
    Weird that this was posted yesterday... Today the flyover is closed and the whole of Hammersmith is at a standstill because of a fatal three car crash westbound overnight. Three men arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

    https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ ... 61681.html

    Got caught up in this this morning. My office is above the Hammersmith station and it took about 5 mins to get through the cars into our car park... It's still rammed outside.

    Spotted this on Reddit - so cool!
    https://www.reddit.com/r/bikecommuting/ ... dium=web2x
  • mtb-idle
    mtb-idle Posts: 2,179
    dizzydane wrote:

    Spotted this on Reddit - so cool!
    https://www.reddit.com/r/bikecommuting/ ... dium=web2x

    Bee-yoo-tiful.

    I've been tempted to do something like this on CS7 actually. Just need to get up five minutes earlier than usual one day and stop somewhere like Oval lights and set myself up rather than getting engaged in SCR all the time.
    FCN = 4
  • dizzydane
    dizzydane Posts: 322
    MTB-Idle wrote:
    Bee-yoo-tiful.

    I've been tempted to do something like this on CS7 actually. Just need to get up five minutes earlier than usual one day and stop somewhere like Oval lights and set myself up rather than getting engaged in SCR all the time.
    Do let me know your location when you do it :wink:
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Came in via Wimbledon, Earlsfield and Clapham this morning.

    HILLS!!

    HILLS EVERYWHERE!!!

    WTH IS THAT ABOUT??!!!

    Eventually reached the flatlands of Battersea Park Road, and stayed south until Westminster Bridge.

    Quite nice to avoid the LRR and Chelsea Embankment.

    EDIT: later commute home this evening. Clear-ish roads, but those poxy traffic lights on the NKR are back. Tailwind wasted thru having no lunch, apart from a few jelly babies and chocolate coated raisins. Not ideal, tbh.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,814
    Took the pub hack to work as it has mudguards and rain was raining this morning. Unlocked the bike in bright and dry conditions, realised my front tyre was flat as a pancake. Battled the tyre with no levers and eventually got everything back together and air into the tube. Set off just as the rain started, of course the wind picked up at this point. Absolutely no competition as everyone else was scared off by the rain.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • awavey
    awavey Posts: 2,368
    I had people zipping past me left and right today, its Friday end of the week and Im knackered due to no sleep from an annoying cough, plus the wind, or maybe I looked like I was a decent scalp for once as Ive been fkw modelling my selection of womens tour teams kit. frankly I didnt care :)
  • DrLex
    DrLex Posts: 2,142
    ^ *hopes it’s not the “interesting” flesh-coloured Colombian kit from five years back*
    Location: ciderspace
  • frogonabike
    frogonabike Posts: 157
    Moist
  • anonymousblackfg
    anonymousblackfg Posts: 2,029
    frogonabike wrote:
    Moist

    Yep, classic day for the office (first world problem) towel supply to run out. Hairdryered it.

    Little competition or other cyclists, must have been a crush for all those extra tube w4nkers.
    If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.
  • rower63
    rower63 Posts: 1,991
    my colleague was complaining about the 50% uber surge-charge for his morning's commute
    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
  • frogonabike
    frogonabike Posts: 157
    anonymousblackfg wrote:
    frogonabike wrote:
    Moist

    Yep, classic day for the office (first world problem) towel supply to run out. Hairdryered it.

    Little competition or other cyclists, must have been a crush for all those extra tube w4nkers.

    Yeah the thought of the tube does make me smile when is qissing it down :lol:
  • j_mcd
    j_mcd Posts: 473
    That was biblically wet on the way in this morning. Stupidly I looked at my winter (waterproof) boots last night and thought "...nah, how wet could it be"

    The fact that I'm about to nip back down to the drying room to pack my shoes with last Fridays Evening Standard suggests "quite wet"...
    Giant Defy Advanced 0 - Best
    Planet X London Road - Wet
    Montague Fit - Foldy thing that rarely gets used these days
  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    8am conference call this morning; plan was to dial into that from home, then ride in to the office a bit later. Couple of other work things to deal with after the call, next thing I know it's 9.30, and the view outside is somewhat damp; s*d it, I'll WFH today. Might go for a pootle up Alpe Du Zwift at lunchtime instead...
    Pannier, 120rpm.

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