Silly commuting racing

adskis

So last night, some ‘hero’ roadie commuter decides to nip past on the really busy section of the cycleway. True pace was revealed over the bridge, when the ped's and other riders thinned out, when he couldn’t hold the wheel of a fat old fart (me) on a flat-bar hybrid with gravel tyres! Hee hee!!

wolfsbane2k

N0bodyOfTheGoat said:

Chillier start to morning than I was expecting from the forecast last night in the Southampton area, -2C in Botley and closer to the city the "feels like" temp was approx -2C.

Hopefully everyone stayed upright this morning!

Aye, out this way was -2C according to my weatherstation, with a feels like a -4C.
Nasty spots of black stuff abounded, unfortunately a friend has ended with a broken collar bone and rib after coming off on the stuff, and heading into a ditch

itboffin

i saw one flat barred rider today in civvies smashing along completely and seemingly oblivious to the black ice everywhere, i'm guessing he's new too commuting by bike, I hope he made it in one piece to his destination.

hopkinb

Another full commute in the company of abfg last night. Nice little PR up Gap road from plough lane to the mini roundabout. Thought there might have been some SCR down Burntwood lane, as a guy in front kept looking round like he was waiting for me to make a move. I did make a move, but dropped him like he was hot, waste of energy.

NIce ride in this morning too - though some bits of road looked decidedly shiny.

smokey_bacon

Back in the saddle this morning, didnt feel too cold despite the reported -4 in RP. Creaking still persists so another trip to the LBS in the offing.

kingstonian

Think that was probably my coldest morning ride of this winter, the niggly little headwind not helping matters

hopkinb

kingstonian said:

Think that was probably my coldest morning ride of this winter, the niggly little headwind not helping matters

I wondered about that - I thought it was just Friday legs (even though only ridden 2 days this week due to travel).

rower63

Yes I was confused too, working hard on occasion and barely registering 20mph, thinking I must be having an off day but wondering why nobody was streaming past me. All became clear when I checked the Met after getting in: Easterly.

mpdouglas

Same here. It was weird because there was no obvious wind from the movement of the trees etc, but it felt like I was running on vapours the whole way in. I just put it down to Friday legs but was puzzled that very few came past. WHat's the betting the wind direction switches round for going home time!

hopkinb

mpdouglas said:

Same here. It was weird because there was no obvious wind from the movement of the trees etc, but it felt like I was running on vapours the whole way in. I just put it down to Friday legs but was puzzled that very few came past. WHat's the betting the wind direction switches round for going home time!

It's forecast to be southerly, so cross headwind for me. *rollseyes*

itboffin

still as a still thing all day here, clearly a warning sign of what's to come

roger_merriman

itboffin said:

still as a still thing all day here, clearly a warning sign of what's to come

Was still at the lower levels, ie under 1000ft but once on the ridge was darn cold in the wind, I’m in welsh wales at moment which is a fair bit colder and mudder than that London Town, lot more fun riding though!

itboffin

crikey what a difference a day makes, that was quite the workout

pinno

hopkinb said:

kingstonian said:

Think that was probably my coldest morning ride of this winter, the niggly little headwind not helping matters

I wondered about that - I thought it was just Friday legs (even though only ridden 2 days this week due to travel).

It's best not being slight in these sort of winds Hoppy.

PB's on way out, 26 x 32 home + bus ride.

asprilla

Richmond Park and Bushy Park are not expected to reopen tomorrow because of the required safety checks.

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/latest-news/update-storm-ciara-and-royal-parks-closures

kingstongraham

That's going to be quite the pain in the rear.

veronese68

kingstongraham said:

That's going to be quite the pain in the rear.

Quite glad the road around Bushy is now a 20.

smokey_bacon

Is that a common thing for RP to be closed, dont remember it happening in the few years ive been going through there.

