Silly commuting racing

tgotb

hopkinb wrote:

sedentary

/ˈsɛd(ə)nt(ə)ri/

def: (of a position) sitting; seated.


Neither golf, nor bowls are played whilst seated.

Cycling, at least the way I do it, is carried out whilst seated.

Exactly. I'm a huge fan of sports that can be done whilst sitting down, and over the years I've dabbled in almost every one I can think of that doesn't involve engines or wheelchairs.

I don't count horse riding as a sedentary sport because the horse, which is the creature actually doing the sport, is not sitting down.

drhaggis

hopkinb wrote:

sedentary

/ˈsɛd(ə)nt(ə)ri/

def: (of a position) sitting; seated.


Neither golf, nor bowls are played whilst seated.

Cycling, at least the way I do it, is carried out whilst seated.

Pfff. Amateur. Never sit when you can lie down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXZPMAXniTs

(Sorry for those with censored intertubes)

EDIT: Also, recumbents

cjcp

Coming home last night, was just before 7.30pm, approaching the security bollards for the lane of bike traffic heading onto Parliament Square from Westminster Bridge... and there's one of those tourist trike things trying to squeeze through the bollards to join the lane for the oncoming bike i.e. my lane.

It's a bit jammed, but he eventually scrapes his way through.

Buffoon.

I really dislike those things.

And it seems the new ninja cyclists are the ninja e-scooter riders. Seeing (just about at times on the more dimly lit parts of the bike lane) more of these as the nights draw in, but a special mention for the chap ninja-ing it along the Upper Richmond Road towards Priory Lane last night. Seriously hope he wasn't heading up Priory Lane in Special Ops mode...

asprilla

cjcp wrote:

Coming home last night, was just before 7.30pm, approaching the security bollards for the lane of bike traffic heading onto Parliament Square from Westminster Bridge... and there's one of those tourist trike things trying to squeeze through the bollards to join the lane for the oncoming bike i.e. my lane.

It's a bit jammed, but he eventually scrapes his way through.

Buffoon.

I really dislike those things.

And it seems the new ninja cyclists are the ninja e-scooter riders. Seeing (just about at times on the more dimly lit parts of the bike lane) more of these as the nights draw in, but a special mention for the chap ninja-ing it along the Upper Richmond Road towards Priory Lane last night. Seriously hope he wasn't heading up Priory Lane in Special Ops mode...

It's fine. He'll just mingle with the Norwegian SAS ski patrol when they (dis)appear in a few weeks.

smokey_bacon

Agree on the trikes they are absolutely atrocious.

Took the Lots Rd route to Putney Bridge for the first time last night. Got a puncture for my troubles and a load of traffic! Then cracked big style coming off Putney bridge, had zero in the tank, took what seemed to be hours to get home.

hopkinb

I thought I was in a sprint this morning - bowling along at ~42kph, noticed a green light some 150m ahead and heard the fairy behind me click up a couple of gears as if he was going to sprint. I had mentally resigned myself to having to stop, but if he was going to play, then so was I. Also changed up a couple of cogs, disqualified myself from "true" SCR by getting into the drops and out of the saddle and putting all my considerable weight through the pedals. Hauled my speed up to what the wahoo said was 56kph, but which strava has downgraded to 54, and even threw my bike at the white line ( :oops: ). Sat up to savour my "victory" over both the traffic lights and my fellow competitor. However, I must have imagined the whole thing, as the "competitor" was about 50m back, having to stop for the lights. :roll:

I must have looked like a right bl00dy idiot, well, even more than usual. At least i didn't raise my arms.

Note - all speeds inflated by tailwind.

poweredbyidris

Anyone else spot a young lady in Richmond Park this morning going for a run in what appeared to be a bridesmaids dress?

Proper double-take as I went past

pangolin

hopkinb wrote:

I thought I was in a sprint this morning - bowling along at ~42kph, noticed a green light some 150m ahead and heard the fairy behind me click up a couple of gears as if he was going to sprint. I had mentally resigned myself to having to stop, but if he was going to play, then so was I. Also changed up a couple of cogs, disqualified myself from "true" SCR by getting into the drops and out of the saddle and putting all my considerable weight through the pedals. Hauled my speed up to what the wahoo said was 56kph, but which strava has downgraded to 54, and even threw my bike at the white line ( :oops: ). Sat up to savour my "victory" over both the traffic lights and my fellow competitor. However, I must have imagined the whole thing, as the "competitor" was about 50m back, having to stop for the lights. :roll:

I must have looked like a right bl00dy idiot, well, even more than usual. At least i didn't raise my arms.

Note - all speeds inflated by tailwind.

