Silly commuting racing

itboffin

kingstongraham said:

rower63 said:

kingstongraham said:

Not too bad this morning, but first confirmation that Northwave GTX waterproof boots need a bit of help to keep the water out. It all seeps down your socks even with overshoes. Nice and warm though.

I have the same boots. Overshoes aren't the answer, GripGrab gaiters are ( https://www.wiggle.co.uk/gripgrab-cyclingaiter/ ).
They go over the top of the boots, and the tights or longs go overv the top of them. My feet emerge dry after even the wettest rides. They are a revelation. Care needs to be taken getting them on, as the neoprene inner is soft - they need to be rolled on.

I've been missing all the wind, forced on to PT by a horrid cold...

Thanks - I have used the cheapskate version in the past. The wrist cut off Marigold gloves does the trick perfectly.

Does the soft collar part keep water out with the gaiters on? If so that would be great.

does it work better with these?

rower63

kingstongraham said:

...
Does the soft collar part keep water out with the gaiters on? If so that would be great.

yes it does - I believe the gore-tex liner extends up to the top of the soft collar (but don't rip the stitching apart trying too hard to "slip" them on, like I did once!)

adskis

Seriously, what is it with people!
Drafting w@nkr couldn’t hold his own into the 50 mph headwind last night but was happy to sit 6 inches off my rear wheel! In the dark, in the rain, in that wind, on a really busy commuting route. Tw@t!

cjcp

silverstreak said:

hopkinb said:

Confirmation this morning that resolutionists are soluble in water

Second that - room to breathe on Putney Bridge and King’s Road has been the silver lining to Storm Brendan.

Found the long way home last night, via Richmond rather than RP, a good deal less knackering. This morning was a delight. Just rain.

This is my winter route home if I don't reach RP before the gates close. However, after a scooter tried to take me out a couple of years ago, I'm now very wary of the Petersham route and prefer to go through Twickenham and Teddington.

cjcp

j_mcd said:

Didn't cycle in this morning as the rain sounded torrential when I was in the house. Wasn't actually that bad when I was heading to the train so perhaps I could have cycled but it would've been a wet one.

Suppose I'd better go for a run instead then. Canary Wharf is such an inspiring location for such pursuits...

Where fun goes to die...

I've run along the river and Cable St etc to Wapping High Street. So dull.

london-red

cjcp said:

This is my winter route home if I don't reach RP before the gates close. However, after a scooter tried to take me out a couple of years ago, I'm now very wary of the Petersham route and prefer to go through Twickenham and Teddington.

I'm intrigued by this - why would you choose to take a mental busy route when you've got the option of a traffic-free couple of miles instead?

cjcp

london-red said:

cjcp said:

This is my winter route home if I don't reach RP before the gates close. However, after a scooter tried to take me out a couple of years ago, I'm now very wary of the Petersham route and prefer to go through Twickenham and Teddington.

I'm intrigued by this - why would you choose to take a mental busy route when you've got the option of a traffic-free couple of miles instead?

It's if the park is closed because of the cull. (Forgot to add that bit.)

At that time, the traffic is generally ok.

monkimark

Richmond park is closed in the evenings for 6 weeks the deer cull twice a year so you can't cycle through after 7:30pm.

I'm back cycling after taking the fast bike (the one with an engine) for the last 3 days. Looking pleasant this morning but a bit damp and headwindy this evening. At least I have well rested legs.

london-red said:

cjcp said:

This is my winter route home if I don't reach RP before the gates close. However, after a scooter tried to take me out a couple of years ago, I'm now very wary of the Petersham route and prefer to go through Twickenham and Teddington.

I'm intrigued by this - why would you choose to take a mental busy route when you've got the option of a traffic-free couple of miles instead?

london-red

cjcp said:

london-red said:

cjcp said:

This is my winter route home if I don't reach RP before the gates close. However, after a scooter tried to take me out a couple of years ago, I'm now very wary of the Petersham route and prefer to go through Twickenham and Teddington.

I'm intrigued by this - why would you choose to take a mental busy route when you've got the option of a traffic-free couple of miles instead?

It's if the park is closed because of the cull. (Forgot to add that bit.)

At that time, the traffic is generally ok.

Gotcha. Dodging bullets not your thing?

anonymousblackfg

Am getting very bored of fvckwits already this year, from the RLJ fairweather muppets who the rain didn't dissolve to the cars and mini road sweeper (FFS) which happily pulled out on me this morning to the woman in a private plated reg SUV happy to beep and shout at me last night but not willing to roll down her window to discuss her issues once stuck at the lights 100 metres later.

I am not sure either a camera, xanax or rocket launcher would help me in any way.

silverstreak

london-red said:

cjcp said:

This is my winter route home if I don't reach RP before the gates close. However, after a scooter tried to take me out a couple of years ago, I'm now very wary of the Petersham route and prefer to go through Twickenham and Teddington.

I'm intrigued by this - why would you choose to take a mental busy route when you've got the option of a traffic-free couple of miles instead?

I’ve also asked myself this. I go to Teddington and rarely flip between the two in the summer. In the winter, though, and this week’s gales aside, sometimes I just can’t be bothered to turn left and slog up Priory Lane knowing I’ve got to get off the bike (twice) to go through the gates, when I could just carry on through the lights into Sheen. Lazy, I guess. And I pay for it when the traffic is backed up (except when I get to draft rower).

hotspanners

Had some absolutely classic SCR last night from Westminster to RP. Guy on a gravel-looking winter rig with proper mudguards, think it was olive green. Dueling all the way, must have passed him about 6 times.

