Silly commuting racing

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  • anonymousblackfg
    anonymousblackfg Posts: 2,029
    A gentle re-entry given a week on the slopes effectively setting fire to piles of £50 notes. Good chat with the Condor SS big caradice chap about everything kids/skiing/coronavirus having to take it slightly faster than my ambitions of a relaxed chatty ride needed.

    As Hopkins says, plenty of people on bikes about, always good to spot a fair few in outer london.
    If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Nice spin this morning. A white Merc rather unhelpfully slammed on the brakes in front of me on the ride, but after I'd somehow managed to not go through his back window I noticed that the reason he'd had to stop so suddenly was that a woman on a creaky mountain bike had decided she needed to turn right and had swerved right across the road without a look or a signal. The Merc driven was apologetic, but really not his fault at all. Just shows that some clowns on bikes ride so badly it gives us all a bad name.
  • martinc
    martinc Posts: 422
    Another morning of metal on metal grinding. Anyone else burning through disc brakes pads this winter? I'm just destroyed my 4th pair. They've lasted 2 weeks and less than 200km.. half of which muddy weekend rides. Is that normal and anyone discovered some super long-lasting ones that fit SRAM Force?
    Always in stealth mode
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    edited March 2020
    martinc said:

    Another morning of metal on metal grinding. Anyone else burning through disc brakes pads this winter? I'm just destroyed my 4th pair. They've lasted 2 weeks and less than 200km.. half of which muddy weekend rides. Is that normal and anyone discovered some super long-lasting ones that fit SRAM Force?

    Bold bit is your problem...

    I'm using Aztec sintered ones on the front brake at the moment they seem to last a bit longer, though I have no proof!

    When I run out, I'm going to try these - 3 different pad compounds.

    https://gorillabrakes.com/shop/avid-brake-pads/sram-hrd-level-ultimatetlm-rival-disc-brake-pads/

  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    hopkinb said:

    When I run out, I'm going to try these - 3 different pad compounds.

    The Sintered Gorilla pads seemed to do quite well on my race bikes this last season; they only went on in November, so I'm not yet in a position to say that they're definitely great, but I am in a position to say they're definitely not bad. They're not showing noticeable wear, and anecdotally they seem less prone to polishing that others I've used.
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • martinc
    martinc Posts: 422
    Thanks for the tips. Both a lot cheaper than the SRAM pads too. Used to use Aztecs on my old mtbs back in the 90's and they always lasted well.
    Always in stealth mode
  • silverstreak
    silverstreak Posts: 49
    edited March 2020
    Took the train in yesterday. Definitely thinning out - and plenty of standing room even at Clapham. Hasn’t improved the service though and still feel vindicated switching to bike. Huffing and puffing across RP in the headwind today. First northeasterly (?) in a while. Wasn’t expecting that. And due to be running tonight. Grr.
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    silverstreak said:

    First northeasterly (?) in a while.

    Yep - never welcome. Looks like it's staying that way for the journey home though, but also raining all day long, so wet roads and honking brakes (AGAIN!). First time in 7/8 years of commuting by bike that I recall being so hacked off by the weather that I've taken the train a couple of times. It's been a miserable wet winter.

    Egregious RL jumping got my goat this morning. All the way from S Wimbledon into town, jumped every light except those where he would have actually been flattened. He didn't get there any quicker, and I wasn't even putting much of an effort to chase, given the headwind and general miserableness.

    Grumble.

  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Yep, a wet and windy winter. Really miserable. I've not resorted to the train but on some of those evenings when I've been ploughing into a ridiculous solid headwind I've asked myself why I put myself through it.

    Just hoping this wave of storm after storm is due to finish soon and we can start breaking into more normal weather patterns.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,817
    Had to drive the Mrs in today, must confess I was quite happy to be doing so.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • silverstreak
    silverstreak Posts: 49
    edited March 2020
    The silver lining for me this week was the setting sun on the way back on Tuesday. Just enough time/light for an evening lap round RP. Shape of things to come. Not long now.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    fecking terrible weather in London today I pity anyone riding around in that
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    itboffin said:

    fecking terrible weather in London today I pity anyone riding around in that

    Thanks for your pity dude. It sucked. :|
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    hopkinb said:

    itboffin said:

    fecking terrible weather in London today I pity anyone riding around in that

    Thanks for your pity dude. It sucked. :|
    wow if it was anything like the M4 this afternoon :s

    the fast lane for 15 miles was completely flooded at that was at the London end yet still there were plenty of dickheads cutting in to gaps that dont exist without indicating, if a large majority now drive like this on busy motorways us cyclist are doomed.