Well the throwing yourself over the line was a bit unnecessary, but otherwise you beat someone by such a margin that he had to stop for the lights and you didn't - ultimate victory.

hopkinb

pangolin wrote:

hopkinb wrote:

I thought I was in a sprint this morning - bowling along at ~42kph, noticed a green light some 150m ahead and heard the fairy behind me click up a couple of gears as if he was going to sprint. I had mentally resigned myself to having to stop, but if he was going to play, then so was I. Also changed up a couple of cogs, disqualified myself from "true" SCR by getting into the drops and out of the saddle and putting all my considerable weight through the pedals. Hauled my speed up to what the wahoo said was 56kph, but which strava has downgraded to 54, and even threw my bike at the white line ( :oops: ). Sat up to savour my "victory" over both the traffic lights and my fellow competitor. However, I must have imagined the whole thing, as the "competitor" was about 50m back, having to stop for the lights. :roll:

I must have looked like a right bl00dy idiot, well, even more than usual. At least i didn't raise my arms.

Note - all speeds inflated by tailwind.

Well the throwing yourself over the line was a bit unnecessary, but otherwise you beat someone by such a margin that he had to stop for the lights and you didn't - ultimate victory.

I don't think he was racing though. All a figment of my fevered imagination as he was latched onto my back wheel and I thought I heard him change gear as if to initiate a sprint. I really must remember that it really is just a ride to work, even if people do sit a few inches off your back wheel...

asprilla

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Anyone else spot a young lady in Richmond Park this morning going for a run in what appeared to be a bridesmaids dress?

Proper double-take as I went past

Have seen her every morning for the last few weeks doing hill repeats on Broomfield. When it's raining she takes it off and runs in her bikini. Presumably because the white dress would become see through and that would be embarrassing.

cjcp

Asprilla wrote:

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Anyone else spot a young lady in Richmond Park this morning going for a run in what appeared to be a bridesmaids dress?

Proper double-take as I went past

Have seen her every morning for the last few weeks doing hill repeats on Broomfield. When it's raining she takes it off and runs in her bikini. Presumably because the white dress would become see through and that would be embarrassing.

I think I've seen her.

W.
T.
A.
F?

poweredbyidris

Asprilla wrote:

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Anyone else spot a young lady in Richmond Park this morning going for a run in what appeared to be a bridesmaids dress?

Proper double-take as I went past

Have seen her every morning for the last few weeks doing hill repeats on Broomfield. When it's raining she takes it off and runs in her bikini. Presumably because the white dress would become see through and that would be embarrassing.

That's bikini-girl?

Loving her unorthodox style

asprilla

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

PoweredByIdris wrote:

Anyone else spot a young lady in Richmond Park this morning going for a run in what appeared to be a bridesmaids dress?

Proper double-take as I went past

Have seen her every morning for the last few weeks doing hill repeats on Broomfield. When it's raining she takes it off and runs in her bikini. Presumably because the white dress would become see through and that would be embarrassing.

That's bikini-girl?

Loving her unorthodox style

I assume so. I only made the connection as I was typing it.

rower63

I was late this morning, I saw her for the first time on Broomfield.

veronese68

I guess some of you would notice from my Strava feed if I started going via Broomfield in the mornings, must say I am kind of curious.
Think I got in the way of some SCR this morning, a chap came out of the side road from Kingston market place at a fair lick this morning, Chap on a Kona behind him looked to be giving chase but thankfully he looked and hit the brakes, I did feel as though I was in the way at that point.

kingstonian

Front brake pads (disk) were so worn down yesterday they smoked when I had to pull on the anchors. Three bike shops later I found a replacement set.

Agree with you that those e-trike things are an absolute menace

Legs are tired today, the combination of a daily soaking and headwinds hasn't been a good one.

rower63

Kingstonian wrote:

...Agree with you that those e-trike things are an absolute menace ...

they're quite good if you want drugs, apparently

poweredbyidris

rower63 wrote:

Kingstonian wrote:

...Agree with you that those e-trike things are an absolute menace ...

they're quite good if you want drugs, apparently

"The fella I passed at the last lights seems up for the fight - got any EPO?"

kingstonian

Glad the week is over, getting wet every day plus headwinds thrown into the mix wasn’t fun

itboffin

HRM are really useful, I been feeling tired but judging by the data from a flat turbo session this morning my tiredness and headache is clearly some illness lurking on the horizon

asprilla

itboffin wrote:

HRM are really useful, I been feeling tired but judging by the data from a flat turbo session this morning my tiredness and headache is clearly some illness lurking on the horizon

I find HRV a good indicator. Plenty of free apps (I use elite HRV).

cruff

Asprilla wrote:

itboffin wrote:

HRM are really useful, I been feeling tired but judging by the data from a flat turbo session this morning my tiredness and headache is clearly some illness lurking on the horizon

I find HRV a good indicator. Plenty of free apps (I use elite HRV).