Got the train in based on wind predictions but turns out that was a mistake because it wasn't as bad a reported!

hopkinb

I checked wind forecast last night. WSW 17/34. Pretty standard for time of year? Seemed OK to me, even now I'm finally 60mm front and back after a bit of fettling over the weekend.

anonymousblackfg

Minor wrist sprain while wrestling the bike in the down wind when I passed the tower blocks in E&C. the ride home looks tiring!

Else, full marks to the guy going no hands on a boris bike with hands in pockets south down Southwark bridge, I wonder if he still has teeth?

smokey_bacon

hopkinb said:

I checked wind forecast last night. WSW 17/34. Pretty standard for time of year? Seemed OK to me, even now I'm finally 60mm front and back after a bit of fettling over the weekend.

Yeah definitely, and that's what it was. My accuweather app was saying 42/74 kph and it was the gusting bit that put me off. App got it wrong today!

dyrlac

Long time, no post, but thought the occassion of my 1,000th northbound Millbank Sprint was worthy of Silly Commuting Racing commemoration (although my time this morning was nothing to write home about, even with the friendly tailwind).

Started my SCR journey in October 2013 from Wimbledon to the City when my ortho told me I needed to run slower, run less or take up a new hobby. 41,518 commuting kilometres since then. 1,964 total commutes. 3 crashes serious enought to require surgery under general anesthesia. SCR Forever.

hopkinb

dyrlac said:

41,518 commuting kilometres since then. 1,964 total commutes. 3 crashes serious enought to require surgery under general anesthesia.

Ouch.

Congrats - I think I've been doing for more or less the same amount of time - though I think it was March 2013 that I started, mainly because I thought buying trousers with a 40" waist was a step too far. 33,009 km, but I didn't get on to Strava until Jan 2015. Touch all kinds of wood, no surgery required, but plenty of road rash, a single instance of concussion and a separated AC joint.

mattsaw

Any word on the park for tonight?

I didn't mind the detour with the tailwind. Unsurprisingly not so keen on the same with a headwind.

First time I have has a chance to ride the new cycle lane on Kingston Vale, and it is indeed poor. Made worse by being absolutely strewn with debris this morning.

It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the undulating bus stops and poles placed right in the middle of it.

Gave up on the downhill and just took the road. Much safer.

roger_merriman

hopkinb said:

dyrlac said:

41,518 commuting kilometres since then. 1,964 total commutes. 3 crashes serious enought to require surgery under general anesthesia.

Ouch.

Congrats - I think I've been doing for more or less the same amount of time - though I think it was March 2013 that I started, mainly because I thought buying trousers with a 40" waist was a step too far. 33,009 km, but I didn't get on to Strava until Jan 2015. Touch all kinds of wood, no surgery required, but plenty of road rash, a single instance of concussion and a separated AC joint.

Ha sounds like one of the socials where my self and V68 where attempting to prove how unsafe cycling etc is!

I started 2009 since it made no sense to drive but was slightly too long for a comfortable walk, I was knocked off once at a junction once as the car assumed I’d gone! No real harm done, though unhappy wife! I fell slowly on ice a handful of times.

And I did this

Which has been life changing sadly, all over 22,000miles/35,000k commuting the majority of the miles in the last few years as my commute is now 10+ rather than sub 3 miles! Still involves Bushy Park though!

mattsaw

Here's mine



Park is open BTW according to anecdotal Twitter evidence.

veronese68

Blimey, I've been commuting by bike for 11 or 12 years I reckon. I don't tend to ride every day as driving is viable if I need to carry anything or give the trouble a lift. Only one off requiring surgery under general, but a few others that have meant time off the bike.
Bit blowy this morning, but not too bad. Hopefully the ride home will be a fair bit quicker.

kingstongraham

Richmond Park and Bushy Park officially open again now.

Longshot

The gusts seem to be picking back up again in Central London so those of you that are riding home, stay safe.

roger_merriman

kingstongraham said:

Richmond Park and Bushy Park officially open again now.

Bushy was open this afternoon as I passed though, no trees down that I could see, only Crane Park had one down, lots of branches though!