Silly commuting racing

david37

haha i escort my son to school on my brompton complete with front bag, boots and jeans jumper and fleece in the winter, shorts and flipflops in the summer. On the way back i race the mums in cars. its only a 2 mile each way journey but im pretty sure its quicker than driving. Recently several of the mums have taken to dangersous manouvers to try and pass.

This I consider a victory despite the danger it puts me in.

asprilla

Ran this morning as I'm clearing out my locker and it's too much stuff to carry on the bike. Pity, today would have been the day when I could really test my wet / cold weather kit.

kingstonian

Yeah, cold, wet and a headwind, was perfect for testing wet/cold weather gear. Basically a miserable start to the day.

rower63

I tested it all out for you: Gore shake-dry jacket with super-long sleeves over Montane ski gloves: hands perfectly warm and dry. Bib-longs over elasticated gaiters over NW winter boots: feet perfectly warm and dry after 30km.

kingstongraham

I can also definitively confirm that the NW boots with home made gaiters, shoe covers and bib longs keep your feet lovely and dry. They've been a good purchase.

Didn't realise the rain was going to be quite that cold, so didn't go with the ski gloves - should have done.

The Endura race cape jacket let a bit through the zip today but I love it. Wear it over the top of a little rucksack and it keeps everything dry.

silverstreak

No special kit - and got a good soaking. Humongous queue of cars trying to get out of Roehampton Gate. But fewer bikes out, which was nice

rower63

kingstongraham said:

... Didn't realise the rain was going to be quite that cold, so didn't go with the ski gloves - should have done....

My most miserable rides ever have all involved cold, wet hands

kingstonian

rower63 said:

kingstongraham said:

... Didn't realise the rain was going to be quite that cold, so didn't go with the ski gloves - should have done....

My most miserable rides ever have all involved cold, wet hands

Cold, wet hands and feet has to be the worst.

cjcp

kingstonian said:

rower63 said:

kingstongraham said:

... Didn't realise the rain was going to be quite that cold, so didn't go with the ski gloves - should have done....

My most miserable rides ever have all involved cold, wet hands

Cold, wet hands and feet has to be the worst.

Yep.

Left later this morning, so I caught the snow/sleet just after 9am.

Temperature on the Garmin was hovering just below and above 4°C in town. That'll be the switch to an easterly wind, then...

martinc

Toasty warm.... on the train.

smokey_bacon

Adventures for me this morning:
Shat on by a pigeon @ Colliers Wood;
Spat at By a "Cyclist" in Tooting;
Swerved into & nearly taken out by a Nodder @ E&C;
Got lost because extended Sex Panther is closed.

Just another day on CS7!

hopkinb

smokey_bacon said:

Got lost because extended Sex Panther is closed.

Sumner St has been closed ages I think. You just have to turn around.

I had a couple of appointments and a dinner earlier this week, so wasn't going to be on the bike until yesterday anyway, but I'm somewhat ashamed to say I swerved riding in yesterday and today due to the weather.

smokey_bacon

hopkinb said:

smokey_bacon said:

Got lost because extended Sex Panther is closed.

Sumner St has been closed ages I think. You just have to turn around.

Completely slipped my mind. Ended up finding a way through Borough Market. Was quite fun in the end.

kingstonian

hopkinb said:

smokey_bacon said:

Got lost because extended Sex Panther is closed.

Sumner St has been closed ages I think. You just have to turn around.

I had a couple of appointments and a dinner earlier this week, so wasn't going to be on the bike until yesterday anyway, but I'm somewhat ashamed to say I swerved riding in yesterday and today due to the weather.

This morning was actually quite nice. Roads were dry for most of my route too - a welcome bonus.

silverstreak

Some unexpected SCR last night on a damp Kings Road. Came up on a small guy in black whose out-of-the-seat riding style looked familiar. Bullet quick away from the lights all the way down, but gradually hauled him in, taking the lead at Lots and over the bridge, only to lose it again - until he ran into an inside lane choke point and I managed to pass him on the outside. I think that annoyed him as he took off like lightning from Temperance over Putney Bridge. Both of us caught the green light at the right hander on to LRR and cleared the field. Managed to stay with him to Bolan’s shrine and the URR turning to Priory Lane (but didn’t have it in me to overtake), by which point I’d worked out who he was. When he tucked in behind a slower rider for the left up Priory, he left me room to punch ahead, make the turn before them and try to build the cushion I’d need. He glanced across as I pulled alongside - but I wasn’t taking the bait. As we closed on the lights, ashamed to say I wimped out of a RP showdown I knew I would lose and went the long way home via Richmond. Next time...

hopkinb

silverstreak said:

Came up on a small guy in black whose out-of-the-seat riding style looked familiar..... Bullet quick away from the lights all the way down.... by which point I’d worked out who he was.