    The clear lack of police on the roads now, its the goddamn wild west and I aint talking about Windshire for a change.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Some huge puddles in Richmond Park when I came through it this eve, and Priory Lane was like a river in places
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    The only saving grace was that the wind was behind me. Apart from that; the rain, the standing water, the 3 degrees Celsius, the drivers with fogged windows and the heavy traffic all combined to make a less than pleasant ride.
  • silverstreak
    silverstreak Posts: 49
    Got a head-to-toe drenching on Priory from a van coming the other way through all that water. Had it with rain. Took my frustration out on Spankers
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,152
    Lot of water out there. And a van at the traffic lights at the top of priory lane blocking traffic with its front smashed in. Still just about better than being on a tube.
  • arsey
    arsey Posts: 171
    hopkinb said:

    martinc said:

    Another morning of metal on metal grinding. Anyone else burning through disc brakes pads this winter? I'm just destroyed my 4th pair. They've lasted 2 weeks and less than 200km.. half of which muddy weekend rides. Is that normal and anyone discovered some super long-lasting ones that fit SRAM Force?

    Bold bit is your problem...

    I'm using Aztec sintered ones on the front brake at the moment they seem to last a bit longer, though I have no proof!

    When I run out, I'm going to try these - 3 different pad compounds.

    https://gorillabrakes.com/shop/avid-brake-pads/sram-hrd-level-ultimatetlm-rival-disc-brake-pads/

    I've been using Uberbike which seem good. Disc pads definitely wear out a lot quicker than rim pads though! https://www.uberbikecomponents.com/
    Canyon Ultimate CF Disc
    Vitus Energie Disc
  • anonymousblackfg
    anonymousblackfg Posts: 2,029
    edited March 2020
    Saved yesterday by WFH from the prior evening almost saw me off from efforts to cut through a puddle where I am sure I knew there was a manhole cover under it...

    As for the pads debate, have gone gorrilla from uber as their prices have gone up, seem ok but i've never been bowled over by any particular brand/compound
    If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.
  • smokey_bacon
    smokey_bacon Posts: 1,639
    Grim last night. Most of Tooting underwater, which may or may not be an improvement! Sods law that the one day I get the train in this week its a lovely day!
  • poweredbyidris
    poweredbyidris Posts: 848
    Wonderful morning for a ride.... which made the fact that I had to PT it with all the Covid-ers all the more annoying
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    This morning was indeed pleasant, much more of that needed please !
  • mtb-idle
    mtb-idle Posts: 2,179
    Yip WFH yesterday and rode in today so timed it right. Next week looks like more of the same...
    FCN = 4
  • anonymousblackfg
    anonymousblackfg Posts: 2,029
    Mmm... sunshine, seemed to be drive to work day though.
    If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Nice morning for it, but get ready for the rain this evening folks.
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    anonymousblackfg said:

    Mmm... sunshine, seemed to be drive to work day though.

    Yeah, was very busy.

    Keep looking at the weather app, hoping for the black clouds to get pushed back an hour, but they're not budging. Looks like another soaking.

  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    When will this rain stop?!
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    cjcp said:

    When will this rain stop?!

    Never. I found my shakedry jacket over the weekend though, so I'm a little happier and dryer.

    Some sort of tailwind this morning, or I gained watts and fitness overnight. Whoosh.



  • anonymousblackfg
    anonymousblackfg Posts: 2,029
    This morning? I got grief from a woman asking me not to ride so fast through puddles. When I asked why given she was no where near getting splashed, she explained another cyclist did. I did not have a go at her for every time a pedestrian stepped out on me.

    Else, shocking drivers everywhere, loved the d1ck in a Porsche on his phone taking umbridge with a cyclist too close to him so had to shut the car length gap to the car in front at speed in near stationary traffic last night. Time for a camera perhaps.
    If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.

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