Tbh - I found HRV a bit of a ballache, it was a pain to have to remember to put my hrm every morning when I got up a d take a reading. Only seemed to tell me what I already knew - when I was tired, I trained like sh*t, when I wasn't, I trained better.

asprilla

It's part of my morning routine now, along with my diabetes meds.

Generally I know when I'm getting ill, but HRV tells me the difference between feeling a bit tired / achey legged and actually in need of a rest.

jspash

Cruff wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

itboffin wrote:

HRM are really useful, I been feeling tired but judging by the data from a flat turbo session this morning my tiredness and headache is clearly some illness lurking on the horizon

I find HRV a good indicator. Plenty of free apps (I use elite HRV).

Tbh - I found HRV a bit of a ballache, it was a pain to have to remember to put my hrm every morning when I got up a d take a reading. Only seemed to tell me what I already knew - when I was tired, I trained like sh*t, when I wasn't, I trained better.

If you have a Strava Premium account the "Fitness & Freshness" report is pretty spot-on. The absolute number of "fitness" is meaningless. It just tracks relative progress over time But "form" is a good indicator of your current state of readiness. I've used it to taper before a big effort with success. You need about a month worth of rides wearing a HRM to get anything useful from it.

I've tried the olde-school method of asking my legs if they're tired, and riding on "feel" but that's rubbish. If feeling tired meant it was a rest day, I'd never leave the house!

dekant

I tried HRV but I found it really inconsistent. It never seemed to add up to how I felt and didn't seem to agree with the various fitness / freshness metrics I used. When I felt awful it often said I was good and vice versa.

I also found it a bit of a ballache to put the chest strap on and do the test every single morning.

anonymousblackfg

i'd use HRM more if there was a simpler way to have the data for upload, it would seem for Strava that an apple watch is the answer, any better options for someone just recording rides via their iphone?

Else, nice tail wind and a good sense of urgency to stay ahead of choppers. Pity to see the nodder almost sideswiped by a d1ck in a car through the Clapham North chicane then just jump the lights further down.

cruff

jspash wrote:

Cruff wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

itboffin wrote:

HRM are really useful, I been feeling tired but judging by the data from a flat turbo session this morning my tiredness and headache is clearly some illness lurking on the horizon

I find HRV a good indicator. Plenty of free apps (I use elite HRV).

Tbh - I found HRV a bit of a ballache, it was a pain to have to remember to put my hrm every morning when I got up a d take a reading. Only seemed to tell me what I already knew - when I was tired, I trained like sh*t, when I wasn't, I trained better.

If you have a Strava Premium account the "Fitness & Freshness" report is pretty spot-on. The absolute number of "fitness" is meaningless. It just tracks relative progress over time But "form" is a good indicator of your current state of readiness. I've used it to taper before a big effort with success. You need about a month worth of rides wearing a HRM to get anything useful from it.

I've tried the olde-school method of asking my legs if they're tired, and riding on "feel" but that's rubbish. If feeling tired meant it was a rest day, I'd never leave the house!

Fitness & Freshness in Strava is beyond useless. It changes the curve based on your FTP, and recalculates past activities. So, in the case that you test at 295, ride for six weeks then test again at 305, all your previous rides are recalculated as if they were done at 305. As a result 'form' over anything more than the last time you tested is pointless. If you never test and just go off the same power number as your FTP or HR, then it's marginally more useful than a guess based on your current training load - but as a substitute for TP (or even Garmin Connect) it's as much use as a chocolate teapot

dekant

Cruff wrote:

It changes the curve based on your FTP, and recalculates past activities.

This is why I highly recommend the free stravistix plugin

hopkinb

@ abfg - Shouldn't you still be on pat leave? Or have you had enough of it already?

Also, all this talk of HRM/HRV. Away with you to the training/fitness/health forum!

I have 2 HRM's - I strapped on one once for a few laps of RP - I was utterly horrified that my HR was 160 bpm even when I wasn't trying very hard, and only went up to 170 bpm when battering it uphill. Just putting the bl00dy thing on raised my heart rate from resting late 50's to ~100. The HRM's now live in a drawer, and I am blissfully unaware. Then again though, I don't "train" for anything.

Tailwindy, no competition, lots of traffic. No fun. Will be horrible on the way home, but I have lights and waterproof jacket.

anonymousblackfg

hopkinb wrote:

@ abfg - Shouldn't you still be on pat leave? Or have you had enough of it already?

Am spreading it given the quantum of family in town (though realised the father in law signed us out of my sister in laws netflix account on the telly! I don't think she knew she'd left us logged in so can't really ask for her password and I won't be missing the mother in law accidentally flushing a pull up down the loo blocking it and then ignoring the cries for help of the two year old who can't get er Frozen dress off to have a sh1t so subsequently looked like she was holding some sort of dirty protest leaving me to sort)

Am off at the back end of this week and will then use it to cover half term.