Who was it? I know one occasional "sparring partner" who answers that description, and sometimes rides down CS7, though I've not seen him for a while.

silverstreak

NH. Occasionally come across him west to east where my middle-aged legs have a better prospect in the prevailing wind. But he’s the KOM holder heading west to Teddington from the Priory lights. I know my limits.

hopkinb

silverstreak said:

NH. Occasionally come across him west to east where my middle-aged legs have a better prospect in the prevailing wind. But he’s the KOM holder heading west to Teddington. I know my limits.

Ah, different guy, multiple KOM holder in SW London generally, especially up punchy hills.

veronese68

I've had enough of it being a combination of one or more of cold, damp and windy. Can we have springtime now please? At least it's not dark at 5.30 now.

kingstongraham

kingstonian said:

hopkinb said:

smokey_bacon said:

Got lost because extended Sex Panther is closed.

Sumner St has been closed ages I think. You just have to turn around.

I had a couple of appointments and a dinner earlier this week, so wasn't going to be on the bike until yesterday anyway, but I'm somewhat ashamed to say I swerved riding in yesterday and today due to the weather.

This morning was actually quite nice. Roads were dry for most of my route too - a welcome bonus.

I left too late for that. Rain and a p*ncture. Perfect start.

kingstonian

veronese68 said:

I've had enough of it being a combination of one or more of cold, damp and windy. Can we have springtime now please? At least it's not dark at 5.30 now.

It is the constant 15-20mph wind that is really getting on my t!ts. I could really do with a week of calm weather - that surely isn't too much to ask for.

itboffin

kingstonian said:

veronese68 said:

I've had enough of it being a combination of one or more of cold, damp and windy. Can we have springtime now please? At least it's not dark at 5.30 now.

It is the constant 15-20mph wind that is really getting on my t!ts. I could really do with a week of calm weather - that surely isn't too much to ask for.

The constant headwinds are the year round norm here in Windshire, its the relentless rain and cold I can't stand, plus the state of the flooded roads

tgotb

kingstonian said:

veronese68 said:

I've had enough of it being a combination of one or more of cold, damp and windy. Can we have springtime now please? At least it's not dark at 5.30 now.

It is the constant 15-20mph wind that is really getting on my t!ts. I could really do with a week of calm weather - that surely isn't too much to ask for.

I spend the whole Winter dreaming about riding to work in shorts and a short-sleeved jersey; I spend the whole Summer dreaming about open roads, and having less than 20 nodders pushing past to sit in front of me at every set of traffic lights...

itboffin

abandon club ride at mile 1 this morning because the roads are completely flooded yet again, then dropped the family off at the train station and had to cross at least four more flooded sections of road, proper bow wave deep stuff to, my poor car!

I'm sick of this now, my motivation to even ride on the turbo is all but gone as well

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Sod's law, my once a month Saturday off work rota and while it's been windy (especially so in last hour or so), it's been much drier than the forecast for SO18 and the very rare Wunderground station Cheriton and Hill Brow...

Except I've gradually come down with lurgy during the week, not coughing or sneezing, but feeling like I've done back to back days of 100+ TSS. Mentally there even less than normal, bit achy, bit physically fatigued.

About the only comfort is that if I've not died of COVID-19 over the next few week, I should be lurgy free come vacation time!

cjcp

Interesting (have posted in the e-bike thread, too):

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/cyclist-accused-of-causing-first-e-bike-death-was-10mph-over-speed-limit-court-hears-450245/amp?__twitter_impression=true

hopkinb

Hurrah, back to riding in. Booo. Mizzly weather, greasy roads.

Beat some bloke up Southwark Bridge - classy trackstander - even a nonchalant one-handed check of the watch/wipe of the nose. He set off like a scalded cat at the lights, and moved out of the saddle and on to the drops. Didn't even have to get out of the saddle myself - not that I do that often anyway - eased on to his wheel, then went past at about 85% half way up the slope and continued to accelerate until congestion at the entrance to the segregated section meant I had to slow right down. All hail the extra watts produced by being a fatty.

Lots of cyclists, despite the mizzle, a significant minority of whom were determined to get in front of me, despite being demonstrably slower than me. Shoal/overtake/slow for lights/shoal/overtake/slow for lights etc etc etc.

smokey_bacon

Easy in for me today on set of new tyres, few little twitches in the greasy conditions as they get scrubbed in! Does anyone know why there is a random speed hump on Millbank now???

tgotb

smokey_bacon said:

Does anyone know why there is a random speed hump on Millbank now???

I assume it's part of the new TFL 20mph rollout. Link here, though the map is either incorrect or the rollout isn't yet complete.

Slightly ironic that the faster part of Millbank, past the tower, is now down to 20mph, but the slower bit from the roundabout to Parliament Square is still 30mph...

silverstreak

Took the stealth bike out today. It’s a Boardman Urb (lightweight with hub gears, unreliable but silent and deadly smooth when all working and, in gunmetal grey, is evidently designed to avoid radar). Reminded me what fun it is to ride up the Kings Road. Swift at the lights (no cleats), good in the greasy conditions and a fine - and deceptive - steed for hunting down the Rapha-clad roadies. Back on the CAAD (and a lighter burn) tomorrow.