Thought I'd finally dropped him at Barnes but turns out he was saving his watts for a devastating attack on Priory Lane. He was not up for letting me pass him again. I did eventually catch him and pass him but by the time I got in front my HR was 98% and I could taste blood so I had to sit up and make the old throat-slit gesture with a head shake to indicate I was ****ed. He smiled and rode off into the distance. Beaten fair and square. Chapeau, whoever you are.

rower63

sounds like it could be Rhys Keepence

kingstonian

monkimark said:

Richmond park is closed in the evenings for 6 weeks the deer cull twice a year so you can't cycle through after 7:30pm.

I'm back cycling after taking the fast bike (the one with an engine) for the last 3 days. Looking pleasant this morning but a bit damp and headwindy this evening. At least I have well rested legs.

london-red said:

cjcp said:

This is my winter route home if I don't reach RP before the gates close. However, after a scooter tried to take me out a couple of years ago, I'm now very wary of the Petersham route and prefer to go through Twickenham and Teddington.

I'm intrigued by this - why would you choose to take a mental busy route when you've got the option of a traffic-free couple of miles instead?

For those who might be wondering about taking that route, it is 8pm during the deer cull, not 7.30pm.

monkimark

Ah yes - 8pm- 7:30am, got it backwards. Although I'm always a bit nervous about entering the park just before 8 in case they lock the exit gate before I get there and I have to climb the walls to escape the gunfire

kingstonian

Yeah, I know what you mean but in reality they give it at least half an hour before they lock the gates

cjcp

rower63 said:

sounds like it could be Rhys Keepence

That was my first thought.

MEEP, MEEP!!!!!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Might need to get those ice spike tyres fitted this weekend and ditch the shorts, wintery conditions around 0C (feeling sub zero) incoming around Southampton.

itboffin

by the sounds of it a lot of crashes this morning, i went out in the afternoon and it was still dicy, i had to turn around due to flooded roads again as well.

MTB for me tomorrow me thinks

kingstonian

Wrap up warm tomorrow morning, folks

anonymousblackfg

I had to go with the family to RP yesterday morning, so many cyclists in the Rohampton Gate car park but I was staggered by the number getting bikes off/out of cars. People not riding the hills and too scared of ice to ride there or is that usual?

(train w4nkered it today as bike was in work, got a very early trains but it was still just as rubbish as ever)

hopkinb

Weird one this morning. Riding through Oval, when a bloke a bike or two in front of me went down like he'd been shot. There was a car closeish, but I didn't see any contact. The guy I was riding with thought perhaps his wheel might have come out of the dropouts somehow. Whatever happened, he won't be riding home, as his fork had snapped clean through. I helped to clear bike bits out of the junction, and the poor sod seemed to be in a bit of pain. It was a "proper" bike - a caad 12.

Otherwise uneventful apart from seeing an old mate for a chat, not even that cold.

anonymousblackfg

If you're going to ride a crack'n'fail what do you expect, clues in the name?

j_mcd

Not as cold as expected today.Still felt like hard work though. When is it light and nice in the morning again...

cjcp

j_mcd said:

Not as cold as expected today.Still felt like hard work though. When is it light and nice in the morning again...

Soon.

I hope.

kingstongraham

Almost taken out by a right dickhead tonight. Priory lane (as always), slowing just behind a car that was indicating to turn right and just starting to pass it on the left. Mr speedy on his bike decides that's a great time to overtake me and go through that gap.

I called him a twat and overtook him back before the gates, obviously.

veronese68

Felt rather colder that yesterday, think that was because there was more moisture in the air. Riding through Bushy Park it dropped to -5.6Garmin, probably about -2'C I guess. Saw more cyclists than usual on my route which seemed odd, even picked up a fairy at one point.

monkimark

Minus 3 (according to a proper thermometer) when I left the house and down to just under -6 G coming through richmond park. With hindsight I probably should have worn my winter jersey.

But yeah, still quite a few cyclists about

hopkinb

On the train, courtesy of London's finest scrotes. Went to ride home last night and found (the admitted weak link) steel cable securing my front wheel had been snipped, and said wheel removed. Sometimes I thread the heavy chain through my front wheel as well, sometimes I don't. Sod's law that I didn't yesterday. Shopping for a new wheel plus accessories and I guess I should put another heavy chain in the basket as well.

I suppose I should take some comfort from the fact that the other three locks (all gold sold secure) securing the frame and rear wheel to the rack were undisturbed. I have taken no chances though, and got permission to bring the bike up to the office while I wait for the new bits to arrive.

asprilla

hopkinb said:

On the train, courtesy of London's finest scrotes. Went to ride home last night and found (the admitted weak link) steel cable securing my front wheel had been snipped, and said wheel removed. Sometimes I thread the heavy chain through my front wheel as well, sometimes I don't. Sod's law that I didn't yesterday. Shopping for a new wheel plus accessories and I guess I should put another heavy chain in the basket as well.

I suppose I should take some comfort from the fact that the other three locks (all gold sold secure) securing the frame and rear wheel to the rack were undisturbed. I have taken no chances though, and got permission to bring the bike up to the office while I wait for the new bits to arrive.

Obviously my normal liberal compass deserts me at times like this. Hangin's too good for 'em.

I'm using a public car park for my bike at the moment (hence it's Di2 upgrade is sitting in the garage waiting). Puts the fear of god into me and I make a detour at lunch time to check she's ok. Of course I'm not using the bike racks at the far end, I'm using the railings outside the guard's office.